EBOS earnings rocket up 21pc to new record, lifts dividend

EBOS distributes medical supplies and equipment in Australia and New Zealand. Photo / Supplied

Medical supplies and animal healthcare company EBOS Group said strong first half growth was replicated in the second, driving underlying net profit up 21.3 per cent to a record A$228.2 million in the June year, its 100th year of operation.

The company's statutory net profit came to A$202.6m (NZ$225.9m), up 9.3 per cent.

EBOS - which derives most of its earnings from Australia - said it expects to see more profitable growth in the current year.

Revenue hit A$10.6 billion - breaking through the A$10b mark for the first time.

Dual-listed EBOS declared a final dividend of 49.0 NZ cents per share, bringing the total to 96.0 NZ cents per share - up 8.5 per cent.

EBOS said there had been continued strong performances from both its healthcare and animal care segments.

The company said it kept investing in its infrastructure to support growth in the business.

Chief executive John Cullity said the double-digit revenue and earnings growth reflected a continuation of the strong first half announced in February.

The company said it made investments throughout the year to position itself for future growth.

"The strength and diversity of our portfolio of businesses is reflected as both our Healthcare and Animal Care segments contributed strongly to the overall result and successfully executed our strategy of pursuing both organic and inorganic growth," Cullity said.

"Our Healthcare segment benefited from its leading market positions and had strong contributions from each of our Community Pharmacy, TerryWhite Chemmart, Institutional Healthcare and Contract Logistics divisions and businesses."

Each of the company's healthcare divisions capitalised on strong market growth opportunities, he said.

Cullity said the animal care segment continued a strong first half performance with key brands and divisions – Black Hawk, Vitapet and Lyppard – recording robust growth.

EBOS invested about A$80m in a new state of the art pet food manufacturing facility in Parkes, New South Wales during the year.

It also invested in operational infrastructure for its pharmacy wholesaling, medical consumables distribution and contract logistics businesses.

The healthcare segment generated revenue of A$10.2b and underlying ebit of A$316.2m, an increase of 17.1 per cent and 24.0 per cent, respectively.

The animal care business clocked up revenue of $541,3m and ebit of $72.6m, an increase of 8.8 per cent and 13.3 per cent respectively.

EBOS completed five acquisitions worth about A$1.3b, being Pioneer Medical, Sentry Medical, MD Solutions, LifeHealthcare and a small medical consumables distributor.

After acquiring LifeHealthcare, EBOS had become one of the largest independent medical device distributors in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia.

LifeHealthcare performed in line with expectations during June 2022, the first month under EBOS' ownership, contributing EBITDA of A$9.5m.

Each of Animal Care's key brands and divisions – Black Hawk, Vitapet and Lyppard – maintained robust growth.

EBOS said it had increases in these key cost items to varying degrees across our businesses.

Covid-19 continues to have both positive and negative impacts across our Group businesses.

"Overall, we estimate the net impact of Covid-19 has been positive to Group earnings," the company said.

In its outlook the company said it expected another year of profitable growth in 2023.

EBOS said its portfolio of businesses was resilient throughout the Covid-19 pandemic but the global economic and geopolitical environment created material uncertainties that could impact the group's future trading performance.

Capital expenditure for 2023 was expected to stay high as EBOS carried out facility expansions and upgrades.

Shares in EBOS last traded at $38.32, up 30c on Tuesday's close.