Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange picked up on Wednesday as 29 securities traded and the level of trading increasing helped by 15 million units of Barita going through the market as Barita Investments brokered the one trade as a cross, on behalf of a client. The prices of 8 stocks rose and 9 declined resulting from 19,575,074 shares changing hands valued at $57,957,342.
Main Market| Only 3 companies in the main market advanced and 7 declined as the indices moved up with the JSE Market Index gaining 155.03 points to 72,852.32 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index increasing 173.35 points to close at 80,170.31.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless in trading 38,081 shares to close with a one cent gain at 35 cents. Investors should a get a glimpse as to the performance of the local Cable & Wireless performance as CWC PLC is scheduled to release full year results on the 22nd of May at 9.30 AM British time. Carreras gained $1.05 to close at $35.80 with 10,018 units changing hands and Sagicor Group traded 974,350 in only two trades to close up 20 cents at $9.50.
Firm| There were 9 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price as Berger Paints with just 1,519 shares closed at $1.67, Gleaner traded 16,000 stock units and closed at $1.10, Jamaica Broilers 1,864 units and closed $4.70, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference shar, 28,000 units to close at $2 with the 8.75% preference share having 2,069,833 units changing hands at $3.03, Jamaica Producers 70,827 shares to close at $18.26, Mayberry Investments 6,018 shares and closed at $1.77 followed by Radio Jamaica with 7,800 units as the price closed at $1.29 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 342,142 shares to close at $6.60.
Declines| 7 stocks with plus one in the US dollar market declined on Wednesday in the main market with Barita Investments trading 15,000,000 shares while losing a cents to end at $2.29, Caribbean Cement with 297,600 units to close at $3 after falling by 30 cents as investors react negatively to the company’s recent disappointing March quarter results showing profit of only $35 million or just 4 cents per share, while sales volumes were up over the 2013 quarter. Jamaica Money Market Brokers traded 25,206 ordinary shares and closed down by 5 cents to $7.21, Margaritaville ordinary shares traded 1,700 units to end at US$0.115 for a .05 cents drop, National Commercial Bank price lost 20 cents in trading 27,722 units to close at $17.80, while Pan Jamaican Investment exchanged 7,680 shares to close at $48.05 while falling 5 cents, Salada Foods traded 2,400 units as the company is reporting a bad period of declining sales revenues and falling profits of $28 million for the half year to March versus $55 million in 2013, with the price dropping 10 cents to $7.80 and Scotia Group ended up with 28,057 units changing hands to close with a 12 cents loss at $19.58.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index advanced by 7.38 points to close at 736.50 as 9 stocks traded with 5 advancing and only one declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Access Financial with 9,000 units to close at $12, up 50 cents, Caribbean Producers with 244,816 units to close with a 2 cents gain at $2.75, Jamaican Teas 80,000 shares to close 5 cents higher at $3.50 followed by Lasco Financial with50,000 units to close at $1.25 for a gain of 10 cents and Lasco Manufacturing 147,016 shares to close a cent higher at $1.15.
Firm Trades| 3 stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before Blue Power with 910 shares traded and closed at $9.10, Dolphin Cove 3,270 shares to close at $8.10 and Lasco Distributors 58,245 units as the price ended at $1.40.
Declines| There was just one stock declining in the junior market at the end of trading with Consolidated Bakeries trading 25,000 shares to close down 2 cents at 90 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Archives for May 2014
Barita Trades 15m shares
Declining stocks dominate trade
The Jamaica Stock Exchange continues to lose ground with more stocks falling than rising as the prices of only 5 stocks rose and 12 declined with 25 securities traded resulting in 2,034,342 shares trading valued at $8,897,265 but the junior market index rose although the two main market indices fell.
Main Market| Only 2 companies in the main market advanced at the end of trading and one from the US dollar market and 6 declined as the indices moved down with the JSE Market Index erasing 432.21 points to close at 72,697.29 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 483.28 points to close at 79,996.96.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless in trading 51,164 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents at 34 cents, Margaritaville gained 2 US cents to close at 12 US cents with 340 units changing hands for the first time since listing to close at a new high and Sagicor Group swapped 177,506 units 5 cents higher to end at $9.30.
