Solteq: Solid revenue growth – Evli research

Solteq’s revenue in Q1 was better than expected at EUR 15.7m (Evli EUR 14.4m). Comparable growth was 11.6%. The adj. operating profit was in line with expectations at EUR 0.9m (Evli EUR 0.8m). Product development investments in 2020E EUR 3.0m (2019 3.9m).

Net sales in Q1 were EUR 15.7m (EUR 14.9m in Q1/19), above our estimates (Evli EUR 14.4m). Growth in Q4 amounted to 5.0 % y/y.

Comparable growth, adjusted for the divestment of the SAP ERP business amounted to 11.6%. Growth was mainly driven by the Solteq Digital segment. Approximately a quarter of sales came from outside Finland.

The operating profit in Q1 amounted to EUR 0.7m (EUR 1.5m in Q1/19), in line with our estimates (Evli EUR 0.8m). The adj. operating profit amounted to EUR 0.9m (EUR 1.2m in Q1/19), in line with our estimate of EUR 0.8m.

Capitalized product development investments during Q1/20 amounted to EUR 1.0m. Solteq expects product development investments in 2020 to amount to EUR 3.0m (2019: EUR 3.9m).
Solteq Digital: Revenue in Q1 amounted to EUR 11.3m (Q1/19: EUR 10.7m).

Comparable growth 15.5%. The adj. EBIT amounted to EUR 0.7m (Q1/19: EUR 0.6m).
Solteq Software: Revenue in Q1 amounted to EUR 4.3m (Q1/19: EUR 4.2m). Growth was 2.5%. The adj. EBIT amounted to EUR 0.2m (Q1/19: EUR 0.7m).

Solteq announced a change to its dividend proposal due to uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the BoD is to propose that no dividend be distributed.