Astral Foods expects substantial earnings decrease for first half

Astral Foods (JSE:ARL) has issued a trading statement forecasting a substantial decrease in earnings for the first half of 2025. Earnings per share (EPS) are projected to decline between 55% and 45% compared to the same period last year, resulting in an EPS range of ZAR 415 to ZAR 508 per share, down from ZAR 923. Headline earnings per share (HEPS) are expected to fall by 60% to 50%, leading to a HEPS range of ZAR 354 to ZAR 442 per share, compared to ZAR 884 in the first half of 2024. The company attributes this expected downturn to events and factors previously outlined. Astral plans to release its 1H2025 results on or around May 19, 2025. The financial information was not reviewed by the Group's auditors.