Sopra Steria: H1 2025 performance in line with full-year financial targets Improved trends in Q2
- Revenue of €2,843.7 million, equating to a total contraction of 3.6% and an organic contraction of 3.8%
- Improvement in Q2, with negative organic growth limited to 2.7% (-4.9% in Q1)
- Operating margin on business activity of 9.2% (9.7% in H1 2024)
- Net profit attributable to the Group up 15.3% to €142.0 million
- Significant seasonal fluctuation in free cash flow in H1 (-€145.9 million)
- Financial targets confirmed for 2025 (organic growth, operating margin, free cash flow)
At its meeting on
Cyril Malargé, Chief Executive Officer of
“Against what we were expecting to be a difficult backdrop during the first half of the year, our profile enabled us to hold up well. We benefited from the following factors: most of our locations are in
Although the market is not yet showing significant signs of an upturn, our business is on an improving trend as forecast after reaching a low point during Q1 of this year. The pace of negative growth slowed markedly during Q2. The wait-and-see attitude observed at the start of the year in the public sector – in
We are well positioned to benefit from the opportunities offered by our customers’ investments in the defence, security and space industries. We are also a legitimate partner in addressing Europe’s emerging sovereignty and cybersecurity priorities. Our strategy aims to position us as a trusted, credible European alternative, harnessing technology, generative AI and agentic AI to help our European clients deliver on their transformation objectives.
To this end, we are continuing to focus on transforming our offering and our industrial capacity, developing our operating model and moving our expertise higher up the value chain.”
|
||||||
H1 2025 | H1 2024 | |||||
Amount | Margin | Change | Amount | Margin | ||
Key income statement items | ||||||
Revenue |
€m |
2,843.7 |
-3.6% |
2,949.4 |
||
Organic growth |
% |
-3.8% |
|
|||
|
|
|||||
Operating profit on business activity |
€m |
261.4 |
9.2% |
-8.4% |
285.3 |
9.7% |
Profit from recurring operations |
€m |
234.0 |
8.2% |
-6.9% |
251.2 |
8.5% |
Operating profit |
€m |
215.3 |
7.6% |
-6.3% |
229.7 |
7.8% |
Net profit attributable to the Group |
€m |
142.0 |
5.0% |
15.3% |
123.2 |
4.2% |
|
|
|||||
Weighted average number of shares in issue excl. treasury shares |
m |
19.49 |
-3.3% |
20.16 |
||
Basic earnings per share |
€ |
7.29 |
19.2% |
6.11 |
||
Recurring earnings per share |
€ |
8.01 |
-13.7% |
9.28 |
||
Key balance sheet items |
|
|
||||
Net financial debt |
€m |
696.8 |
-34.1% |
1,057.0 |
||
Equity attributable to the Group |
€m |
1,968.6 |
1.0% |
1,949.9 |
Detailed breakdown of operating performance in H1 2025
Revenue for the Group totalled €2,843.7 million, down 3.6% relative to H1 2024. After adjusting to exclude the impact of currency fluctuations (+€4.1 million) and a change in scope of +€3.3 million relating to the consolidation of Aurexia, revenue contracted by 3.8% on an organic basis. As forecast, Q2 saw an improvement, with negative growth of 2.7%, compared with negative growth of 4.9% in Q1 2025.
The Group’s operating profit on business activity held up well in this context. It came to €261.4 million, equating to a margin of 9.2%, down 0.5 points from H1 2024.
In
In the
The
The Solutions reporting unit (6% of the Group total) posted revenue of €164.4 million, representing organic growth of 2.6%. The Human Resources Solutions business (which accounted for 64% of the reporting unit’s revenue) grew by 2.7%. Operating margin on business activity for the reporting unit increased sharply to 15.2% (7.6% in H1 2024), with all its businesses contributing to this improvement (Human Resources, Property Management and Specialised Lending Solutions).
Comments on the components of net profit for H1 2025
Profit from recurring operations came to €234.0 million, down 6.9% relative to H1 2024. It included a €15.9 million share-based payment expense (versus €13.2 million in H1 2024) and an €11.6 million amortisation expense on allocated intangible assets (versus €20.9 million in H1 2024).
Operating profit was €215.3 million, down 6.3%, after a net expense of €18.6 million for other operating income and expenses (versus a net expense of €21.5 million in H1 2024).
The net interest expense was €18.1 million (versus €18.2 million in H1 2024).
