The earnings dump continues: The end-of-earnings-season rush continued yesterday, with a number of EGX-listed companies releasing their 2Q / 1H 2023 financials. Edita, E-Finance, Contact Financial and Orascom Development Egypt all reported strong results despite the ongoing economic challenges. Drugmaker Rameda’s turned in a strong revenue performance, but like many manufacturers saw net income slip on the back of rising inflation, a weaker EGP, and financing costs.

EDITA-

Snack food maker Edita Food Industries’ saw revenues surge 82% y-o-y to EGP 2.9 bn in 2Q 2023 on the back of rising sales volumes and higher unit prices, according to its latest earnings r elease ( pdf ). Net income almost doubled y-o-y to EGP 382.1 mn, as increased operational efficiency saw Edita expand its net income margin to 13.4% from 12.5% in 2Q 2022.

YTD: Edita’s 1H 2023 revenues stood at EGP 5.6 bn, up 80% y-o-y, while the company’s net income after tax increased 120% y-o-y to EGP 757.5 mn.

Healthy demand even at higher prices: Sales volumes across Edita’s six segments rose 29% y-o-y to more than 959 mn packs in 2Q, even as the company hiked average prices by 41% in response to rising input prices. The company’s cake, bakery and wafer segments continued to drive growth in the second quarter: revenues from the cake segment rose 84% y-o-y to EGP 1.45 bn; bakery revenues rose by 84% to record EGP 934.6 mn; and wafer revenues grew 80% to reach EGP 258.7 mn. Cakes accounted for 51% of the company’s overall revenues, bakery 33% and wafers 9%.

Overseas expansion: Revenues at Edita Morocco were up 135% y-o-y to EGP 74.1 mn in 2Q 2023. The plant was inaugurated in April last year. The company also more than doubled gross export sales to EGP 226 mn.

Edita wants to more than double its capex this year: In June Edita said it plans to invest EGP 800 mn in 2023, up from EGP 353.6 mn in 2022. That doesn’t include the EGP 400 mn it plans to inject into Edita Frozen Food Industries — previously Fancy Foods — which Edita acquired 100% of in May, its first foray into the frozen baked goods market.

RAMEDA PHARMA-

Rameda’s bottom line dipped in 1H 2023 despite higher revenues: Tenth of Ramadan forPharma Industries and Diagnostics Reagents’ (Rameda Pharma) net income eased in 1H 2023 as a solid rise in revenues was unable to offset the impact of inflation and the depreciation of the EGP, the company said in its earnings release (pdf ). Revenues advanced 18% y-o-y to EGP 842.2 mn in 1H 2023, driven by higher private sales and exports. Meanwhile, net income slipped 6% to EGP 119 mn as rising costs and higher interest rates continue to take their toll.

Revenues grew despite the loss of a key product: Injectable antibiotics accounted for nearly a third of Rameda’s private sales revenue in the first half of 2022, but generated no revenues in 1H 2023 thanks to “disruption” in the market, the company said. Despite that, private sales revenue grew 21% y-o-y to EGP 597.6 mn in 1H 2023 as Rameda upped price points across its remaining product range to make up for the loss. The company’s export sales also registered growth, with revenues rising 42% to EGP 79.2 mn thanks to higher sales to Libya and Yemen.

Borrowing costs cut into the bottomline: The company’s financing costs rose by c. 74% y-o-y in 1H 2023 thanks to the impact of rising interest rates.

Looking ahead: “We will continue eyeing value-accretive and complementary product acquisitions that align with our growth strategy,” CEO AmrMorsy said, adding that Rameda “is keen on assessing potentially lucrative mergers and acquisitions, both locally and regionally.”

E-FINANCE-

E-Finance continues to grow digital ops: Revenues at EGX-listed fintech giant E-Finance grew 38% y-o-y to EGP 1.7 bn in 1H 2023 as the company grew its cloud hosting and transaction revenue streams. Net income after non-controlling interest increased 50% y-o-y to EGP 718.4 mn “thanks to higher operating margins, in addition to an increase in investment income and interest income,” according to its earnings release (pdf).

On a 2Q b asis: Revenues rose 38% y-o-y to EGP 967.5 mn. Net income after NCI was up 56% to EGP 436.4 mn.

The breakdown: Flagship subsidiary E-Finance Digital Operations contributed 90% of the company’s revenues at EGP 1.6 bn in 1H 2023, up44% y-o-y. Growth was driven by the subsidiary’s cloud hosting services, where revenues almost doubled to just under EGP 597.3 mn, as well as transaction processing, which saw revenues rise more than half to EGP 636.8 mn. Meanwhile, the company’s digital cards subsidiary eCards almost doubled its revenue to just under EGP 100 mn.

What to look out for: E-Finance is planning to roll out its e-ticketing service for archaeological sites run by the Tourism Ministry to over 100 sites by early 2024. It’s also still looking into applying for a digital banking license, and expects to open its KSA office within months. The Saudi entry “represents a major milestone in our geographical expansion strategy and a catalyst for further expansion throughout the MENA region and the African continent,” said company chairman Ibrahim Sarhan.

CONTACT FINANCIAL-

Contact Financial Holding reported normalized net income of EGP 384 mn in 1H 2023, up 26% y-o-y, as growth at both the company’s financing and its ins. division drove an increase in operating income, according to the company’s earnings release ( pdf ). The company’s total operating income climbed 39% to EGP 1.1 bn.

On a quarterly basis: The company’s normalized bottomline rose 57% y-o-y to EGP 206 mn in 2Q 2023. Its total operating income was up 48% to EGP 544 mn during the quarter.

In detail: Net income at the NBFS player’s financing division was up 21% to reach EGP 287 mn in 1H 2023 amid strong growth in consumer finance and auto loans. Meanwhile, the ins. division’s net income rose 30% to EGP 38 mn. Total gross written premiums rose by 65%, reflecting strong results at both Sarwa Life and Sarwa Ins.

What they said: “Contact remains well on track to deliver both its shorter- and longer-term targets. At the consumer financing division, we see growth for the second half of the year being supported by our increasingly diversified product portfolio coupled with new product launches,” the company’s management said in the release.

ORASCOM DEVELOPMENT EGYPT -

Orascom Development Egypt’s (ODE) net income jumped 17% y-o-y to EGP 1 bn in 1H 2023 despite EGP 334.6 mn in FX losses due to the EGP devaluation, according to its earnings release ( pdf ). Revenues increased 62% y-o-y to EGP 6.2 bn during the same period. The company attributed the strong results to an acceleration of construction activity in its real estate segment, as well as improved margins thanks to better operational efficiency.

In the second quarter: The company reported a 58% increase in its bottomline to EGP 622.1 mn. Revenues were up 72% y-o-y to EGP 3.2 bn during the quarter.

O West drives net real estate sales during 2Q: New real estate sales increased by 60% to EGP 7.5 bn in 1H 2023, marking the highest first-half sales figures in the company’s history. The O West development in West Cairo contributed 48% of sales by value, followed by El Gouna (39%), and Makadi Heights (14%). Selling prices were up across all destinations, rising most steeply in El Gouna, by more than 82%.