BreadTalk Q4 net profit up 33%

FOOD and beverage play BreadTalk Group reported a net profit of $5.6 million for its fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2013, almost a third higher than a year ago. Revenue was up 23 per cent at $147 million.

A final dividend of 1.3 cents per share was declared, compared to one cent a year ago. Together with the 0.5-cent interim dividend paid out previously, BreadTalk's total dividend payout for 2013 was 1.8 cents. This works out to a dividend yield of 1.9 per cent on its closing price of 95.5 cents yesterday. BreadTalk paid out 37 per cent of 2013 earnings, compared to 35 per cent in 2012.

For the full year, revenue was up 20 per cent to $536.5 million, while net profit was up 13 per cent to $13.6 million. Overall, profit margins improved across the company's three main divisions despite cost pressures.