The group's headline earnings per share (HEPS), a key metric of profit for South African companies, rose to 67.7 cents in the six months ended August 31 from 58.2 cents a year earlier.

"The biggest contributor to earnings growth was the containment of group payroll cost stewhich delivered positive operating leverage with operating profit growing at 17.5% ahead of group revenue growth of 9.6%," the company said in a statement.

Its operating profit grew to just over $57 million, while group revenue increased to 19.6 billion Rand ($1.112 billion)

The group, which has 274 retail pharmacy stores, reported retail revenue growth of 7.1%.

The company declared an interim dividend of 26.98 cents up from 23.2 cents in 2023.

Top rival Clicks Group on Thursday reported 14.3% growth in full-year HEPS.

--Reuters--