Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
JCDecaux SE (Euronext Paris: DEC), the number one outdoor advertising company worldwide, has announced its 2024 half-year results.
Commenting on the 2024 half-year results, Jean-Charles Decaux, Chairman of the Executive Board and Co-CEO of JCDecaux, said:
“Our H1 2024 group revenue grew by +14.0%, +13.4% on an organic basis, to reach €1,807.6 million, including +15.4% in Q2 2024 on an organic basis, above our expectations, thanks to a strong performance of digital revenue and a strong trading momentum in all activities.
Digital Out of Home (DOOH) grew strongly at +28.3% in H1 2024, +27.8% on an organic basis, to reach 36.8% of Group revenue vs 32.7% in H1 2023, while analogue advertising revenue grew mid single-digit despite the conversion of some premium analogue sites to digital. We maintained our focus on the selective roll-out of digital screens in prime locations, as well as on the development of our data and programmatic capabilities.
Programmatic advertising revenues through the VIOOH SSP (supply-side platform), which include mostly incremental revenue from innovative dynamic data-driven campaigns and new advertisers, grew by +61.8% in H1 2024 to reach €59.7 million i.e. 9.0% of our digital revenue. The DOOH programmatic ecosystem continued to gain traction, with the dynamism and the growing number of DSPs (demand-side platforms) connected to VIOOH (the most connected SSP of the OOH media industry with 46 DSPs connected) now active in 21 countries, including Displayce a DSP connected in 80 countries.
All activities grew double-digit organically in H1 2024. Street Furniture grew by +10.6% with continued strong momentum, Transport grew by +18.8% reflecting the solid growth in both airports and public transport systems and Billboard grew by +10.4% driven by its most digitised markets.
All geographies grew positively organically in H1 2024 including Asia-Pacific, United Kingdom, Rest of Europe and Rest of the World growing double-digit. The gradual recovery of our activity in China, which remained well below pre-covid levels, continued with a double-digit organic revenue growth rate.
Our top 10 advertising categories are up mid-single to strong double-digit revenue growth led by FMCG and TMT advertisers.
Our adjusted operating margin demonstrated a good operating leverage as it has improved by €58.3 million to reach €261.4 million, a +28.7% year-on-year increase, twice the revenue growth rate. All activities improved their operating margin rates. Transport margin rate increased but remained affected by the lower level of activity in China. Billboard operating margin rate significantly improved driven by both our most digitised markets and the rationalisation of our billboard activities in France. Our other P&L performance indicators improved accordingly. The sale of 13.56% of the shares of APG|SGA also had a positive impact on our EBIT and net result. Operating cash flows reached €138.9 million increasing by €24.5 million year-on-year, +21.5% compared to H1 2023, and our free cash flow improved significantly to reach a satisfactory level given the seasonality of our activity at -€20.1 million.
We have confirmed once again the excellence of our environmental performance, recognised as best-in-class by extra-financial rating agencies including our placement on the CDP A List. Our Climate Strategy aiming for Net Zero Carbon by 2050 (scopes 1, 2, and 3) has been approved by the SBTi.
As far as Q3 is concerned, we now expect an organic revenue growth rate around +10% driven by continued strong digital revenue growth across all business segments and including the positive impact of the Paris Olympic Games in France.
We are confident that Out of Home (OOH) will continue to grow its market share in a fragmented media landscape with Digital Out of Home (DOOH) being the fastest growing media segment. JCDecaux as the industry leader and the most digitised global OOH Media company is well positioned to benefit from this digital transformation.”
Adjusted revenue for the six months ending June 30th, 2024 increased by 14.0% to €1,807.6 million from €1,585.0 million in the same period last year. On an organic basis (i.e. excluding the negative impact of -€7.3 million from foreign exchange variations and the positive impact of €18.2 million from changes in perimeter), adjusted revenue increased by 13.4%. Adjusted advertising revenue, excluding revenue related to sale, rental and maintenance of street furniture and advertising displays, increased by 13.5% on an organic basis in the first half of 2024.
In the second quarter, adjusted revenue increased by 16.5% to €1,006.1 million. On an organic basis, adjusted revenue increased by 15.4% compared to Q2 2023.
Adjusted advertising revenue, excluding revenue related to sale, rental and maintenance of street furniture and advertising displays, increased by 14.6% on an organic basis in Q2 2024.
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