The year 2013 is the year of the snake in the Chinese’ calendar and the crawling pace that the snake normally exhibits is pretty much what’s happening to Honey Bun, a Junior Market listed company. Increased sales and profit which in slowed down in the first quarter of this year, has slowed even further in the latest quarter to June. Revenues crawled along at just 5 percent over the 2012 quarter compared to 20 percent in the Easter-boosted March quarter. Even then, the March quarter growth was slower than the near 32 percent growth for the first 3 months of the financial year.
Revenues were $161 million in the June 2013 quarter up from $154 million in 2012 and profit was only $2.3 million down from $7.5 million in 2012. For the year to date, sales are $540 million, up 17.9 percent from $458 million in the prior year. Profit on the other hand is flat at $40.8 million versus $41 million in 2012.
Gross profit in the latest quarter actually fell by $2.5 million compared to 2012, but year-to-date gross profit is up 9 percent while administrative expenses are up even more by 16 percent to $125 million. The increase to June clouds what has been taking place earlier. There was one-third jump in administrative and other expenses to $41.6 million, up from $31.3 million a year ago.
The company generated $189.6 million in sales in the March quarter up from $160 million in 2012 and for the six months $381.5 million versus $305.8 in the prior year.
Management attributed the reduced margin to rising prices for flour and other inputs, which could not be passed on to consumers at the same pace as the cost hikes. For the March quarter, management stated that sales improvement was as a result of increased sales to new markets and exports, which increased by over 150 percent, year over year for the 3 months.
Healthy finances | The company continues in a healthy financial state with working capital at a ratio of 3 to 1 inclusive of cash and investments amounting to $75 million. This cash is up from $24 million at the end of September last year. Receivables grew at the end of the quarter to $61 million compared to $43 million in 2012.
Equity was $297 million and loan borrowing at a low of $24 million at the end of June. The stock last traded at $4 each but could well decline somewhat with these results. This year’s earnings at the end of June was 43 cents. The September quarter’s results are difficult to predict as it is the worse quarter of the year for the company. As such, the EPS at year end in September is likely to be lower than for the nine months based on past years’ numbers.
Related post | Honey Bun not so sweet in Q1
