PPB Group Bhd. said its fourth-quarter normalized net income was 27 Malaysian sen per share, an increase of 43.9% from 19 sen per share in the year-earlier period.

Normalized net income, which excludes unusual gains or losses on a pre- and after-tax basis, was 319.9 million ringgits, an increase of 43.9% from 222.3 million ringgits in the prior-year period.

The normalized profit margin rose to 31.3% from 20.4% in the year-earlier period.

Total revenue fell 6.2% on an annual basis to 1.02 billion ringgits from 1.09 billion ringgits, and total operating expenses decreased from the prior-year period to 983.5 million ringgits from 1.03 billion ringgits.

Reported net income grew 45.5% on an annual basis to 496.0 million ringgits, or 42 sen per share, from 341.0 million ringgits, or 29 sen per share.

For the year, the company's normalized net income totaled 59 sen per share, compared with the S&P Capital IQ consensus normalized EPS estimate of 69 sen.

EPS declined from 60 sen in the prior year.

Normalized net income was 695.1 million ringgits, a fall from 713.4 million ringgits in the prior year.

Full-year total revenue increased from the prior-year period to 4.19 billion ringgits from 4.05 billion ringgits, and total operating expenses increased on an annual basis to 3.96 billion ringgits from 3.84 billion ringgits.

The company said reported net income came to 1.04 billion ringgits, or 88 sen per share, in the full year, compared with 1.05 billion ringgits, or 89 sen per share, the prior year.

As of April 18, US$1 was equivalent to 4.41 ringgits.