The tax expense was €46.7 million, versus €33.3 million in H1 2024 (which had included non‑recurring tax income in the
Net profit/(loss) from associates came in at a €1.9 million loss (compared with a €1.4 million loss in H1 2024).
Consolidated net profit came to €148.6 million, up 13.6% relative to H1 2024 (which had included a net loss of €46.1 million from discontinued operations).
After deducting €6.6 million in non‑controlling interests, net profit attributable to the Group grew by 15.3% to €142.0 million. The net profit margin was 5.0% (versus 4.2% in H1 2024).
Basic earnings per share came to €7.29, up 19.2% relative to H1 2024.
Financial position at
Free cash flow for the first half of 2025 showed a strong seasonal effect (-€145.9 million). This seasonal fluctuation was due in part to the fact that, at
Net financial debt totalled €696.8 million at
Change in scope
On
With the addition of 140 consultants, Aurexia enables Sopra Steria Next to position itself as one of France’s leading management consultancies in the financial services sector, with over 400 consultants now dedicated to the industry in this country.
Aurexia has been consolidated since
Share buyback programme
The €150 million share buyback completed on
Workforce
At
At the same date, 7,852 staff were employed at international service centres.
The workforce attrition rate3 was 16.1% at
Financial targets for 2025
The full-year financial targets for 2025 are all confirmed:
- Organic revenue growth of between -2.5% and +0.5%
- Operating margin on business activity of between 9.3% and 9.8%
- Free cash flow of between 5% and 7% of revenue
Meeting to report H1 2025 results
The results for the first half of 2025 will be presented to financial analysts and investors in a French/English webcast on Friday,
Or by phone:
- French-language phone number: +33 (0)1 70 37 71 66
- English-language phone number: +44 (0)33 0551 0200
Practical information about this conference call can be found in the ‘Investors’ section of the Group’s website: Investors |
Upcoming financial releases
Wednesday,
____________________ |
1 Workforce excluding interns, in accordance with the requirements of the CSRD. |
2 Workforce restated to account for the sale of |
3 Attrition rate including top performers who left less than six months after they were recruited, in accordance with the requirements of the CSRD. |
Glossary
- Restated revenue : Revenue for the prior year, expressed on the basis of the scope and exchange rates for the current year.
- Organic revenue growth : Increase in revenue between the period under review and restated revenue for the same period in the prior financial year.
- EBITDA : This measure, as defined in the Universal Registration Document, is equal to consolidated operating profit on business activity after adding back depreciation, amortisation and provisions included in operating profit on business activity.
- Free cash flow : Free cash flow is defined as net cash from operations; less investments (net of disposals) in property, plant and equipment, and intangible assets; less lease payments; less net interest paid; and less additional contributions to address any deficits in defined-benefit pension plans.
- Operating profit on business activity : This measure, as defined in the Universal Registration Document, is equal to profit from recurring operations adjusted to exclude the share-based payment expense for stock options and free shares and charges to amortisation of allocated intangible assets.
- Profit from recurring operations : This measure is equal to operating profit before other operating income and expenses, which includes any particularly significant items of operating income and expense that are unusual, abnormal, infrequent or not foreseeable, presented separately in order to give a clearer picture of performance based on ordinary activities.
- Basic recurring earnings per share : This measure is equal to basic earnings per share before other operating income and expenses net of tax.
- Return on capital employed (RoCE) : (Profit from recurring operations before tax + Profit from equity-accounted companies) / (Equity + Net financial debt)
- Downtime : Number of days between two contracts (excluding training, sick leave, other leave and pre-sales) divided by the total number of business days.
Disclaimer
This document contains forward-looking information subject to certain risks and uncertainties that may affect the Group’s future growth and financial results. Readers are reminded that licence agreements, which often represent investments for clients, are signed in greater numbers in the second half of the year, with varying impacts on end-of-year performance. Actual outcomes and results may differ from those described in this document due to operational risks and uncertainties. More detailed information on the potential risks that may affect the Group’s financial results can be found in the 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) on
About
The world is how we shape it
For more information, visit us at www.soprasteria.com
Copyright © 2025 Sopra Steria. All rights reserved.
