Listed supermarket group Pick ‘n Pay has reported a 20,6% increase in its headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the year to end-February 2005, to 141,54 cents from
117,38 cents the previous year.
The group declared a final dividend of 76,70 cents per share, up 20,8% from the 63,50 cents per share declared a year earlier, for a total dividend for the year of 96,5 cents. This is 20,6% higher than the 80 cents per share distributed in 2004.
The results are in line with market expectations. A consensus of seven investment analysts surveyed by I-Net Bridge had forecast HEPS of 135 cents and a total dividend of 95,7 cents per share. The range of earnings forecasts was from a low of 133,3 cents to a high of 164,2 cents per share.
In its most recent trading statement, Pick ‘n Pay said it was anticipating a rise of between 18% and 22% in its headline earnings per share.
Pick ‘n Pay said its turnover for the year had risen by 8,9% to R31,9-billion from R29,3-billion the previous year, but before the effect of the sale of Boardmans and continued strengthening of the rand against the Australian dollar, turnover had increased by 10,5%.
It said it was “very pleased with the results given the low inflation environment”.
“Lower selling prices had driven volumes higher, which with further improvements in the company’s operational efficiencies, had resulted in a rise in the group’s operating profit margin from 2,8% to 3,2% over 2004.”
Trading profit was 24,1% higher at R933,6-million, and operating profit was up 21,7% to R1-billion.
Net profit for the year came in at R649,6-million, compared to R515,7-million previously, and the group’s trading profit margin improved to 2,9% from 2,6% a year earlier.
In the group’s Franklins Australia operations, turnover for the year fell 2% to AU$841,1-million, which the company said was largely accounted for by the fact that New South Wales was still experiencing food deflation in many categories and that it did not open any new stores during the year.
The trading loss before goodwill rose to AU$12,8-million from AU$8,2-million a year earlier after costs associated with establishing its own channels of distribution. These costs were in line with budget, however, the group noted.
“Now that we have a self-managed distribution platform from which to operate we will be launching our franchising business in the year ahead which, together with the opening of a further three stores, will ensure the business incurs significantly reduced losses in the year ahead,” it stated.
Looking ahead, Pick ‘n Pay said it did not foresee material changes to the current inflation levels.
“With the various initiatives we have in place in each business unit for the year ahead, we are confident that we will be able to produce another year of good growth,” the company said. – I-Net Bridge