GQ Ball Pen Industries Limited, maker of the once-popular Econo-branded ballpoint pen, returned to profit in the July-September quarter of FY27, posting earnings per share (EPS) of Tk0.06, compared to loss per share of Tk0.51 in the same period a year earlier.
According to financial disclosures filed with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), the turnaround was driven mainly by non-operating income rather than core manufacturing activities.
Income from capital market investments, interest earnings on Fixed Deposit Receipts (FDRs) and rental receipts from GQ Shefali Tower in Uttara helped offset substantial operating losses, the disclosure said.
The company incurred a significant operating loss during the quarter, primarily due to a sharp rise in raw material and production costs. However, non-operating income pushed its bottom line into positive territory.
Despite the earnings recovery, cash flow deteriorated, with net operating cash flow per share turning negative at Tk0.06 in the first quarter of FY27, compared with Tk0.43 in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Meanwhile, net asset value (NAV) per share stood at Tk142.07 as of 30 September 2026, down from Tk143.60 on 30 June 2026.
Following the price-sensitive disclosure on Monday, GQ Ball Pen shares fell 1.14% to close at Tk597.90 on the DSE.
The quarterly recovery follows a broader turnaround in FY26, when the company broke nine consecutive years of net losses to post an annual profit of Tk1.31 crore.
Rewarding shareholders for the recovery, the board recommended a 12.5% cash dividend for FY26, up from 10% in FY25. The annual general meeting is scheduled for 30 November, following the record date on 4 November.
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