dotDigital raises guidance despite lockdown

dotDigital (DOTD) has increased revenue guidance through FY2021, adding ballast to an earlier October update that revealed top-line growth was in advance of consensus expectations.

It is doubtful if any business could claim to be iron-clad in the face of the pandemic, but it appears as if the software-as-a-service (SaaS) specialist has a degree of immunity due to the accelerated shift towards e-commerce. Management pointed to the diversity of the group’s customer base, coupled with “strong contracted recurring nature of [the] business model”. Indeed, recurring revenue as a percentage of total revenue increased by 200 basis points to 91 per cent. 

Clients purchase a pre-paid contract for a set period that gives them access to the platform, enabling integration of any existing e-commerce and/or customer relation technologies. The overall aim is to improve marketing efficiencies, customer retention and up-selling opportunities. The technology may well be finding favour, at least judging by a 12 per cent increase in average revenue per customer in the year to 30 June. The increase was partly down to improvements in both platform messaging and functionality, but the group’s services are also increasingly being accessed by larger clients.

All appears in good trim. Cash profits are up by a quarter, with improved cash generation at the operating level and receivables falling as a percentage of revenue. The shares are priced for growth at 40 times forward consensus, but the unfolding narrative suggests the rating is justified. Buy.

Last IC view: Buy, 95p, 15 Apr 2020