Current cloud backlog of €15.4 billion, up 25% and up 29% at constant currenciesCloud revenue up 25% and up 27% at constant currenciesCloud ERP Suite revenue up 34% and up 36% at constant currenciesTotal revenue up 9% and up 10% at constant currenciesIFRS cloud gross profit up 26%, non-IFRS cloud gross profit up 27% and up 28% at constant currenciesIFRS operating profit up 29%, non-IFRS operating profit up 27% and up 28% at constant currenciesSAP raises its 2024 outlook for cloud and software revenue, operating profit and free cash flow
WALLDORF, Germany, Oct. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) announced today its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024.
Christian Klein, CEO:
Q3 was another strong quarter for SAP, and we are confidently raising our 2024 financial outlook. Cloud revenue growth developed remarkably well in the quarter, especially for our Cloud ERP Suite. Even more importantly, we are making strong progress on Business AI with groundbreaking innovations such as SAP Knowledge Graph. A significant part of our cloud deals in Q3 included AI use cases.
Dominik Asam, CFO:
We are very pleased with our third quarter performance. The 2024 transformation program has already started to yield efficiency improvements. This allowed us to deliver a strong operating profit and free cash flow, while retaining our topline momentum.
We’re now focused on carrying that momentum into Q4 to safeguard the achievement of our 2025 ambition amidst a highly volatile environment.
Financial Performance
Group results at a glance – Third quarter 2024
IFRS
Non-IFRS1
€ million, unless otherwise stated
Q3 2024
Q3 2023
∆ in %
Q3 2024
Q3 2023
∆ in %
∆ in %
const. curr.
SaaS/PaaS
4,234
3,291
29
4,234
3,291
29
30
Thereof Cloud ERP Suite2
3,636
2,711
34
3,636
2,711
34
36
Thereof Extension Suite3
597
581
3
597
581
3
4
IaaS4
117
180
–35
117
180
–35
–34
Cloud revenue
4,351
3,472
25
4,351
3,472
25
27
Cloud and software revenue
7,429
6,679
11
7,429
6,679
11
12
Total revenue
8,470
7,744
9
8,470
7,744
9
10
Share of more predictable revenue (in %)
84
82
2pp
84
82
2pp
Cloud gross profit
3,184
2,525
26
3,209
2,535
27
28
Gross profit
6,212
5,637
10
6,236
5,651
10
11
Operating profit (loss)
2,214
1,723
29
2,244
1,767
27
28
Profit (loss) after tax from continuing operations
1,441
1,272
13
1,437
1,352
6
Profit (loss) after tax5
1,441
1,272
13
1,437
1,352
6
Earnings per share – Basic (in €) from continuing operations
1.25
1.09
15
1.23
1.16
6
Earnings per share – Basic (in €)5
1.25
1.09
15
1.23
1.16
6
Net cash flows from operating activities from continuing operations
1,475
1,124
31
Free cash flow
1,248
865
44
1 For a breakdown of the individual adjustments see table “Non-IFRS Operating Expense Adjustments by Functional Areas” in this Quarterly Statement.
2 Cloud ERP Suite references the portfolio of strategic Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions that are tightly integrated with our core ERP solutions and are
included in key commercial packages, such as RISE with SAP. The following offerings contribute to Cloud ERP Suite revenue: SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP Business Technology Platform, and core
solutions for HR and payroll, spend management, commerce, customer data solutions, business process transformation, and working capital management. For additional information and
historical data on Cloud ERP Suite, see SAP’s Reporting Framework.
3 Extension Suite references SAP’s remaining SaaS and PaaS solutions that supplement and extend the functional coverage of the Cloud ERP Suite.
4 Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): The major portion of IaaS comes from SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud.
5 From continuing and discontinued operations.
Group results at a glance – Nine months ended September 2024
IFRS
Non-IFRS1
€ million, unless otherwise stated
Q1–Q3
2024
Q1–Q3
2023
∆ in %
Q1–Q3
2024
Q1–Q3
2023
∆ in %
∆ in %
const. curr.
