BAD HOMBURG, Germany, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Fresenius Medical Care (FME), the world's leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases, announced the launch of the first tranche of its initial EUR 1 billion share buyback, which is part of its new capital allocation framework as presented at its Capital Markets Day on June 17. Today, the first tranche of up to EUR 600 million was initiated, which is planned to be completed at the latest by April 30, 2026. "With the share ...

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the full year 2024, the company generated $2.549 billion in revenue, a decrease of 0.7% year-over-year, with GAAP net income of $162.2 million compared to $235 million in 2023, and credit adjusted EBITDA of $757.7 million, reflecting a 9% decline year-over-year [17][18] - In Q4 2024, revenue was $650.3 million, up 4.8% sequentially and 1.9% year-over-year, while GAAP net income was negative $16.7 million compared to $39.3 million in Q3 and $37.3 million in Q4 2023 [18][19] - The company reported a credit adjusted EBITDA of $183.9 million for Q4, down 6.7% sequentially and 2.6% year-over-year, with a credit adjusted EBITDA margin of 28.3% compared to 31.8% in Q3 and 29.6% in Q4 last year [18][19] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Revenue from direct-to-consumer platforms was $174.6 million, up 0.1% sequentially and 8% year-over-year [19] - Bingo Blitz generated $159.1 million in revenue, down 0.5% sequentially but up 5.8% year-over-year, while Slotomania's revenue was $118.4 million, down 7.9% sequentially and 13.5% year-over-year [19][20] - Solitaire Grand Harvest revenue was $72.5 million, down 8.1% sequentially and 4.3% year-over-year, indicating underperformance [21] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company noted that acquired titles like Animals & Coins and Governor of Poker 3 showed robust performance, with Animals & Coins achieving record results during the Black Friday period [22][23] - SuperPlay contributed approximately $48 million in revenue for the quarter, reflecting only a partial period contribution due to the timing of the acquisition [23] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on executing a return to growth strategy, which includes a capital allocation framework, quarterly dividends, a buyback program, and a plan to restart M&A activities [7][10] - Over the next 12 to 18 months, the company plans to launch three new games, including Disney's Solitaire and Claire's Chronicles, while continuing to explore M&A opportunities [8][9] - The company is transitioning its portfolio away from declining legacy titles and investing in new studios to enhance growth potential [29][30] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about generating consistent top-line growth through new game launches and investments in existing titles [10][32] - The company anticipates a transitional year in 2025, with expected revenue between $2.8 billion and $2.85 billion and adjusted EBITDA between $715 million and $740 million [28][32] - Management highlighted the importance of stabilizing the business while investing in new titles, expecting in-play and SuperPlay studios to become positive EBITDA contributors by 2026 [33][34] Other Important Information - The company is adopting a more market-based executive compensation structure to align leadership interests with shareholder returns [16] - Free cash flow for the year was $396.8 million, reflecting a 9.1% decline year-over-year [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is the organic growth trajectory for 2025? - Management indicated that the existing portfolio and recently acquired titles are expected to trend around flat, with high singles growth anticipated for the casino business [39][40] Question: What are the key learnings from the DTC strategy in 2024? - Management noted that DTC has been a significant growth driver for EBITDA, with a successful strategy in place [51][52] Question: How is the new game pipeline trending? - Management expressed excitement about the upcoming launch of Disney's Solitaire, expecting it to be one of the top games in the next year [55][56] Question: How does the company view the social casino genre's growth? - Management sees stability in the genre with opportunities to gain market share, despite not expecting significant overall growth [72][73] Question: What is the roadmap for introducing more IGT content? - Management reported positive engagement from Cleopatra II and is excited about rolling out more IGT content throughout the year [84]