Shares of SAI Global Limited (ASX: SAI) have risen today after the company reported an increase in net profit after tax (NPAT). It also increased gross revenue by 4.1% in what was the group's 13th consecutive year of revenue growth.
For investors who aren't overly familiar with SAI Global's activities, the company helps companies and other organisations manage risk and adhere to regulations with solutions including risk management software, standards, and regulatory content as well as ethics and compliance learning.
Although the company reported a 35.1% increase in net profit (NPAT), that figure was heavily inflated by a significant cost that was incurred in the prior year. A fairer representation of earnings growth was 5.3% to $58.6 million, which was still greater than revenue growth for the year.
Investors will note, however, that the company's growth was also bolstered by favourable currency movements which boosted the results of SAI's foreign businesses – especially those in Europe and North America. On a constant currency basis, revenue actually fell 0.2% for the year, which is perhaps one of the reasons why SAI Global's shares have declined so heavily over the past 12 months.
Commenting on the results, SAI's CEO Mr Peter Mullins said: "This has been a busy but challenging year for SAI. We have been working consistently to finalise and consolidate the major change program that has been underway at the company. In our Risk Management Solutions business we have completed the implementation of the new operating structure. As a result of this work we saw momentum building in the final quarter of the year."
For all the dividend lovers out there, management declared a final dividend of 9.5 cents, fully franked, taking the full-year dividend to 17 cents. The final dividend will be paid to shareholders on 23 September, 2016, with a record date of 31 August, 2016.
Pleasingly, management also expects momentum from the final quarter of the 2016 financial year to flow on in FY17, suggesting that growth will continue from each product portfolio. It will also continue to explore its options regarding a potential sale of its Assurance business, although it will only consider a sale if it receives a compelling offer.
The shares are trading 1.4% higher at the time of writing at $3.54, but did trade as high as $3.67 earlier in the session.