Firm| There were 6 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with Grace Kennedy trading 1,000 units and closed at $55, Jamaica Broilers 156,467 shares closing at $4.70, National Commercial Bank 25,550 shares to close at $18, Radio Jamaica 30,895 shares closing at $1.29, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 4,940 units in closing at $6.60, Scotia Group 109,624 shares to close at $19.70.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 30,316 shares while losing 20 cents to end at $3.30, Carreras 11,000 shares to close at $34.75 with a $1.20 decline, Gleaner 74,821 stock units to close with a cent down at $1.10, Pan Jamaican Investment as it traded 15,486 shares to close at $48.10 with the price falling by 40 cents, Salada Foods down by 10 cents while trading 2,830 units at $7.90, Scotia Investments 10,635 shares to close at $23.50, a decline of $2 and Supreme Ventures 316,847 stock units to close with a loss of 10 cents to $2 for a new 52 weeks low.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index rose 3.56 points to close at 729.12 as only 9 stocks traded with 2 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Jamaican Teas with 49,530 units to close at $3.45 as the price rose by 24 cents and Lasco Financial Services traded 31,500 shares to close 5 cents higher at $1.15.
Firm Trades| The 2 stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Caribbean Producers with 50,000 shares closing at $2.73 and Lasco Distributors with 222,054 units to close at $1.40.
Declines| Five stocks declined in the junior market at the end of trading are AMG Packaging in trading 5,000 units to close at $3.30, down 19 cents, for a 52 weeks low, Caribbean Flavours with 53,065 units to close with a 20 fall to $2.50, followed by Consolidated Bakeries 157,299 as the price declined by 18 cents in light of the reduced profits reported for the March quarter to end at 92 cents. The company saw profits fall 48 percent to $7.4 million in the March quarter from reduced gross profit margin in spite of a 14 percent rise in sales revenues to $197 million. General Accident 200,198 shares to close at $1.48 with a one cent fall and Lasco Manufacturing that is expected to report final results for the year to March by the end of May traded 246,275 units to close with a one cent loss at $1.14.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
6 up 6 down on JSE
In Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 6 stocks rose and 6 declined with only 22 securities traded, resulting in 3,971,989 shares changing hands valued at $29,955,354.
Main Market| The prices of 5 companies in the main market rose and 5 declined as the indices moved down with the JSE Market Index falling by 252.47 points to 73,129.50 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index erasing 282.31 points to close at 80,480.24.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are, Barita Investments with 30,000 shares to close 30 cents higher at $2.30, Cable & Wireless with 745,680 units changing hands as the price gained a cent to close at 32 cents, Carreras closed up by $1.20 to end at $35.95 with 51,728 shares changing hands, Gleaner’s price put on a cent while trading 4,665 units to close at $1.11 and Scotia Group traded 933,985 units as the price gained 14 cents to end at $19.70.
Firm| There were 7 stocks in the main market that closed without a change in price as Grace Kennedy with 37,200 shares closed at $55, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 5,920 units to close at $4.70, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 231,500 units to close at $3.03, Mayberry Investments put through 23,356 shares to close at $1.75, National Commercial Bank had 74,558 shares trading to close at $18, Sagicor Group with 88,440 shares in closing at $9.25 and Seprod with 35,000 shares as the price ended at $10.75.
Declines| The number of stocks declining in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 330,768 shares while losing 5 cents to end at $3.50. Jamaica Money Market Brokers traded 29,800 ordinary shares as the price eased 4 cents to $7.26, Kingston Wharves traded 11,823 shares to close 50 cents off, at $5, followed by Pan Jamaican Investment with 17,272 units to close at $48.50 with a 10 cents decline and Pulse Investments with 400,000 shares at a new 52 weeks low of 30 cents as the price dropped 50 percent or 30 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 2.69 points to close at 725.56 as only 5 stocks traded with one advancing and one declining.
Gains| Lasco Distributors was the sole stock to gain in the junior market on Monday with 100,200 units to close at $1.40 up by 5 cents.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day are Caribbean Producers with 158,094 units at $2.73, Lasco Financial Services 500,000 shares to close at $1.11 and Lasco Manufacturing with 62,000 shares to end at $1.15.
