TOKYO -- Health and beauty goods maker Lion's operating profit likely jumped roughly 50% to a third straight record high in the year ended Dec. 31, driven by still-growing domestic demand and new products.
The Japanese company is expected to report a group operating profit of around 25 billion yen ($214 million), beating its 23.5 billion yen forecast and breaking the 20 billion yen barrier for the first time since going public in 1949. Its operating margin apparently set another record by surpassing 6%.