Tightening stance, Currency devaluation stunt UAC Property growth prospect
The continued hike in interest rate by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the devaluation of naira has stunted the growth of UACN Property Development Co. as the Nigerian real-estate developer grapples with a low demand for housing.
For the first three months through March 2015, UAC Property net income slid by 52.08 percent to N184.05 million, compared with N384.15 million the previous year, the Lagos-based company said on its website. Sales shrank by 53.70 percent to N3.11 billion as the company struggles with macroeconomic challenges.
Earnings per share EPS increased by 54.40 percent to 12.98k in 2015 from 28.46 percent last year.
UACN’s dwindling performance was compounded by a significant reduction in other operating by 85.65 percent to N290.47 million.
It is a tough quarter for real estate business in the country as volatile economy and political risk weakened the demand for housing.
The CBN increased the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 13 percent, from 12 percent previously held as property developers bemoan the monetary policy which they said culminated in forced reduction in the fees banks charge on fund transfers.
The recent devaluation of the naira against the dollar had placed upward pressure on lending rates, making it more difficult for local developers to access funding for projects.
Nigeria central bank scrapped its bi-weekly currency auctions on in February 2015 and the market body said it would sell dollars only at 198 naira, a move that amounts to a de facto devaluation of Nigeria’s currency.
Inflation increased to 8.7 percent in April, close to the top of the bank’s 6 percent to 9 percent target band.
The naira has lost more than 13 percent of its value against the dollar in the past six months, and was trading 0.2 percent stronger at 199 a dollar by 3:47 p.m. in Lagos.
Analysts say the fuel scarcity in the past few weeks that led to cessation of businesses will further weaken demand for accommodation. This is because consumers spent more on transportation, a situation that further squeezed their wallets.
UAC Property is however cutting costs amid rising production costs stunting growth of firms in Nigeria. Companies are groaning under huge energy costs due to heavy reliance on diesel oil, an expensive source of energy to power plant at factories.
The company’s cost of sales reduced by 60.70 percent to N1.11 billion in 2015 from N2.81 billion. Cost of sales ratio reduced to 77.08 percent in 2015 as against 90.35 percent last year. This means the company is spending less on input costs to produce each unit of products.
Gross profits were up by 11.74 percent to N336.89 million in 2015 from N301.05 million last year. This means the company has been able to effectively manage direct costs attributable to projects.
Gross profit margin fell to 23.40 percent in the period under review as against 9 percent the previous year.
The property developer’s total assets increased by 2.92 percent to N70.07 billion in 2015 compared with N68.08 percent in 2014.
Net margin, a measure of profitability and efficiency were flattish at 12 percent.
Analysts are upbeat that a rebound in consumer spending will drive the demand for housing. Properties are expected to gain in commercial areas of Lagos, the capital Abuja and Port Harcourt.
Nigeria rapid urbanization and rising middle class that crave for accommodation means there is light at the tunnel for real estate business.
UAC property’s share price closed at N10.10 on the NSE while market capitalization was N17.36 billion.
BALA AUGIE