March 18 (Reuters) - Uruguayan digital payments company

dLocal on Monday forecast its total payment volumes for

2024 would increase up to 50% to hit a record $27 billion, with

growth coming from its largest customers as well as less mature

markets.

Adjusted core earnings, as measured by earnings before

interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA), are

expected to grow up to 30% to $260 million, dLocal added.

The firm said it was focusing on "tightening the foundations

for long-term growth" this year by investing primarily in its

technology team and in operations and sales.

"We steer our business for decades, not quarters. We

continue to have a high conviction in our massive opportunity,"

CEO Pedro Arnt said in a statement.

DLocal ( DLO ) operates across most of Latin America as well as

parts of Africa and Asia for clients such as Netflix ( NFLX )

and Amazon ( AMZN ).

Arnt also announced several staffing changes, with co-CEO

Sebastian Kanovich stepping down, though he will remain on the

board. DLocal ( DLO ) is also bringing on Mark Ortiz, who previously

worked at GE Capital, as chief financial officer.

The company had told Reuters in September it was set to

"pause" its rapid expansion plans to focus on strengthening

existing operations in over 40 countries, hinting at a new phase

for the fast-growing firm.

The guidance accompanied a 47% jump in dLocal's

fourth-quarter net profit from the year-earlier period, to $28.5

million. That resulted in earnings per share of 10 cents,

missing the LSEG-compiled estimate of 15 cents per share.

Profits would have reached $40.6 million if not for the

firm's Argentine operation, dLocal said. The country is facing

annual inflation rates in the triple digits and the local peso

currency was significantly devalued in December.

Adjusted EBITDA also missed estimates, though it grew 22% to

$49.2 million.

DLocal ( DLO ) said revenues for the last three months of 2023 rose

59% to $188 million, citing "strong performance of (its)

merchants across most of (its) markets."

Quarterly payments volumes grew 55% year-on-year to $5.11

billion.