Shares in Saudi wholesaler Al Othaim up as it posts higher Q1 profit

Its profit rose to about SR91 million ($24 million) in the first quarter from SR57.68 million. (Supplied)
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Updated 11 May 2022
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Shares in Saudi wholesaler Al Othaim up as it posts higher Q1 profit

  • Al Othaim noted that general and administrative costs, as well as selling and distribution expenses, weighed on results

RIYADH: Saudi Abdullah Al Othaim Markets saw its shares jump 1.4 percent almost one hour into trading on Wednesday after the wholesaler posted strong first-quarter earnings.

As food demand surged during the Ramadan season, profit rose to about SR91 million ($24 million) from SR57.68 million recorded in the same period last year.

This was driven by higher sales which increased by 17.4 percent to SR2.46 billion in the first quarter from the same period a year ago, a bourse filing revealed.

The growth in sales was “mainly due to the entry of Ramadan season in the first quarter of this year,” the company said in the filing.

“The performance of subsidiaries and associates has improved in addition to recording the company's share in the profit of Gulf Flour Milling Co.,” it added.

Still, Al Othaim noted that general and administrative costs, as well as selling and distribution expenses, weighed on results due to opening new stores.


Closing Bell: Saudi stocks slip as Tadawul falls 1% amid broad market weakness

Updated 30 December 2025
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Closing Bell: Saudi stocks slip as Tadawul falls 1% amid broad market weakness

RIYADH: Saudi stocks fell sharply on Tuesday, with the Tadawul All Share Index closing down 108.14 points, or 1.03 percent, at 10,381.51.

The broader decline was reflected across major indices. The MSCI Tadawul 30 Index slipped 0.78 percent to 1,378.00, while Nomu, the parallel market index, fell 1 percent to 23,040.79.

Market breadth was strongly negative on the main board, with 237 stocks falling compared to just 24 gainers. Trading activity remained robust, with 164.7 million shares changing hands and a total traded value of SR3.19 billion ($850.6 million).

Among the gainers, SEDCO Capital REIT Fund led, rising 2.73 percent to SR6.77, followed by Chubb Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co., which gained 2.69 percent to SR20.20.

National Medical Care Co. added 1.72 percent to close at SR141.60, while Alyamamah Steel Industries Co. and Thimar Advertising, Public Relations and Marketing Co. advanced 1.57 percent and 1.13 percent, respectively.

Losses were led by Al Masar Al Shamil Education Co., which tumbled 8.36 percent to SR24.65. Raoom Trading Co.fell 6.75 percent to SR64.20, while Alkhaleej Training and Education Co. dropped 6.60 percent to SR18.12 and Naqi Water Co. declined 5.51 percent to SR54.00. Gulf General Cooperative Insurance Co. closed 5.44 percent lower at SR3.65.

On the announcement front, Chubb Arabia Cooperative Insurance Co. signed a multiyear insurance agreement with Saudi Electricity Co. to provide various coverages, expected to positively impact its financial results over the 2025–2026 period. The deal will run for three years and two months and is within the company’s normal course of business.

Meanwhile, Bupa Arabia for Cooperative Insurance Co. announced a one-year health insurance contract with Saudi National Bank, valued at SR330.2 million, covering the bank’s employees and their families from January 2026. Despite the sizable contract, Bupa Arabia shares fell 0.8 percent to close at SR137, weighed down by the broader market weakness.

In contrast, United Cooperative Assurance Co. revealed an extension of its engineering insurance agreement with Saudi Binladin Group for the Grand Mosque expansion in Makkah. The contract value exceeds 20 percent of the company’s gross written premiums based on its latest audited financials and is expected to support results through 2026. However, the stock came under selling pressure, ending the session down 4.51 percent at SR3.39.