SaaS/PaaS
12,016
9,401
28
12,016
9,401
28
29
Thereof Cloud ERP Suite revenue2
10,217
7,695
33
10,217
7,695
33
34
Thereof Extension Suite revenue3
1,799
1,706
5
1,799
1,706
5
6
IaaS4
417
564
–26
417
564
–26
–25
Cloud revenue
12,433
9,965
25
12,433
9,965
25
26
Cloud and software revenue
21,563
19,542
10
21,563
19,542
10
11
Total revenue
24,798
22,739
9
24,798
22,739
9
10
Share of more predictable revenue (in %)
84
82
2pp
84
82
2pp
Cloud gross profit
9,052
7,121
27
9,101
7,152
27
28
Gross profit
17,990
16,330
10
18,039
16,388
10
11
Operating profit (loss)
2,648
3,897
–32
5,717
4,546
26
27
Profit (loss) after tax from continuing operations
1,534
2,399
–36
3,660
3,019
21
Profit (loss) after tax5
1,534
4,763
–68
3,660
4,801
–24
Earnings per share – Basic (in €) from continuing operations
1.31
2.07
–37
3.13
2.59
21
Earnings per share – Basic (in €)5
1.31
4.21
–69
3.13
4.39
–29
Net cash flows from operating activities from continuing operations
5,772
4,284
35
Free cash flow
5,031
3,423
47
1 For a breakdown of the individual adjustments see table “Non-IFRS Operating Expense Adjustments by Functional Areas” in this Quarterly Statement.
2 Cloud ERP Suite references the portfolio of strategic Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions that are tightly integrated with our core ERP solutions and are
included in key commercial packages, such as RISE with SAP. The following offerings contribute to Cloud ERP Suite revenue: SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP Business Technology Platform, and core
solutions for HR and payroll, spend management, commerce, customer data solutions, business process transformation, and working capital management. For additional information and
historical data on Cloud ERP Suite, see SAP’s Reporting Framework.
3 Extension Suite references SAP’s remaining SaaS and PaaS solutions that supplement and extend the functional coverage of the Cloud ERP Suite.
4 Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): The major portion of IaaS comes from SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud.
5 From continuing and discontinued operations.
Financial Highlights1
Third Quarter 2024
In the third quarter, SAP’s strong business momentum continued. Current cloud backlog grew by 25% to €15.38 billion and was up 29% at constant currencies. The acquisition of WalkMe contributed approximately 1 percentage point to that growth rate. Cloud revenue was up 25% to €4.35 billion and up 27% at constant currencies, fueled by Cloud ERP Suite revenue, which was up 34% to €3.64 billion and up 36% at constant currencies.
Software licenses revenue decreased by 15% to €0.28 billion and was down 14% at constant currencies. Cloud and software revenue was up 11% to €7.43 billion and up 12% at constant currencies. Services revenue was down 2% to €1.04 billion and down 2% at constant currencies. Total revenue was up 9% to €8.47 billion and up 10% at constant currencies.
The share of more predictable revenue increased by 2 percentage points to 84% in the third quarter.
IFRS cloud gross profit was up 26% to €3.18 billion. Non-IFRS cloud gross profit was up 27% to €3.21 billion and was up 28% at constant currencies.
IFRS operating profit in the third quarter was up 29% to €2.21 billion. Non-IFRS operating profit was up 27% to €2.24 billion and was up 28% at constant currencies. Operating profit growth was mainly driven by strong revenue growth as well as disciplined execution of the 2024 transformation program.
IFRS earnings per share (basic) increased 15% to €1.25. Non-IFRS earnings per share (basic) increased 6% to €1.23. IFRS effective tax rate was 33.0% (Q3/2023: 27.8%) and non-IFRS effective tax rate was 33.4% (Q3/2023: 27.1%). Both year-over-year increases mainly resulted from a temporary inability to offset withholding taxes in Germany due to tax losses in 2024 resulting from restructuring.
