After several years of underperformance, Jamaica’s sole cement producer – Caribbean Cement is reporting record profits of $1.53 billion, an increase of 216 percent from $483 million in 2020 from a 31 percent increase in revenues to $5.97 billion for the quarter ending March 2021, over the 2020 corresponding period.
The strong quarterly performance follows an excellent December 2020 quarter when profit jumped sharply to $962 million from $310 million in 2019.
Direct production cost rose 15 percent from $2.7 billion in 2020 to $3.1 billion, as a result, gross profit jumped 54 percent to $2.88 billion from $1.88 billion in 2020, resulting in profit margin rising 48 percent from 27 percent in 2020.
Other operating expenses fell 10 percent from $651 million to $582 million in the quarter. Finance cost declined in the quarter, from $164 million to $162 million. Foreign exchange losses slipped to $209 million for the quarter from $281 million in the previous year’s corresponding period.
The company continues to enjoy a healthy cash flow and ended with $755 million in cash funds at the end of the quarter after pulling in $3.3 billion in gross cash inflows and after paying $953 million in corporate taxes and repaying $1.9 billion in connection with loans.
At the end of March, loans outstanding amount to $4.8 billion, while shareholders’ equity amounts to $13 billion up from $8.8 billion at the end of March 2020.
Current assets ended the period at $4.1 billion up from $3.1 billion at the end of March 2020. Trade receivables ended at $404 million from $450 million last year march while inventories stood at $2.7 billion up from $21 billion at the end of the 2020 first quarter. Current liabilities rounded out the quarter at $7.3 billion compared to $4.9 billion at the end of the 2020 first quarter.
Earnings per share came out at $1.79, up from 57 cents in 2020. IC Insider.com is forecasting around $8.50 per share for the year with the PE currently at 12.5 times 2021 earnings.
The stock last traded at $75 on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday and is projected to get to $150 in the next twelve months.
Archives for April 2021
Sauces could overtake rum as lead export
Local sugar has lost its sweetness with a decline of 54 percent from 2017, with earnings of just US$14 million to rake in a mere US$6.5 million last year. Replacing Sugar as one of the country’s leading manufacturing products are sauces.
Sauces jumped 55 percent from US$19 million in 2017 to almost $30 million in 2020. It grew just two percent in 2018, over 2017 but in 2019 exports of these spicy items rose 22 percent and by a healthy 24 percent in 2020. At this pace, sauces could be challenging rums and alcoholic beverages before long as the leading manufacturing export items. Breads Biscuits Buns Cakes grew a strong 67 percent from 2017 to 2020 moving from US$15 million to US$25 million. Growth in 2018 was 25 percent over 2017 and 18 percent in 2019 over 2018 and 14 percent in 2020 compared with 2019. Chemicals grew just 15 percent from 2017 to 2020 to reach US$30 million, but it grew 31 percent in 2019 over 2018 and slipped 5 percent in 2020.
Coming tomorrow – Agriculture exports star performers
More gains for JSE Main Market
Wednesday marks the twelfth day of unbroken daily gains on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, in continuation of a recent renewed bullish move, with the volume of stocks traded increasing by 24 percent and the values jumping 384 percent higher than on Tuesday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 937.30 points to 444,368.73, the JSE Main Index advanced 882.22 points to 404,765.12 and the JSE Financial Index remained unchanged at 100.37.
Trading ended with 52 securities, up from 50 on Tuesday and closed with prices of 19 stocks rising, 15 declining and 18 remaining unchanged. Salada Foods, Stanley Motta and Portland JSX traded at 52 weeks’ high while Margaritaville traded at a 52 weeks’ low. The PE Ratio, based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings closed, averages 16.4.
