PETALING JAYA: WCE Holdings Bhd
, the concessionaire of the West Coast Expressway, saw improved operational profit in the first quarter of financial year 2026 (1Q26) on stronger construction and toll revenues.
In a stock exchange filing, WCE reported a 68% year-on-year (y-o-y) jump in earnings before interest and tax to RM23.79mil.
The group’s net loss, however, declined slightly by 2% y-o-y to RM25.33mil, weighed down by the RM57.6mil interest costs for completed sections of the highway.
The increase in interest costs reflects the completion of more sections compared to the same period last year.
Meanwhile, WCE’s revenue for 1Q26 surged by more than five-fold to RM393.85mil from RM75.57mil a year earlier. Revenue from construction within the concession segment was recorded eight times higher at RM318.27mil, which is the biggest topline contributor.
Toll collection revenue also rose by 61% y-o-y to RM42.02mil, driven by increased traffic volume after the opening of Sections 1 and 2.
Average daily traffic increased significantly following these openings, with 1Q26 sectional average daily traffic rising 36% compared to the preceding-year quarter.
Looking ahead, WCE anticipates that continued ramp-up in toll collections will further strengthen cash flows and operating results.
“In the long term, full completion of the WCE is expected to drive revenue growth beyond financing costs, enabling a transition to sustained profitability.”
