dLocal Reports 2024 Fourth Quarter Financial Results

Full Year 2024 results

US$25.6 billion Total Payment Volume, up 45% year-over-year

Revenue of US$746 million, up 15% year-over-year

113% Net Revenue Retention Rate

Gross Profit of US$295 million, up 6% year-over-year

Adjusted EBITDA of US$189 million, down 7% year-over-year

Fourth Quarter 2024

US$7.7 billion Total Payment Volume, up 51% year-over-year and 18% quarter-over-quarter

Revenue of US$204 million, up 9% year-over-year and 10% quarter-over-quarter

106% Net Revenue Retention Rate

Gross Profit of US$84 million, up 20% year-over-year and 7% quarter-over-quarter

Adjusted EBITDA of US$57 million, up 16% year-over-year and 9% quarter-over-quarter

• Record TPV of $26 billion, a strong growth to 45% YoY with mix continuing to move to newer more attractive markets, while core markets rebounded from Q3 softness;

• Revenue and gross profits hitting record highs of $746 million and $295 million, respectively;

• Adjusted EBITDA to GP margins closing out the year at 64%, but improving consistently as the year progressed.

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Feb. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DLocal Limited ("dLocal”, "we”, "us”, and "our”) (NASDAQ:DLO), a technology - first payments platform today announced its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2024..

As we walk through a review of our performance over the past quarter and year, and as we have repeatedly mentioned, we think of five pillars underpinning dLocal's investment thesis:

• A massive addressable market, given the untapped potential of emerging and frontier markets as they digitize payments and merchants go to market throughout the Global South. 85% of the world's population resides in emerging markets¹, and two thirds of global growth by 2035 will come from there².
• Consistent high top line growth, driven by a proven track record of delivering value to the world's most sophisticated global digital merchants that has allowed us to capture a market leading share of this expanding TAM.
• Attractive margin business with potential to deliver operational leverage once we have laid the foundational blocks and further scale benefits kick in.
• Strong cash generating financial model as Net Income converts well into FCF.
• Investment in product development capabilities to drive growth through new categories, products, feature innovations, and potential M&A activity.

These strong 2024 results should be seen in the context of a weak first quarter followed by progressively stronger quarter-over-quarter performance, and the continuation of an investment cycle aimed at achieving greater scalability for our business.

Building on last quarter's positive trend, our TPV grew over 50% year-over-year, despite a strong Q4 2023 comparison. Quarter-over-quarter, TPV growth accelerated to nearly 20%, driven by commerce seasonality, and strength in remittances and ride-hailing. In constant currency³, given general weakness in Emerging Markets currencies, those growth rates are even more impressive, about 30 points higher year-over-year.

Revenues surpassed the milestone of over $200 million in Q4, representing a 9% year-over-year growth. In constant currencies⁴, revenue growth for the period would have been around 40% year-over-year.

Our growth continues to reinforce our position as a trusted partner for global companies seeking to do business across emerging markets, with performance coming from a well diversified list of countries, with notable contributions from Argentina, Egypt, Other LatAm and Other Africa and Asia markets. As a result of our expansion into more frontier markets, we also continue to see solid growth in our cross-border volumes.

In terms of profitability, we reached a record gross profit of $84 million, with a net take rate at 1.1%, reflecting the market dynamic where higher volumes drive lower take rates, increase in the payouts share, and the depreciation of emerging market currencies. To offset this, we are driving cost efficiencies through processor and broker renegotiations and improvements in our hedging strategy. We also continue our push into higher take rate markets and verticals, which over the long term, should partially offset the take rate compression.

Despite the ongoing step up in investments in our engineering team, operational capabilities, and license portfolio to support our long-term growth ambitions, our Adjusted EBITDA hit a record $57 million in the quarter, with an adjusted EBITDA over gross profit margin improving quarter-over-quarter to 68%.

Cash generation was also solid, as we continue to increase free cash available to deploy behind our capital allocation strategy. This sustained cash generation increases our flexibility when thinking through M&A, buybacks or re-investing in a disciplined manner back into the business.

In 2024, we added 9 licenses and registrations, including the UK FCA's Authorised Payment Institution license, which enhances our competitive edge and demonstrates our commitment to compliant practices and regulatory oversight.

To sum up, Q4 marked the successful end to 2024 in terms of consistent TPV growth, controlled take rate decline, and balance of investment for future growth with a healthy margin and free cash profile.

Looking ahead to our 2025 guidance⁵, we expect a strong TPV growth of 35% - 45% year-over-year, with a revenue growth of 25% - 35% year-over-year that shows this sustained momentum of our top line. We see gross profit growth of 20% - 25% year-over-year, and Adjusted EBITDA growth between 20% and 30% year-over-year.