Investors exchanged 12,977,111 shares for $274,593,779 up from 10,464,481 units at $56,687,872 on Tuesday. PanJam Investment led trading with 19.9 percent of total volume for 2.59 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 16.5 percent for 2.14 million units, Wigton Windfarm 12.3 percent with 1.60 million units, JMMB Group chipped in with 9.6 percent for 1.25 million units and Pulse Investments with 7.8 percent for 1.01 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 249,560 units at $5,280,650, compared to an average of 209,290 shares at $1,133,757 on Tuesday. Month to date trading averages 230,354 units at $1,717,673, in contrast to 229,131 units at $1,490,898 on Tuesday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has six stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments declined $1.52 to $84.98 in trading 42,001 shares, Caribbean Cement rose 75 cents in closing at $75 after exchanging 19,914 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced by $1 to $41 with 60 shares changing hands. Grace Kennedy finished $1 higher at $88 in the trading of 148,802 stocks, Jamaica Broilers declined $2.64 to $29.51 after clearing the market of 98,323 shares. Jamaica Producers gained 30 cents to end at $28 with 16,874 stock units crossing the market, JMMB Group rose $1 to $33 in the swapping of 1,245,210 shares, Margaritaville shed 99 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $28, with investors switching 2,464 stocks. Mayberry Investments gained 20 cents to close at $5.35 with 42,583 stock units crossing the exchange, NCB Financial Group lost 40 cents to end at $139.60 in a transfer of 46,004 shares, Palace Amusement advanced $1 to $950 with 51 stocks crossing the exchange. PanJam Investment finished $1.10 lower at $62.52 with an exchange of 2,586,959 shares, Portland JSX rose $1.75 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.75 in switching ownership of 14,852 units, Pulse Investments shed 31 cents to settle at $4.08 with the swapping of 1,014,801 stock units.
Salada Foods jumped 85 cents ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.35 in switching ownership of 50,799 stocks. Seprod dropped $2.48 to end at $80.02 with 13,979 units changing hands, Stanley Motta rose 55 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.40 in transferring 1,008 stocks, Supreme Ventures ended 80 cents higher at $16.95 after trading of 147,975 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 26 cents to close at $15.19 with 28,342 units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.75% preference shares rose 99 cents in closing at $7.50 with 57 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Slippage for JSE USD market
Trading on Wednesday, ended with the market declining after trading 57.5 percent more shares than on Tuesday, at the close of the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulting in fall of 6.63 points to 212.08 in the market index.
Six securities traded, similar to Tuesday with the price of one rising, two declining and three closing unchanged.
The average PE Ratio based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings ends at 13.2.
Overall, 455,125 shares traded, for US$12,464 compared to 289,034 units at US$36,227 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 75,854 units at US$2,077, in contrast to 48,172 shares at US$6,038 on Tuesday. Trading averaged 78,855 units for the month to date at US$6,201 in contrast to 79,037 units at US$6,451 on Tuesday. March ended with an average of 68,746 units for US$13,137.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital ended at 9 US cents after trading 50,237 shares, Margaritaville settled at 9 US cents in switching ownership of 10,670 shares, Productive Business Solutions climbed 1 US cents to close at US$1.01 with an exchange of 40 units. Proven Investments slipped 0.01 of a cent to end at 26.99 US cents in trading 13,669 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments shed 0.09 of a cent in closing at 14.99 US cents 200 stock units crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway ended at 0.95 US cents after an exchange of 380,309 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Pull back for TTSE on Wednesday
Market activity ended on Wednesday, with a volume of 298 percent more shares traded valued 175 percent greater than on Tuesday, after 16 securities changed hands down from 20 on Tuesday, with 7 stocks rising, 6 declining and 3 remaining unchanged at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
The Composite Index dropped by a sharp 13.13 points to 1,329.70, the All T&T Index fell 2.70 points to close at 1,782.09 and the Cross-Listed Index shed 3.40 points to settle at 118.50.
Overall, 313,974 shares changed hands for $3,686,330 compared to 78,980 units at $1,341,997 on Tuesday.