Declines| Only one stock declined in the junior market at the end of trading with Jamaican Teas exchanging 100,000 units to close at $3.21 having lost 29 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had only 2 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Guardian Media profit drops
Trinidad’s Guardian Media (GML) reported profit after tax that declined to $3.8 million for the first quarter this year from $7.3M in the March 2013 quarter. The media group generated revenues of $44.5 Million for the first quarter compared with $46.1 million earned for the corresponding period in 2013. , The 2013 revenue benefited from advertising relating to election campaigning in that year. The March quarter is not the best in the media business coming after the high advertising Christmas period .
Management indicated in their report to shareholders that the 2014 results was impacted by lower revenues and increased operational costs including the acquisition of the West Indies home series cricket rights for the next six years.
Our Balance Sheet continues to strengthen with increases in net assets of $42.2 Million moving from $273 Million in 2013 to $315 Million in 2014 and cash reserves increased by $3.8 Million over the comparative period.
According to management investments made to date in talent, products and capacity enhancement, and a positive outlook for the economy in 2014, they are confident of achieving the budgeted projections for 2014. They did not disclose what their forecast is but IC Insider expects the company will earn close to the results for 2013 of TT$45 million.
Main market closes week up slightly
In Friday’s trading on the Stock Exchange, the prices of 4 stocks rose and 8 declined as 24 securities traded resulting in 6,969,870 shares changing hands, valued at $58,489,956. Main Market| Only 4 companies in the main market advanced in price and 3 declined as the indices closed up with the JSE Market Index rising by 319 points to 73,381.97 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gaining 356.70 points to close at 80,762.55.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 17,115 units changing hands to close at 31 cents with a one cent gain, Caribbean Cement with 16,500 stock units to close at $3.55, up by 4 cents, Kingston Wharves 8,396 shares to close at$5.50 for a 50 cents gain and Scotia Investments with 2,200 shares to close up by $1 at $25.50.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Berger Paints with 50,444 shares to close at $1.67, Carreras with 3,650 stock units to close at $34.75, Grace Kennedy 2,000 stock units to close at $55, Hardware & Lumber 4,000 shares to close at $10.20, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share, 145,400 units to end at $3.03, Mayberry Investments 2,761 units to close at $1.80, Pan Jamaican Investment 1,000 shares to close at $48.60, Proven Investments 900 ordinary shares to close at 18 US cents and Proven Investments 8% preference share with 5,000 units to end at $5.09.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Barita Investments with 52,500 shares while closing at $2 with a 30 cents fall, Jamaica Broilers 3,000,000 units and closed at $4.70 with a one cent loss and Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 231,503 ordinary shares to close at $7.30 down by 11 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 5.06 points to close at 728.25 with only 6 stocks traded, none advanced and 3 declined.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 4,900 shares to end at $11.50, Dolphin Cove with 5,529 units and closed at $8.10, Paramount Trading 32,722 units to close at $2.68.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Caribbean Producers that traded 220,900 units to close at $2.73 down 2 cents, General Accident with 19,798 shares to close at $1.49 with a loss of a cent and Lasco Manufacturing with 16,800 stock units to close at $1.15 with a 1 cent fall.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Advancing stocks ahead at JSE
In Thursday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 9 stocks rose and 4 declined as 27 securities traded resulting in 2,717,621 shares changing hands valued at a mere $4,692,842.
Main Market| Six companies in the main market advanced and only two declined as the indices inched forward with the JSE Market Index closing up by 84.04 points to 73,062.97 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gaining 93.97 points to close at 80,405.85.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Caribbean Cement that traded 100 shares to close with a gain of a cent, at $3.51, Desnoes & Geddes gained 10 cents to close at $4.50 with 373,319 units changing hands, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with only 322 units to close at $7.41 for a 6 cents rise, Pan Jamaican Investment with 1,819 shares to close at $48.60, up by 40 cents, Sagicor Group with 20,627 shares in closing at $9.50 for a gain of 15 cents and Scotia Group 32,000 shares in closing with a 30 cents gain at $20.
