E-Malt.com News article: India: United Breweries 1Q2006 net profit at Rs 27.53 crore

United Breweries Limited (UBL) reported a net profit of Rs 27.53 crore for the first quarter ended June 2006 as against Rs 13.83 crore in the same period last fiscal, NDTV commented July 25.

Gross sales during the recently concluded quarter stand at Rs 276.16 crore vis-а-vis Rs 218.68 crore during the quarter ended June 2005.

The operating margins stand at 26 per cent. Growth in strong beer was the key driver with industry growth of 28.8 per cent versus last year.

Kingfisher strong grew at 41 per cent, while Kingfisher mild grew at 18 per cent against an industry growth of 20.4 per cent. The results for the quarter indicate 5 per cent EBITDA growth over the comparable period in the last year.

If income arising out of KBDL for the current quarter is treated as income in UBL as per last year, the EBITDA of UBL would be Rs 75.49 crore as against Rs 48.88 crore (June 2005) thereby representing an underlying growth in EBITDA of 54 per cent.

The EPS is Rs1.23 per share, which reflects the impact of the recent stock split.

To draw a comparison with the EPS reported last year the EPS reported for the quarter would have been Rs 12.3 per share, representing a 107 per cent increase.

"The stock had run up sharply. I suggest buying the stock at lower levels," said Gaurang Shah, Geojit Financial Services.

The counter at Rs 98 levels surged 3.5 per cent in noon deals.



26 July, 2006