Winners of the consumer cyclical industry sector in this year’s Centurion Club come from a diverse range, with MoneyMax Financial Services, the sector winner, and Valuemax, which led for growth in profit after tax (PAT), both being pawnbroking leaders. Vicom, the test and certification subsidiary of separately listed ComfortDelGro Corp, has been named for weighted return on equity (ROE).

Meanwhile, leisure attraction operator Sim Leisure led in returns to shareholders.

Via its various subsidiaries, MoneyMax operates a network of more than 100 outlets in Singapore and Malaysia, making it one of the largest pawnbroking and retail chains in the region. Via its pawnbroking outlets, the company provides short-term financing solutions, secured by pledged collateral articles such as gold, diamonds and luxury timepieces. It is also involved in retail trading, offering brand-new gold jewellery, pre-loved luxury timepieces, and branded bags. The company is also in vehicle financing, property financing, and insurance. Thanks partly to rising gold prices and other favourable factors, MoneyMax in FY2024 achieved yet another year of record financial performance. Revenue was up 36.5% to $390.1 million, with across-the-board growth, while earnings jumped by 64.1% to $32 million, also a record.

Vicom is better known for its vehicle testing services, but it generates a significant proportion of its inspection business in other areas, such as manufacturing. No thanks to “subdued” sentiment, this segment was affected “marginally” but along with a global rebound in the electronics cycle, the year ended at a “satisfactory” level. In total, Vicom inspected a total of 525,108 vehicles, increasing its market share to 72.9%. In its most recent FY2024, Vicom reported revenue of $119.5 million, up 6.8% and earnings grew by 6.1% to $29.3 million. Vicom is poised for new growth this coming year. In 2024, it began to install so-called on-board units for vehicles here, as it is one of the authorised partners appointed by the government to do so. “The year 2025 will be a busy year for the vehicle testing business with the full-scale installation of the OBU [On-Board Unit]project,” says chairman Tan Kim Siew in his message in the annual report.

ValueMax was set up in 1988 and became the first pawnbroking chain to be listed on the Mainboard in 2013. As indicated in its FY2024 annual report, it has expanded to 50 outlets across Singapore over the years and has another outlet run by an associate. In addition, there are 27 other outlets in Malaysia via associates. In a sign of its strong growth, revenue increased from $331 million in FY2023 to $456.2 million in FY2024.

See also: A rejuvenated Singapore market, a reset for The Edge Singapore

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Sim Leisure Group is a Malaysian-based developer and operator of attractions. From its first Escape Adventure Park in Penang, the company has steadily expanded its footprint, focusing on retro-eco, family-friendly outdoor fun. Today, it operates seven parks, including the Escape Challenge at Paradigm Mall PJ, KidZania indoor edutainment parks in Malaysia and Singapore, and Escape-branded parks in Ipoh, Putrajaya, and Johor Bahru. In the most recent FY2024, revenue reached RM78.45 million, up from RM60.08 million ($18.68 million) in FY2023. Earnings in the same year were up 24.4% to RM29.07 million.