Most SET-listed companies report net profits in H1

The bourse revealed yesterday that the 460 companies that reported, representing 92.92 per cent of the total of 495 listed firms, showed combined corporate earnings of Bt410 billion, or about US$13.22 billion. 

That was up by 17.74 per cent from the first six months of last year.

Of the reporting firms, 368, or 80 per cent of the total, made net profits. Total sales of the 460 firms rose 3.06 per cent to Bt5.27 trillion ($170 billion) in the first six months. 

 “Although sales in the second quarter and the first half grew only slightly when compared with a year earlier, more efficient cost management helped boost gross margins and yielded higher overall profits,” said SET executive vice president Chanitr Charnchainarong. 

“In April-June, gross margins of companies in the energy, mining, petrochemical, and steel industries gained from decreasing losses from net realisable value of inventory [NRV] and stock loss. In addition, revenues from non-operational activities, including flood subsidies and profits from selling assets and asset re-evaluation, helped cushion higher losses from foreign exchange.” 

The top five firms in terms of earnings were PTT, PTT Exploration and Production, Siam Commercial Bank, Kasikornbank and Bangkok Bank.

By quarter, net profits of the 460 firms totalled Bt165 billion in April-June, up 26 per cent from the same period last year, while sales increased 1.14 per cent to Bt2.6 trillion.

Companies in the financial, resources, and property and construction groups were the top three performers. 

By sector, the top three performers, in descending sequence, were banking, energy and utilities, and information and communication technology, with a combined net profit of Bt237 billion, or 57.82 per cent of the total earnings and combined sales contributing 54.84 per cent of the total.