Companies listed on The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) reported a net profit at THB 286 billion (approx. USD 8.94 billion) for the first quarter of 2018, a 0.3% rise from the same period last year (Q1/2017 was recorded best-performing quarter in the past year for Thai listed firms, with earnings accounting for 29% from Jan-Dec, 2017).
In Q1/2018, there were 449 companies reported net profits, representing 82.45 percent of the total listed companies already disclosed their financial statements. However, the gross profit margin stood at 23.72 percent, down slightly from 24.33 percent in the same period last year, weighed by oil prices and currency appreciation.
In Q1/2018, the total sales of listed companies recorded THB 2.83 trillion, a 5.61 percent increase from the same period last year. Most listed companies registered an increase in sales, particularly those in sectors related to oil prices and petrochemical products. Thai listed companies’ financial status at the end of Q1/2018 remained strong, with the debt-to-equity ratio (excluding Financials industry) continued to fall to 1.15 times from 1.17 at end-2017.
Companies listed on Market for Alternative Investment (mai) reported better performances, with the Q1/2018 net profit of THB 1.81 billion, up 15.45 percent from the same period last year and up 69.56 percent from Q4/2017.
SET President Kesara Manchusree said:
In the first quarter of 2018, Thai listed firms on SET reported higher sales in accordance with the gradually picking up of the economy and the 20-percent increase in crude oil price year-on-year. However, oil prices and foreign exchange rate fluctuations have affected profitability of listed companies in petrochemical business, mostly in Energy & Utilities, Petrochemicals & Chemicals, and Construction Materials sectors; while innovations and technologies have substantially disrupted the business competitive environment and forced them to adjust themselves more from now on.
On the other hand, companies in sectors related to consumption and tourism such as Commerce, Transportation & Logistics, Health Care Services, Tourism & Leisure, Property Development, and Finance & Securities sectors reported higher sales and net profits.
There were 544 listed companies, or 93.79 percent of the total of 580 companies (including property funds, real estate investment trusts and infrastructure funds; excluding non-compliance and non-performing groups), that submitted the Q1/2018 aggregate earnings, ending March 31, 2018.