Clicks increases market share, margin - but profit growth disappoints market

Shares in Clicks fell more than 3% on Thursday morning after SA's biggest pharmacist network delivered what analysts described as disappointing earnings growth, with signs of tougher times ahead.

The company said its diluted headline earnings, which have been adjusted for the financial effect of the July 2021 riots and related insurance payouts, rose 10.2% in its half-year to end-February.

However, when accounting for these effects, its headline earnings grew only 0.9% to R1.2 billion. Its interim dividend was hiked by 2.8% to 185c per share.