Dangote cement Q1 profit hits N321bn

By Damilare Adeleye

Dangote Cement Plc has reported a strong financial performance for the first quarter of 2026, with profit after tax rising to N321.1 billion.

In its financial statement released on Wednesday, the company recorded revenue of N1.198 trillion for the three months ended March 31, 2026, up from N994.7 billion in the corresponding period of 2025.

Profit before tax increased to N421.2 billion from N312.0 billion, while profit attributable to shareholders rose to N320.6 billion from N205.9 billion.

Gross profit climbed to N749.3 billion from N587.4 billion, reflecting stronger topline performance despite higher production costs, which rose to N448.7 billion during the period.

Operating profit also grew to N506.2 billion, compared with N397.4 billion in the same period last year.

Finance costs remained elevated at N98.3 billion, although this was lower than the N129.4 billion recorded a year earlier, offering some relief to net earnings.

Segment analysis showed that Nigeria remained the primary revenue driver, contributing N861.8 billion, while Pan-African operations generated N369.9 billion.

However, profitability across regions was uneven, with the Pan-African segment posting a loss amid ongoing macroeconomic and currency challenges in some markets.

Earnings per share rose to N19.14, up from N12.29 in the prior year, reflecting improved returns to shareholders.

Net cash generated from operating activities increased significantly to N591.3 billion, compared with N321.3 billion in Q1 2025, underscoring strong cash generation.

The company closed the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of N471.1 billion, up from N362.6 billion at the end of 2025.

Total assets stood at N6.03 trillion, while total equity rose to N2.86 trillion, highlighting continued balance sheet strength.

The performance underscores the resilience of the group under the leadership of its ultimate controlling shareholder, Aliko Dangote, as it continues to leverage scale, pricing strategy, and operational efficiency to navigate inflationary pressures and currency volatility.