PT Sarimelati Kencana Tbk (PZZA), owner of Pizza Hut outlets in the country, booked net profit of Rp149.24 billion in Jan-Sep 2019, an increase of 47% from the corresponding period last year, thanks to strong sales revenue growth and improved margins. The Company reported sales revenue growth of 14% to Rp2.94 trillion thans to expansion of outlets.

Four feed-poultry players listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) reported sales revenue growth of 11% to Rp79.7 trillion in Jan-Sep 2019, but their combined net profit dropped 28.2% to Rp3.87 trillion. Still, they committed more for future growth, which can be seen in significant growth in cash used for acquisition of fixed assets.

Cita Mineral Investindo (CITA), bauxite miner and co-owner of Indonesia’s first smelter grade alumina (SGA), is among winners of 2019. The Company booked net profit of Rp740.5 billion in the first nine months of 2019, an increase of 33% from the corresponding period last year, ensuring smooth expansion of the SGA.

Erajaya Swasembada (ERAA), the largest retailer for gadgets, which in the past few months expanded outlets for JUUL electric cigarette, generated net profit of Rp165.6 billion only in the first nine months of 2019, crashed from Rp636.5 billion in the corresponding period last year due to falling sales revenues and squeezed margins.

Convenience store operator Alfamart (AMRT) booked net profit of Rp650 billion in Jan-Sep 2019, jumped by 94% from the corresponding period last year even though its sales increased by 9.1% only to Rp54.1 trillion. Looks like that Alfamart continued to boost its net profit margin from below 1% for many years to over 1.2% in the first nine months of 2019.

Last Monday (Oct 28), minister of health Terawan Agus Putranto made an interesting statement about Puskesmas, the government-mandated community health centers located across the archipelago. Puskesmas, according to Terawan, shall return to its primary functions: preventive and promotive.

The new minister of health Lt General dr Terawan Agus Putranto might have resolved his issues with Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI). Future of the country’s universal healthcare program, however, remains a big issue to address, whose policies might directly or indirectly affecting the healthcare industry. It is in this context that his recent interview with detik.com is interesting.

SmartFren (FREN) is among ‘the best performing’ stocks year-to-date with 91% gain, before today’s correction. At the last quoted price, FREN had market capitalization of Rp29.17 trillion, way above second largest telco operator Indosat (Rp17.4 trillion). The company suffered Rp1.64 trillion of net loss in the first nine months of 2019, down 34.5% from the same period last year, thanks to improved operations.