The group’s performance in the full year ending 3 October was also aided by increased ad revenue and an improved performance in its B2B business.
But the group is still battling a difficult regional newspaper market, and Northcliffe, its regional division, reported a fall in underlying revenue and advertising revenue.
DMGT reported total revenues of £1.97bn, a fall of 4.6% year on year.
Its pre-tax profits performance was much improved from its £300.7m loss in the previous year, while operating profits came in at £222.2m compared with a £170.4m operating loss in the previous year.
Martin Morgan, chief executive of DMGT, said: "Trading exceeded our expectations throughout the year. Our international business-to-business companies have delivered excellent profit growth, demonstrating strength across the portfolio."
Morgan said the group remained "cautious" about the medium-term outlook but was "well placed" to invest in the business.
Across Associated Newspapers, its national newspaper unit, operating profit – including the losses made by its failed London Lite title and its closed Teletext service – leapt 54%, from £62m to £95m.
Revenue across the division, however, was down from £876m to £850m, which the group attributed to costs of now closed or sold businesses.
Underlying advertising revenue at the division was up by 7% to £347m, driven by the performance of the Metro. Retail advertising, the group’s largest category, was up 14% in revenues on the year.
At Northcliffe, which includes regional titles such as the Hull Daily Mail and Nottingham Post, revenue was down 10%, from £328m to £294m in the period.
Operating profit was up from £24m to £30m and the company stated that its restructuring costs had prompted cost savings of £26m in the period.
But the unit continues to battle a tough advertising market and recruitment advertising, impacted by public sector cuts, had been hit hard, falling 19% in the period.
Northcliffe has attempted to offset the tough advertising market by cost cutting and has cut 242 jobs.
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