KUALA LUMPUR: Sports Toto Bhd
(SPToto), which posted a 55% jump in net profit for the fourth quarter ended June 30 (4Q26), remains cautiously optimistic about maintaining a stable and resilient performance.
“The number forecast operation (NFO) business is expected to grow sustainably, driven by the popularity of its Jackpot and Digit games. The directors are confident that SPToto will continue to maintain its leading market position in the legalised NFO business sector,” SPToto said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia.
In 4Q26, SPToto’s net profit surged 55% to RM62.5mil, or 4.75 sen per share, from RM40.3mil, or 3.03 sen per share, a year earlier.
Revenue, however, fell 4.9% to RM1.55bil from RM1.63bil, mainly due to softer sales of H.R. Owen Plc (H.R. Owen) and STM Lottery Sdn Bhd (STM Lottery).
SPToto said STM Lottery’s revenue fell 4.5% in 4Q26, mainly due to lower average sales per draw amid smaller accumulated jackpot prizes and one less draw during the quarter.
Despite the lower revenue, pre-tax profit rose 6.9% on lower operating expenses.
H.R. Owen’s revenue fell 6.6%, mainly due to weaker new car sales amid gaps between model launches and a challenging economic environment. In ringgit terms, revenue declined 13.6% due to unfavourable foreign exchange movements.
The segment posted a pre-tax loss of RM1.6mil, compared with a pre-tax profit of RM11.7mil a year earlier, mainly due to lower revenue and margin compression.
For the full financial year ended June 30, SPToto’s net profit fell 19.3% to RM188.8mil from RM233.9mil, while revenue declined to RM6.04bil from RM6.48bil.
The board declared a fourth interim dividend of 3 sen per share, amounting to RM39.4mil, payable on Oct 16.
This brings total dividends for FY26 to 11 sen per share, or about RM145mil.
SPToto noted that the Federal Court had unanimously denied the Kedah state government leave to appeal over its ban on the renewal of NFO business premises licences in the state on Aug 12.
“The management is currently engaging the relevant authorities for approvals to recommence its lottery operations in the state of Kedah,” it said.
