Latest news with #BritishAmericanTobacco
The Star
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Bursa Malaysia finishes flat as investors await 13MP and trade clarity
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia ended marginally higher amid cautious trading, as investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) announcement and external developments. The FBM KLCI ended flat, closing at its intraday high of 1,524.50, up 0.68 points or 0.04%, after dipping to a low of 1,516.96 earlier in the day. In the broader market, losers outnumbered gainers with 570 stocks ending lower and 377 stocks finishing higher. A total of 2.65 billion shares were traded, with a value of RM2.07bil. Dealers said market sentiment is likely to remain subdued due to lingering uncertainties surrounding the ongoing US-Malaysia trade negotiations, coupled with anticipation ahead of the 13MP, which is set to be tabled on Thursday. They noted that investors are holding back as they await clearer direction on policy and economic outlook. Among the gainers on Bursa Malaysia, British American Tobacco jumped 43 sen to RM5.32, PETRONAS Chemicals gained 28 sen to RM4.07, Chin Tek rose 27 sen to RM9.76 and Hong Leong Bank added 26 sen to RM19.03. Conversely, Nestle slid 40 sen to RM87.40, F&N fell 30 sen to RM28.60, Allianz lost 28 sen to RM17.42 and United Plantations declined 22 sen to RM21.78. On the forex market, the ringgit weakened 0.08% against the US dollar to 4.2375, and 0.09% against the Singapore dollar to 3.2924. Around the region, MSCI's Asia ex-Japan stock index was firmer by 0.04%. Japan's Nikkei 225 dipped 0.05% to 40,654.70, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index fell 1.36% to 25,176.93. South Korea's Kospi rose 0.74% to 3,254.47, China's Shanghai Composite added 0.17% to 3,615.72, and the CSI300 Index inched up 0.02% to 4,151.24.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
BAT Malaysia 2Q earnings up 40%
Illustration shows BAT (British American Tobacco) PETALING JAYA: British American Tobacco (M) Bhd (BAT Malaysia) is ready to navigate any new challenges from new laws and regulations that will be enacted this year. The company said 2025 will be a crucial time for it as the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) will take effect in phases during the year. There is also the new pictorial health warning and labelling requirements, as well as a retail display ban that will take effect on Oct 1, 2025, it said. Against this backdrop, BAT Malaysia said it remains focused on continuing to deliver its financial performance, driven by the strength of its combustibles portfolio and its leadership position in the premium segment through Dunhill. 'The group is committed to continually strengthening its combustibles portfolio by ensuring its products stand out in quality, innovation and brand heritage,' it said. Meanwhile, BAT Malaysia said the sales and service tax scope expansion and the targeted subsidy reforms are expected to temporarily weigh on consumer sentiment. However, it expects overall consumer spending to remain steady in the second half of 2025 due to policy easing, higher wages and increased tourism activity. In its latest financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025 (2Q25), its net profit rose 40% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM50.95mil as revenue declined by 2.45% to RM624.65mil. Basic earnings per share for the quarter rose y-o-y to 17.8 sen from 12.7 sen and it declared a dividend of 12 sen. 'Our second-quarter results demonstrate the resilience of our combustibles portfolio, even in a highly competitive market environment, signalling that we are heading in the right strategic direction,' managing director of BAT Malaysia Nedal Salem said in a statement. 'The tobacco black market also saw a decline of 0.4 percentage point at 54.4% in 2Q25, compared to the previous quarter. 'This was largely contributed by the work done by the Royal Malaysians Customs Department and we continue to applaud their efforts in combating illicit trade in Malaysia,' Nedal added.
