Tag: profit

  • Rising Costs Hurt Smoore’s Profits Despite Strong Revenue Growth

    Rising Costs Hurt Smoore’s Profits Despite Strong Revenue Growth

    Yesterday (March 17), Smoore International reported 2025 revenue of RMB 14.3 billion ($2.1 billion), up 20.8% year-on-year, driven primarily by strong growth in its enterprise (B2B) segment, which accounted for nearly 80% of total sales. Gross profit rose to RMB 4.9 billion ($729 million), but rising expenses dragged down its profitability, with its net profit for the year falling 18.5% to RMB 1.1 billion ($159 million). Its gross margin declined to 34.1% from 37.4% in 2024.

    Regionally, Europe and other international markets remained the company’s largest revenue drivers, followed by the U.S., with China contributing a relatively small share. The company ended the year with RMB 7.3 billion ($1.1 billion) in cash and proposed a final dividend of HK 0.20 ($0.026) per share.

    Today (March 18), Smoore’s shares on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong dropped 18% in early trading before rebounding, opening at HK 12.08 ($1.57) before falling to HK 9.94 ($1.29) and closing at HK 11.90 ($1.55). The stock is down 45% over the past six months, according to Bamboo Works.

  • China Tobacco Lifts 2025 Profit, Increases Dividend

    China Tobacco Lifts 2025 Profit, Increases Dividend

    China Tobacco International (HK) Company Limited reported strong full-year results for 2025, with revenue rising 11.5% year-on-year to HK$14.6 billion ($1.9 billion), lifting gross profit to HK$1.5 billion ($191 million) and net profit to HK$1.05 billion ($136.5 million), up 16%. Earnings per share increased to HK$1.42 ($0.18) from HK$1.23 ($0.16), supported by lower finance costs and higher other income, which drove a nearly 15% rise in profit before tax. Reflecting its solid financial performance and cash flow, the board recommended a final dividend of HK$0.33 ($0.043) per share, bringing the full-year payout to HK$0.52 ($0.068), a 13% increase that underscores the company’s commitment to creating shareholder value.

  • JT Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results, Raises Full-Year Forecasts

    JT Reports Strong Q3 2025 Results, Raises Full-Year Forecasts

    Japan Tobacco Inc. (JT) reported robust growth for the first nine months of 2025, with revenue up 13.2% to ¥2.63 trillion ($17.1 billion) and adjusted operating profit at constant FX up 27.2% to ¥849 billion ($5.5 billion), driven by solid pricing and higher tobacco volumes. The company also completed the transfer of its pharmaceutical business to Shionogi & Co., Ltd. and its subsidiary TORII PHARMACEUTICAL, marking a strategic shift to focus on its core tobacco operations.

    At the end of September 2025, total assets stood at ¥8.2 trillion ($53.2 billion), down ¥175.7 billion ($1.1 billion) year-to-date, mainly due to lower cash holdings, while equity increased to ¥4.17 trillion ($27.1 billion) on higher retained earnings. Operating cash flow remained strong at ¥287 billion ($1.9 billion), supported by steady contributions from the tobacco business, despite payments related to the Canadian litigation settlement.

    Reflecting strong performance, JT raised its full-year forecasts across all metrics, projecting a 13.1% rise in revenue and a 24.3% increase in adjusted operating profit at constant FX. CEO Masamichi Terabatake credited growth in the Ploom heated tobacco segment, with Ploom AURA and EVO premium sticks boosting Japan’s HTS market share to 15.5%. JT also announced a revised annual dividend of ¥234 ($1.52) per share, up ¥26 ($0.17), in line with record-high earnings and its shareholder return policy.