KARACHI: Murree Brewery Company Ltd’s profit after tax (PAT) soared 51 per cent year-on-year to Rs629 million for the year ended Dec 31, 2017.

Earnings per share improved to Rs27.30 from Rs18.04 last year. The company’s board announced a cash dividend of Rs10 per share, in addition to the already paid Rs5. Net sales grew 31pc to Rs4.16bn in the latest period, from Rs3.17bn last year.

Mari Petroleum profit jumps: The company recorded PAT at Rs.3.20bn for the three-month ended Dec 31, 2017, up 73pc over PAT of Rs1.85bn in the same quarter of 2016.

EPS rose to Rs29.05 from Rs16.75 while net sales grew 50pc to Rs8.68bn from Rs5.80bn. The board announced an interim cash dividend at Rs3.50 along with the accounts.

Topline Securities observed that the revenues registered a considerable growth during the outgoing quarter, thanks to higher Arab Light oil prices, up 25pc, unwinding of entitlement factor of Mari gas field price, higher gas production from its field, up 3pc to 632mmcfd and higher price benefit on incremental production in 2QFY18.

Bata Pakistan earns Rs1.5bn: The company posted PAT for CY17 at Rs1.52bn (EPS: Rs201.65), up 5.6pc, from Rs1.44bn (EPS: Rs190.74) the earlier year. The board paid a dividend of Rs60 per share which added to the already paid dividend at Rs80 per share. Net sales edged higher by 2.6pc to Rs15.5bn, from Rs15.1bn last year.

Jubilee profits grow by 22pc: The company posted PAT for the year ended December 31, 2017 at Rs2.57bn versus Rs2.11bn last year, representing an increase of 22pc. The EPS grew from Rs26.57 in 2016 to Rs32.39 now. The board announced a final cash dividend at Rs14.50 per share, taking the total payout for the year to Rs.17.50 per share.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2018