Kantar, the world’s leading data-driven insights and consulting company today released financial results for the quarter ended 31 March 2021.
- Q1 Revenue up 3% y/y to $896m, with 6 of 7 divisions delivering growth, including double digit growth from Worldpanel and Public, returning top-line to pre-pandemic trading
- Gross Margin improved by 1% pt to 66%, delivering $592m, +5% y/y, as we continue to drive more efficiencies and automation via platforms and offers such as Marketplace, Worldpanel+ and HBG, and continue to shift our survey methodology to on-line.
- Strong conversion of this revenue growth to bottom line profit with $118m EBITDA, up 59% y/y, reflecting our progress against transformation plans together with effective cost control.
- Q1 revenue excluding the divested Health division was $848m up 3% y/y.
- Positive outlook for the rest of the year with strong levels of secured revenue and double- digit revenue growth expected for
- Required antitrust clearance has been obtained. Close expected within the first half of Q3 2021.
Ian Griffiths, Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer commented: “We have made a good start to 2021, with our growth taking us back to pre-pandemic trading levels. Trading improved through 2020 and the momentum we carried into the year is reflected in this quarter’s results. The first quarter of 2021 was our third sequential quarter of improving performance and I am pleased to see it continue into the second quarter.
The double-digit growth we saw in Worldpanel, together with good results in our Brand, Creative, Consulting and Analytics businesses, reflects the trust client’s place in our data, insights and consultancy services to help them understand how their markets have evolved through the pandemic, and where their next wave of growth will emerge.
Our Audience Measurement business continues to be robust and our support of governments around the world in managing the policy implications of COVID-19 was an impressive driver of growth for our Kantar Public business. I am pleased too with the pace of transition we are achieving in the shift of our survey methodology from face-to-face to online.
We continue to invest in the business, our talent, our technology and new products as we accelerate the pace of our transformation plan. This is already delivering margin improvement and structural savings that will benefit future years.