Free cash flow in the third quarter increased by 44% to €1.25 billion. While around €0.3 billion was paid out for restructuring, the positive development was primarily attributable to increased profitability and lower tax payments. For the first nine months, free cash flow was up 47% to €5.03 billion.
Share Repurchase Program
In May 2023, SAP announced a share repurchase program with an aggregate volume of up to €5 billion and a term until December 31, 2025. As of September 30, 2024, SAP had repurchased 16,709,250 shares at an average price of €157.09 resulting in a purchased volume of approximately €2.62 billion under the program.
2024 Transformation Program: Focus on scalability of operations and key strategic growth areas
In 2024, SAP is further increasing its focus on key strategic growth areas, in particular business AI. It is transforming its operational setup to capture organizational synergies and AI-driven efficiencies, and to prepare the company for highly scalable future revenue growth.
To this end, as announced in January, SAP is executing a company-wide restructuring program which is anticipated to conclude in early 2025. The restructuring is intended to ensure that SAP’s skillset and resources continue to meet future business needs and is currently expected to affect 9,000 to 10,000 positions, a majority of which will be covered by voluntary leave programs and internal re-skilling measures. Reflecting re-investments into strategic growth areas and the acquisition of WalkMe, SAP now expects to exit 2024 at a headcount slightly ahead of year-end 2023.
While restructuring expenses recorded in the first nine months of 2024 total €2.8 billion, the overall expenses associated with the program are estimated to be approximately €3 billion.
Restructuring payouts in the third quarter and first nine months of 2024 amounted to €0.3 billion and €0.8 billion respectively. Overall payouts associated with the program are currently expected at approximately €3 billion, of which a mid-triple-digit million amount is expected to occur in 2025.
Business Highlights
In the third quarter, customers around the globe continued to choose “RISE with SAP” to drive their end-to-end business transformations. These customers included: B3, CAF – the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, Chalhoub Group, Cochlear, Dakota Provisions, E.ON, eBay, Energy Queensland, Equinor, FairPrice Group, Gestamp Servicios, JAPAN AIRLINES, Lands’ End, Mercado Libre, Mondelez International, OLAM Global Agri, Roche, Rolls-Royce Power Systems, Schwarz Group, Siemens Healthineers, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, SRAM, Tetra Pak, ZEON Corporation, and Zwilling.
Clorox, CPKC Railways, J.M. VOITH, KAESER KOMPRESSOREN, Nvidia, Panasonic Energy of North America, and VistaPrint went live on SAP S/4HANA Cloud in the third quarter.
Dawn Foods, DXC Technology, Gainsight, L’OCCITANE Group, Mistral AI, Palmer Candy, The Pool Tile Company, and SCHURTER Holding chose “GROW with SAP”, an offering helping customers adopt cloud ERP with speed, predictability, and continuous innovation.
Key customer wins across SAP’s solution portfolio included: AAK, Aramark, Bosideng, BY-HEALTH, Continental Automotive Technologies, Duni Group, Hamburg Commercial Bank, HR Campus, Kruger Services, Manchester City Council, Merck KGaA, PayPal, pfm medical, RWE, and VP Bank.
Breakthru Beverage Group, Cox Automotive Australia, and Heartland Dental went live on SAP solutions.
In the third quarter, SAP’s cloud revenue performance was particularly strong in APJ and EMEA and robust in the Americas region. Brazil, Chile, Germany, Italy, India, Japan and Spain had outstanding performances in cloud revenue growth while China, Saudi Arabia and the U.S. were particularly strong.
On July 30, SAP announced that the SAP Supervisory Board reached a mutual agreement with Executive Board Members Scott Russell and Julia White to leave the company’s Executive Board, effective August 31.
On September 3, SAP announced that the SAP Supervisory Board reached a mutual agreement with Chief Technology Officer and Executive Board Member Dr.-Ing. Juergen Mueller to leave the company’s Executive Board, effective September 30, 2024.
