Yamama Saudi Cement reported a net profit of SR50.8 million ($13.5 million) during the first quarter of 2017, marking a fall of 66 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y), driven by a decline in operating profit.

The company also reported a gross profit SR63 million during the first quarter of 2017, marking a fall of 66 per cent y-o-y on the back of lower sales volume and average realised price/ton.

Tracking the decline in gross profit, operating profit declined 72 per cent y-o-y to SR48 million.

Yamama’s revenue declined 41 per cent y-o-y to SR220 million (-5 per cent q-o-q), slightly higher than an estimate of SR195 million, said an analysis by Al Rajhi Capital, a leading financial services provider in the kingdom.

The company sold 1.24 million tons of cement in Q1 2017 (-25 per cent y-o-y, +3 per cent q-o-q). By end of March, the company held 4.3 million tons of inventory, representing 86 per cent of last 12-month sales volume and 14 per cent of total inventories in the sector.

As a result of valuating the recovery value of company’s fixed assets due to plant relocation, the company announced a SR312 million decrease in retained earnings. This was due to the implementation of IFRS starting from Q1 2017.

However, the bottom line was supported partially by other income (~SR4.5  million) compared to SR13 million losses in the same period of last year.

Al Rajhi maintains its Neutral rating on Yamama cement with a target price of SR17.8. Given the relocation plans and challenging operating environment, the company does not see any major triggers for the stock in the short-term. – TradeArabia News Service