Craneware Share News (CRW)

(Sharecast News) - United States healthcare software company Craneware reported a 6% improvement in revenue in its final results on Tuesday, to $75.6m.
The AIM-traded firm said its three-year total visible revenue for the year ended 30 June, including the contribution from Sentry from 13 July onwards, was $471.2m, up from $196.2m at the same time last year.

Adjusted EBITDA was 8% firmer year-on-year at $27.1m, while profit before tax fell to $13.2m from $19.3m, which the board said reflected exceptional costs associated with the funding of acquisitions.

Basic adjusted earnings per share increased 6% to 69 cents, and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased to 68.1 cents from 64.4 cents.

The company said basic earnings per share came in at 48.1 cents, down from 62.8 cents, and diluted earnings per share were 47.5 cents, falling from 61.9 cents.

Operating cash conversion was described as "strong", at 99% of adjusted EBITDA, rising from 92% in the 2020 financial year.

Cash at year-end totalled $235.6m, up from $47.9m a year earlier, after the company raised $187.3m net via a share placing, and prior to the completion of the Sentry acquisition.

The board proposed an increase in the final dividend to 15.5p, or 21.47 cents, per share, up from 15p and 18.45 cents for 2020, respectively.

That would make for a total dividend for the year of 27.5p, or 38.1 cents, per share, rising from 26.5p and 32.60 cents a year ago.

Looking ahead, the company said it was seeing continued sales momentum across the now-enlarged group, with the integration of Sentry proceeding faster than its initial expectations.

It said the long-term transition to "value-based care" in the sector provided an ongoing basis for growth, with the board saying it was "confident" in a return to double-digit organic growth in future years.

"Our team delivered a positive performance in the year, against the ongoing backdrop of the pandemic, supporting our customers through an incredibly challenging period while continuing to execute on our strategy," said chief executive officer Keith Neilson.

"We experienced continued sales momentum and strong adoption of our Trisus cloud based platform, paving the way for accelerated future growth.

"The successful completion of the acquisition of Sentry Data Systems following the end of the year marks a transformational point in our journey, considerably expanding our customer base, data sets, product offering and market presence."

Neilson said the combined companies would offer healthcare organisations "innovative" ways to measurably improve operational and financial performance, to generate sustainable margins.

"With a strong balance sheet, high levels of recurring revenues, high customer retention rates and visible revenue in the next three years of $471.2m, we have a strong financial foundation from which to accelerate growth and to fulfil our potential, thereby increasing future shareholder value.

"We have enjoyed early sales momentum across the now-enlarged group, and with our expanded opportunity we look to the future with considerable excitement and confidence as we work with the Sentry team to transform the business of US healthcare."

At 1011 BST, shares in Craneware were up 0.87% at 2,320p.