Philippine stocks: Gainers, losers, market-moving news – April 2021

Manny Villar’s AllHome opened its 53rd store in Bacolod City.

This is the third AllHome branch in the Visayas and is located along GM Cordova Avenue in Mandalagan, Bacolod City.

“AllHome remains upbeat as we enter another year in this challenging time. By aggressively pursuing expansion, we are hopeful that it will give the country’s economy a much-needed push towards progress,” Villar said.

The Aboitiz group launched a subsidiary for data science and artificial intelligence (AI).

The group said it launched a startup called Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI), which would consolidate data science and AI units across subsidiaries.

“Aboitiz Data Innovation represents a natural progression for us that is consistent with how Aboitiz has adopted new approaches and expertise over the years,” said Sabin Aboitiz, Aboitiz Group president and chief executive officer.

In 2021, Aboitiz introduced data science, AI, and machine learning courses to its group-wide learning and development curriculum.

Listed fiber provider Converge ICT Solutions is set to enter the Visayas and Mindanao markets, as it has completed connecting the island groups to its P6-billion submarine cable project.

Read more.

PLDT wireless unit Smart Communications said on Thursday, April 29, that its 5G network is now available in over 2,600 sites nationwide.

Smart 5G is now available in Metro Manila and select sites in Benguet, Cavite, Laguna, Pampanga, Rizal, Cebu, Iloilo, Aklan, Misamis Oriental, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Davao.

Smart’s mobile network, which covers 96% of the population from Batanes to Tawi-Tawi, is enabled by PLDT’s 429,000-kilometer fiber infrastructure.

Wilcon Depot posted an 84% jump in its net income in the 1st quarter of 2021 to P604 million from P276 million in 2020, on the back of a hike in net sales and gross profit margin expansion.

Net sales grew 9.8% to P1.1 billion, mainly due to improvements in Luzon sales.

“We’re happy with our 1st quarter results and that we were able to achieve this despite the challenges brought about by the recent spike in COVID-19 cases and the reimposition of the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) in Metro Manila and nearby provinces,” said Lorraine Belo-Cincochan, Wilcon president and CEO.

“The difference with this year’s ECQ is that all our branches remained open although we had shortened our operating hours because of the early curfew.”

Capital expenditure for the 1st quarter amounted to P595 million, mainly for construction of new stores and warehouses.

Robinsons Retail Holdings Incorporated (RRHI) recorded a net income of P945 million for the 1st quarter of 2021, 2.4% higher compared to the same period in 2020.

RRHI attributed the increase to “austerity measures and front margin improvement initiatives.”

Net sales stood at P35.6 billion, 11.1% lower than in the same period last year.

The company noted that 2020 sales were higher due to panic buying for essential goods.

E-commerce sales, however, grew 7 times more amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“We remain agile as we accelerate the growth of our e-commerce programs while ensuring that necessary cost controls are in place. We are rising to the challenges brought about by the pandemic,” said Robina Gokongwei-Pe, president and CEO of RRHI.

Philippine National Bank (PNB) and Smart Communications topped professional network LinkedIn’s Top Companies in the Philippines report, which was launched in the country for the first time.

Check out the full list and how the companies were chosen here.