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FINWIRES

Japan Tobacco's Profit Climbs 25% in Q1

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-- Japan Tobacco's (TYO:2914) profit attributable to owners of the parent surged 25% to 197.0 billion yen for the first quarter from 157.5 billion yen a year earlier.

The tobacco company's earnings per share increased to 110.97 yen from 88.68 yen a year ago, according to a Tokyo bourse filing on Friday.

Net sales rose 15% to nearly 924 billion yen for the three months ended March 31 from 801.9 billion yen in the prior year.

For the year ending Dec. 31, the company expects an attributable profit of 570 billion yen, basic EPS of 321.06 yen, and revenue of 3.697 trillion yen.

Japan Tobacco plans to pay interim and year-end dividends of 121 yen per share each for the year.

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