JG Summit posts P8.2-B core profit

Gokongwei-led conglomerate JG Summit Holdings Inc. chalked up a first quarter core net profit of P8.23 billion, flat from the same period last year, primarily due to lower earnings contribution from its airline business.

Including nonrecurring items, JG Summit’s consolidated net income from equity holders of the parent amounted to P7.51 billion, down by 22 percent year-on-year.

The depreciation of the Philippine peso against the US dollar for the first quarter of 2017 compared to the appreciation last year also contributed to the decline in net income decline, which was partially offset by the double-digit income growth in the petrochemicals business, JG Summit reported to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Friday.

Consolidated cash flow reached P18.28 billion, a slight decline from last year’s P18.68 billion while consolidated revenue grew by 11.4 percent to P67.51 billion.

JG Summit’s key subsidiaries performed in the first quarter versus the previous year as follow:

JG Petrochemicals group’s revenue increased by 61 percent to P10.78 billion due to increase in volumes of polymers sold and olefins exported.

URC’s revenue grew by 7.6 percent to P30.69 billion due to increase in net sales of branded consumer foods group, both domestic and international.

Cebu Air’s revenue went up by 4.7 percent to P16.86 billion but net income fell as a result of the rise in fuel prices and hedging losses incurred for the period.

Robinsons Land’s revenue was slightly down to P5.42 billion from P5.47 billion, brought about by the decline in realized sales of the residential division, which was offset by the revenue growth of the commercial division.

Robinsons Bank’s banking revenue rose by 25.4 percent to P1.01 billion due to increase in interest income from finance receivables, commission income and trading gains.

Revenues from core investments, however, declined in the first quarter compared to same period last year as dividend income received by the group dropped by 48.6 percent to P528.91 million this year, mainly due to lower dividends declared by PLDT. —DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA