KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 27): Here is a brief recap of some corporate announcements that made the news on Wednesday:

Malayan Banking Bhd’s (KL:MAYBANK) net profit rose 6% to RM2.53 billion for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 (4QFY2024), from RM2.39 billion a year ago, thanks to higher net interest income and insurance earnings. For the entire FY2024, its net profit was up nearly 8% to RM10.09 billion from RM9.35 billion in FY2023. Net interest income rose 2.0% to RM19.69 billion as loans expanded 5.3%, while non-interest income, including fees, commissions and insurance earnings, climbed 23% to RM9.88 billion. It declared a dividend of 32 sen per share, bringing its total payout for the year to 61 sen per share. — Maybank's 4Q earnings up 6%, aiming for slightly higher returns this year

Public Bank Bhd’s (KL:PBBANK) net profit rose 11.40% year-on-year to RM1.8 billion for 4QFY2024, from RM1.62 billion, supported by higher net interest income, strong Islamic banking contributions and improved fee-based income. Revenue increased 7.81% to RM7.06 billion compared with RM6.55 billion previously. For FY2024, its net profit rose 7.5% to RM7.15 billion from RM6.65 billion in FY2023, as revenue increased 7% to RM27.21 billion versus RM25.42 billion previously. It declared a second interim dividend of 11 sen per share, bringing its total dividends for FY2024 to 21 sen per share. — Public Bank’s 4Q profit rises 11.4%, declares 11 sen dividend

Hong Leong Bank Bhd’s (HLB) (KL:HLBANK) net profit rose 5.53% to RM1.15 billion for the second quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 (2QFY2025), from RM1.09 billion, as higher net interest income (NII) and Islamic banking contributions boosted earnings. Revenue increased 11.42% to RM1.63 billion compared with RM1.46 billion previously. For 1HFY2025, the bank's net profit rose 5.68% to RM2.24 billion from RM2.12 billion a year ago, as total revenue surged 16.47% to RM3.23 billion from RM2.86 billion. It declared a dividend of 28 sen per share, payable on March 26. — Hong Leong Bank’s 2Q earnings up 5.5% on year, declares dividend of 28 sen

Hong Leong Financial Group Bhd’s (KL:HLFG) net profit was nearly flat at RM839.46 million 2QFY2025, versus RM831.87 million a year ago.  Quarterly revenue grew 9.29% y-o-y to RM1.86 billion compared with RM1.70 billion previously. For 1HFY2025, its net profit increased 7.22% y-o-y to RM1.69 billion from RM1.57 billion, driven by improved performance in commercial banking and insurance. Total revenue expanded 14.5% to RM3.75 billion from RM3.27 billion. It declared an interim dividend of 20 sen per share, payable on March 27. — Hong Leong Financial Group declares 20 sen dividend after flattish earnings in 2QFY2025

Axiata Group Bhd’s (KL:AXIATA) net loss narrowed to RM224.77 million for 4QFY2024, from RM695.02 million in 4QFY2023, helped by lower impairment charges and foreign exchange gains. Quarterly revenue fell 8.93% to RM5.36 billion from RM5.89 billion in 4QFY2023 due to lower contributions from key business segments, including its infrastructure unit Edotco. For FY2024, it returned to a profit of RM946.82 million against a net loss of RM1.99 billion in FY2023. Revenue was up marginally to RM22.33 billion from RM22.32 billion. It declared a second dividend of five sen per share, bringing the total dividend for FY2024 to 10 sen per share, unchanged from the prior year. — Axiata returns to black in FY2024 as 4Q net loss narrows, pays five sen dividend

Sunway Bhd (KL:SUNWAY) posted a 26% year-on-year (y-o-y) growth in net profit to RM335.47 million for 4QFY2024, from RM266 million previously, driven by higher contributions from most of its business segments. Quarterly revenue surged 53% y-o-y to RM2.85 billion, up from RM1.87 billion, supported by strong performances of the construction, property development and trading and manufacturing divisions. For the full FY2024, its net profit soared 56% y-o-y to RM1.15 billion — the highest in three years — compared with RM737.87 million a year ago. Its annual revenue increased 28% to hit a record high of RM7.88 billion from RM6.14 billion in FY2023. It declared a second interim dividend of four sen per share, bringing total dividend declared to six sen per share for FY2024. — Sunway breaks new record in annual revenue for FY2024, declares four sen second interim dividend

