The facility of Rạng Đông Light Source and Vacuum Flask JSC (HoSE: RAL) being cleaned after the fire last August. — VNS/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Light and vacuum flask producer Rạng Đông (HoSE: RAL) topped the stock market as it had the highest earnings per share (EPS) in the first half of the year, cafef.vn reported.

In the first six months, Rạng Đông earned VNĐ2.03 trillion (US$87.7 million) in total net revenue, up 13 per cent, and post-tax profit jumped 43 per cent on-year to VNĐ138 billion.

After six months, Rạng Đông’s EPS was VNĐ12,024, up from VNĐ8,380 made in the first half of 2019. The company ranked fifth in the list of companies with highest EPS.

Improved sales were attributed to the company’s EPS increase.

Sales revenue increased by nearly 17 per cent on-year to VNĐ929 billion in the January-June period.

That was considered a strong effort of the company as its operations had been disrupted by a big fire in late August 2019 and by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two events had rocked the supply chain, halted the firm’s production and lowered the market’s purchasing power especially in overseas markets.

Rạng Đông shares gained 2.6 per cent to end Tuesday at VNĐ94,300 apiece.

Following Rạng Đông in the chart was Vinacafe Biên Hòa (HoSE: VCF) – which recorded an EPS of VNĐ9,797.

The coffee company ranked third in the same period last year with EPS of VNĐ9,844.

In January-June, Vinacafe Biên Hòa posted a 7.6 per cent annual decline in total revenue, which was down to VNĐ1.15 trillion.

Its six-month post-tax profit was VNĐ259 billion, slightly down from last year’s figure of VNĐ260 billion.

Vinacafe Biên Hòa shares dropped 2.3 per cent to close Tuesday at VNĐ210,100 apiece.

Lâm Đồng Investment Hydraulic Construction JSC (HNX: LHC) was the best-improving firm as the company jumped from 10th in last year’s chart to the third position this year.

The company’s EPS in the first six months of 2020 was VNĐ8,832. Last year’s number was VNĐ7,563.

The company’s shares surged 6 per cent to finish Tuesday at VNĐ90,000 apiece.

On the contrary, HCM City-based West Coach Station (HNX: WCS) dropped to the fifth position in this year’s chart from the 1st position last year.

In the first half of 2020, the firm’s EPS was VNĐ7,958 – down nearly 30 per cent on-year from VNĐ11,329 made in the same period of last year.

The company blamed the COVID-19 pandemic for lower performance this year as people were restricted from travelling and the transportation sector suffered a month-long halt in April to fight the coronavirus spread.

Compared to last year, several companies were disqualified from the top-EPS chart such as Tây Ninh Tourist-Trading JSC (HNX: TTT), aquatic producer and exporter Vĩnh Hoàn Corporation (HoSE: VHC), FPT Online JSC (UPCoM: FOC), and industrial park developer Nam Tân Uyên (UPCoM: NTC).

This year’s chart also saw some new names such as consumer staples firm Dabaco (HoSE: DBC), Danameco Medical JSC (HNX: DNM) and Tiền Giang Investment and Construction JSC (HoSE: THG).

Dabaco in the first half of the year earned total VNĐ750 billion of post-tax profit, 27 times last year’s figure. The company ranked sixth in the chart with EPS of VNĐ7,825.

Danameco Medical posted an 8.5-times increase in six-month post-tax profit, which reached VNĐ25.5 billion. Its EPS was VNĐ5,836 and the company ranked 10th in the chart. — VNS