An average of 19,623 unitschanged hnds at $230,396, up from 3,949 at $67,100 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averages 10,829 units at $182.581 versus 10,326 units at $179,849. The average trade for March ended at 12,610 units for $342,338.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s rose 15 cents to $24.40, trading 300 shares, Angostura Holdings gained 7 cents to end at $15.49 after exchanging 40 units, Ansa McAL lost 4 cents to end at $56.75 with a transfer of 164 stocks. Clico Investment Fund added 1 cent to finish at $25.06, with 84,250 stocks crossing the market, First Citizens Bank gained 9 cents to settle a $46.50 trading 2,068 stocks, FirstCaribbean International Bank shed 23 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.51, with 1,000 units changing hands. 
Grace Kennedy lost 9 cents to end at $4.91, with the trading of 10,011 stock units, Guardian Holdings added 1 cent to finish at $25.61 with an exchange of 1,683 units, JMMB Group remained at $1.81 after trading 37,079 shares. Massy Holdings rose $1 to $65, in transferring 640 units, National Enterprises lost 20 cents trading 25,000 shares at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.80, National Flour lost 3 cents to end at $2.32 exchanging 83,792 shares, NCB Financial Group shed 27 cents in closing at $8.22 after trading 37,648 stocks. Republic Financial Holdings remained at $132.26 in the transfer of 500 units, Scotiabank traded 5,504 stock units at $54.65 and Trinidad & Tobago NGL gained 15 cents in closing $13.40, with 24,295 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Fesco tops Junior Market trading
Future Energy Source (Fesco) continued its dominance for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, commanding over 52 percent of total volume in trading 8.7 million shares on the Junior Market on Wednesday.
Following Fesco’s lead, Lasco Manufacturing chipped in with 1.79 million shares accounting for 10.7 percent of the day’s trade. Jamaican Teas garnered a 9.5 percent market share, with a transfer of 1.58 million units as the stock hit a record high ahead of second quarter results due in May and Tropical Battery ended with 1.45 million units changing hands, for 8.7 percent of the market.
The Junior Market of the Stock Exchange ended trading with 23 percent more shares than on Tuesday, resulting in 37 securities changing hands, down from 40 on Tuesday, with 19 stocks rising, 15 declining and three remaining unchanged.
The Junior Market Index rose 27.79 points to close at 3,178.47. The PE Ratio averages 13 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
A total of 16,660,091 shares traded on Wednesday for $35,210,071 compared to 21,735,274 units at $33,358,438 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 450,273 units at $951,624 in contrast to 543,382 at $833,961 on Tuesday. The month to date, averages 282,671 units at $713,895, up from 272,505 shares at $699,475 on Tuesday. Trading in March resulted in an average of 252,633 units at $733,196.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose 50 cents to $22 with an exchange of 6,745 shares, Blue Power jumped 60 cents to $4.35 in switching ownership of 227,988 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers slipped 10 cents to $2.05 with 27,347 units changing hands. Caribbean Flavours climbed 35 cents to $2.35 with 352,845 shares traded, Consolidated Bakeries declined 10 cents to $1.70 with a transfer of 13,500 stocks, Everything Fresh gained 16 cents to close at $1.13 with 102,687 units passing through the market. Express Catering lost 10 cents to finish at $4.40 with an exchange of 45,838 shares, Fontana advanced 20 cents to $5.96 with investors switching ownership of 69,904 units, Fosrich jumped 84 cents to $7.04 with 34,332 stocks changing hands. iCreate slipped 6 cents to settle at 73 cents with 160,572 shares traded, Indies Pharma rose 5 cents to $4.31 with a transfer of 140,683 units, Iron Rock Insurance slipped 10 cents to $3 with 18,360 stocks passing through the market. Jamaican Teas gained 16 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $3.85 with an exchange of 1,584,969 stock units, Jetcon Corporation fell 13 cents to 85 cents with 2,000 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express jumped $1.77 to $8.77 with 5,107 units traded. 
