Main Event put in a stunning performance in the July quarter, this year with revenues rising 147 percent to a quarterly record of $601 million from just $243 million in the 2021 quarter, and profit surging 432 percent to $124 million from just $2 million for the 2021 quarter and investors immediately welcomed the good news by driving the stock up $8.57, the day the news broke on the JSE, trading in the halted in the first hour of trading on Thursday but it has since cooled to be trading around $8.
Main Event revenues growing nicely profit profit jumps.
The third quarter results helped push performance for the nine months, with revenues climbing 85 percent to $1.094 billion from $501 million, with profit ending at $104 million for the nine months, for a 332 percent increase from just $9 million in 2021. “The improved performance this quarter is underpinned by increased activity in our core business. The entertainment industry has seen a strong return to outdoor events and lifestyle experiences after a 2-year hiatus. The quarter is a historic one and reinforces our optimism for a sustainable shift following the Pandemic,” Chairman, Ian Blair and CEO Solomon Sharpe advised investors in their jointly signed report that commented on the results.
Gross profit rose 95 percent in the July quarter to $298 million from $163 million in 2021 and rose
48.6 percent from $344 million in 2021 to $511 million in the nine months to July this year. Gross profit margin ended the July 2022 quarter at 49.5 percent, down from 62.9 percent in 2021. For the nine months to July gross margin ended at 45.7 percent versus 58 percent in 2021.
Operating expenses rose 35 percent to $156 million, from $115 million in the July quarters and for the nine months, it rose a more moderate 19 percent to $3884 million from $322 million in 2021. Finance costs for the nine months fell from $12.7 million to $9.6 million.
Earnings per share for the latest quarter came out at 41 cents and 35 cents for the nine months.
The company generated $222 million in gross cash inflows before working capital changes and used up all the inflows for working capital needs of $200 million repaid loans amounting to $50 million and expended $33 million on the purchase of fixed assets.
The healthy top line performance resulted in receivables climbing from $150 last year July to 404 million at the end of July while cash on hand and bank slipped from $154 million to $132 million.
Borrowings declined from $206 million to $102 million, while payables rose from $100 million to $164 million. Shareholders equity rose from $543 million at the end of July last year to $654 million.
While the fourth quarter tends to be the weakest, investors should not bank on a repeat of the third quarter, but the 2023 fiscal year could be exciting.
ICInsider.com forecast is for earnings per share to end up at 45 cents for the year to November this year and 90 cents next year, putting the PE at 18 and 9 times 2023 earnings. The company could benefit from above average growth flowing from the full opening of the economy as was the case in the July quarter.
