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Girish Sharma, MD/CEO Guinness Nigeria
Guinness Nigeria Plc has sustained its strong earnings momentum, posting a 57 per cent increase in profit after tax to ₦14.91 billion for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, while rewarding shareholders with an additional interim dividend of ₦7.00 per share.
The latest payout brings the brewer’s total interim dividend for the current financial year to ₦9.00 per ordinary share, comprising the ₦2.00 per share declared after the first quarter and the newly approved ₦7.00 per share, reflecting the board’s confidence in the company’s robust earnings, healthy cash generation and long-term growth prospects.
The unaudited results released by the company showed that revenue rose by 20 per cent to ₦142.27 billion from ₦118.66 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, driven by sustained commercial performance and continued execution of its growth strategy.
Gross profit climbed to ₦53.99 billion, while operating profit increased to ₦24.34 billion as the company benefited from improved operational efficiency and disciplined cost management.
Guinness Nigeria also strengthened its balance sheet during the period, with net finance costs declining sharply to ₦1.75 billion from ₦4.61 billion in the same period last year, reflecting improved financial management and lower borrowing costs.
The reduction in finance costs boosted profitability, with profit before tax rising to ₦22.59 billion, while profit after tax grew by 57 per cent to ₦14.91 billion from ₦9.48 billion posted in the corresponding quarter of 2025.
Earnings per share also improved significantly to ₦6.81 from ₦4.33 a year earlier.
The Board of Directors approved an additional interim dividend of ₦7.00 per ordinary share, amounting to an estimated distribution of about ₦15.33 billion to shareholders. Combined with the earlier ₦2.00 interim dividend, the total interim dividend now stands at ₦9.00 per share.
Chairman of the Board, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu (SAN), said the performance underscores the resilience of the company’s business model and validates its long-term growth strategy.
“Our performance in the first half of the financial year demonstrates the resilience of our business and the effectiveness of our long-term strategy. The declaration of an additional interim dividend reinforces our confidence in Guinness Nigeria’s financial strength and our commitment to creating sustainable long-term value for shareholders,” he said.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Girish Sharma, attributed the strong performance to disciplined execution and sustained focus on consumers and customers despite prevailing macroeconomic challenges.
According to him, the company has continued to strengthen its commercial capabilities, improve operational efficiency and invest strategically in its portfolio while maintaining prudent capital allocation.
“Our Q2 performance demonstrates that the momentum we’ve built is being sustained through disciplined execution and a relentless focus on our consumers and customers. We continue to strengthen our commercial capabilities, improve operational efficiency and invest behind our portfolio, while maintaining a prudent approach to capital allocation.
“As we continue building a high-performance organisation with an entrepreneurial spirit, we remain focused on delivering sustainable growth and creating lasting value for all our stakeholders,” Sharma said.
The brewer noted that it remains committed to its “Building for More” strategy, which focuses on driving sustainable growth, strengthening operational excellence and delivering long-term value to shareholders, customers, employees and host communities.
The latest results reinforce Guinness Nigeria’s position as one of the strongest performers in Nigeria’s consumer goods sector, with improved profitability, stronger cash generation and enhanced shareholder returns despite a challenging operating environment.
