South African pharmacy chain Clicks Group posts 13% rise in first-half profit
JOHANNESBURG: South African pharmacy chain Clicks Group reported a 13.2% rise in half-year profit on Wednesday, helped by a growing market share in core health and beauty categories.
Basic headline earnings per share, a key metric in South Africa, rose to 603.9 cents in the six months to February 28 from 533.6 cents in the same period a year earlier.
The biggest drugstore in South Africa also forecast that its diluted HEPS for the financial year ending August 31 will increase by between 11% and 16%, said Group CEO Bertina Engelbrecht.
The company said it saw strong growth in retail health and pharmacy, higher sales of private label products, and increased promotional sales.
Group turnover increased by 6.2% to 23.2 billion rand ($1.22 billion). Retail turnover, which includes Clicks, M-Kem, The Body Shop and Sorbet corporate stores, increased by 6.4%. Distribution turnover increased by 7.6%.
"Long-term organic growth opportunities in Clicks and the increasing scale of the business should ensure that the group continues to deliver on its medium-term financial targets," Clicks said in a statement.
The company said there was an increased demand for GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which are used for weight loss, and that it has been easier to receive these drugs from suppliers.
Clicks also said the trading environment could remain constrained in the second half of the 2025 financial year as consumer spending is expected to be affected by a proposed value-added tax increase effective from May 1.
The company, which has 950 stores, declared an interim dividend of 238.0 cents per share. (Reporting by Siyanda Mthethwa; Editing by Tannur Anders, David Goodman, Sharon Singleton and Jan Harvey)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
4 days ago
- Al Etihad
Emirates enters pitch to score landmark partnership with European Professional Club Rugby
3 June 2025 15:13 DUBAI (WAM) Emirates on Tuesday unveiled a multi-year partnership with European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), making it the Premium Partner and Official Airline Partner of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge partnership with EPCR adds to Emirates' successful and extensive global sponsorship lineup of rugby properties and reinforces its place as one of the premier supporters of high-profile addition of EPCR's Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup to the airline's rugby portfolio will also strategically amplify its presence across the two premier tournaments that showcase elite European and South African clubs, helping connect with over 70 million passionate supporters their joint commitment to rugby's global development and fan engagement, the Emirates-EPCR partnership will seek to enhance the appeal of both tournaments across its global network, in addition to initiatives that support local communities to empower prospective rugby hopefuls and build a future talent airline's newest sponsorship demonstrates its unrivalled dedication to grow and develop the sport at all levels through continuous investment, spanning from grassroots initiatives in its home of the UAE to elite World Rugby competitions, including six consecutive Rugby World Cup Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup tournaments feature 42 clubs from England, France, Georgia, Italy, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales – competing each season to clinch the most coveted prize in professional club President & Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates, Adnan Kazim, said, "Emirates is proud of our deep roots in rugby, and partnering with European Professional Club Rugby was a natural next step for us to showcase the brand and drive engagement with loyal fan bases around the world during the most prestigious club competitions. As part of our significant commitment to EPCR, we're also eager to support local initiatives for younger athletes that will make a positive impact both in and out of the pitch.' Chairman of EPCR, Dominic McKay, added, 'All of us at EPCR are delighted Emirates is joining our partnership family as a Premium Partner. Emirates has a long and significant heritage in rugby, and their status and commitment is enhanced by partnering with club rugby's most prestigious tournaments. We're excited to bring the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup to even more audiences around the world through Emirates' showcases. As part of our sustainability strategy, impACT, we are also committed to ensuring the longevity of rugby without negatively impacting the planet, and part of this is supporting more rugby-playing youngsters to develop alongside positive community projects. We are excited to work with Emirates to bring this vision to life.'
Zawya
4 days ago
- Zawya
Global private equity dealmaking slows down amid headwinds
Global private equity (PE) dealmaking started to slow down in the second quarter of the year amid uncertainty and recent turmoil over tariffs. The value of buyout deals in April 2025 was 24% below the monthly average for the first three months of the year, while the number of deals fell 22%, according to Bain & Company. 'Dealmaking and exits are hit by market and economic headwinds triggered by recent turmoil over tariffs,' the consultancy firm said. The trend is in contrast to the first quarter of the year, when total deal value amounted to $189 billion, the highest since the second quarter of 2022, and around double the $95 billion in Q1 2024. 'The emerging weakness evident in Q2 is a direct consequence of the uncertainty injected into PE players' long-term models by tariff volatility, just as investors' confidence was beginning to return,' Bain noted. The slowdown is expected to continue in the short term, but Bain & Co noted that there are still opportunities amid the present uncertainties. 'There's nothing fundamentally broken in the market. Buyers and sellers can still transact, and history shows that strategic buyers with a strong M&A agenda remain active in turbulent times,' said Hugh MacArthur, chairman of the global Private Equity practice at Bain & Co. 'In any disruption there are winners and losers – and the best opportunities often come at the most extreme moments of uncertainty, something that's still true in 2025.' (Writing by Cleofe Maceda; editing by Seban Scaria)
Tourism Breaking News
5 days ago
- Tourism Breaking News
Abu Dhabi to host M&I Expo in 2026
Post Views: 30 Abu Dhabi will host the M&I Expo from 14–16 April 2026, following a strategic partnership between the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) and Worldwide Events. Set to take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), the event will gather 1,000 top global decision-makers in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry. The expoalso aims to foster global collaboration and business development through immersive showcases and branded experiences. Mubarak Al Shamsi, Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau Director, DCT Abu Dhabi said: 'Hosting the M&I Expo in Abu Dhabi reinforces the emirate's strength and sustained growth as a premier destination for business events and incentive travel. Our latest achievement reflects our strategic commitment to building a world-class MICE ecosystem offering cutting-edge event venues and exceptional hospitality rooted in our core cultural values. With iconic venues such as Qasr Al Watan and Yas Marina Circuit, complemented by Abu Dhabi's diverse leisure attractions such as the newly opened teamLab Phenomena, we are confident this event will showcase the very best of what our destination has to offer.'
