As the trading activities on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange drew to a close at the weekend,  Dangote Cement Plc, one of the leading cement companies in the country sustained its leadership status as the most capitalised company at the stock market.

The company’s  equity ended the year with a market capitalisation of N1.716 trillion notwithstanding the downturn that saw the Nigerian Stock Exchange All-Share Index close 2011 with a decline of over 16 per cent,

Dangote Cement, a member of the Pan African Conglomerate, the Dangote Group, it would be recalled, has for some time ruled the market as the most capitalised equity despite the downturn that has characterized trading in the stock market.

Market analysts predicted that going by the trend, 2012 would be a better year for Dangote Cement given the prospects coming from the six metric tons Ibeshe new cement plant, which is expected to boost its earnings and ultimately returns on shareholders’ investments.

Already, shareholders are looking up to a bountiful harvest for the year ended December 31, 2011 as the company is expected to surpass the  N65.84 billion paid out in 2010 as profit.

Shareholders of the company had harvested a dividend of N4.25 per share for 2010, comprising N2 interim and N2.25 final dividend. The third quarter results ended September 30, 2011, has already raised investors’ hope for improved returns.

In the result, Dangote Cement posted turnover of N173 billion, showing an increase of 18.6 per cent above the N146.6 billion in the corresponding period of 2010. Profit after tax rose by 22 per cent to hit N92.8 billion.

Commenting on the results, analysts at Afrivest West Africa Limited, a leading investment bank, said the performance  of the Cement Company was broadly in line with  their  expectations.

“Profitability margins improved over the period as profit before tax and profit after tax  margins stood at 54 per cent and 53.4 per cent from 52.5 per cent and 51.4 per cent  in 2010. On a quarterly basis, the improvement see margins appear more pronounced, with quarterly margins of 57.8 per cent and 57.5 per cent for the period from 52.7 per cent and 51.9 per cent for pre and post-tax margins respectively,” they said.

Apart from benefitting the shareholders, the Ibeshe plant located near Ilaro, in Ogun State, is also expected to boost the labour market as it is expected to creat over 7,000 jobs.