El Sewedy Q2 net jumps on higher sales

Tuesday, Aug 17, 2010

Egypt's El Sewedy Cables (SWDY.CA: Quote) reported a 53 percent jump in second-quarter net profit on Monday after it took business from rivals weakened by the global economic slowdown.

Sewedy, the Arab world's biggest maker by market value of cables used in power transmission and telecoms, said net profit rose to 270.1 million Egyptian pounds ($47.4 million) from 176.5 million in the same quarter of 2009.

A Reuters poll of three analysts had forecast second-quarter net profit of 201.3 million pounds on average. Estimates ranged from 185 million to 218.8 million. [ID:nLDE67B1PR]

Sewedy's chief executive had in May forecast higher profits, saying other cable makers had cut production to ride out recession in Europe, offering the Egyptian firm an opportunity to boost exports and increase profit margins in 2010.

Analyst Omar Taha at investment bank Beltone said he saw a year-on-year improvement on the back of higher sales, which rose 37 percent year-on-year in the quarter to 3.1 billion pounds, beating analyst forecasts.

Sewedy Cables shares were was down 0.8 percent by 1040 GMT, while the Egypt's benchmark index .EGX30 dipped 0.4 percent. Traders said Sewedy had fallen along with the wider market as investors focused on the weak outlook for the global economy.

The firm has production plants in Egypt and 10 other countries and exports to the Middle East and North Africa, Spain, Portugal, eastern Europe and Brazil. (Reporting by Sherine El Madany; Editing by David Holmes) ($1=5.701 Egyptian Pound)

 

Source: Reuters