Q&M Dental posts 7% rise in Q1 revenue, declares S$0.004 per share dividend

Fiona Lam

Fiona Lam

Published Wed, May 11, 2022 · 09:40 PM
    • The company declared an interim dividend of S$0.004 per share for the first quarter of this year, to be paid on Jun 3. This is lower than the dividend of S$0.01 per share declared for Q1 2021.
    • The company declared an interim dividend of S$0.004 per share for the first quarter of this year, to be paid on Jun 3. This is lower than the dividend of S$0.01 per share declared for Q1 2021. PHOTO: Q&M DENTAL

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    TOTAL revenue for Q&M Dental Group (Singapore) ticked up by 7 per cent to about S$46.8 million in the first quarter ended Mar 31, 2022, from S$43.8 million in the year-ago period.

    Net profit slumped 31 per cent year on year to S$6.5 million, from S$9.4 million previously, according to the mainboard-listed private dental healthcare group’s results on Wednesday (May 11) night.

    However, excluding other gains, net profit after tax attributable to shareholders increased by 26 per cent to S$6.5 million for the quarter, compared with around S$5.2 million a year ago.

    Q&M noted that other gains had decreased in Q1 2022 due to the absence of a one-time gain on the disposal of an associate, Aidite, in the corresponding period last year.

    The company declared an interim dividend of S$0.004 per ordinary share for the first quarter of this year, to be paid on Jun 3, 2022. This is lower than the first interim dividend of S$0.01 per share declared for Q1 2021.

    Revenue contribution from dental and medical clinics fell by a marginal 2 per cent to S$38.6 million for the latest quarter, “despite the challenges of the safe management measures due to the rapid spread of the Omicron (Covid-19) variant”, Q&M said. There were fewer patient visits, and some of the group's nurses and dentists were also sick amid high Covid-19 rates in Q1 2022.

    However, this impact was offset by the organic growth of opening new clinics. As at Mar 31, the group’s number of dental outlets in Singapore had grown to 99, from 85 a year ago. In Malaysia, there were 41 dental outlets, up from 36 previously.

    Q&M on Wednesday said it intends to continue executing its business plans, which include expanding the network of dental clinics in Singapore and Malaysia; expanding into the private dental healthcare market in China; expanding in South-east Asia; and rolling out a clinical testing laboratory pipeline of new tests.

    Shares of Q&M were up S$0.005 or 1 per cent to finish at S$0.495 on Wednesday, before it announced the financial results.

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