Considering those assumptions, we should expect a net take rate compression while delivering high TPV growth even at our scale. Over the midterm, we will work to maintain strong TPV while recognizing that given the extremely strong levels of TPV retention we deliver, our larger merchants will continue to attain lower pricing tiers. We will strive to offset this effect through growth in higher take rate new verticals, natural mix shift towards higher take rate frontier markets, and new revenue streams through product launches.

This guidance highlights that our combination of revenue growth, margin structure and free cash generation is not that common. There are not that many companies today who are as profitable as we are, growing revenues at the pace we are growing, and consistently generating free cash.

As known, our business thrives in fast-growing, dynamic markets with massive opportunities in digital payments across emerging markets, driven by strong demand and long-term growth trends. However, these markets also bring volatility from macroeconomic shifts, regulatory changes, and currency fluctuations. While we are confident in our long-term high-growth potential, providing mid-term guidance may not accurately reflect the predictability over a multi-year timeframe. For this reason, we have made the decision to discontinue mid-term guidance. We will continue to focus on delivering strong operational execution so as to hit the annual targets we disclose.

Looking ahead to 2025, we are confident in our ability to sustain momentum. Our investments in technology, product innovation, and market expansion position us well for growth. Despite the volatility of emerging markets, our disciplined scaling, local expertise, and commitment to delivering value to merchants will differentiate us. Our strategy focuses on capturing the potential of digital payments in high-growth regions, driving operational efficiencies, and reinforcing market leadership. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and committed to executing with the same rigor and discipline that have defined our success.

¹ Source: Euromonitor International: Reaching the emerging middle class beyond BRIC; ² Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence. ³ Please see Reconciliation of TPV and Revenue constant currency measures to reported results of Q4 2024 Earnings Presentation; ⁴ Please see Reconciliation of TPV and Revenue constant currency measures to reported results of Q4 2024 Earnings Presentation; ⁵ please see Full year 2025 outlook on slide 23 of Q4 2024 Earnings Presentation.

Fourth quarter 2024 financial highlights

• Total Payment Volume ("TPV”) reached a record US$7.7 billion in the fourth quarter, up 51% year-over-year compared to US$5.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2023 and up 18% compared to US$6.5 billion in the third quarter of 2024. In constant currencies¹, TPV growth for the period would have been 81% year-over-year.

• Revenues amounted to US$204.5 million, up 9% year-over-year compared to US$188.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and up 10% compared to US$185.8 million in the third quarter of 2024. This quarter-over-quarter increase was mostly driven by volume increase in Egypt, as well as positive results in Other LatAm and Other Africa and Asia, with notable performance in South Africa, Turkey, Colombia and Ecuador. In constant currencies1, revenue growth for the period would have been 42% year-over-year.

• Gross profit was US$83.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, up 20% compared to US$69.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and up 7% compared to US$78.2 million in the third quarter of 2024. The improvement in gross profit quarter-over-quarter was primarily due to volume growth in Argentina, Egypt, Nigeria and Turkey. These positive factors were partially offset by (i) Mexico, given the higher growth of Tier 0 merchants coupled with a shift in the payment mix; (ii) Brazil, given the lower take rates from the new Payment Orchestration option launched in the third quarter of 2024 (which positively allowed for volume recovery versus the prior quarter) and shift in the payment mix; and (iii) Other LatAm markets, that despite delivering positive volume performance, on a quarter-over-quarter comparison was impacted by the strong growth in Q3 from wider FX spreads in certain smaller markets, as disclosed in the previous quarterly results.

• As a result, gross profit margin was 41% in this quarter, compared to 37% in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 42% in the third quarter of 2024.

• Gross profit over TPV was at 1.1% decreasing from 1.4% in the fourth quarter of 2023 and from 1.2% compared to the third quarter of 2024.

• Operating income was US$42.3 million, up 3% compared to US$41.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and up 3% compared to US$41.1 million in the third quarter of 2024, as we resumed the pace of certain investments in building out our capabilities. In this context, operating expenses grew by 44% year-over-year, with most of the growth allocated to Product Development & IT capabilities, with these expenses increasing by 70% year-over-year while combined Sales and Marketing (S&M) and G&A expenses grew by 29%. On the sequential comparison, operating expenses increased 12% quarter-over-quarter, a reflection of (i) growth in combined S&M and G&A expenses, driven by continued investment in operating capabilities and marketing investments; and (ii) slightly down tech and development expenses as increases in headcount were offset by reductions in other IT expenditures.

• As a result, Adjusted EBITDA was US$56.9 million, up 16% compared to US$49.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and up 9% compared to US$52.4 million in the third quarter of 2024.

• Adjusted EBITDA margin was 28%, compared to the 26% recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 and 28% in the third quarter of 2024. On the annual comparison, the increase is explained by investments in core areas to drive efficiency and ensure future growth while maintaining our lean and disciplined structure. Adjusted EBITDA over gross profit of 68% decreased compared to 71% in the fourth quarter of 2023 and increased compared to 67% in the third quarter of 2024.

