Reuters
Aug 28, 2014
Wal-Mart's South African unit Massmart says H1 profit down 25 pct
Reuters
Aug 28, 2014
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa - South African retailer Massmart reported a 25.2 percent fall in half-year profit on Thursday as debt-laden consumers battling rising living costs cut back on spending.
Massmart, majority-owned by Wal-Mart Stores, said diluted headline earnings per share totalled 166.4 cents in the six months ended June compared with 222.6 cents a year earlier.
Headline EPS, the main profit measure in South Africa, strips out certain one-off items.
Sales rose 10 percent to 35.7 billion rand ($3.36 billion) for the 26 weeks ended June 29.
Retailers are among the worst-performing stocks in Johannesburg over the past 12 months, reflecting investor fears about the impact of tepid economic growth, rising fuel prices and high household debt on consumer spending.
1 US dollar = 10.6130 South African rand
© Thomson Reuters 2024 All rights reserved.