Philippine Daily Inquirer

LOPEZ HOLDINGS PROFITABLE ANEW IN Q2

- —DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA

Conglomera­te Lopez Holdings reversed in the second quarter the net loss it incurred in the same period last year at the peak of pandemic-induced restrictio­ns that choked businesses.

Lopez delivered a second quarter net profit of P440 million, a turnaround from the net loss of P881 million seen last year.

Compared to the first quarter’s net profit of P613 million, however, earnings declined as tighter lockdown protocols had been reimposed in Metro Manila and adjacent provinces in April.

The second quarter performanc­e brought the group’s sixmonth net income to P1.05 billion, 283-percent better than the low base seen last year. Higher income generated by the business units of First Philippine Holdings Corporatio­n (FPH) offset equity share in net losses of investee ABS-CBN Corp.

Consolidat­ed revenues in the first six months increased by 12 percent year-on-year to P60.489 billion from P53.880 billion.

FPH’s power businesses grew revenues by 7 percent while real estate revenues rebounded by 124 percent. Revenues from constructi­on contracts and services as well as sale of merchandis­e likewise rose by 13 percent and 37 percent year-on-year, respective­ly.

FPH, for its part, posted a 16-percent year-on-year increase in six-month net income to P5.84, while revenues expanded by 12 percent to P60.5 billion during the period. This was seen in line with economic recovery as quarantine restrictio­ns eased during the period.

Sale of electricit­y accounted for 84 percent of six-month revenues, lower than the 88-percent share a year ago.

Beleaguere­d media arm ABSCBN registered a net loss of P3.39 billion in the first half, down by 14 percent year-on-year. First semester revenues slid by 39 percent to P8.142 billion as the cessation of broadcast operations on May 5, 2020 ended the inflow of advertisin­g revenues.

Project the that crisis seeks Rebound through to help is an relevant Filipinos advocacy and overcome campaign timely informatio­n they can use to make informed decisions. It is supported by Aboitiz Group, Medicard Philippine­s Inc., Megaworld Corporatio­n, PMFTC, Inc. and Rockwell Land Corp.

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