Warren Buffett, one of the world’s best investors, quipped that “when the business does well, the share price will follow”.
The Oracle of Omaha is spot on – when companies can raise their profits, they become more valuable and investors will naturally bid up their share prices.
Hence, it makes sense to watch out for businesses that can consistently increase their profits.
During this earnings season, we shine the spotlight on four promising blue-chip companies that managed to increase their profits.
Hongkong Land (SGX: H78)
Hongkong Land, or HKL, is a property investment, development, and management group with a mixed-use real estate footprint spanning more than 850,000 square metres.
The group owns projects in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Shanghai.
For the first half of 2025 (1H 2025), HKL saw revenue fall 22.7% year on year to US$751.2 million as sales momentum in the group’s projects in China was below expectations.
Despite this, the property giant managed to report an underlying net profit of US$297 million, a sharp reversal from the net loss of US$7 million in 1H 2024.
Excluding the provisions made for China, HKL’s underlying net profit would have risen 11% year on year to US$320 million.
The group declared an interim dividend of US$0.06, unchanged from a year ago.
HKL is making healthy progress on its Strategic Vision 2035, which the group announced late last year.
The new strategy will focus growth on ultra-premium integrated commercial assets in existing markets while seeking out opportunities in regional gateway cities.
To fund this growth, HKL has a capital recycling target of at least US$4 billion by the end of 2027, primarily from the sale of existing inventory in the build-to-sell segment, along with divestments of non-core commercial assets.
HKL also commenced a US$200 million share buyback programme, of which two-thirds has been invested up till 28 July 2025.
DFI Retail Group (SGX: D01)
DFI Retail Group is a leading pan-Asian retailer with over 7,500 outlets and operates popular brands such as 7-Eleven and Guardian Health and Beauty.
For 1H 2025, revenue stayed constant at US$4.4 billion, but underlying profit shot up 39% year on year to US$105 million.
The group saw increased contributions from its associate companies, Food, Health and Beauty.
DFI Retail Group is also simplifying its group structure with the divestment of the Singapore Food business and the sale of a minority stake in Robinsons Retail.
An interim dividend of US$0.035 was declared, similar to what was paid out in 1H 2024.
In addition, the retailer also declared a special dividend of US$0.443 in light of proceeds from the divestment.
Management also raised the group’s full-year underlying profit guidance to between US$250 million to US$270 million.
DFI Retail Group’s strategic initiatives include strengthening its value proposition, optimising its retail assortment through data-driven insights, and accelerating monetisation of its digital assets.
Seatrium Limited (SGX: 5E2)
Seatrium provides engineering solutions to the global offshore, marine, and energy industries.
The group operates shipyards, engineering and technology centres, and facilities in countries such as Singapore, Brazil, China, and India.
Revenue for 1H 2025 jumped 34% year on year to S$5.4 billion while gross profit soared 168% year on year to S$395 million.
Seatrium’s underlying net profit improved by 16% year on year to S$133 million.
During 1H 2025, the group successfully delivered two FPSO integrations and handled 101 repair and upgrade projects.
Seatrium ended the half year with a net order book of S$18.6 billion, comprising 25 projects with deliveries stretching till 2031.
Its priority is to convert its pipeline into orders while expanding its margins with disciplined execution.
The group is also focused on its 2028 targets to enhance total shareholder returns, as communicated during last year’s Investor Day session.
Keppel Ltd (SGX: BN4)
Keppel is a global asset manager offering solutions spanning the infrastructure, real estate, and connectivity sectors.
The group operates in more than 20 countries worldwide and provides infrastructure and services for renewables, clean energy, and decarbonisation.
For 1H 2025, revenue dipped by 5% year on year to S$3.1 billion, but operating profit posted a 22% year-on-year increase to S$617 million.
Net profit increased by 24% year on year to S$378 million.
The New Keppel, which excludes the group’s non-core portfolio earmarked for divestment, saw net profit climb 25% year on year to S$431 million.
In line with its asset-light strategy, recurring income rose 7% year on year to S$444 million for 1H 2025.
Funds under management (FUM) continued its upward climb, hitting S$91 billion at the end of June 2025.
Keppel rewarded shareholders with a S$0.15 interim dividend, similar to what was declared and paid out a year ago.
The group’s Vision 2030 is on track, with a target of achieving S$200 billion of FUM that will generate over S$1 billion in asset management fees.
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Disclosure: Royston Yang does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned.
