The Closing Bell: KenGen’s 46% Profit Decline Makes It NSE Top Loser
At 3.10 pm today when the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) closed Kenya Electricity Generating Company -Kengen- (KEGN) had fallen 17.37% from yesterday's KES 12.95 to KES 10.70. KenGen released its end of year results posting a 45.79% decrease in earnings per share (EPS). The EPS or net profit reduced from KES 2.38 (30th, June 2013) to KES 1.29 (30th, June 2014). Such a drop in financial performance is always noted by investors, who in turn value the company lower. The power generator had already indicated that its financial performance was on the decline when it released its half year results (31st, Dec 2013). Its half-year EPS was KES 0.46 compared to the KES 0.75 registered in December 2012.
Kengen's share price performance for the past 12 months is given below:
The top winners:
Limuru Tea Company Limited (LIMT), Home Afrika Limited (HAFR), Car And General Kenya Limited (C&G), TPS Eastern Africa Limited -Serena Hotels- (TPSE) and National Bank Of Kenya Limited (NBK). They closed at KES 990.00, 4.40, 62.00, 39.00 and 27.00 respectively. Limuru Tea's price makes it only ten shillings short of the KES 1000 mark first hit by British American Tobacco Kenya Limited (BAT) two weeks ago.
The top losers:
KenGen, Eveready East Africa Limited (EVRD), Express Kenya Limited (XPRS), Unga Group Limited (UNGA), and Trans-century Limited (TCL) shed the most value today. They ended the day at KES 10.70, 3.80, 7.00, 40.25 and 19.00 respectively.
Most shares traded:
Trans-century, Kenol Kobil Limited (KENO), Safaricom Limited (SCOM), The Kenya Power & Lighting Company Limited (KPLC), and Mumias Sugar Company Limited (MSC). 5.85 million Trans-century shares changed hands today representing 25.70% of all shares traded.