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
BAT Malaysia sees 2Q profit recovery on the back of combustibles segment
Illustration shows BAT (British American Tobacco) KUALA LUMPUR: British American Tobacco (Malaysia) Bhd's focus on its combustibles segment, particularly its flagship Dunhill brand, is yielding results as its second quarter results showed improvement over the previous corresponding quarter. According to the group, the strategic decision to transition out e-cigarette brand Vuse enabled more effective cost management and portfolio focus, which saw a 38.5% increase in profit from operations to RM78 million compared to RM56mil in the same period last year. In the quarter under review, BAT posted a net profit of RM50.95mil, up from RM36.28mil in the year-ago quarter. Earnings per share climbed to 17.8 sen from 12.7 sen previously. Its revenue dipped slightly to RM624.75mil in 2QFY25 from RM640.46mil in the comparative quarter. For the six-month period, BAT reported net profit of RM74.22mil against RM66.27mil in 1HFY24, while revenue dropped to RM946.74mil from RM1.05bil in the comparative period. The board of directors declared a second interim dividend of 12 sen per share, going ex on Aug 13, 2025, and payable on Sept 4, 2025, to shareholders. "Our second quarter results demonstrate the resilience of our combustibles portfolio, even in a highly competitive market environment, signalling that we are heading in the right strategic direction. 'Dunhill continues to stand out as the leading brand in Malaysia, gaining further momentum this quarter," said BAT Malaysia managing director Nedal Salem in a statement. He reported that the tobacco black market also saw a decline of 0.4 percentage point at 54.4% in 2QFY25, compared to the previous quarter.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
British American Tobacco (BTI): A High-Yield Dividend Stock with Defensive Strength
British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) is included among the Top 10 Safest Dividend Stocks in the UK. A close-up of an array of tobacco products, emphasizing the selection and consumer choice. British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) is among the best FTSE dividend stocks. Similar to its industry peers, the company is heavily focused on shifting towards next-generation products. What sets BAT apart is its global reach, offering investors exposure to the worldwide tobacco market rather than being limited to just the US or international markets alone. Its product lineup spans traditional cigarettes, vaporizers, heated tobacco, and smokeless options like chewing tobacco. For those looking to invest in the broader tobacco sector, BAT offers a straightforward, all-in-one entry point through a single stock. In July, Jefferies began covering British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) with a Buy rating, selecting it as their top pick within the tobacco industry. The firm pointed to the company's growing profitability in its traditional combustibles segment as a key driver supporting its progress in expanding into smoke-free products. Analysts also highlighted British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI)'s strong financial position and solid cash returns, while suggesting that there is still potential for margin improvement. From a valuation perspective, the stock was considered appealing, trading at a 35% discount compared to other tobacco firms — a gap Jefferies expects could close over time. British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI) has raised its payouts every year since 2018. The company offers a quarterly dividend of $0.7391 per share and has a dividend yield of 5.8%, as recorded on July 25. While we acknowledge the potential of BTI as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: and Disclosure: None. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
3 shares to consider for long-term passive income
Putting money into shares that pay dividends is one way to earn passive income streams. As dividends are never guaranteed, the savvy investor will spread their money across multiple shares. Here are three I think it is worth considering as one tries to build passive income streams for the long term. Henderson Far East Income To start with is a high-yield one. In fact, the 10.8% dividend yield of Henderson Far East Income is something of a red flag. Often such a high yield can suggest the City is nervous about the prospect of dividend cuts. That is understandable, as the fund is focused on the Far East and owns stakes in companies that could suffer from a weak global economy or tariff disputes, such as its largest holding Evergreen Marine Corp Taiwan. But its carefully chosen portfolio of dozens of companies also exposes the fund to what I see as some compelling growth stories. It has a proven record of generating sizeable cash flows from its portfolio of Asia Pacific-exposed investments. British American Tobacco While Henderson Far East has an impressive recent record of dividend growth since its launch 19 years ago, an even longer run of annual dividend per share growth can be seen at British American Tobacco (LSE: BATS). It has raised the payout per share each year this century. Management plans to continue that trend and I think it will work hard to do so, as dividends are central to the investment case. Declining cigarette use means that British American, like other tobacco shares, are not seen as growth stories even as they develop non-cigarette product lines. Will British American keep paying out the sort of dividends that has earned it a place in many passive income portfolios? It is easy to focus on the risks – the company's debt is another, besides declining cigarette use – but I do see some strengths to the business too. It is massively cash generative and has a stable of premium brands such as Dunhill and Pall Mall. That, along with the addictive nature of smoking, gives it significant pricing power. Dunelm Homewares retailer Dunelm (LSE: DNLM) has a 3.6% dividend yield. That means someone investing £100 today will hopefully earn £3.60 in dividends annually. That yield is already fairly attractive, in my view. But it only tells part of the story, as it excludes special dividends. Dunelm sometimes uses such dividends to distribute spare cash. That can be good news for passive income hunters. Last year, for example, its total dividend per share came in at 78.5p. That is around 6.5% of the current share price – an even more attractive yield than the 3.6% yield I mentioned (from ordinary dividends alone). The company benefits from an extensive network of stores and strong digital presence that now accounts for 42% of total sales. Lots of unique products help set it apart both online and offline. At 16 times earnings, the share price does not strike me as cheap but I do think Dunelm is a high-quality company with a proven business model. Global shipping rates remain volatile, a risk to its profit margins. While that remains a risk, Dunelm reckons its 'strong commercial and operational grip' means gross margin for its most recent financial year will actually show improvement. The post 3 shares to consider for long-term passive income appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool C Ruane has positions in Henderson Far East Income. The Motley Fool UK has recommended British American Tobacco P.l.c. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025
