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- Net profits rose 13.27 pct y-o-y to THB 759 billion during Jan-Sep
- Nine-month total sales up 11.82 pct to THB 8.62 trillion, propelled by momentum of Thailand’s continued economic growth
Securities listed on The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) reported a net profit of THB 759.13 billion (approx. USD 23 billion) in the first nine months of 2018, a 13.27 percent rise from the same period in 2017, due to the increased profits in Energy & Utilities, Petrochemicals & Chemicals, Banking sectors and Service Industry group.
SET Senior Executive Vice President Manpong Senanarong said that the nine-month aggregate earnings were compiled from 507 listed securities, or 95.30 percent of the total 532 securities (excluding property funds, infrastructure funds, non-compliance and non-performing groups), submitted financial reports, ended September 30, 2018. Among these securities, 412 reported net profits, representing 81 percent, compared with 75 percent recorded during the same period last year.
The overall sales of listed securities from Jan-Sep were up 11.82 percent to THB 8.62 trillion, while operating profit up 16.95 percent to THB 871 billion and net profit up 13.27 percent, compared to Jan-Sep a year earlier, to THB 759.13 billion. The gross profit margin decreased to 22.14 percent from the same period last year, but operating profit and the net profit margins increased to 10.10 percent and 8.81 percent, respectively.
Listed securities' financial position at end-Q3/2018 remained strong with debt-to-equity ratio (excluding Financials industry group) increased slightly to 1.28 times from 1.15 at end-2017.
“The improved performance of listed securities has been in line with the continued expansion of the Thai economy. Despite rising oil price that has had effect on the production costs including fiercer market competition, business operators could cope with such situations well — resulting in higher operating profit, particularly among the SET50 securities. The sectors that reported higher profits are Energy & Utilities, Petrochemicals & Chemicals and Banking sectors, and those operating in Services industry groups which Thailand has competitive advantage, in particular Commerce, Tourism & Leisure, and Health Care Services sectors,” added Manpong.
