FGV's Q1 profit misses expectations despite higher FFB output, says HLIB
KUALA LUMPUR: FGV Holdings Bhd's first quarter (Q1) 2025 net profit fell below the analyst's expectation, said Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd (HLIB).
"The company's Q1 2025 net profit of RM23.3 million fell short of expectations, accounting for only 7.2 per cent and 7.7 per cent of consensus and the firm's full-year estimates, respectively," the bank said.
Despite facing less-than-favourable weather conditions, HLIB said FGV's fourth month of 2025 (4M25) FFB output growth of 12.7 per cent beat Malaysia's fresh fruit bunch (FFB) output growth of -1.0 per cent during the same period, and management attributed the stark productivity improvement to enhanced estate practices and better labour availability.
Given the strong FFB output achieved year to date (YTD), management raised its FY25 FFB output growth guidance to eight to 10 per cent (from five to eight per cent earlier).
On its CPO production cost guidance, HLIB said despite improved productivity, FGV's ex-mill CPO production cost increased by 5 per cent to RM3,040 per metric tonne (mt) in Q1 2025, due to higher harvesting, transportation and manuring costs.
"FGV anticipates such cost to ease to less than RM2,700 per mt for the full year, mainly on the back of lower fertiliser cost," it said.
Overall, HLIB has cut its financial year 2025 (FY25) to FY27 net profit forecasts by 22.1 per cent/16.2 per cent/15.9 per cent, mainly to account for lower FFB milling and oils & fats margin assumptions.
"Maintain Hold rating, with an unchanged target price of RM1.30 (i.e., FELDA's latest takeover offer price)," it added.
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