South Africa’s Dis-Chem profit jumps as drugs demand rebounds

South Africa’s Dis-Chem Pharmacies Ltd (DCPJ.

J) has reported a 35.

3% jump in half-year earnings on Wednesday, helped by pent-up demand for medicines and vaccines after the easing of pandemic lockdowns.

Business confidence in South Africa has returned to pre-pandemic levels, as retailers see increased demand and footfall thanks to COVID-19 vaccination drives, easing restrictions and stimulus measures.

Dis-Chem’s revenue surged 19.

2% over the past two months.

Dis-Chem, which runs the second-largest chain of pharmacies in South Africa and competes with Clicks Group (CLSJ.

J), said it had administered 405,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses during the half-year ended August, with that number increasing to 860,000 by the end of October.

However, a disproportionate rise in sales of lower-margin products related to COVID-19 during and after the second and third pandemic waves left transactional gross margin behind sales growth year-on-year, the company said.

The company’s headline earnings per share, a key metric of profit for South African companies, came in at 48.

7 cents for the half-year ended August, the drug store chain said, revenue rose 16.

6% to 14.

9 billion rand ($967.

49 million).

($1 = 15.

4007 rand)
Reuters
South Africa’s Dis-Chem profit jumps as drugs demand rebounds