2317 GMT - Australia's filling-station operators and supermarkets face earnings headwinds from the availability elsewhere of cheaper illicit tobacco products, according to Jefferies analysts. They write in a note that recent earnings reports from Viva Energy, Ampol, Coles and Woolworths show tobacco sales falling by between 15% and 26%. They point out that, while gross margins on tobacco sales are low, there are little associated costs, so a drop in sales implies material operating deleverage. They think that Viva likely experienced a 12% drag on December-half Ebit from the lower sales. The other three companies have better managed the decline, the analysts add. (stuart.condie@wsj.com)
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 06, 2025 18:17 ET (23:17 GMT)
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