…proposes N2.50 per share dividend
Zenith Bank Plc ‘s profit before tax (PBT) grew by 16. 2 per cent to N231.685 billion in for the year ended December 31, 2018.
Similarly, Profit after tax rose by 11.3 per cent to N193.424 billion in in the same period.
The bank’s audited results released on Tuesday showed a decline in gross earnings from N745.189 billion in 2017 to N630.344 billion in 2018. Net interest income improved to N295.594 billion compared with N257.991 billion in 2017.
Impairment charges were reduced from N98.29 billion to N18.372 billion. Similarly, the bank reduced operating expenses from N144.893 billion to N137.897 billion.
The PBT figure was an improvement from N199.319 billion in 2017, while this year’s PAT was achieved from N173.791 billion recorded in 2017. The directors have proposed a final dividend of N2.50 per share which in addition to the N0.30 per share paid as interim dividend amounts to N2.80 per share, compared to N2.70 in 2017.
A further analysis of the results showed that Zenith Bank Plc was cautions in loans advancement to customers in 2018. Loans and advancements fell from N1.823 trillion, as against N2.1 trillion in 2017. But customers deposit increased from N3.437 trillion to N3.690 trillion in 2018.
The stock market reacted positively to the Zenith Bank Plc ‘s results as its share price gained 5.6 per cent to close higher at N25.35 per share. In all, the stock market rebounded yesterday with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) All-Share Index rising 0.7 per cent to close at 32,406.18 compared with a decline of 1.61 per cent the previous day.
