Internal performance:
| Year | Net profit margin (%) | Operating Margin (%) |
| 2010 | 12.7 | 15.6 |
| 2009 | 16.6 | 18.6 |
| 2008 | 14.5 | 16.4 |
| 2007 | 13.3 | 14.5 |
| 2006 | 8.4 | 11.5 |
| 2005 | 1.6 | 3.0 |
| 2004 | 4.7 | 7.7 |
| 2003 | 6.8 | 11.5 |
| 2002 | 4.2 | 9.1 |
| 2001 | 3.9 | 9.1 |
The net profit margin has grown continuously except in 2004, 2005 and 2010, similar to the operating margin. In order to check whether there has been a deteriorating performance after 2010, we will see the quarterly margins as shown below:
| Quarter | Net profit margin (%) | Operating margin (%) |
| Jun 30 2011 | 11.5 | 15.7 |
| Mar 31 2011 | 8.6 | 11.8 |
| Dec 31 2010 | 13.1 | 16.0 |
| Sep 30 2010 | 16.0 | 18.7 |
| Jun 30 2010 | 12.9 | 16.1 |
| Mar 31 2010 | 8.8 | 11.3 |
Even though there was a dip in March 2011, it seems to improve in the 2nd quarter of 2011. Assuming that LMCE will be able to continue to manage its costs so as to squeeze in a better margin, we can be optimistic about the forecasted 2011 earnings. The “cost of goods sold” as a percentage of “sales“ also was seen to be stable without any disturbing trend for the last 3 yrs.
| Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
| COGS | 62% | 67% | 75% | 67% | 64% | 66% | 64% | 65% |
