PHOTO: HUBCO
KARACHI: Hub Power Company Limited’s (Hubco) consolidated profit dropped 9% to Rs11.34 billion in the year ended June 30, 2017 primarily because of higher operating costs, according to a bourse filing on Thursday.
The leading independent power producer had registered a profit of Rs12.50 billion in the preceding year.
Accordingly, earnings per share fell to Rs9.24 in FY17 compared to Rs10.29 last year.
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Hubco’s board of directors recommended a final cash dividend of Rs2.50 per share, which was in addition to the Rs5 per share already paid earlier this year.
Its stock price fell 2.19%, or Rs2.54, at Rs113.33 with a volume of 873,500 shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX).
JS Research analyst Mehwish Zafar said in post-result comments “we believe higher O&M (operating and maintenance) expenditures (explained by the ongoing overhauling at the Narowal plant) led to the lower profitability.”
Elixir Research analyst Syavash Pahore said in a note to clients that capacity utilisation in FY17 came in at 64.4%, 71.3% and 57.6% for Hub, Narowal and Laraib plants, respectively.
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Full-year dividends were down 32% year-on-year as the company sped up equity injections into associated ventures, namely, China Power Hub Power Company (CPHPGC) and Thar Energy Limited (TEL).
“Lower dividends could continue going forward as the company requires nearly $300 million for equity injection into CPHPGC and TEL,” he said. “In the absence of any major overhaul, earnings should rise in FY18.”
According to the company’s profit and loss account, its operating costs increased 15% to Rs83.92 billion from Rs73.01 billion.
The cost surge ate up a 10% gain in turnover (sales) to Rs101.18 billion from Rs91.59 billion last year. Finance costs remained stable at Rs4.08 billion.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 18th, 2017.
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