Lasco Distributors increased 14 cents to $3.99 with a transfer of 34,686 stocks, Lasco Financial rose 9 cents to $2.99 with 8,711 shares passing through the market, Lasco Manufacturing dropped 45 cents to $4.80 with an exchange of 1,788,059 stock units. Lumber Depot gained 8 cents to close at $2.58 with investors switching ownership of 375,943 units, Main Event advanced 60 cents to settle at $4.70 with 3,000 stocks changing hands, SSL Venture rose 7 cents to 62 cents with 150,285 stock units traded. Stationery and Office Supplies jumped 77 cents to finish at $6.37 with a transfer of 33,573 units and tTech fell 10 cents to $4.50 with 510 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Rum – dominant export product
Jamaica has been producing rum for centuries but with the bulk of it being exported in raw form, there is a great deal of change with several local branded processed and aged rums being produced locally and exported.
Appleton Estate rum is to be found all over the world and is one of the leading export brands dominating many overseas markets. A recent addition to the list is Worthy Park Estate rums. Last year rums brought in US$54.4 million dollars in export earnings, making it one of the country’s leading export items. The 2020 inflows were down 3 percent on exports of US$56 million in 2019, but it is up 38 percent from US$39.6 million earned in 2017. In 2018 exports of the prized product rose to $41 million. The good news is that the largest portion of rum exports are the higher value added brands rather than bulk rum that has far less value and contributes less to the local economy compared to the branded products.
Rum might be amongst Jamaica’s most popular export products but it not the only beverage making waves in the export market. A big surprise in the export market is the category of Alcoholic Beverages excluding Rum that grew 47 percent since 2017, from US$37.4 million to US$54.7 million, inching just one percent in 2020 over 2019, having jumped 46 percent in 2018 over 2017.
Non-Alcoholic Beverages rose 56 percent in 2020 over 2017 from US$12 million to US$18.65 and rose 33 percent in 2018 over 2017 and eight percent each in 2019 over 2018 and 2020 over 2019.
Coming tomorrow – Sauces could overtake rum as lead export
Fesco dominates Junior Market again
Future Energy Source (Fesco) continued to lead trading for a third day with 13.57 million shares amounted to 62.4 percent of the total volume, followed by Caribbean Flavours with 2.62 million units for 12.1 percent and Tropical Battery with 2.08 million units for 9.6 percent and Jamaican Teas ended with 1.20 million units changing hands and accounting for 5.5 percent at the close the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday.
Overall, 40 securities traded, up from 38 on Monday and ended with the prices of 18 rising, 14 declining and eight, with closing unchanged.
The Junior Market Index fell 23.83 points to 3,150.68. The PE Ratio based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
At the close, 21,735,274 shares changed hands for $33,358,438 compared to 23,395,893 units at $32,100,797 on Monday.
Trading averaged 543,382 units at $833,961 in contrast to 615,681 at $844,758 on Monday. The month to date, averaged 272,505 units at $699,475, compared to 253,496 units at $690,037 on Monday. March averaged 252,633 units at $733,196.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 21 cents to $2.15 with an exchange of 10,458 shares, Caribbean Cream shed 58 cents to finish at $5.61, with 675 units changing hands, Caribbean Flavours fell 21 cents to $2 with a transfer of 2,619,470 stocks. Consolidated Bakeries increased 25 cents to $1.80, with 3,700 stock units traded, Express Catering rose 5 cents to $4.50 with ownership of 35,909 shares changing, Fontana dropped 23 cents to $5.76 with 51,671 units passing through the market. Fosrich gained 20 cents to settle at $6.20 with an exchange of 16,079 stock units, Future Energy Source slipped 5 cents to $1.02 with 13,571,032 stocks changing hands, General Accident lost 8 cents to finish at $5.76 with a transfer of 500 shares. Iron Rock Insurance rose 15 cents to $3.10 with 11,000 units traded, Jamaican Teas climbed 18 cents to $3.69 with investors switching ownership of 1,202,096 stocks, Jetcon Corporation gained 15 cents to close at 98 cents, with 51,874 shares passing through the market. KLE Group declined by 34 cents to end at $1.05 with an exchange of 175 units, Knutsford Express shed $1.91 to settle at $7 with 425 stocks changing hands, Lasco Distributors rose 5 cents to $3.85 with a transfer of 219,103 shares.
