HELSINKI – Finnish learning and media group Sanoma unveiled more ambitious financial targets on Tuesday, forecasting high single-digit growth in its adjusted operating profit for the 2026-2030 period, driven by curriculum renewals, AI adoption and the upcoming opening of Finland’s gambling market.
The new targets, announced at the company’s Capital Markets Day, reflect an “accelerated net sales and earnings growth outlook,” the company said. Sanoma’s board updated the Group’s leverage target to below 2.5, from the previous target of below 3.0.
“We have made good progress during the past two years in increasing our profitability and free cash flow and strengthening our balance sheet,” said Chief Executive Rob Kolkman.
“Looking ahead, the accelerated growth outlook of both Learning and Media Finland is expected to deliver high single-digit growth in the Group’s adjusted operating profit.”
The company’s Learning division, its largest business unit, is now targeting mid single-digit growth in comparable net sales and high single-digit growth in adjusted operating profit. Kolkman cited curriculum renewals in key markets like Poland and Spain, the strategic use of AI for personalised learning, and value-creating mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as primary growth levers.
In its Media Finland business, which includes leading newspapers and digital platforms, Sanoma aims for stable comparable net sales and low single-digit growth in adjusted operating profit. The company expects a significant boost from the liberalisation of Finland’s gambling market from 2027, forecasting it will bring in substantial net sales above 20 million euros annually.
Sanoma also announced changes to its definition of free cash flow to include payments of lease liabilities, which it said would provide a clearer view of cash available for distribution. The company’s dividend policy of paying out 40-60% of annual free cash flow remains unchanged, with the goal of an increasing dividend.
Sanoma’s Capital Markets Day presentations are being webcast from Helsinki.