Plus500 reports a revenue increase of 14% at $236.3m 

Plus500, an online service provider for retail customers to trade CFDs internationally, has published a trading update for the three and nine months ended 30 September 2016.

In the nine months ended 30 September 2016, revenue was $236.3m an increase of 14% compared to the same period last year. Key customer and revenue metrics for the three and nine month periods ended 30 September 2016 were as follows:

Overview

Plus500 has reported another consistent quarter’s trading, in line with trading reported at the time of the half year results. The Company has continued to experience strong growth in new and active customers and has generated record revenues year to date.

As anticipated, there was an improvement in the EBITDA margin from 37% in H1 2016 to 43% in Q3 2016, showing the strength of the Company’s business model and its robust operating platform.

Plus500 also increased its global presence during the period. It announced new licences in Israel (on 30 September 2016) and in New Zealand (on 3 October 2016).

The Company is now regulated by five different regulators: FCA in the United Kingdom, ASIC in Australia, CySEC in Cyprus, ISA in Israel and FMA in New Zealand. This emphasises the importance the Board puts on compliance best practice in the different jurisdictions the Company operates in and the steps the Company has taken in order to provide its customers with appropriately regulated services.

Results

The Company is focused on adding high value customers, and its marketing activity has resulted in revenue from Western European countries being stable and accounting for 75% of total revenue in the third quarter 2016 (Q3 2015: 75%).

In Q3 2016, ARPU stood at $1,107 compared to $1,037 in Q2 2016 and $1,534 in Q3 2015. This is due to a combination of a continuing increase in active and new customers (as new customers do not contribute significant revenue in the quarter they are recruited in) and a slight decrease in customer churn which is consistent with the previous quarter.

The Board believes that the continued growth in new customers, reduction in churn and an increase in the life time value of customers will have a beneficial long term effect on the Company’s income and a short term impact on ARPU. In addition, the lifetime value of the Group’s customers is increasing, as a greater proportion of higher value customers are being added, as well as the loyalty of customers, measured by their longevity on the platform, is growing.

The Company’s AUAC for Q3 2016 was $1,300 compared to $1,347 in Q2 2016 and $1,468 in Q3 2015, and stands at $1,320 for the nine months ended 30 September 2016. The Company continues to make efforts to improve the efficiency of the Company’s marketing strategies for acquiring new customers.

Outlook

Having attracted a record number of new customers so far this year through its investment in marketing, the Company intends to focus on profitability for the remainder of the year and consolidate the benefits of this expenditure. The Company has entered Q4 2016 with positive momentum and the Board believes the Company is on track to meet market expectations.

Asaf Elimelech, Chief Executive Officer of Plus500, commented:
“Our third quarter continued the strong progress of the first half, with a significant number of new customers being gained, and margins recovering. We remain on track to achieve our expectations for the year as a whole.”

Source: Plus500 – Q3 Trading Update

 

 

 

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