Stocks to watch: DBS, Suntec Reit, Frasers Property, Hutchison Port, Zheneng Jinjiang, Creative Tech

THE following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Monday (Feb 10).

DBS : The lender posted net profit for the fourth quarter that was 11 per cent higher compared to the year-ago period at S$2.52 billion, but it fell slightly short of expectations. That brought the bank’s full-year net profit to a new record high of S$11.29 billion, up 12 per cent from the year-ago period. DBS also announced a capital return dividend of S$0.15 per share per quarter to be paid out over the financial year 2025. Shares of DBS closed Friday up 0.8 per cent, or S$0.36 at S$44.68, before the announcement.

Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (Reit) : Property tycoon Gordon Tang and his wife Celine have failed to take over Suntec Reit, as their shareholding fell short of the 50 per cent threshold as at the offer closing date. The total number of units owned, controlled, or agreed to be acquired by their investment holding company, Aelios, amounted to about 1.1 billion – or 37.4 per cent of the total issued units. Units of Suntec Reit closed Friday flat at S$1.17, before the announcement.

Frasers Property : It registered S$1 billion in pre-sold revenue across Singapore, Australia, Thailand and China as at Dec 31, 2024. Its net gearing was 86.4 per cent as at end-2024, up from 83.4 per cent as at Sep 30, 2024. This increase was due mainly to capital expenditure and FLCT’s acquisition of an industrial property in Singapore. The company also announced on Friday evening that its board chairman, Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, will retire from office on Feb 8, 2025, and will be succeeded by Chumpol NaLamlieng, the former president of Siam Cement Group. Shares of Frasers Property closed flat at S$0.85 on Friday, before the announcement.

Hutchison Port Holding Trust (HPH) : It posted a distribution per unit (DPU) of HK$0.072 for the second half of the year ended Dec 31, 2024, down 6.5 per cent in the corresponding year-ago period. This will be paid on Mar 28, after the record date of Feb 18. Units of HPH Trust fell 2.5 per cent or US$0.004 to US$0.157 on Friday, before the announcement.

Zheneng Jinjiang Environment : The waste treatment group on Saturday reported that it expects to record a “significant increase” in total comprehensive income for the second half of the year ended Dec 31, 2024. The group said that this anticipated increase is mainly attributed to the absence of significant impairment losses of 271.8 million yuan (S$50.5 million) in aggregate. Zheneng Jinjiang Environment shares fell 3.2 per cent or S$0.015 to S$0.45 last Friday, before the announcement.

Creative Technology : The home-grown electronics company saw its net loss widen to US$6.1 million for its first half of the year ended Dec 31, 2024, despite net sales for the half-year period rising 18 per cent to US$37.4 million. Loss per share for the half-year came in at US$0.09, up from US$0.06 in the year-ago period. Shares of Creative Tech closed flat at S$1.12 on Friday, before the announcement.

Elite UK Reit : The manager on Monday posted a distribution per unit (DPU) of 1.47 pence for the second half ended Dec 31, representing a payout ratio of 95 per cent. This was 5.8 per cent higher than the 1.33 pence paid in the year-ago period, which was based on a payout ratio of 90 per cent. This brings full-year DPU to 2.87 pence, an increase of 5 per cent on the year. Units of Elite UK Reit closed flat at £0.30 on Friday.

NoonTalk Media : The entertainment company’s net loss for the six months ended Dec 31, 2024, was down at S$878,316. That puts its loss per share at S$0.0044 for the first half of FY2025. Revenue for the period was up 33 per cent at S$3 million, although cost of sales grew 26 per cent to S$2.8 million. Shares of Noontalk Media closed flat on Friday at S$0.086, before the release of the financials.

Trading halt: Real estate developer Asia-Pacific Strategic Investments called for a trading halt on Monday morning, pending the release of an announcement. The counter closed flat on Friday at S$0.001.