Metropolitan Steel Corporation Limited recently released its financial statement for the quarter ending on September 30, 2024. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the corporation’s financial performance, comparing key indicators with the previous year’s figures to assess the current trajectory of profitability, expenses, and overall financial health.
Revenue and Cost of Sales
The corporation’s revenue for Q3 2024 was recorded at Rs. 31,957,000, which shows a slight decline from the Rs. 34,510,000 reported in Q3 2023. A drop in revenue often signals a decrease in sales volume or price adjustments, which can be attributed to several factors, including market demand and competitive pricing.
The cost of sales also reduced slightly to Rs. 34,271,000 from Rs. 35,370,000 in Q3 2023. Despite this decrease, the cost of sales remained higher than the revenue, resulting in a gross loss of Rs. 2,314,000, a notable increase from the Rs. 861,000 loss in the same period last year.
“The declining revenue paired with persistent high costs has driven the gross margin further into negative territory, challenging Metropolitan Steel’s profitability in a competitive market.”
Administrative and Selling Expenses
The administrative expenses saw a substantial increase, amounting to Rs. 5,293,000 in Q3 2024 compared to Rs. 1,673,000 in Q3 2023. This hike could be a result of higher operational costs, expanded workforce, or increased overheads. Selling and distribution costs remained relatively low but showed a slight decline from Rs. 49,000 to Rs. 4,000 in Q3 2024.
Overall, the combined increase in administrative and selling expenses added to the operating loss for the period, which stood at Rs. 7,611,000, compared to a loss of Rs. 2,583,000 last year.
Finance Cost and Other Income
Finance costs dropped to Rs. 29,000 from Rs. 99,000 in the prior year’s quarter, possibly indicating a reduction in interest expenses or improved financial management. Despite the lower finance costs, the corporation recorded other income at Rs. 753,000, down from Rs. 1,429,000 last year.
This decline in other income, which often includes non-operational revenue like investments or asset sales, could reflect reduced returns on investments or fewer non-core revenue sources.
“The reduction in both finance costs and other income indicates a mixed scenario: while the corporation is managing debt or financing better, it’s also losing out on other revenue streams.”
Profit Before Tax and Income Tax
The profit before income tax reported a significant loss of Rs. 6,887,000, compared to a loss of Rs. 1,253,000 in Q3 2023. This deterioration in profitability is a result of the cumulative impact of higher administrative expenses and the decline in revenue and other income.
The minimum tax payable stood at Rs. 399,000, with an additional income tax of Rs. 461,000 applied. This led to a profit after income tax loss of Rs. 6,825,000, highlighting a notable worsening from last year’s Rs. 1,199,000 loss.
Comprehensive Income
The statement shows no items classified under “other comprehensive income” for this period. Consequently, the total comprehensive loss aligns with the after-tax profit loss, amounting to Rs. 6,825,000 for Q3 2024. This represents a widening financial gap compared to Q3 2023’s comprehensive loss of Rs. 1,199,000.
Loss per Share
The basic and diluted loss per share for Q3 2024 stands at Rs. 0.220, which is significantly higher than the Rs. 0.039 reported for Q3 2023. This increase reflects the substantial losses incurred during the period, signaling a need for the corporation to revisit its strategies to stabilize its share value and prevent further erosion.
“With the loss per share escalating, shareholder returns remain under strain, potentially impacting investor confidence and market valuation.”