KUALA LUMPUR: Scientex Bhd’s net profit rose 19.2% to RM72.88 million for the third financial quarter ended April 30, 2019 (3QFY19) from RM61.14 million a year ago, on better sales performance achieved by both the manufacturing and property divisions.

Earnings per share rose to 14.31 sen for 3QFY19 compared with 12.5 sen for 3QFY18. Revenue for the quarter also increased 38.9% to RM828.46 million from RM596.42 million in 3QFY18.

Scientex declared a first interim dividend of 10 sen per share for the financial year ending July 31, 2019 (FY19), payable on July 23.

For the cumulative nine months ended April 30, 2019 (9MFY19), the group saw its net profit slip marginally to RM200.3 million against RM201.52 million a year ago, despite a 22.7% rise in revenue to RM2.31 billion from RM1.88 billion in 9MFY18.

In a separate statement, Scientex managing director Lim Peng Jin said the firm’s ability to track commendable progress in the flexible plastic packaging (FPP) and property development businesses, despite a keener operating landscape, attests to its competitive edge in providing customer-centric high-quality products to discerning local and international customers.

“Our FPP segment stands to gain further traction, as we not only grow sales in existing businesses, but also potentially add Daibochi Bhd’s acquisition of Mega Plastic & Packaging Sdn Bhd to the mix.”

“For our property development segment, we would continue to launch more projects as well as expand our landbank. The recent 526 acres (212.86ha) of land purchased from April to date across Melaka, Rawang, Ipoh, and Penang brings our landbank to 3,795 acres, and demonstrates our commitment to building more affordable homes,” he said.