Huationg Global’s net attributable profit rises 25.5 percent to S$6.4 million in FY2015
Huationg Global Limited, a full-service integrated civil engineering solutions provider, today announced a 25.5 percent year-on-year (y-o-y) increase in profit attributable to owners of the parent to S$6.4 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2015 (FY 2015), compared to S$5.1 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2014 (FY 2014).
Notably, the Group’s improved bottom line was achieved despite a 2.4 percent y-o-y dip in revenue to S$130.2 million. In view of its FY2015 results, the Group has proposed a final tax-exempt cash dividend of S$0.003 per share. Together with an interim tax-exempt cash dividend of S$0.003 per share declared for the financial period ended 30 June 2015, the total dividends from Huationg Global declared for FY2015 add up to S$0.006 per share, which is equivalent to a payout ratio of 14.2 percent.
The Group’s improved bottom line was achieved despite a 2.4 percent y-o-y dip in revenue to S$130.2 million
In FY2015, contribution from the Group’s inland logistics services segment increased by 2.6 percent to S$28.1million as a result of higher demand for aggregates in the construction industry, which increased the demand for transportation services and a 13.6 percent increase in contribution from the sale of construction Huationg Global Limited materials segment to S$2.5 million.
This was offset by a 4.0 percent decrease in contribution from the Group’s civil engineering services segment to S$99.6 million, due largely to lower revenue recognised from external work contracts in the first half of FY2015 as well as the timing of certain new projects, which only commenced near the end of the financial year.
Cost of sales and services fell by 7.6% to S$103.1 million in FY2015 due to lower costs relating to direct labour, direct material, transportation charges, sub-contract and fuel, resulting in a 24.9 percent increase in gross profit of the Group to S$27.1 million. Consequently, gross profit margin improved from 16.3 percent in FY2014 to 20.8 percent in FY2015 mainly from lower fuel costs and sub-contracting costs.
Commenting on the Group’s financial results, Mr Patrick Ng, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Group, said, “Despite a rather muted economic environment, Huationg Global delivered a bottom-line growth of 25.5 percent in FY2015 and continued to grow most of our business segments. This is the result of improvements made in our operations, especially in the planning of our labour and transport resources, which had a positive impact on our costs. Looking ahead, we are confident that our rich experience and competence in this industry will continue to help us manage and execute new projects, especially larger scale projects that we had secured in FY2015.”
Based on this set of results, the earnings per share of the Group was 4.23 Singapore cents in FY2015 as compared to 4.11 Singapore cents in FY2014, while its net asset value per share as at 31 December 2015 stood at 35.12 Singapore cents compared to 30.48 Singapore cents as at 31 December 2014.
Outlook for FY2016
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) announced on 15 January 2016 that construction demand in 2016 is projected to be between S$27 billion and S$34 billion, of which about S$18.5 billion to S$21.5 billion are expected to come from the public sector. If these estimates are met, 2016 will see the highest proportion of construction demand from the public sector since 2002. Underpinning the growth in public sector-led construction demand is an expected increase in civil engineering demand.
Over the course of FY2015, the Group secured a strong pipeline of civil engineering projects worth approximately S$129.3 million, comprising mainly public sector projects that it expects to deliver over the next five years. Notable projects include land preparation works at Changi Airport, the proposed development of an integrated regional hospital at Sengkang; road widening and construction of road related facilities along Tampines Avenue 9 and earthworks projects for certain Thomson Line MRT stations.
The Group is well positioned in the niche area of civil engineering industry and intends to capitalise on its competitive strengths to bring about enhanced values for its shareholders. The Group has been actively participating in tenders for public sector projects and continues to be optimistic about securing public infrastructural projects mainly in the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) and additional works at Changi Airport works. Additionally, the Group is exploring various avenues to forge strategic alliances with business partners and will update the shareholders of any material developments.