On September 12, SAP announced that it successfully completed its acquisition of WalkMe Ltd., a leading digital adoption platform company.
Financial Outlook 2024
SAP’s financial outlook 2024 is based on SAP’s updated non-IFRS definition of profit measures which, beginning in 2024, include share-based compensation expenses and exclude gains and losses from equity securities, net. For more details, please refer to the Reporting Framework section on our Investor Relations website: https://www.sap.com/investors/en/reports/reporting-framework.html.
For 2024, SAP is updating its cloud and software revenue, operating profit and free cash flow outlook and now expects:
€29.5 – 29.8 billion cloud and software revenue at constant currencies (2023: €26.92 billion), up 10% to 11% at constant currencies, raising the midpoint by €400 million. The previous range was €29.0 – 29.5 billion at constant currencies.€7.8 – 8.0 billion non-IFRS operating profit at constant currencies (2023: €6.51 billion), up 20% to 23% at constant currencies, raising the midpoint by €150 million. The previous range was €7.6 – 7.9 billion at constant currencies.€3.5 – 4.0 billion free cash flow (2023: €5.09 billion). The previous outlook was approximately €3.5 billion.
SAP continues to expect:
€17.0 – 17.3 billion cloud revenue at constant currencies (2023: €13.66 billion), up 24% to 27% at constant currencies.An effective tax rate (non-IFRS) of approximately 32% (2023: 30.3%)2.
While SAP’s 2024 financial outlook is at constant currencies, actual currency reported figures are expected to be impacted by currency exchange rate fluctuations as the company progresses through the year, as reflected in the table below.
Currency Impact Assuming September 30, 2024 Rates Apply for 2024
In percentage points
Q4 2024
FY 2024
Cloud revenue growth
–3.0pp
–1.0pp
Cloud and software revenue growth
–2.0pp
–1.0pp
Operating profit growth (non-IFRS)
–2.0pp
–2.0pp
Non-Financial Outlook 2024
In 2024, SAP continues to expect:
The Employee Engagement Index to be in a range of 70% to 74%.A Customer Net Promoter Score of 9 to 13.To steadily decrease carbon emissions across the relevant value chain, in line with our target of achieving Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030. To steadily increase the number of women in executive roles in line with our end of year 2027 target to achieve 25%.
Additional Information
This press release and all information therein is preliminary and unaudited. Due to rounding, numbers may not add up precisely. The full Q3 2024 Quarterly Statement can be downloaded from: https://www.sap.com/investors/sap-2024-q3-statement.
SAP Performance Measures
For more information about our key growth metrics and performance measures, their calculation, their usefulness, and their limitations, please refer to the following document on our Investor Relations website: https://www.sap.com/investors/performance-measures
Webcast
SAP senior management will host a financial analyst conference call on Monday, October 21st at 11:00 PM (CEST) / 10:00 PM (BST) / 5:00 PM (EDT) / 2:00 PM (PDT). The conference will be webcast on the Company’s website at https://www.sap.com/investor and will be available for replay. Supplementary financial information pertaining to the third quarter results can be found at https://www.sap.com/investor
About SAP
As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, SAP (NYSE: SAP) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted SAP to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit www.sap.com.
For customers interested in learning more about SAP products:
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+49 180 534-34-24
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This document contains forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections, or other statements about future events. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to materially differ. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors section of SAP’s 2023 Annual Report on Form 20-F.
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SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices
1The Q3 2024 results were also impacted by other effects. For details, please refer to the disclosures on page 25 of this document.
2 The effective tax rate (non-IFRS) is a non-IFRS financial measure and is presented for supplemental informational purposes only. We do not provide an outlook for the effective tax rate (IFRS) due to the uncertainty and potential variability of gains and losses associated with equity securities, which are reconciling items between the two effective tax rates (non-IFRS and IFRS). These items cannot be provided without unreasonable efforts but could have a significant impact on our future effective tax rate (IFRS).
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