Comfort Delgro

[Ben]

So what kind of impact to CD? Becuase of its nature of business it is contributing to pollution, but what can be changed? Or you think there will be laws introduce to change diesel engine buses to electric engine?

[Choon]

I looked at Cabcharge Australia (CAB AU) recently. ComfortDelgro has a ~10% stake in this ASX-listed company. Cabcharge is also ComfortDelgro's partner in Australia. Attach my personal research. Maybe some of us will find it interesting.

[pianist]

new measure w.e.f today - Those who do not own a car may also now find it easier to get a cab. That is because operators must ensure that 70 per cent of their fleet are on the road during peak hours and clock an average daily mileage of 250 kilometres. This translates to around eight to nine hours on the road per day, five
days a week.


wouldn't this add to more air pollution and more PM2.5 particles as I forsee more idling/moving noiser taxis on the streets?

[Share Investor]

Why not allow free call a cab service?

[pianist]

Why not allow free call a cab service?

"ensure that 70 per cent of their fleet are on the road during peak hours and clock an average daily mileage of 250 kilometres"

such primitive pollutive measure is just counter-productive...what has happened to all the higher productive ways of harnessing electronic gadgets and technology? I tot in every cab there is a electronic alert gadget or something?

[Musicwhiz]

The Straits Times
www.straitstimes.com
Published on Apr 27, 2013
ComfortDelGro turns 10, and is going strong
Good financial showing proves merger critics were wrong

By Christopher Tan Senior Transport Correspondent

PROVING merger critics wrong, transport giant ComfortDelGro Corp has crossed its 10th year with a glowing report card.

The corporation - a union of taxi operator Comfort Group and DelGro Corp (a hived-off arm of Singapore Bus Services) - has seen its operating profit chalking up a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9 per cent from 2003.

In revealing this in the company's latest annual report, chairman Lim Jit Poh noted that revenue had been rising at a CAGR of 6.5 per cent.

Total shareholder return (TSR) - which measures dividends paid, as well as rise in share price - posted a CAGR of 12.6 per cent. This matched the performance of local banks such as OCBC, United Overseas Bank and DBS Group Holdings, whose TSR over the last decade ranged between 9.5 per cent and 15.3 per cent.

Speaking to The Straits Times after the annual general meeting yesterday, Mr Lim said: "Ten years ago, the doubters came out in force and said the merger would never work. I would like to think that we have proven them wrong.

"ComfortDelGro is today one of the largest land transport companies in the world, with the largest footprint, spanning seven countries. This is certainly not something that came by chance, and I am very proud of what the group has achieved thus far."

Indeed, despite cost rises on almost every front, the group posted a record net profit of $248.9 million for the year that ended on Dec 31 last year - beating the previous high of $244.6 million in 2006.

Besides Singapore, the group has businesses in China, Australia, Ireland, Britain, Malaysia and Vietnam. In total, it employs more than 20,200 staff.

The group, however, missed its target of achieving 70 per cent of revenue from overseas. Mr Lim told shareholders yesterday it was now aiming to reap 50 per cent of operating profits from its businesses abroad - up from just over 40 per cent currently.

He said the group was still in a position to expand, noting that total assets stood at nearly $4.9 billion at the end of last year, while shareholders' funds hovered around $2.6 billion. Both had been posting a CAGR of more than 6 per cent.

"These are indications that while we have provided good dividends... we have also built up our financial strength for expansion," the chairman said, adding that the group will continue to set aside at least half of its profits as dividend payment.

In Singapore, Mr Lim noted that "land transport continues to come under intense scrutiny".

"This has become more pronounced in the past few years, as the population has increased dramatically and existing infrastructure is not able to cope," he said.

He added that it remains challenging for the group to balance the interests of commuters, regulators, unions and shareholders.

Industry watchers have observed that transport operators in Singapore are facing increasing profit pressure as the Government seeks to raise service standards while tempering fare adjustments.

Credit Suisse analyst Leonard Huo downgraded ComfortDelGro from "outperform" to "neutral" in February, a position he still holds.

ComfortDelGro's stock is currently hovering at $1.95, its highest level in more than five years.

christan@sph.com.sg

[CityFarmer]

A sign to show the company is a price maker, rather a price taker?

The company led a price increase around 2 years ago, and it is also taking a lead this round.

ComfortDelGro raises fares for limousine and MaxiCabs

SINGAPORE — Commuters flagging down ComfortDelGro’s Mercedes limousine cabs and MaxiCabs will have to pay more in metered fares starting from May 13, the taxi operator announced in a notice printed in The Straits Times yesterday.

While the flag-down fare for the limo services remains the same at S$3.90 for the first kilometre, customers will have to pay 30 cents for every 400m thereafter up to 10km, and 30 cents every 350m after 10km. For every 45 seconds of waiting, the fare also increases by 30 cents. Currently, the meter jumps by 22 cents for all three components during a taxi ride.

http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/com...d-maxicabs

[felixleong]

Take taxi expensive
take mrt have to squeeze
buy car cannot get loan

si bei jialat ah~

[CityFarmer]

Take taxi expensive
take mrt have to squeeze
buy car cannot get loan

si bei jialat ah~

Still have a choice, to avoid Comfort Delgro's taxi

[Ben]

A sign to show the company is a price maker, rather a price taker?

As the biggest taxi operator in Singapore, they are definitely the price maker. The increase is quite significant, from 0.22c to 0.3c, that is a 36% surge!

I am sure other taxi operators will follow suit. To quote another example, my favorite culture milk brand Y recently increased it prices by about 7%. Its competitor, brand V did not and I am happy to make a switch. Few days ago when I want to stock up brand V, it prices has increased to be the same as brand Y. Unless I decided to stop taking culture milk, I have no other alternative. Consumer is the price taker.

But for CDG, I have benefited from its raising share price. I have hold this counter for years. It is going XD on 3 May, and with price now about $2, I am thinking of taking profit after XD. Anyone has the same feeling?