Net profits surged 77 percent to $77 million at Honey Bun in the quarter to March, this year from $43 million earned in the 2020 March quarter from a 16 percent rise in revenues to $527 million from $453 million in 2020.
For the six months to March, profit after tax grew 20.7 percent to $112 million from $92 million in 2020, with revenues coming in 13 percent ahead of the 2020 income of $876 million to close out the March 2020 half year at $989 million.
“The improvement was attributable to a number of factors, including the introduction of new products such as the Hot Dog roll and Cinnamon loaf’, chairman Herbert Chong and Michelle Chong, Chief Executive Officer, stated in their jointly signed commentary on the results.
Gross profit for the quarter grew 19 percent to $254 million over the $214 million realized in the prior year, whilst gross profit margin rose to 48 percent from 47.3 percent in the prior year.
“Easter bun sales performed well, in particular, Easter bun exports grew 48 percent over prior year,” the directors reported.
For the half year, gross profit came in at $472 million, 11 percent more than the prior year’s $426 million. Gross profit margin slipped to 47.7 percent compared to 48.6 percent in the prior year. “The decline was due to increased cost of raw materials and other manufacturing inputs that occurred mainly in the first quarter,” the directors stated.
Administrative cost rose 15 percent to $109 million in the quarter from $95 million in 2020 and climbed 18 percent to $216 million for the half year from $184 million. Selling and distribution costs slipped to $59 million from $63 million in the 2021 quarter versus that of 2020 and, for the half year, ended at $128 million for 2021 from 129 million in 2020.
Honey Bun historical earnings with projections for 2021.
“The company invested $69 million in capital expenditure in the period, mainly to upgrade vehicle fleet to service new routes, and to acquire additional manufacturing equipment,” the directors reported.
Fixed assets net of depreciation of $36 million for the half year amounts to $588 million. The company also has investments of $64 million.
Current assets climbed from $474 million at the end of March 2020 to $506 million, including cash and equivalent of $347 million and receivables of $81 million, compared to $119 million at the end of March 2020. Inventories declined from $94 million to $75 million at the end of the half year. Current liabilities stood at $181 million compared to $203 million at the 2020 half year and include trade and other payables of $161 million, down from $180 million at the end of March 2020. The movement in the working capital resulted in net current assets ending at $326 million, 20 percent higher than March 2020.
Shareholders’ equity ended at $939 million that compares with borrowed funds of just $25 million.
The company generated net cash of $168 million for the six months and paid out $42 million for dividends and, after spending to acquire fixed assets and investments, ended up with additional funds of $50 million.
Earnings per share for the quarter was 16 cents and is up from 9 cents in 2020, with the half year ending at 24 cents compared to 20 cents in 2020. ICInsider.com projects earnings of 50 cents per share for the current year giving it a PE of 13.5, slightly above the market average currently of 12.5, but less than others that are priced around 17. The stock traded at $6.75 on Friday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
