Stocks to watch: Capitaland Investment, ST Engineering, CDL, AEM, First Resources

THE following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Friday (Feb 25):

CapitaLand Investment (CLI): 9CI The real estate investment manager on Friday announced that it had achieved a net profit of S$647 million for the second half of the financial year ended Dec 31, 2021, a reverse from a net loss of S$680 million in the year-ago period. Earnings per share for the 6 months was S$0.153, compared with a loss per share of S$0.243 in H2 FY2020. The board is proposing a tax-exempt ordinary dividend of S$0.12 and a special dividend of S$0.03. Shares of CLI closed at S$3.63, down 3.5 per cent or S$0.13 on Thursday.

ST Engineering: S63 The engineering group on Friday posted a net profit of S$274.4 million for the 6 months ended Dec 31, 2021, inching up 3.8 per cent year on year (yoy) from S$264.4 million. All 3 of its business segments posted higher revenue yoy and H2 FY2021 revenue totalled S$4.04 billion. A final dividend stood at S$0.10 per share, unchanged from the previous year. ST Engineering shares closed at S$3.78, down 1.9 per cent or S$0.07 on Thursday.

City Developments Limited (CDL): C09 The property developer swung into the black with a net profit of S$129.7 million for its second half ended Dec 31, 2021, compared with a net loss of S$1.92 billion a year ago. Revenue in H2 also rose 38.4 per cent to S$1.4 billion, due to higher revenue contributions from its hotel operations segment across all regions. CDL also said it intends to distribute, as a dividend in specie, 11.7 per cent of the units of CDL Hospitality Trusts, to CDL shareholders. Shares of CDL closed down 3.2 per cent or S$0.23 at S$7.01 on Thursday.

First Resources: EB5 The palm oil producer on Friday reported H2 profit of US$128.6 million, up 112.1 per cent yoy due to a combination of higher average selling prices and sales volumes. A final ordinary dividend of S$0.051 per share has been proposed, bringing the dividend for the full year to S$0.0635. Shares of the group ended Thursday down 0.6 per cent or S$0.01 at S$1.75.

Singapore Post (SingPost): S08 The group on Friday reported group operating profit of S$38 million for the Q3 ended Dec 31, 2021, up 46 per cent yoy. Revenue for the quarter was boosted by the year-end seasonal peak as well as the consolidation of Freight Management Holdings after it became a subsidiary on Nov 30, 2021. Shares of SingPost ended Thursday 3.1 per cent or S$0.02 lower at S$0.625.

AEM Holdings: AWX The semiconductor equipment maker on Thursday reported S$62.4 million in profit attributable to owners for the H2 ended Dec 31, 2021 - up 47 per cent on year from S$42.3 million the previous year. This came on the back of a 52 per cent increase in revenue, driven by the volume ramp-up for AEM's products as well as the consolidation of CEI. Shares of AEM ended Thursday 4.1 per cent or S$0.17 lower at S$4.03, before the results were released.

HRnetGroup: CHZ The recruitment company posted a 14.2 per cent rise in net profit to S$29.6 million for the second half ended Dec 31, 2021, driven by revenue growth for its flexible staffing and professional recruitment segments in its key regions. It also posted a record net profit of S$65.5 million for the full year. Shares of HRnetGroup closed down 3.2 per cent or S$0.025 at S$0.75 on Thursday, before the announcement.

ESR-Reit, Ara Logos Logistics Trust (ALog): J91U K2LU The real estate investment trusts (Reits) on Friday announced that the extraordinary general meetings (EGM) for its proposed merger will be held on Mar 21, 2022 by way of a trust scheme arrangement. ESR-Reit's EGM will be held at 10 am, followed by ALog's EGM at 3 pm. Both meetings will be conducted via virtual means due to Covid-19 restrictions. Units of ESR-Reit closed down 4.5 per cent or S$0.02 to S$0.425 while units of ALog ended at S$0.83, down 3.5 per cent or S$0.03 on Thursday.

Singapore Airlines (SIA): C6L The flag carrier on Thursday posted a net profit of S$85 million for the third quarter to December 2021, registering its first quarterly profit since the onset of the pandemic thanks to increased air travel and strong yields in the cargo market during the year-end period. Earnings per share for the quarter stood at S$0.013, reversing the loss per share of S$0.029 cents last year. Shares of SIA ended Thursday at S$4.94, down 6.3 per cent or S$0.33, before the announcement.

Frencken Group: E28 The mainboard-listed manufacturer on Thursday posted a 38 per cent increase in net profit to S$58.7 million for the full year ended Dec 31, 2021, from S$42.6 million the year before. Earnings per share in FY2021 stood at S$0.1375, compared with S$0.1001 cents the year before. The board has recommended a final dividend of S$0.0413 per share. Shares of Frencken Group closed at S$1.60, down 3 per cent or S$0.05 on Thursday before the announcement was made.