|
|||
€m |
H1 2025 |
H1 2024 |
Growth |
Revenue |
2,843.7 |
2,949.4 |
- 3.6% |
Changes in exchange rates |
4.1 |
||
Revenue at constant exchange rates |
2,843.7 |
2,953.5 |
-3.7% |
Changes in scope |
3.3 |
||
Revenue at constant exchange rates and scope |
2,843.7 |
2,956.8 |
-3.8% |
|
|||
For €1 / % |
Average rate
|
Average rate
|
Change |
Pound sterling |
0.8423 |
0.8546 |
+1.5% |
Norwegian krone |
11.6608 |
11.4926 |
-1.4% |
Swedish krona |
11.0961 |
11.3914 |
+2.7% |
Danish krone |
7.4607 |
7.4580 |
-0.0% |
Swiss franc |
0.9414 |
0.9615 |
+2.1% |
|
|||||
Q2 2025 |
Q2 2024 Restated* |
Q2 2024 | Organic growth |
Total growth |
|
|
605.3 |
620.4 |
617.7 |
-2.4% |
-2.0% |
|
236.9 |
248.5 |
247.3 |
-4.7% |
-4.2% |
|
503.1 |
518.6 |
518.6 |
-3.0% |
-3.0% |
Solutions |
83.5 |
81.3 |
81.3 |
+2.6% |
+2.6% |
|
1,428.8 |
1,468.8 |
1,464.8 |
-2.7% |
-2.5% |
* Revenue at 2025 scope and exchange rates | |||||
|
|||||
H1 2025 |
H1 2024 Restated* |
H1 2024 | Organic growth |
Total growth |
|
|
1,207.9 |
1,253.9 |
1,251.3 |
-3.7% |
-3.5% |
|
456.2 |
494.4 |
487.3 |
-7.7% |
-6.4% |
|
1,015.2 |
1,048.1 |
1,050.5 |
-3.1% |
-3.4% |
Solutions |
164.4 |
160.3 |
160.3 |
+2.6% |
+2.6% |
|
2,843.7 |
2,956.8 |
2,949.4 |
-3.8% |
-3.6% |
* Revenue at 2025 scope and exchange rates |
|
||||
H1 2025 | H1 2024 | |||
€m | % | €m | % | |
|
||||
Revenue |
1,207.9 |
1,251.3 |
||
Operating profit on business activity |
110.9 |
9.2% |
119.2 |
9.5% |
Profit from recurring operations |
102.6 |
8.5% |
106.6 |
8.5% |
Operating profit |
97.8 |
8.1% |
99.4 |
7.9% |
|
||||
Revenue |
456.2 |
487.3 |
||
Operating profit on business activity |
43.5 |
9.5% |
56.7 |
11.6% |
Profit from recurring operations |
36.1 |
7.9% |
49.8 |
10.2% |
Operating profit |
32.4 |
7.1% |
48.2 |
9.9% |
|
||||
Revenue |
1,015.2 |
1,050.5 |
||
Operating profit on business activity |
82.0 |
8.1% |
97.3 |
9.3% |
Profit from recurring operations |
73.2 |
7.2% |
84.2 |
8.0% |
Operating profit |
63.9 |
6.3% |
72.6 |
6.9% |
Solutions | ||||
Revenue |
164.4 |
160.3 |
||
Operating profit on business activity |
25.0 |
15.2% |
12.2 |
7.6% |
Profit from recurring operations |
22.0 |
13.4% |
10.6 |
6.6% |
Operating profit |
21.2 |
12.9% |
9.5 |
5.9% |
|
||||
H1 2025 | H1 2024 | |||
€m | % | €m | % | |
Revenue |
2,843.7 |
2,949.4 |
||
Staff costs |
-1,839.6 |
-1,862.9 |
||
Operating expenses |
-658.7 |
-727.1 |
||
Depreciation, amortisation and provisions |
-84.1 |
-74.2 |
||
Operating profit on business activity |
261.4 |
9.2% |
285.3 |
9.7% |
Share-based payment expenses |
-15.9 |
-13.2 |
||
Amortisation of allocated intangible assets |
-11.6 |
-20.9 |
||
Profit from recurring operations |
234.0 |
8.2% |
251.2 |
8.5% |
Other operating income and expenses |
-18.6 |
-21.5 |
||
Operating profit |
215.3 |
7.6% |
229.7 |
7.8% |
Cost of net financial debt |
-10.4 |
-8.8 |
||
Other financial income and expenses |
-7.6 |
-9.4 |
||
Tax expense |
-46.7 |
-33.3 |
||
Net profit from associates |
-1.9 |
-1.4 |
||
Net profit of continuing activities |
148.6 |
5.2% |
176.9 |
6.0% |
Net profit of discontinued activities |
- |
-46.1 |
||
Consolidated net profit |
148.6 |
5.2% |
130.7 |
4.4% |
Attributable to the Group |
142.0 |
5.0% |
123.2 |
4.2% |
Non-controlling interests |
6.6 |
7.6 |