Lasco Financial fell 15 cents to $2.90 with 1,596 units traded, Lasco Manufacturing lost 20 cents to finish at $5.25 with investors switching ownership of 122,158 stock units, Main Event dropped 60 cents to $4.10 with a transfer of 9,210 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 10 cents to close at $5.60 with 7,281 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
11 unbroken days of gains
Stocks stretched gains for another day at the close of trading on Tuesday, making it the eleventh day of unbroken gains as the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended with an exchange of very low volume of stocks trading that still ended 31 percent more, with the value up 14 percent compared to Monday’s trades.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 267.24 points to 443,431.43, the Main Index gained 235.50 points to 403,882.90, but the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.19 points to settle at 100.37.
Trading ended with 50 securities, down from 52 on Monday and closed with prices of 19 stocks rising, 18 declining and 13 remaining unchanged. One stock traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high and one ended at a closing 52 weeks’ high. The PE Ratio averages 16.1 based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Investors traded 10,464,481 shares for just $56,687,872 up from a paltry 7,978,781 units at $49,570,730 on Monday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 25.2 percent of total volume for an exchange of 2.63 million shares, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 18.6 percent for 1.95 million units, QWI Investments 11.3 percent, with 1.19 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund 10.1 percent with 1.06 million units.
Trading averaged 209,290 units at $1,133,757, up from 153,438 shares at $953,283 on Monday. Month to date trading averages 229,131 units at $1,490,898, in contrast to 230,425 units at $1,514,180 on Monday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments advanced 21 cents to $86.50 with an exchange of 4,593 shares, Berger Paints rose 80 cents to $13.50 after 5,678 stock units crossed the exchange, Caribbean Cement declined $1.70 to $74.25 with investors switching ownership of 7,814 units. Carreras gained 34 cents to close at $9.40 in the trading of 774,927 shares, Grace Kennedy fell $1 to close at $87 in the transfer of 76,808 shares, Jamaica Broilers rose $2.95 to a 52 weeks’ high of $32.15 in an exchange of 97,910 stocks, Jamaica Producers shed 80 cents to close at $27.70 with the swapping of 16,771 stock units. JMMB Group lost 50 cents to end at $32 after an exchange of 121,570 shares, Key Insurance rose 35 cents to $5.95 with 195,569 stocks changing hands, Kingston Properties picked up 20 cents in closing at $7.45 in trading 100 units. Margaritaville fell $1.01 to $28.99 with the swapping of 4,703 shares, Palace Amusement climbed $9 to $949 in switching ownership of 185 stocks, PanJam Investment declined $2.38 to $63.62 in the trading of 9,952 stock units,
Salada Foods shed 43 cents to end at $6.50 with 649,659 shares changing hands after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $7.43. Scotia Group gained 50 cents to finish at $43 with 6,799 stocks crossing the market and Seprod closed 50 cents higher at $82.50 with the swapping of 63,099 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.75% preference share dropped $1.01 to $6.51, with 25 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Nice bounce for JSE USD stocks
Trading on Tuesday ended with the market rising after an exchange of nine times more shares than on Monday, at the close of the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulting in six securities changing hands, compared to four on Monday with two stocks rising, one declining and three remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index climbed 4.98 points to end at 218.71. The average PE Ratio based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings ends at 13.2.
Overall, 289,034 shares traded for US$36,227 up from 32,091 units at US$2,549 on Monday.
Trading averaged 48,172 units at US$6,038, in contrast to 8,023 shares at US$637 on Monday. Trading month to date averaged 79,037 units at US$6,451 in contrast to 81,028 units at US$6,478 on Monday. March ended with an average of 68,746 units for US$13,137.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital ended at 9 US cents in exchanging 12,558 shares, Margaritaville closed at 9 US cents, trading 673 shares, Proven Investments advanced 1 cent to close at 27 US cents in trading 126,273 stock units. Sterling Investments fell 0.14 of a cent to close at 2.3 US cents while exchanging 600 units, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 2.9 cents to closed at 14.9 US cents while exchanging 100 units and Transjamaican Highway settled at O.95 of a US cent trading 148,830 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
