The net profit margin of all stocks listed on the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) showed a significant increase last year, with an average of 20.89 per cent, led by the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port (PPAP), a CSX statement said on Monday.

PPAP topped the rank with a 39.09 per cent increase, followed by Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PWSA), Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (PPSP) and Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS), whose figures stand at 27.77 per cent, 19.86 per cent and 16.54 respectively, the CSX said.

Grand Twins International (Cambodia) Plc (GTI), on the other hand, had the lowest net profit margin with 1.2 per cent, said the CSX. Compared to 2017, the average net profit margin of all listed stocks increased by more than 40 per cent.

Net profit margin is equal to how much net profit is generated as a percentage of revenue.

All stocks have shown a positive performance during the last three years, in terms of revenue and net income, except for GTI, which saw a drop in net income in 2017. It recovered slightly last year.

CSX said over the previous three years, last year had the highest trading volume, comprising nearly four million shares.

CSX Market Operations Department director Kim Sophanita told The Post on Monday that the growth shows strength and the possibility for all listed companies to attain higher profitability.

She said the prosperity of the Cambodian stock market brought the index at market closing at the end of last year to 480.98 points, up 40 per cent from 2017.

“Thanks to the listed companies showing good results in their businesses last year, I think it will increase investor confidence and boost optimism,” she said, adding that stock prices should continue to improve and that trading activities will also continue to rise.

“I especially expect to see new investors who are interested in buying shares to get a chance to capitalise on profit with the listed companies, which are getting good business results and showing high potential,” she said.