Key highlights

  • Aristocrat reported normalised NPATA of $794.0 million, up 8.4% or 16.3% in constant currency, for the half year to 31 March 2026.
  • The Interim Dividend was 50.0 cents per share, up 13.6%, and $981 million was returned to shareholders.
  • The on-market buy-back program was increased by $1 billion to up to $2.5 billion in aggregate and extended to 12 May 2027.

Aristocrat Leisure Limited (ASX:ALL) announced its results for the six months to 31 March 2026 on 13 May 2026. The document provided is the half-year result rather than a full-year annual report. It covered revenue, earnings, dividends and Capital management across the group’s gaming, social casino and interactive businesses.

About Aristocrat

Aristocrat is a gaming content and technology company. It operates Aristocrat Gaming, which sells and leases gaming machines and content; Product Madness, a social casino business; and Aristocrat Interactive, which covers iLottery, content and other digital activities.

Half-year financial results

Normalised Revenue was $3,028.2 million, down 0.2% on a reported basis and up 6.4% in constant currency. EBITA was $1,117.4 million, up 6.2% (14.0% in constant currency), and the EBITA Margin rose to 36.9% from 34.7%. NPAT was $725.4 million, up 9.1%, and NPATA was $794.0 million, up 8.4% (16.3% in constant currency).

Fully diluted EPSA was 129.0 cents, up 10.9% (19.1% in constant currency). The gap between reported and constant currency figures shows the effect of Exchange Rate movements on translated earnings.

Business segments

Aristocrat Gaming reported Market Share gains, led by North American and Australian outright sales and growth in its Gaming Operations installed base. Product Madness social casino franchises continued to outperform their market, helped by Investment in user Acquisition and direct-to-consumer conversion.

Aristocrat Interactive’s revenue growth was driven by iLottery and content, partly offset by a decision to exit its White Label business.

Dividend and capital management

The interim dividend was 50.0 cents per share, up 13.6% from 44.0 cents. The company returned $981 million to shareholders through dividends and on-market buy-backs in the period, and increased its buy-back program by $1 billion to up to $2.5 billion in aggregate, with the program extended to 12 May 2027.

Risks to consider

Reported revenue was slightly lower than the prior period, and growth depended on constant currency movements. Earnings are exposed to exchange rates, particularly the US dollar.

Gaming Demand depends on regulation, customer capital spending and product cycles. The social casino and iLottery businesses face competition and regulatory scrutiny, and the exit from White Label reduces one revenue stream.

Catalysts to watch

Items to watch include the next result, progress with the expanded buy-back, North American and Australian outright sales, growth in the Gaming Operations installed base, and iLottery and content performance at Aristocrat Interactive.