Karachi: Gharibwal Cement Ltd (GWLC) held an analyst briefing to discuss its financial performance for the fiscal year 2026 and future plans. The company reported a 6% year-over-year increase in earnings, reaching PkR2.3 billion with earnings per share (EPS) of PkR5.9, compared to PkR2.2 billion (EPS: PkR5.5) in the previous fiscal year.

According to AKD Securities Limited, GWLC's earnings for the first quarter of fiscal year 2027 saw a significant decline of 97% year-over-year, dropping to PkR9 million (EPS: PkR0.0) from PkR278 million (EPS: PkR0.7) in the same period last year. This decline was attributed to a contraction in gross margins to 7.8%, down from 13.3%, due to the purchase of clinker from the market during a plant shutdown.

Despite these challenges, GWLC's sales increased by 13% year-over-year to PkR22.3 billion in FY26, driven by a 17% increase in cement dispatches, totaling 1.4 million tons. However, the company's gross margins contracted to 18.9%, down from 23.3% in the previous year, as a result of a shift towards using higher-cost imported coal in the fuel mix.