Karachi: Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd. (MLCF) announced its financial results for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2027, revealing a consolidated profitability of PkR3.7 billion, an increase of 36% compared to the same period last year. This performance translates to an earnings per share (EPS) of PkR3.5, a significant rise from PkR2.6 in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

According to AKD Securities Limited, the company's earnings exceeded expectations due to higher-than-anticipated margins. The revenue for the quarter reached PkR30.9 billion, marking an 88% increase year-on-year and a 10% rise quarter-on-quarter. This growth was attributed to the inclusion of PIOC, a 21% year-on-year increase in retention prices, and a higher local sales mix.

The company's gross margins expanded to 39.4%, up from 33.9% in the same quarter last year. AKD Securities Limited has maintained a 'BUY' stance on MLCF, setting a target price of PkR157 per share for December 2026. The outlook is buoyed by a demand recovery linked to the revival of construction activity and robust margins driven by cost efficiencies and a growing share of high-margin products, such as white cement.