Karooooo .(KARO) - 2026 Q3 - Earnings Call Transcript

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - In Q3 FY 2026, Karooooo's ARR increased by 22% to ZAR 5,106 million, and on a U.S. dollar basis, it increased by 28% to $298 million [4][20] - Total revenue for Q3 increased by 22% to ZAR 1,410 million, with subscription revenue rising by 20% to ZAR 1,239 million [7][19] - Operating profit increased by 14% to ZAR 369 million, and earnings per share rose by 11% to ZAR 8.55 [19][24] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cartrack's subscription revenue grew by 20% to ZAR 1,236 million, accounting for 97% of its total revenue [20][21] - Karooooo Logistics' revenue reached ZAR 135 million, an increase of 24% [15][20] - Cartrack's operating profit margin was 28%, while Karooooo Logistics had a 7% operating profit margin [7][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - South Africa represented 72% of total Cartrack subscription revenue, with a subscription revenue growth of 21% [11][12] - Southeast Asia and the Middle East saw a 14% increase in subscription revenue, while Europe experienced a 24% increase [13][14][22] - The total subscriber count increased by 16% to approximately 2.6 million, with record net additions of 111,000 in Q3 [10][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to strengthen its leadership position in South Africa by increasing the adoption of video solutions and Cartrack Tag among existing customers [16][27] - Karooooo is focused on expanding its distribution capabilities in Asia and Europe, with a strong emphasis on capital allocation for organic growth and innovation [17][28] - The company is committed to maintaining strong unit economics and profitability while pursuing growth opportunities in under-penetrated markets [4][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the market opportunity in South Africa, highlighting a long runway for subscription growth [12][13] - The company noted that the appreciation of the South African rand has created a currency translation headwind on reported revenue, but underlying operating momentum remains strong [25][26] - Management remains focused on long-term growth and shareholder value, prioritizing investments in sales capacity and customer acquisition [17][28] Other Important Information - The company reported a net cash position of ZAR 531 million and maintained healthy debtor collection days at 31 days [24] - Karooooo's LTV to CAC ratio remains above nine times, indicating strong retention and efficient distribution [5][11] - The company plans to return surplus capital to shareholders through dividends when growth opportunities are not available [17] Q&A Session Summary Question: How is the headcount increase in Asia progressing? - The company is currently at around 40% of the targeted 70% increase, with many hires expected in January and February [30] Question: When will the investment in sales and marketing stabilize? - The stabilization will depend on the efficiency of sales and marketing strategies, with plans to continue increasing investment given the large addressable market [31] Question: How far along is the cross-selling of Tag and video in South Africa? - The company is in the early stages of cross-selling and expects stronger momentum in the next financial year [32] Question: What drove the strong pickup in South Africa subscriber growth? - Subscriber growth is in accordance with the plan, driven by increased footprint and execution capabilities [36] Question: How does the Volkswagen OEM integration impact European growth? - The integration allows for quicker vehicle onboarding to the platform, although operational issues with OEM telemetry devices remain [40]