||
Weighted average number of shares in issue excl. treasury shares (m) |
19.49 |
20.16 |
||
Basic earnings per share (€) |
7.29 |
6.11 |
|
||
H1 2025 |
H1 2024 |
|
Operating profit on business activity |
261.4 |
285.3 |
Depreciation, amortisation and provisions (excl. allocated intangible assets) |
78.9 |
74.1 |
EBITDA |
340.3 |
359.4 |
Non-cash items |
-3.5 |
-4.1 |
Tax paid |
-23.2 |
-35.2 |
Change in operating working capital requirement |
-335.5 |
-152.3 |
Reorganisation and restructuring costs |
-20.8 |
-18.1 |
Net cash flow from operations |
-42.7 |
149.7 |
Lease payments |
-61.2 |
-62.7 |
Change relating to investing activities |
-28.9 |
-28.0 |
Net interest |
-9.1 |
-9.4 |
Additional contributions related to defined-benefit pension plans |
-4.0 |
-5.7 |
Free cash flow |
-145.9 |
44.0 |
Capital increase |
0.0 |
-180.0 |
Impact of changes in scope |
-22.4 |
-91.8 |
Financial investments |
-1.2 |
12.8 |
Dividends paid |
-90.2 |
-93.9 |
Dividends received from equity-accounted companies |
0.0 |
0.3 |
Purchase and sale of treasury shares |
-50.1 |
-13.4 |
Impact of changes in foreign exchange rates |
-4.9 |
-0.7 |
Impact of SBS net financial debt recognised in discontinued operations |
- |
211.7 |
Change in net financial debt |
-314.6 |
-111.0 |
Net financial debt at beginning of period |
382.2 |
946.0 |
Net financial debt at end of period |
696.8 |
1,057.0 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
2,357.6 |
2,348.2 |
Allocated intangible assets |
162.8 |
174.3 |
Other fixed assets |
382.3 |
345.2 |
Right-of-use assets |
414.1 |
384.4 |
Equity-accounted investments |
1.0 |
1.0 |
Fixed assets |
3,317.9 |
3,253.0 |
Net deferred tax |
62.6 |
73.1 |
Trade accounts receivable (net) |
1,468.8 |
1,291.4 |
Other assets and liabilities |
-1,421.9 |
-1,562.5 |
Working capital requirement (WCR) |
46.9 |
-271.1 |
Assets + WCR |
3,427.3 |
3,055.0 |
Equity |
2,030.0 |
1,984.5 |
Pensions – Post-employment benefits |
141.0 |
135.9 |
Provisions for contingencies and losses |
108.0 |
125.2 |
Lease liabilities |
451.6 |
427.3 |
Net financial debt |
696.8 |
382.2 |
Capital invested |
3,427.3 |
3,055.0 |
|
|||||
H1 2025 |
2024 |
H1 2024 |
2023 |
H1 2023 |
|
Net profit attributable to the Group (€m) |
142.0 |
251.0 |
123.2 |
183.7 |
112.5 |
Weighted average number of shares in issue exluding treasury shares |
19.49 |
20.14 |
20.16 |
20.22 |
20.20 |
Basic earnings per share (€) |
7.29 |
12.46 |
6.11 |
9.08 |
5.57 |
Basic recurring earnings per share (€) |
8.01 |
17.55 |
9.28 |
16.42 |
7.57 |
Theoretical average number of shares |
19.70 |
20.33 |
20.49 |
20.55 |
20.40 |
Diluted eranings per share (€) |
7.21 |
12.34 |
6.01 |
8.94 |
5.51 |
Diluted recurring earnings per share (€) |
7.92 |
17.38 |
9.13 |
16.16 |
7.50 |
|
||
|
30/06/2024* | |
|
19,560 |
20,220 |
|
22,659 |
22,989 |
Outside |
233 |
234 |
International service centres |
7,852 |
7,970 |
Total |
50,304 |
51,413 |
* Workforce excluding interns, in accordance with the CSRD |
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250724834895/en/
Investor Relations
Olivier Psaume
olivier.psaume@soprasteria.com
+33 (0)1 40 67 68 16
Press Relations
caroline.simon@image7.fr
+33 (0)1 53 70 74 65
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