Worldline matches Q3 revenue estimates on merchant services strength

French digital payments company Worldline reported on Wednesday third-quarter revenue broadly in line with analyst expectations, as a resilient performance in its merchant services business offset the termination of some contracts.

Revenue in the third quarter of the year fell 1.1 per cent organically year-on-year to 1.16 billion euros ($1.3 billion), in line with analysts' average estimate of 1.17 billion euros in a company-provided consensus.

The merchant services business - which contributes around 75 per cent of the group's adjusted core profit and provides services in payment terminals and e-commerce - saw 0.2 per cent growth in revenue in the quarter, helped by steady growth in Central Europe and increased market share in southern Europe.

Facing slower consumer spending in Europe and a share price slump that led to its exclusion from France's blue-chip CAC 40 index last year, Worldline's attempts to attract investors have been hampered by repeated cuts to its financial targets.

The Paris-based company, which processes digital transactions for clients ranging from merchants to government agencies, issued profit warnings in August and September, the latter of which was announced with the exit of long-time CEO Gilles Grapinet.

The group confirmed its 2024 forecasts for adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of around 1.1 billion euros and organic growth of about 1 per cent.

"We aim to return progressively to mid-single-digit revenue growth in 2025," CEO Marc-Henri Desportes said in a statement.

Desportes was appointed for an interim period as Worldline management is still looking for Grapinet's successor.

($1 = 0.9206 euros)

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