COMPANY PROFITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1937, Page 12

COMPANY PROFITS

RISE IN AUSTRALIA

HIGHEST IN RETAILING

Statistics compiled- by the National Bank of Australasia, and covering 77 public companies, which closed their accounts for the preceding 12 months during April, May, and' June, show that profits and dividends continue to mii crease: The percentage of profit to shareholders' funds in 1935 were 5.2 per cent.; in 1936, 5.7 per cent.; in 1937, 6.7 per cent. The '77 companies have- been grouped to form 15 sections,- and their percentage of profits per annum to shareholders' funds for each of the three years are compared as follows: — No. of Companies ' 1935. 1930. 1937. and Section. p.c. p.c. p.c. 6 Agricultural and Pastoral 3.7 4.7 6.2 3 Breweries and Hotels ... 6.8 7.9 9-G 9 Building & Construction 6.5 6.8 7.G •4 Banks 2.8 3.0 3.3 2 Trustee 4.2 4.7 4.8 8 Other Investment, ....... 5 ; 6 - 6.5.- i.3 ,4 Gas & Electricity ..... 6.3 5.2. 5.3 6 Apparel 5.3 8.8 8.. 4 Foodstuffs 5.1 5.9 7.0 | 5 Other 3.7 6.8 8.8 6 Miscellaneous .... 9.9 8.1 0.4 3 Printers & Stationers.. 6.9 7.5 8.8 7 Retail 9-1 B.S 10.8 6 Transport 5.5 5.3 0.1 3 Wholesale ...-4.5 5.2 ->.o 77 , ' 5.2 5.7 «." The increase in aggregate profit over the two years is approximately equal to 47 per cent, of the 1935 total, but this is spread unevenly over the various groups. The small agricultural and pastoral section advanced by 77 per cent., while the manufacturing group improved by 69. per cent, for apparel, 61 per-cent, for foodstuffs, ana 142 per cent, for others. It should be noted that the number of manufacturing companies is very small in comparison with total manufacturing nouses. Banks are higher by 18 per cent., while gas and electricity suppliers record a decrease of 10 per cent.