KUALA LUMPUR (May 23): UEM Edgenta Bhd has posted an 8.32% increase in net profit to RM29.55 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 (1QFY18) against RM27.28 million a year ago, on the back of an improved performance across its core sectors, namely healthcare, infrastructure and real estate.

Its quarterly revenue also rose 10.5% to RM460.79 million from RM417.05 million in 1QFY17, owing to higher revenue from new contracts in the commercial healthcare services sector and additional highway maintenance services work.

"Our strategy of consolidating and strengthening our core sectors has started to yield results as evidenced by improvements in both revenue growth as well as profit margins," UEM Edgenta managing director and chief executive director Datuk Azmir Merican said in a statement.

"We remain optimistic of our prospects in all the sectors we operate in as well as our ability to maintain the growth momentum for the rest of 2018 based on our positive first quarter performance.

"While we are focused on securing new businesses, all efforts are also underway to improve our operational and organisational excellence, with the use of technology and innovation enablers. This will help us to deliver better margins and profitability moving forward," he said.

UEM Edgenta closed two sen or 0.98% lower to RM2.02 for a market capitalisation of RM1.65 billion.