How bad is load shedding hitting profits? (#526)

Simon Shares

• MPC Thursday (26 January) raised 0.25% and FOMC Wednesday (1 February) expected is 0.25%.
• Capco (JSE code: CCO) good trading update and dividend.
• Renergen* (JSE code: REN) proposing US ADRs with Nasdaq listing in time to raise last capital required for phase 2.

Stocks losing money from load shedding

All listed companies are mentioning load shedding in their updates.

Shoprite* (JSE code: SHP);

"The Group's additional spend on diesel to operate generators across our Supermarkets RSA store base in order to trade uninterrupted during load shedding stages five and six amounted to R560 million for the period."

For the six months ending 2 January 2022 operating profit was R5,113billion. So load shedding costing the group ±10% of operating profit?

Astral (JSE code: ARL) selling chicken R2/kg below cost of production.

"A large portion of the capital expenditure commitments amounting to R737 million, outlined during the F2022 results presentation, has been placed on hold given the current adverse market conditions. The Group has however committed funds towards backup electricity generation solutions to reduce the adverse impact of load shedding."