By
Darya Rudz
October 16th, 2023
GoTo Gojek’s profitability in its key business aspects is notably drawn from a number of factors as highlighted by UBS analysts who had expected profitability to be attained in 2025.
Indonesian technology giant, GoTo Gojek Tokopedia PT Tbk (IDX: GOTO) has announced that it has accelerated its profitability timelines. As contained in a press release published on Thursday, the company’s EBITDA, a measure of its operating profits, is expected to turn positive within the fourth quarter of 2023.
Should the projections for the profitability of the EBITDA come to pass as highlighted, it will accelerate the company’s overall performance by the fourth quarter.
“Over the past year, we have been implementing a plan designed to accelerate our profitability, based on revenue optimization, cost management, as well as ecosystem product growth,” said Andre Soelistyo, GoTo Group CEO, “As a result of the ongoing successful implementation of this plan, we expect to turn adjusted EBITDA positive within the fourth quarter of 2023. We have the right team in place, and sufficient funds to execute on our plan, as we focus relentlessly on building Indonesia’s most impactful technology ecosystem that creates value for all.”
GoTo has been a relatively poor performer as the broader turmoil in the global economy has largely weighed its businesses down. The company said its swift push toward profitability was stirred by its focus on sustainable profitability rather than rapid growth as is often associated with related growth firms.
GoTo Gojek is a prominent tech firm that went public back in April 2022. The company was birthed as a merger in 2021 – the largest in the country at that time between Indonesia’s two most valuable startups, ride-hailing giant Gojek and e-commerce firm Tokopedia. While the company’s public debut sounded promising, it hit significant headwinds that culminated in a loss of over $22 billion as of December last year.
With the current positive tilt toward profitability, the company’s shares jumped by almost 4% in the early hours of Friday.
GoTo Gojek and Key Profitability Drivers
GoTo Gojek’s profitability in its key business aspects is notably drawn from a number of factors as highlighted by UBS analysts who had expected profitability to be attained in 2025.
“We currently estimate adjusted EBITDA to turn positive in 2025e, with the new target implying this would come 2 years earlier than our forecast,” said UBS analysts in a report adding that “The earlier than expected break-even is on the back of both revenue (higher take rates) and cost (decline in incentives and reduction in headcount) measures that GoTo has taken, combined with the ecosystem benefits from Gojek-Tokopedia merger.”
GoTo Gojek has unveiled plans for leadership structure as it looks to power a sustainable transformation from top management to all employees. As it stands, its conservative growth measures are working as shown in its financials.
By leaning on its in-demand ride-hailing offshoot and its e-commerce network, the company is looking to reposition itself as one of the most valuable companies in today’s Indonesia.
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