Johannesburg - Building materials group Cashbuild [JSE:CSB]
on Tuesday reported a 7% decline in diluted headline earnings per share to
664.5 cents for the year ended June 2011 from 713.7c a year ago.
A final dividend of 139c per share was declared, up from
127c in 2010, for a total dividend of 296c per share, compared with 233c a year
ago.
The group noted that HEPS excluding the BEE transaction were
up 28% to 916.4c.
Revenue was 6% higher at R5.667bn, while the operating
profit was flat at R239.3m from R239.4m. Operating profit excluding the BEE
transaction was up 21%.
The company noted that operating expenses increased by 13%,
largely as result of the BEE transaction.
Stores in existence since the beginning of July 2009
accounted for 3% of the increase in revenue with the remaining 3% increase due
to the 13 new stores the group has opened since July 2009.
This increase for the year has been achieved in tough
trading conditions with selling price inflation of 2%. The growth in customer
transactions of 4%, of which 1% is from the existing store base, was
encouraging, it said.
During the period, Cashbuild opened five new stores, 14
stores were refurbished and four relocated. Three stores trading in close
proximity to other Cashbuild stores were closed during the year. Cashbuild will
continue its store expansion, relocation and refurbishment strategy in a
controlled manner, applying the same rigid process as in the past, it said.
Looking ahead, management remains positive about the top line trading prospects for the next quarter. The first nine trading weeks since year-end have reported an increase in revenue of 8% on that of the comparable nine weeks, it noted.