Business & Markets 2014
Written by Ho Wah Foon of theedgemalaysia.com
Thursday, 20 February 2014 19:31
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 20): Based on corporate results and news flow up to 7.00 pm today, the following companies may be in focus tomorrow:
Axiata Group Bhd reported a 0.8% rise in fourth quarter net profit from a year earlier, as the mobile telecommunication network provider registered higher revenue from most of its global operating units.
Axiata said net profit rose to RM575.63 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013 (4QFY13) from RM571.1 million. Revenue climbed to RM4.51 billion from RM4.45 billion.
For the full-year, net profit increased to RM2.55 billion from RM2.51 billion the previous year. Revenue was higher at RM18.37 billion, from RM17.65 billion.
Axiata plans to pay a dividend of 14 sen a share.
At a press conference today, Axiata president and CEO Dato Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim said challenges going forward are to drive data profitability and minimise foreign exchange (forex) risk.
The revenue trajectory of the data market is ‘strong’ but profit remains a ‘challenge’, Jamaludin said.
Jamuludin said forex fluctuation is a major concern, adding Axiata’s Indonesian unit, PT XL Axiata Tbk, had incurred a forex loss of RM201 million.
“The outlook is worrying in Indonesia,” he said, adding Sri Lanka is also a concern.
YTL Corporation Bhd reported a 42% rise in first-half profit from a year earlier, helped by the group's utilities and cement operations.
In a press statement today, YTL group managing director Tan Sri Dr Francis Yeoh Sock Ping said profit rose to RM1.35 billion in the first half ended December 31, 2013 (1HFY14) from RM950 million. Revenue, however, fell to RM10.12 billion from RM10.19 billion.
According to Yeoh, a fair value gain in the group's Singapore-listed Starhill Global REIT’s investment properties had also contributed to group’s performance.
Yeoh said YTL Corp's 50.51% subsidiary YTL Power International Bhd's 1HFY14 profit fell to RM490.8 million from RM503.8 million a year earlier. Revenue fell to RM7.75 billion from RM8.28 billion.
YTL Power declared a distribution of one treasury share for every 20 ordinary shares of RM0.50 each held.
Guinness Anchor Bhd (GAB) reported flat net profit of RM66.08 million for the second quarter ended 31st December 2013, versus RM66.16 million in similar quarter a year ago
Revenue for the quarter rose to RM499.37 million from RM429.44 million a year ago
Net profit for the six months to December 2013 slipped 5.92% to RM115.71 million from RM122.99 million in quarter a year ago. Revenue for the six months rose to RM825.17 million from RM821.73 million a year ago.
The company declared a dividend of 20 sen a share.
Media Prima Bhd's net profit fell 13% to RM63.44 million in the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013 from RM73.16 million a year earlier.
Revenue declined to RM451.56 million, from RM477.73 million.
Full-year net profit, however, rose to RM214.17 million from RM209.31 million a year earlier. Revenue was higher at RM1.72 billion versus RM1.7 billion.
Media Prima plans to pay a dividend of eight sen a share for the quarter-in-review.
QL Resources Bhd’s net profit for the third financial quarter ended 31st December 2013 rose to RM44.61 million from RM31.54 million in similar quarter a year ago.
Revenue for the quarter rose to RM665.63 million from RM536.88 million a year ago.
Total profits for the nine months to December rose to RM121.32 million from RM99.72 million in similar quarter a year ago.
Cumulative revenue for the nine months rose to RM 1.85 billion from RM1.58 billion a year ago.
MBM Resources Bhd reported net profit of RM33.55 million for the fourth quarter to end-December 2013, up 10% year-on-year (y-o-y) from RM30.50 million.
However, revenue declined slightly by 2% to RM513.64 million from RM524.76 million in the same quarter the previous year.
Cumulative net profit for the year improved slightly to RM138.58 million from RM136.44 million in the previous year, while revenue was flat y-o-y at RM2.267 billion.
The group announced a 3 sen dividend per share.
Daibochi Plastic and Packaging Industry Bhd’s net profit rose 17% to RM7.30 million in 4QFY13, from RM6.26 million in 4QFY12.
Revenue for the quarter had increased by 9% to RM80.64 million from RM73.76 million in the same quarter last year.
For the 12 months ended 31 Dec 2013, net profit jumped to RM27.83 million from RM24.64 million.
Cumulated revenue was reported at RM310.78 million, an improvement from RM278.75 million.
The company declared a 4 sen dividend per share, payable on 28 March 2014.
Scomi Group Bhd earned net profit of RM4.3 million in the third quarter ended Dec 31, 2013, while revenue generated was RM470 million.
The oil & gas service provider said there are no comparatives in respect of a corresponding quarter following the change in the group's annual reporting date to Mar 31, 2013 from Dec 31, 2013 in the previous financial period.
For the nine-month period, profit stood at RM9.1 million while revenue raked-in was in RM1.2 billion.
TDM Bhd’s net profits for the fourth financial quarter ended 31st December 2013 fell to RM25.64 million from RM36.04 million in similar quarter a year ago.
Revenue for the quarter fell to RM98.29 million from RM128.25 million a year ago.
Total profit for the full year fell to RM45.29 million from RM102.41 million.
Cumulative revenue for the year fell to RM370.72 million, from RM455.26 million a year ago.
Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation Bhd (BHIC) stayed in the red but with a reduced net loss of RM28 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2013, from a net loss of RM80 million in previous fourth quarter.
But revenue rose 6% year-on-year to RM112 million from RM105 million.
The shipbuilder that is also involved in maritime, engineering and defence-related services recorded full-year profit of RM3 million, versus a loss of RM139 million a year ago.
Total revenue grew to RM319 million, from RM258 million in the previous year.