KT&G posts record Q3 earnings, unveils $3.7 bil. shareholder return plan

KT&G posted record quarterly revenue and operating profit in the third quarter, driven by growth across its core businesses, while unveiling a four-year shareholder return plan worth 5 trillion won ($3.7 billion). The tobacco and consumer goods company said Thursday that consolidated revenue rose 4.3 percent from a year earlier to 1.91 trillion won, while operating profit increased 13.9 percent to 530.1 billion won. Both figures marked quarterly records. Its cigarette business generated record revenue of 1.31 trillion won, up 6 percent, and operating profit of 425.5 billion won, up 14.4 percent. Its operating margin improved 2.4 percentage points to 32.6 percent. The global cigarette business marked its 10th consecutive quarter of growth in sales volume, revenue and operating profit. Its next-generation products (NGP) business maintained its leading market share in Korea while improving its product mix. KGC, KT&G's health functional foods subsidiary, reported revenue of 372.2 billion won, up 3.4 percent, and operating profit of 80.1 billion won, up 12.2 percent. At its Capital Markets Day