• Net financial cost was US$1.1 million, compared to a finance income of US$1.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 and a cost of US$10.1 million in the third quarter of 2024, as explained in the Net Income section.

• Our effective income tax rate increased to 27% from 8% last quarter, and stands at 20% on a year-to-date basis. In the fourth quarter of 2024, effective income tax rate was impacted by an income tax settlement related to previous periods. Excluding this tax settlement, our effective income tax rate stood at 16% for the fourth quarter and 17% for the year compared to 16% in 2023, as a result of slightly higher local-to-local share of pre-tax income.

• Net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was US$29.7 million, or US$0.10 per diluted share, up 4% compared to a profit of US$28.5 million, or US$0.10 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2023 and up 11% compared to a profit of US$26.8 million, or US$0.09 per diluted share for the third quarter of 2024. During the current period, net income was mostly affected by the positive non-cash mark to market effect related to our Argentine bond investments, lower finance costs partially offset by higher taxes. Adjusted net income for the fourth quarter of 2024 was US$45.8 million, up 13% compared to US$40.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2023 and up 6% compared to US$43.4 million for the third quarter of 2024.

• As of December 31, 2024, dLocal had US$425.2 million in cash and cash equivalents, including US$189.0 million of own funds and US$236.1 million of merchants' funds. The consolidated cash position decreased by US$111.0 million from US$536.2 million as of December 31, 2023. When compared to the US$560.5 million cash position as of September 30, 2024, it decreased by US$135.4 million. The variation quarter-over-quarter is primarily explained by changes in merchant working capital, driven by: (i) increase in trade receivables due to temporary settlement delays before year-end; coupled with (ii) decrease in trade payables due to a shift in settlement periods with certain merchants and higher settlement of accumulated merchant balances.

The following table summarizes our key performance metrics:

• During the fourth quarter of 2024, pay-ins TPV increased 44% year-over-year and 15% quarter-over-quarter to US$5.3 billion, accounting for 69% of the TPV.

• Pay-outs TPV increased by 68% year-over-year and 26% quarter-over-quarter to US$2.4 billion, accounting for the remaining 31% of the TPV.

• Cross-border TPV increased by 67% year-over-year and 23% quarter-over-quarter to US$3.7 billion. Cross-border volume accounted for 48% of the TPV in the fourth quarter of 2024.

• Local-to-local TPV increased by 38% year-over-year and 14% quarter-over-quarter to US$4.0 billion. Local-to-local volume accounted for 52% of the TPV in the fourth quarter of 2024.

• LatAm revenue increased 16% year-over-year to US$152.9 million, accounting for 75% of total revenue. On the annual comparison, the growth was primarily driven by (i) volume growth in Argentina; and (ii) strong performance of Other LatAm, particularly in Colombia. This result was partially offset by Brazil due to (i) lower take rates from the new Payment Orchestration option launched in the third quarter of 2024; and (ii) shift in the payment mix. Sequentially, LatAm revenue grew by 5%, mainly driven by the performance of Other LatAm, especially in Colombia and Ecuador. The positive result was offset by (i) Argentina, impacted by the lower FX spreads; (ii) Brazil, as previously explained; and (iii) Mexico, due to higher growth of Tier 0 merchants coupled with a shift in the payment mix.

• In the Africa and Asia region, revenue decreased by 9% year-over-year, primarily driven by Nigeria due to the Naira devaluation in February of 2024; partially offset by (i) the strong growth performance in Egypt; and (ii) in Other Africa and Asia, particularly the performance in South Africa in the commerce vertical. Those regions are also the main drivers of the sequential increase.

• LatAm gross profit increased by 3% year-over-year and 1% quarter-over-quarter to US$56.4 million, accounting for 67% of total gross profit. Most of the year-over-year increase is explained by the volume growth in Argentina, Mexico, and other LatAm markets, which were mostly offset by Brazil as just explained, and currency devaluations. Sequentially, the growth was mainly driven by Argentina's positive performance; offset by drivers in Mexico and Brazil, as explained previously. Other Latam markets, which continue to grow TPV, were negatively impacted quarter-over-quarter due to the strong Q3 growth from wider FX spreads in smaller markets, as previously disclosed.

• Africa and Asia gross profit increased by 82% year-over-year to US$27.3 million, accounting for the remaining 33% of total gross profit. This annual comparison is explained by TPV growth in Egypt, ramp-up of commerce merchants in South Africa, and positive performance in Other Africa and Asia markets, including Turkey and Vietnam. Sequentially, gross profit increased by 21%, attributable to the positive performance in Egypt, Nigeria and Turkey in categories such as remittances, financial services, ads and streaming.

• During the quarter, Revenue from Existing Merchants reached US$198.3 million compared to US$ 179.9 million in the third quarter of 2024. On the annual comparison, Revenue from Existing Merchants increased by 13% and the net revenue retention rate, or NRR, reached 106%.

• Revenue from New Merchants accounted for US$6.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to US$11.8 million in the same quarter of the prior year.