The 10 counters driving the Zimbabwe stock market bull-run

7. SIMBISA

Simbisa Brands has a market value of $361.1 million, constituting 4.45 percent of the ZSE total market capitalisation.

In the year to date, the company has gained 305.3 percent to 64.85 cents.

The company reported a 4.7 percent increase in after-tax profit to $4.7 million in the half year to December on increased sales.

In the same period, group revenue increased by 3 percent to $79.1 million from $77 million in the same period previous year.

The group invested $4.3 million for the expansion of its operations in Kenya, Zimbabwe and Mauritius.

In Zimbabwe, the group has a total store count to 193 counters across the country, while it operates a total of 205 counters outside the country, with a presence in Kenya, Ghana, Mauritius, DRC and Zambia.

The group’s total assets stood at $67.1 million.

Simbisa Brands also plans to increase its footprint both in Zimbabwe and the region as it pursues growth in size, revenue and profitability in its largest regional market, Kenya.

The group declared a dividend of 0.23 cents per share for the six months to December 31.

8. OK Zimbabwe

Another large cap company, Zimbabwe’s largest retail operator, OK Zimbabwe, has a market value of $281.4 million, with a market share of 3.47 percent on the local bourse.

In the year to date, the company has gained 238 percent to close at 24 cents.

The company reported an 800 percent increase in net income to $6.1 million in the year to March from $700 000 last year on improved revenue.

OK Zimbabwe rebounded from a collapse in the 2016 full year, when a decline in sales and lower gross margins hurt profits.

The group spent $10.9 million on capex during the previous year.

The group is set to refurbish six stores to increase capacity and roll out more bakeries, and butcheries to improve its operational efficiency.

Zimbabwe’s retail sector has remained resilient despite its sluggish economy and the explosion of informal commerce.

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