Profit before corporate taxes rose 6.8 percent to $105.8 million, for the three months ended March 2018, over the corresponding period in 2017 for Trinidad and Tobago’s West Indian Tobacco company.
Profit for the quarter, after tax ended at $72.5 million, an increase of 7.6 percent over 2017. The improvement flowed from slightly lower cost of sales, amounting to $46.4 million versus $46.5 million in 2017, pushing gross profit to $141.45 million over the $124.65 generated for the similar period in 2017. Distribution costs rose to $6.3 million from $5.14 million while Administrative expenses rose to $15.65 million from $14.9 million in 2017 but other operating expenses rose sharply to $14 million from $5.7 million in 2017.
Cash flow of $144 million was generated and after paying taxes of $42 million, net cash from operating activities amounted to $102 million.
The Board approved the payment of a first interim dividend of 82 cents per share to be paid on 21 May 2018, an increase over 76 cents paid in the similar period in 2017.
At the end of the quarter, Current assets amounted to $426 million and included Cash and cash equivalents of $333 million, while Current liabilities was $117 million and Shareholders’ equity was $450 million. In 2017 the company suffered a sharp fall in revenues and profit resulting from increased taxation and lower revenues. Profit for the year ending December 2017 amounted to $380 million down 26 percent from $515 million as revenues dived from $1.24 billion in 2016 to $1.09 billion in 2017.
The stock closed on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange at $88.55 on Friday.
