Aspial Corporation Limited reported a sharp rebound in earnings for the six months ended Jun 30, with net profit attributable to shareholders rising 117 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to S$17.20 million, underpinned by stronger jewellery sales and a larger pawnbroking and secured-lending book. Group profit after tax and minority interests reached S$38.99 million, up 83 per cent from a year earlier.

Basic and diluted earnings per share came in at 0.78 Singapore cents after perpetual securities distribution, compared with 0.36 cents in the prior-year period. The board did not declare an interim dividend.

Group revenue climbed 19 per cent YoY to S$470.04 million. The retail division remained the chief growth engine, with turnover jumping 25 per cent to S$399.63 million on higher jewellery sales and stronger gold-trading volumes. Financial services revenue advanced 35 per cent to S$64.56 million, reflecting an expanded pawnbroking loan book in Singapore and Malaysia and rising demand for collateral-backed lending. Real-estate revenue fell 78 per cent to S$5.85 million, largely due to fewer unit sales from the Australia 108 project, partly cushioned by steadier hospitality income.

By segment, pre-tax earnings surged at retail (S$49.68 million, +142 per cent YoY) and financial services (S$31.35 million, +40 per cent YoY). The real-estate arm recorded a pre-tax loss of S$18.71 million, wider than the S$9.65 million loss a year earlier, after an S$8.57 million write-down on the 30 Albert Street development site in Brisbane and a S$2.17 million loss on the sale of a Singapore investment property. Excluding these one-off charges, adjusted group pre-tax profit would have been around S$65 million.

Operating costs rose 21 per cent to S$147.7 million, broadly tracking revenue growth, while finance costs eased 8 per cent to S$21.50 million as lower interest rates and reduced retail borrowings offset higher funding for secured lending and new subsidiary term notes.

Aspial ended the half with total assets of S$2.34 billion, up S$259 million from end-2025, driven by higher receivables and inventory. Net asset value per share improved to 20.38 cents from 18.58 cents six months earlier.

Looking ahead, management signalled continued focus on disciplined execution amid global economic uncertainty, gold-price volatility and shifting interest-rate conditions. Key initiatives include: • Deploying the S$84.8 million raised by listed subsidiary Aspial Lifestyle in 1H 2026 to expand pawnbroking and secured-lending portfolios. • Integrating recently acquired Malaysian pawnbrokers and jewellery retailers Ion World and Kedai Emas Ion to lift contributions in 2H 2026. • Completing the sale of the 30 Albert Street Brisbane site to unlock cash, lower holding costs and strengthen the balance sheet. • Continuing to market the remaining seven units at Australia 108 and leveraging steady hotel operations in Penang for recurrent income.

The company stated it will maintain prudent risk management, cost control and selective investment to support sustainable growth through the rest of FY2026.