ATOSS Software AG has succeeded in increasing sales by 11 percent year on year to EUR 10.7 million in the first quarter of 2015. Despite substantial investments in the future, the specialist in workforce management also saw a further improvement in results and set new records. Operating profits (EBIT) at EUR 2.8 million were 10 percent higher than in the year before. And with orders on hand for software licenses valued at EUR 5.0 million, the outlook for the company’s continuing development in 2015 is positive. The Management Board anticipates continuing growth in 2015 for the tenth year in succession.
The results for the first quarter of 2015 clearly show that ATOSS Software AG is seamlessly continuing the pattern set over the past nine record years. The company’s business model continues to prove highly successful and extremely robust. The growth in sales underscores not just the competitive strength of ATOSS, but also the steadily increasing importance of workforce management as a corporate instrument.
Software accounted for sales of EUR 6.3 million (previous year: EUR 5.9 million), equivalent to 59 percent of the company’s overall turnover of EUR 10.7 million. Turnover in consulting – supported by the excellent order situation – was 12 percent higher year on year at EUR 2.8 million. ATOSS also recorded hardware sales of EUR 1.3 million (previous year: EUR 1.1 million), as well as miscellaneous turnover of EUR 0.3 million (previous year: EUR 0.2 million).
Despite the increase in investments particularly in research & development relative to the year before, operating profits increased from EUR 2.5 million to EUR 2.8 million. With positive financial earnings of EUR 0.6 million, earnings before taxes (EBT) climbed 17 percent to EUR 3.3 million, with net income up 15 Percent at EUR 2.3 million. ATOSS recorded earnings per share of EUR 0.57 in the first quarter, compared with EUR 0.50 in the year before. The return on sales measured against EBIT remains high at 26 percent.
This gratifying development in business also brought an increase in operating cash flow which climbed 29 percent to EUR 5.1 million (previous year: EUR 4.0 million). Consequently as of March 31, 2015 ATOSS recorded consolidated liquidity of EUR 26.2 million (previous year: EUR 19.5 million). Even after the dividend payment of EUR 0.88 per share to be proposed to shareholders at the AGM on April 28, 2015, ATOSS will still enjoy a respectable cash position and strong equity which together will safeguard the company’s outstanding future prospects.
The Management Board remains unchanged in its expectation for further highly positive development in financial year 2015 with continuing growth in sales. The current software licensing order book of EUR 5.0 million (previous year: EUR 4.1 million) provides an excellent basis on which to build. Despite further planned investments, particularly in developing new markets, and a continuing high level of expenditure on research & development amounting to around one fifth of sales, the EBIT margin is also expected to remain well above 20 percent.