Adnoc Distribution drives past Dh25m in nine-month revenues, but profit drops
UAE fuel retailer is also getting higher returns from its Saudi, Egypt operations
Dubai: Higher fuel demand and consumers buying more at its convenience stores was the ballast for Adnoc Distribution’s 4.8 per cent jump in 9-month 2023 revenue to Dh25 million. The only factor that did slow growth was lower fuel prices on average compared to last year.
It did pull net profit to Dh1.92 million, down 17.4 per cent. The Adnoc entity cites lower inventory gains as the prime reason. (If one excludes the inventory side of things, then net profit would be 1.7 per cent lower year-on-year, helped by the greater returns coming from the Saudi and Egypt operations.)
The numbers during the third quarter alone are on the robust side - a 9 per cent increase in net profit to Dh835 million derived from an EBITDA of Dh1.1 billion. "These results are among the strongest since the company’s IPO in 2017, supported by a double-digit growth in fuel volumes and non-fuel business, efficiency improvement initiatives, and a growing contribution from international operations," Adnoc Distribution said in a statement.
Dh6billion
October dividend payout
It was last month that the company issued dividends of Dh1.28 billion (or 10.285 fils per share) for H1-23. It anticipates a 'minimum' Dh1.28 billion payout for the second-half, payable in April 2024.
"Our impressive third-quarter results are a testament to the continuous growth of our business as we witness strong momentum across both our fuel and non-fuel retail segments," said Bader Saeed Al Lamki, CEO, in a statement.
By end September, the company's fuel station network had risen to 828 locations, including 518 in the UAE and 67 in Saudi Arabia. (There was a 'healthy' 21 per cent year-on-year increase and a 5 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth in total fuel volumes sold in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.)
What shareholders are looking at
On an annualized basis, shareholders are up for a dividend yield of 5.9 per cent. The company will have received the boost it was looking out for from the third quarter numbers. The CEO makes that point: "These results mark one of the strongest quarterly performances since our IPO..."
As for the future, 'volume growth momentum and OPEX savings' will fuel new gains. By September, the company had like-for-like OPEX savings of Dh73 million, which is a 'significant progress towards its guidance for OPEX savings of around Dh92 million in the full-year 2023'.