Press Metal Aluminium Holdings Bhd (KL:PMETAL), the largest aluminium smelter in Southeast Asia, saw its net profit jump 38.5% to RM445.27 million for 4QFY2024, from RM321.39 million a year ago, primarily driven by lower net finance costs and higher contributions from associate companies. Quarterly revenue was flat at RM3.56 billion, compared with RM3.53 billion for 4QFY2023. Full-year net profit surged 44.9% to a record RM1.76 billion, compared with RM1.22 billion for FY2023, on the back of an 8% increase in revenue to RM14.91 billion — the group's highest-ever annual revenue — from RM13.8 billion in FY2023. It declared a fourth interim dividend of 1.75 sen per share for FY2024, payable on March 28. — Press Metal ends FY2024 on record high, declares 1.75 sen dividend

Sime Darby Property Bhd (KL:SIMEPROP) posted a 32.6% decline in net profit for 4QFY2024 to RM88.41 million from RM131.26 million a year earlier, amid lower contributions from joint ventures. Revenue fell 3.5% y-o-y to RM977.04 million, from RM1.01 billion. For the full year, it posted a fresh record high net profit of RM502.2 million, a 23.1% increase from RM407.91 million in FY2023, driven by the property development segment. Annual revenue also hit a record high of RM4.25 billion, up 23.7% from RM3.44 billion previously, as all business segments reported revenue growth. It declared a second interim dividend of 1.5 sen per share — payable on April 23 — bringing total dividend for FY2024 to three sen per share, compared with two sen in FY2023. — Sime Darby Property ends FY2024 with record profit despite dip in 4Q

A sharp rise in interest expenses pulled down IOI Properties Group Bhd’s (KL:IOIPG) net profit for the second quarter ended Dec 31, 2024 (2QFY2025) to RM94.78 million, a 22% fall from RM121.50 million a year ago, despite higher revenue. Interest expenses shot up to RM110.9 million in 2QFY2025, a significant jump from RM181,000 a year ago, due to the commencement of operations of IOI Central Boulevard Towers (ICBT) in Singapore. Quarterly revenue grew 20% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM729 million from RM606.90 million in 2QFY2024, driven by higher revenue contribution from its property investment and hospitality and leisure segments. For 6MFY2025, its net profit fell 45% to RM163.95 million from RM295.94 million in the previous year, although revenue grew 13% to RM1.42 billion. — Spike in interest costs drags down IOI Properties’ 2QFY2025 earnings, despite higher revenue

Despite lower revenue, Kelington Group Bhd’s (KL:KGB) net profit in 4QFY2024 grew 3.9% y-o-y to RM38.66 million from RM37.22 million, thanks to a more favourable project mix. Quarterly revenue dropped 36.4% to RM304.33 million versus RM478.79 million in 4QFY2023, on lower revenue contribution from its construction segment as several major projects were either completed or nearing completion. For FY2024, its net profit rose 18.2% to RM123.07 million from RM104.14 million in FY2023, while annual revenue fell 21.2% to RM1.27 billion versus RM1.61 billion. It declared a fourth interim dividend of two sen per share — payable on April 11 — bringing total dividend payout for the FY2024  to eight sen per share, its highest on record. — Kelington’s 4Q profit up 4% on favourable project mix; declares two sen dividend

Information and communications technology (ICT) products distributor VSTECS Bhd’s (KL:VSTECS) net profit fell 11.4% to RM21.43 million for 4QFY2024 from RM24.2 million a year ago, dragged by higher operating expenses and a higher effective tax rate as tax credits were recognised in 4QFY2023. Quarterly revenue rose 1.5% y-o-y to RM819.2 million from RM807.2 million. For FY2024, its net profit increased 4.7% to a record RM70.57 million from RM67.43 million in the previous year, as its revenue rose 6.4% to RM2.9 billion from RM2.73 billion in FY2023. It declared a second interim dividend of 4.1 sen per share and a special dividend of 0.8 sen per share, payable on May 13. This brings total dividend for FY2024 to 7.7 sen per share, representing a payout ratio of 39%, up from 6.6 sen in FY2023. — VSTECS ends FY2024 on a strong note, declares 4.1 sen dividend