Firm| Stocks in the main market to close without a change at the close of the market are Berger Paints which traded with 7,799 units and closed at $1.67, Cable & Wireless 1,584,764 shares to close at 30 cents, Carreras 100 units to close at $34.75, Jamaica Broilers 6,669 shares to close at $4.71, Jamaica Producers 4,100 stock units, to close at $18.26, Kingston Wharves 2,000 shares to close at $5, Mayberry Investments, 12,239 shares to close at $1.80, National Commercial Bank 2,200 stock units to close at $18, Proven Investments 2,000 ordinary shares to close at 18 US cents, Proven Investments 8% preference share, 76,800 units to close at $5.09, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 4,417 units to close at $6.60 and Supreme Ventures 9,835 shares to close at $2.10.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Ciboney with 9,880 shares while losing 2 cents to end at 10 cents and Hardware & Lumber with 20,015 shares to close at $10.20 with a fall of $1.60.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index edged up by 0.46 points to close at 733.31 as 7 stocks traded with 3 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Caribbean Cream trading 70,000 units to close up a cent at 73 cents followed by Lasco Financial Services with 20,350 shares to close at $1.11 with a rise of 3 cents and Lasco Manufacturing 109,110 units to close at $1.16, with 16 cents gain.
Firm Trades| 2 junior market stocks traded with the price unchanged at the end of trading with KLE Group having 36,933 units changing hands at 93 cents and Lasco Distributors 249,100 shares to close at $1.35.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Cargo Handlers with 223 units at $14.01 as the price slipped by 30 cents and Caribbean Producers 60,900 shares to close at $2.75 with the price ending lower by 25 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
Caribbean Cement ekes out meager profit
Caribbean Cement factory
Caribbean Cement reported a meager profit of $35 million for the first three months of 2014 but compared to a loss of $497 million in 2013, the latest results represent a major change in the fortune of a company plagued with low production and massive losses between 2009 and 2012. The significant improvement over 2013 is as a result of the debt restructuring exercise completed in June last year, reducing the Group’s exposure to foreign exchange losses, improved sales volumes and increased plant productivity. But the stock market is expecting more, much more from this the sole manufacturer of local cement. In the September quarter last year Cement, as the company is commonly known, sold 214,000 tonnes of cement and 6,700 tonnes of clinker compared with 215,000 of cement this year along with much more clinker exports and reported operating profit of $303 million compared to $130 million in this latest quarter. The company operating profit for the quarter improved by 33 percent over the prior year, increasing from $98 million.
In the 2013 September quarter, the company reported 20 cents per share but only 4 cents in its latest one. There is clearly a sharp increase in cost which the company was not able to pass on in time in pricing during the quarter. The company has to do better than the results in the quarter to come close to justify the stock price at $3.70. The directors stated that they have taken action to improve the operating margin. Part of that no doubt is a 1.3 percent price adjustment implemented at the start of April but that will only recover about $40 million, there must be other cost incurred in the March quarter that have been or is being dealt with.
While the growth in domestic demand remains anaemic, export cement sales volumes grew by 87 percent with new markets established in Suriname and Guyana. Total cement sales volumes rose by 17 percent. Additionally, 44,261 tonnes of clinker was exported to Venezuela. The increased volume coupled with price corrections to recover increases in certain costs, resulted in revenue rise of 36 percent or $959 million.
Cement Company increased its prices by an average of 1.3 per cent starting April 1st on top of an average increase of 3 percent at the start of January. In October last year there was 2.7 percent upward adjustment.
Outlook| The company in a release to the stock exchange said “We remain cautiously optimistic about increased domestic market demand in the short to medium term as we continue to actively promote new uses for our cement in the domestic market. Our focus on developing export markets, especially in Central and South America, continues and we expect to conclude a new contract for supply of clinker to Venezuela when the current contract is fulfilled in May”.
Borrowings| While Trinidad Cement, the majority shareholders restructured the debt to Caribbean Cement (CCC), CCC still has a large amount due amounting to $1.4 billion costing a huge amount in interest amounting to $66 million during the quarter and picked up exchange losses of $15 million as a result of slippage of the local dollar.
At the end of the quarter the company still has huge build up of deficit on its books standing at $7.35 billion. It will take several years before they are able to wipe this out and place themselves in a position to start paying dividends.
Cash| on a more positive note Cement Company ended with cash of $340 million at the end of the quarter as the operations generated cash inflows of $138 million, this is good news as it could it means that cash build up could during the year end up at close to $900 million.
Jamaica Producers profit down
Jamaica Producers Group (JP) continues to struggle in its fight of the economic elements buffeting the markets in which it operates as the group generated just 5 percent more revenues in the first quarter this year of $1.96 billion over the same period in 2013. Net profit attributable to JP’s shareholders was $34 million, a reduction from $85 million in the same period last year.
