Mining firm Afrimat shares surge after substantial earnings growth forecast

AFRIMAT, the mid-tier mining and materials powerhouse, saw its share price climb by 2.87% on Tuesday morning, buoyed by an impressive forecast for its headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the six months ending August 31.

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The company revealed it expects HEPS to soar by between 90% and 95% compared to the same period last year, a promising sign for investors despite the stock’s recent struggles.

Trading at R40.53, Afrimat’s shares have experienced a decline of roughly 40% since reaching R67.60 last year. However, the anticipated HEPS figures, projected to range between 100.7 cents and 103.4 cents—up from 53 cents in the previous year—may have sparked renewed investor interest.

The positive outlook extends to earnings per share (EPS), which is expected to increase by 74% to 79%, projected between 101.4 cents and 104.3 cents for the interim period. This growth is attributed to significant operational enhancements across several segments of the company’s diverse portfolio.

The group’s construction materials sector experienced a rocky start but significantly improved sales volumes, especially with operational efficiencies at the recently acquired Lafarge quarries. Increased market share stemming from better customer service and reliable product availability played a crucial role in this turnaround.