3 listed machinery makers scored robust profits in first 6 months

Taipei, July 21, 2003 (CENS)--Three listed local manufacturers of machines garnered robust pretax profits in the first half of this year, with Kao Fong Machinery Co., Ltd. Recording the highest earnings per share (EPS) of NT$0.9.

The other two companies are Chian Hsing Forging Industry Co., Ltd. And Anderson Industrial Corp. Kao Fong and Chian Hsing are listed on the local over-the-counter bourse, and Anderson on the Taiwan Stock Exchange.

Kao Fong produces machine tools. Thanks to booming domestic sales, the company hit its record high monthly revenue of NT$146 million in June. The firm reaped pretax profit of NT$24 million in June, soaring by 158% from the NT$9.3 million posted in June last year and the historically highest monthly level.

Kao Fong raked in cumulative pretax profit of NT$63 million in the first half of this year, translating into EPS of NT$0.9. The company projects EPS of NT$2.5 for this year.

Chian Hsing chalked pretax profit of N$9.06 million in June, the highest monthly figure ever on record. The company brought in pretax profit of NT$27 million in the first six months of the year, attaining 55% of the goal for this year and equivalent to EPS of NT$0.81 based on the capital of NT$332 million after ex-right.

Anderson is a producer of PCB (printed circuit board) drilling machines, CNC (computerized numerically controlled) machining centers of nonferrous metals, and woodworking machines. The company rang up revenue of NT$1.204 billion in the January-June period of the year, rising y 18.78% from the same period of last year.

Meanwhile, Anderson reaped six-month pretax profit of NT$11.3 million, a sharp contrast to pretax loss of NT$24 million suffered in January-June last year and translating into EPS of NT$0.15. The company's six-month pretax profit fulfilled 25.47% of the NT$44.36 million projected for this year.