KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of Poh Huat Resources Holdings Bhd slumped near its 52-week low today following dissappointing third quarter of financial year 2024 (3QFY24) results.
The share price fell as low as RM1.29 today, nearing its RM1.28 closing price on Sept 13, 2023.
At 10.20am, Poh Huat was traded 2.3 per cent or 3 sen lower at RM1.30 for a market capitalisation worth RM361.8 million.
In the quarter ended July 31, the furniture manufacturer posted a net profit of RM2.97 million, 39 per cent lower than the RM4.8 million it posted in the same period last year.
Revenue decreased 2.0 per cent to RM105 million during the period from RM107 million a year ago.
Public Investment Bank Bhd (PublicInvest) said the results were below its own and consensus estimates at 66 per cent and 59 per cent of full-year forecasts respectively.
"The discrepancy in our forecast was mainly due to a lower-than-expected sales orders. We continue to take a cautious stance as exports orders slowed down on quarterly basis, but expect a sequential uptick in 4QFY24 on year-end festival season," it said in a research note today.
According to PublicInvest, orders are expected to remain relatively flat due to the slowdown in US household furniture spending due to excess inventories, although a modest increase is anticipated on year-end festivals.
Nonetheless, the research firm said demand for office furniture remains robust, supported by the shift towards hybrid and return-to-office work models, as reflected in the Malaysia operation.
"Despite ongoing efforts to reduce inventory levels, elevated retail inventories continue to hinder sales from generating sufficient demand for finished products. "Consequently, we expect the furniture industry to remain challenging in the near term," it added.
Therefore, PublicInvest maintains Poh Huat's FY24-26 earnings forecasts and "underperform" rating with an unchanged target price of RM1.16 per share.