JP Europe division earned revenues of $1.29 billion in the March quarter, representing a 7 percent reduction from the prior year. The division earned first quarter pre-tax profits of $21 million compared to $60 million in the 2013 first quarter. JP Tropical Division significantly improved its performance relative to the prior year as the first quarter loss for the division of $55 million in 2013 was reduced to a loss of just $6 million for the 2014 quarter. The Corporate segment recorded a profit of $31 million for the 2014 quarter down from a profit of $125 million for the 2013 period.
Gross profit rose to $428 million from $389 million in 2013 but increased marketing, selling and distribution costs rose to $135 million from $126 million and administrative and other operating expenses of $313 million versus $276 million in 2013 helped to worsen operating results. Lower profit from share of associated companies and joint ventures of $68.6 million compared to $99.6 million in 2013 and an $81 million drop from gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment and investments which fell to only $17 million helped to pressure net results for the quarter lower. The performance was helped somewhat by absence of restructuring cost during the recent period, in 2013 such cost amounting to $36 million was incurred in the 2014 quarter.
The stock sells for $18.26 each and the book value is $31 each but it is difficult to see earnings for the current year reaching a level to justify the stock price at current levels.
The JP Tropical division benefitted from a 45 percent increase in revenues driven in part by the restoration of the banana and pineapple farms after Hurricane Sandy and increased sales of JP tropical snacks in Jamaica and internationally. Management expect to support the recovery of JP Tropical Foods business with a recent board decision to significantly increase the acreage under cultivation of both pineapples and cassava. These projects will be concentrated in St. Mary and will be executed over the course of 18 months. The commitment to expand agricultural activity in St. Mary will also result in increased output from the St. Mary-based snack factory and bammy production unit as well from fresh produce depots that the group is in the process of establishing in Kingston, Annotto Bay, Mandeville and Montego Bay.
Tortuga International Holdings experienced improved results relative to the prior year as a result of strong cruise ship arrivals in various Caribbean markets and the introduction of a series of new products that build on its heritage and connection to rum-based confectionary. The business was bolstered by cost-cutting initiatives in our bakery in Barbados and the strengthening of the overall sales team with new personnel.
Little price movements on Wednesday
In Wednesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 4 stocks rose and 3 declined as only 20 securities traded resulting in 7,422,171 shares changing hands valued at $29,572,563.
Main Market| On a day when few stocks recorded price changes, only 3 companies in the main market advanced and 3 declined as the indices moved down marginally with the JSE Market Index slipping by 40.55 points to 72,978.93 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index easing 45.34 points to close at 80,311.88.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are National Commercial Bank with 6,320 shares to close with a gain of 25 cents at $18, Pan Jamaican Investment had 35,274 changing hands to close up by 14 cents to end at $48.20 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 20,100 units, closed with a 10 cents gain at $6.60.
Firm| 11 stocks in the main market closed without a change in price as Berger Paints traded 55,000 shares in closing at $1.67, Cable & Wireless traded 640,000 units and closed at 30 cents, Caribbean Cement 42,175 units to close at $3.50, Carreras 79,670 shares to end at $34.75, Desnoes & Geddes 400 shares to close at $4.40. Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share, 700,000 units at $2 and the 8.75% preference share traded 1,839,490 units at $3.03, Sagicor Group 798,136 units to close at $9.35, Scotia Group with 45,660 shares to close at $19.70, Scotia Investments 5,010 shares at $24.50 and Supreme Ventures 2,789,233 units to close at $2.10.
Declines| The stocks that declined in the main market are Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 7,382 units while losing 5 cents to end at $7.35, Kingston Properties with 13,500 shares to close with a 10 cents loss at $4 and Kingston Wharves with 80,504 shares as the price closed at $5 with a fall of 75 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.34 points to close at 732.85 as only 3 stocks traded with 1 advancing and none declining.
Gains| Caribbean Producers was the only stock gaining at the end of trading in the junior market as 54,733 units traded to close at $3, up a cent.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the trading day before are Access Financial with 207,002 units at $11.50 and Dolphin Cove that closed at $8.10 with 2,582 units changing hands.
Declines| There were no stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading on Wednesday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the close of the market the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 8 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
