Dis-Chem sees double-digit earnings and dividend growth

Loading player...
GUEST - Rui Morais, CEO of Dis-Chem
South African pharmacy group Dis-Chem reported a 16.3% jump in headline earnings for the six months ended 31 August 2024, it announced on Sens on Friday.
Dis-Chem also posted a 16.1% surge in its dividend per share, which amounts to 26.98 cents, compared to 23.2 cents in the corresponding period in 2023.
The group’s share price traded over 2% lower on Friday morning, at around R36.35 a share.
Dis-Chem attributes the strong earnings growth largely to the containment of group payroll costs, predominantly driven by the successful deployment of its ‘staffing framework 1.0’-strategy. Staffing framework 1.0 focuses on achieving the optimal mix of staff to ensure efficient operations at store level.
In the period under review, Dis-Chem’s like-for-like retail employee costs increased by just 0.7%, but wholesale expenses jumped 13.2% – mainly as a result of the acquisition of the Longmeadow warehouse in Gauteng.
For the half-year, Dis-Chem saw its revenue rise by 9.6% to R19.6 billion, while operating profit surged 17.5%.
Six new retail pharmacy stores were opened, resulting in 274 retail pharmacy stores and 53 retail baby stores as at 31 August 2024, it noted.
28 Oct 2024 2PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

South Africa’s Solar Power Development on the Rise

Local independent power producer Mulilo today announced the financial close of what it calls one of the largest utility-scale solar developments in the country. The 380 MW Beaufort West Solar PV project will generate approximately 818 gigawatt-hours of clean electricity annually. Joining us with the details is Stuart Macwilliam, Mulilo…
20 Apr 4PM 15 min

SA Inflation Risks Are Rising

With CPI easing to 3% in February but global pressures mounting, Nedbank economist Isaac Matshego breaks down what to expect from this week’s inflation print, the resilience of household spending, and the outlook for borrowing costs in the second half of 2026.
20 Apr 4PM 8 min

Inside the JSE’s 2026 SME Acceleration Strategy

The JSE launched its 2026 Enterprise Acceleration Programme, welcoming 12 high‑potential SMEs and building on the success of previous cohorts. Vuyo Lee discusses the programme’s evolution and its impact on scaling founder‑led businesses.
20 Apr 4PM 8 min

Careers Corner: Fuel Shock Forces Rethink of Workplace Models

Rising fuel and energy costs are pushing companies to revisit remote and hybrid work. CDH’s Rashaad Dadoo outlines the legal obligations, fairness considerations, and compliance risks employers must manage as flexible work models re-enter strategic planning.
20 Apr 4PM 15 min

Wealth Creation: Why SA Investors Need Alternatives

With the JSE representing less than 1% of global investable markets, South Africans face concentration risk at home. Anchor Capital’s Darryl Hannington explores the rise of private equity, private debt, hedge funds, and offshore assets—and how alternatives can strengthen portfolios in an inflation‑driven world.
20 Apr 4PM 16 min