Blood products company, CSL Ltd
(ASX:CSL), has announced its underlying net profit (after tax) fell by 18% to $US1.24 billion for the 2016 financial year.
2016 is also the CSL’s 100th year anniversary (since it was founded in 1916).
However, CSL says that when it excludes its loss-making influenza vaccine business, Novartis, underlying net profit grew 5%, and earnings per share rose by 7% on a constant currency basis.
CSL’s underlying earnings before interest and tax were up 7% to $1.44 billion.
The company declared a final dividend of 89 Australian cents per share, which is up 3% compared to the same period last year. For Australian tax purposes, CSL’s dividend is unfranked.
