Solid 2024, on the right track for 2025
Telenor Group delivered solid results in the fourth quarter, and a stronger cash flow than previously indicated. Telenor's strategic direction remains firm, with continued growth and transformation efforts, combined with reduced capital expenditure in 2025. The Board of Directors of Telenor proposes a dividend of NOK 9.60 per share for 2024.
Fourth quarter and full year 2024 highlights:
- Nordic mobile service revenues grew 4.6 per cent for the full year, and total service revenues grew 3.6 per cent to NOK 44.7 billion
- EBITDA before other items of NOK 35.0 billion for the full year
- Free cash flow before M&A of NOK 11.4 billion for the full year, of which NOK 3.1 billion in Q4
- Stopped 2.2 billion digital crime attempts in Norway in 2024
During the fourth quarter, Telenor Group delivered organic service revenues growth of 1.1 percent, and organic EBITDA growth of 2.0 percent. EBITDA before other items ended at NOK 8.5 billion in the quarter.
- It has been a pleasure joining Telenor and getting to know the people, customers and the business. For my part, it is important to get a good understanding of Telenor, and to use our collective knowledge to set the right course for the future. I am proud of the results the team has achieved in 2024, says CEO Benedicte Schilbred Fasmer.
Solid in the Nordics, Challenging in Bangladesh
In the Nordics, Telenor delivered 2.3 percent organic growth in service revenues in the quarter, while organic EBITDA growth ended at 6.0 percent due to efficiency initiatives.
- Telenor has a solid market position in the Nordics that we continue to strengthen. We serve as our customers' safety net, ensuring that they receive greater value for their money. Our Nordic revenues are outpacing the general inflation, demonstrating strong performance in offering more-for-more to our customers. A special recognition goes to Finland, as the growth winner in the quarter, but most importantly we deliver solid results across all the Nordic markets, says Fasmer.
Bangladesh’s economic recovery has been slow following the severe unrest in the summer of 2024. Telenor’s team has shown tremendous resilience in a challenging situation. Telenor Pakistan shows impressive performance despite challenging macroeconomic conditions.
Strong Cash Flow
Free cash flow before M&A and potential items reached NOK 3.1 billion in the fourth quarter. For the entire year, free cash flow before M&A totaled NOK 11.4 billion, well above the outlook for the year. M&A income also contributed positively with NOK 1.9 billion, for a total free cash flow including M&A of NOK 13.3 billion. The strong cash flow is primarily due to EBITDA growth in the Nordics and reduced working capital.
Telenor's ambition for the current year is a free cash flow of around NOK 13 billion, before M&A and any potential items.
A strong cash flow is important to deliver on Telenor's dividend policy of nominal growth in dividends. The Telenor Board of Directors proposes a total dividend of NOK 9.60 per share for the financial year 2024 to the Annual General Meeting in May – up from NOK 9.50 for the financial year 2023.
- Setting financial targets always involves some level of risk. However, we believe that visibility has significantly improved, giving us greater confidence that our goals for 2025 are within reach. For the year ahead, we have two main priorities. First, we must deliver on our strategy. Second, we need to continue evolving as a future-oriented, customer-centric and technology-driven company, and continue to develop a winning culture at Telenor. This will be key to driving earnings growth and return on capital, while delivering on our dividend commitment, in the years ahead, says Fasmer.
Combating Digital Crime
Telenor's efforts to combat economic crime continue. In the fourth quarter alone, Telenor stopped 716 million digital crime attempts in Norway. Throughout 2024, Telenor successfully prevented more than 2.2 billion digital crime attempts against Norwegian customers.
Financial outlook for 2025:
- Low single-digit organic growth in Nordic service revenues
- Mid-single-digit organic growth in EBITDA in the Nordics
- For the Nordic business, capex excl. leases are expected to account for around 14% of revenues
- Low-to-mid single-digit organic growth in the Group's EBITDA
- Free cash flow of around NOK 13 billion before M&A and potential items related to prior years’ activities
For further questions, please contact:
Thomas Midteide, SVP Communications, mobile
Frank Maaø, SVP Capital Markets and Investor Relations, mobile
