Guinness Nigeria Q2 profit surges 57%, extra dividend declared
A sharp drop in borrowing costs drove a 57% surge in second-quarter profit for Guinness Nigeria, prompting the brewer to unlock additional shareholder returns.
Guinness Nigeria Plc has posted a 57% increase in second-quarter profit after tax, reaching ₦14.91 billion, and declared an additional interim dividend of ₦7.00 per share. The results for the quarter ended 30 June 2026 build on a strong start to the year. Together with a previous ₦2.00 per share payout, the total interim dividend for the first half now stands at ₦9.00 per share.
The top line grew 20% to ₦142.27 billion, up from ₦118.66 billion in the corresponding period of 2025. Gross profit came in at ₦53.99 billion. Operating profit climbed to ₦24.34 billion, which the company attributed to improved commercial execution and a continued focus on operational excellence.
The most significant driver of the bottom-line expansion was a dramatic reduction in net finance costs. These expenses fell to ₦1.75 billion, down sharply from ₦4.61 billion a year earlier. Consequently, profit before tax rose to ₦22.59 billion, while earnings per share improved to ₦6.81 from ₦4.33.
For equity investors, the focus will be on the aggressive capital return strategy. The additional ₦7.00 dividend represents a distribution of approximately ₦15.33 billion. The board's willingness to deploy this capital externally signals confidence in the brewer's sustained earnings performance and long-term growth prospects.
Girish Sharma, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, said: “Our Q2 performance demonstrates that the momentum we’ve built is being sustained through disciplined execution and a relentless focus on our consumers and customers. As we continue building a high-performance organisation with an entrepreneurial spirit, we remain focused on delivering sustainable growth and creating lasting value for all our stakeholders.”