Guan Chong Bhd (KL:GCB) declared a special dividend of 1.5 sen after its fourth quarter net profit surged by more than 14 times, driven by higher selling prices for cocoa products. The world’s fourth-largest cocoa grinder also proposed final dividend of 1.5 sen per share for FY2024. If approved, this would bring its total dividend for FY2024 to three sen per share, up from two sen in FY2023. It posted a record high quarterly net profit of RM212.98 million for 4QFY2024, compared with RM15.17 million a year earlier. Quarterly revenue rose 90.2% y-o-y to a record RM3.37 billion from RM1.77 billion previously, thanks to higher cocoa product prices amid supply constraints from the adverse weather conditions. For the full year, its net profit more than quadrupled to a record high of RM429.18 million, compared with RM100.93 million in FY2023, as revenue climbed 96.3% to also hit a record high of RM10.44 billion from RM5.32 billion. — Guan Chong declares special dividend after sharp rise in 4Q net profit

Slot machine distributor RGB International Bhd’s (KL:RGB) net profit for the fourth quarter jumped to a record high of RM31.84 million as the company completed the delivery and commissioning of a bulk order of slot machine equipment to the Philippines. Compared to a year ago, it posted a net loss of RM37.88 million. Quarterly revenue jumped more than three times to RM371.82 million from RM100.12 million. For FY2024, the Penang-based company’s net profit jumped nearly four times to RM92.08 million from RM25.39 million. Cumulative revenue grew nearly 11% to RM775.72 million from RM699.3 million a year ago. It declared a fourth interim dividend of 0.6 sen per share plus a special dividend of 0.4 sen — payable on April 18. This brings its total annual dividend to the highest in ten years at four sen per share, up from two sen in the previous year. — RGB International declares fourth interim plus special dividend amid record high net profit in 4QFY2024

Pharmaceutical company Apex Healthcare Bhd’s (KL:AHEALTH) net profit fell 33.6% to RM13.46 million for 4QFY2024 from RM20.06 million a year ago, which was attributed to a share of loss amounting to RM6.6 million from associate Straits Apex Group Sdn Bhd (SAG) during the quarter under review. Quarterly revenue slipped 1% to RM237.5 million from RM240 million a year ago on lower sales to the government sector in both Malaysia and Singapore, due to the timing and mix of tenders secured. However, Apex Healthcare expects sales to resume their growth trajectory in 2025. For the full year, it posted an 80.8% decline in net profit to RM76.54 million from RM397.99 million the previous year, despite revenue rising 2.7% to RM961.78 million from RM936.17 million in FY2023, which it attributed to continued robust demand for healthcare products and services in its key markets, and effective execution of business strategies. It is proposing a final dividend of three sen per share – payable on June 16 – bringing its total dividend for the year to nine sen per share. — Apex Healthcare ends FY2024 on lower note, proposes three sen dividend

Media Prima Bhd (KL:MEDIA), the country’s largest integrated media group, saw its net profit fall 67% to RM3.53 million for 2QFY2025 from RM10.71 million a year ago, due to higher investments in direct cost and overheads during the current quarter under review. Quarterly revenue rose 2% to RM228.02 million from RM223.77 million a year ago, on higher non-advertising revenue in the current quarter from home shopping and publishing segments. For 1HFY2025, the group posted a 78% decline in net profit to RM5.39 million from RM24.77 million a year ago, while revenue fell 3% to RM422.96 million from RM437.7 million in 1HFY2024. No dividend was declared for the current quarter under review. — Media Prima’s 2Q net profit down 67% on higher investments, overheads

Sapura Energy Bhd (KL:SAPNRG) has secured multiple contracts with a combined value of approximately RM3.2 billion, including optional periods granted in some contracts. The contracts, awarded to its drilling arm Sapura Drilling, span across key clients and regions. With these additions, Sapura Energy — which has been in Practice Note 17 (PN17) status since end-May 2022 — sees its group order book swelling to RM8.7 billion, while its joint ventures hold an additional RM5.7 billion in contracts. — Sapura Energy secures multiple new contracts worth RM3.2b collectively

Chin Hin Group Property Bhd (KL:CHGP) is planning a bonus share issue, its first in nearly two decades, despite a sharp drop in net profit in the final quarter of 2024. It has not declared any dividend for years, and its last bonus issue was in 2007 when the company was known as Boon Koon Group Bhd. — Chin Hin Group Property plans first bonus issue in nearly two decades

Axis Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:AXREIT) is selling a warehouse property in Petaling Jaya, called The Annex, to Basic Eight (M) Sdn Bhd for RM24.2 million. The disposal is expected to generate a net gain of RM9 million, which Axis REIT plans to fully distribute. This will translate into an additional income distribution of 0.44 sen per unit. — Axis REIT to declare additional 0.44 sen distribution after RM24.2m warehouse sale