Top Stock Exchange Yields In First Five Months

06.02.2011 By Andrei Chirileasa

The chemical companies and exporters generated the highest yields for stock exchange investors in the first months of the year. Dividends also lifted the shareholders’ profits.

The shares of companies in the chemical industry, such as Oltchim and Azomures, and of major exporters, such as Alro and Compa, are among those that generated the highest profits for stock exchange investors. In other cases, dividends contributed significantly to the yields the investors got.

Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea (OLT.RO), the biggest industrial company still in the state's portfolio, faced big problems in the last few years, but the chemical plant's stock has by far been the most profitable stock exchange investment in the first five months of the year.

Significant rises were also recorded by the shares of chemical fertilizers producer Azomures Targu Mures (AZO.RO), which saw investors make 70% profit. In the case of Azomures, the trend went hand in hand with a record-high profit reported in 2010, of 153 million lei (EUR37 million), on a RON1.2 billion turnover. In the first quarter of this year as well, Azomures reported growth.

Aluminum producer Alro Slatina (ALR.RO) and car parts producer Compa Sibiu (CMP.RO) are two other companies that reported significant increases in their financial results in 2010 and in the first quarter of 2011.

Both companies, which mainly export their production, took advantage of a faster return to growth in the Western European economies. The shares of the two companies brought investors gains of around 40%.

Shares of companies that paid significant dividends this year, such as VAE Apcarom Buzau (APC) and Zentiva Bucuresti (SCD), also brought high yields to investors.

Among the most-traded shares, financial investment company SIF Muntenia (SIF4.RO) and OMV Petrom (SNP.RO) had the highest five-month yields, of around 26%, followed by SIF Moldova (SIF2.RO), with 22% and SIF Oltenia (SIF5.RO), with 20%.

BRD (BRD.RO) and Banca Transilvania (TLV.RO) generated 16%-17% yields, which include the dividends or bonus shares disbursed.

The big disappointment was Fondul Proprietatea (FP.RO), listed on January 25, whose shares lost over 20% against the closing price of the first day of trading. (EUR1=RON4.1342)