Impressive sales growth at Medical Disposables

October 31, 2014 by

Kurk Boothe - Medical Disposables Managing Director

Kurk Boothe – Medical Disposables Managing Director

Sales revenue climbed impressively by 26 percent in the September quarter as well as year to date but operating profit performance is not as inspiring, being flat in both periods at Medical Disposables & Supplies. The company reports profit after tax at, 66 percent higher at $21 million for the quarter, versus the 2013 quarter.
In 2013 after taxation of $4.4 million, $13 million was left as net profit. For the six months, profit after tax of rose 60.6 percent to $38.7 million from $24 million, after accounting for $8.4 million in taxes.
For the quarter, gross profit grew 29 percent to $70.4 million compared to $54.5 million and for the six months an increase of 28 percent to$136 million. “This improvement was due to the increased sales in all categories and consistent review of our pricing structure to maintain gross margin efficiency,” Kurk Boothe, Managing Director said in his report to shareholders. The increase in gross profit was helped by an improvement in gross profit margins, increasing during the latest quarter to 33.14 percent from 32.12 last year and to 33.65 percent for the six months versus 32.90 percent in the same period of 2013.
Sales revenue climbed 26.2 percent to $283 million in the September quarter over the $224 million in 2013. For the half year, sales grew 26 percent to $540 million from $429 million in 2013. “This result was in keeping with the company’s strategic forecast of growing market share and widening the customer base in all categories of its business operations,” Boothe stated.
IC Insider understands that sales have moved to more than $100 million per month since the latter part of the last quarter. If this is maintained then it should lift profit going forward and could push earnings to around 40 cents per share for the current financial year.
Expenses| Total operational expenses increased 49.8 percent for the quarter and the half year to September to $47.6 million compared to $31.8 million in 2013 and to $93.8 million for the six months period.
“This increase was driven mainly by staff related expenses, utilities, professional fees and information technology services. Staff related expenses, in particular, were driven by the strategic decision to realign the staff complement and compensation to sustain the current growth, development and expansion of the business, Boothe said.
Finances| Trade receivables have climbed to more than two months of sales at $240 million and inventories have moved up as well to just under three months’ supply at $182 million. Cash funds are at $86 million but borrowed funds have climbed to $106 million.
The stock is one to watch with the price of the stock on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $1.92 at a PE less than 5 times the 2015 profit. The company declared a 4 cents per share dividend, payable in November 19.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: , , ,

Low forex demand forced BOJ’s intervention

October 30, 2014 by

Jamaica's Central Bank head quarters Downtown Kingston

Jamaica’s Central Bank head quarters Downtown Kingston

The Jamaican dollar gained against the British Pound, fell moderately versus the US dollar and lost $1.38 versus the Canadian dollar, in trading on Thursday. One IC Insider’s source stated that there is weak demand for foreign exchange currently, while others indicate that the dealers can supply large amounts to the market in recent weeks.
IC Insider can now confirm that the country’s central bank (Bank of Jamaica) has been intervening in the market to purchase excess funds and thus prevent too much appreciation for the Jamaican dollar at a time when the rate of inflation has been rising and could erode the gains made against the US dollar, in 2014.
Authorized dealers purchased the equivalent of US$32,649,087 versus US$32,884,034, on Wednesday and sold the equivalent of US$28,021,523 compared with US$32,831,045 on Wednesday.
FX sum 30-10-14In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$25,714,484 compared to US$30,229,144 on Wednesday. The buying rate for the US dollar lost 3 cents to $112.32 and US$24,894,405 was sold versus US$31,632,195 on Wednesday, the selling rate rose 3 cent to $112.76. The Canadian dollar buying rate, rose $2.38 to $100.66 with dealers buying C$3,327,907 and selling C$1,986,255, at an average selling rate that climbed $1.37, to $101.98. The rate for buying the British Pound moved down 85 cents to $178.10, for the purchase of £943,417, while £400,984 was sold, at $180.46, a fall of $1.02. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$2,456,217, while the equivalent of US$689,010, was sold.
FX HL 30-10-14Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, fell 50 cents to $113, the lowest buying, the highest selling and the lowest selling rates were unchanged at $91.85, $117.70 and $91.85 respectively. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 53 cents to $101.40, the lowest buying rate rose 70 cents to $80.05, the highest selling rate fell 36 cents to $102.76. The lowest selling rate declined $1.05 to $96.45. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, dipped 70 cents to $181.50. The lowest buying rate eased 46 cents to $145.37, the highest selling rate rose 27 cents to $187.41 and the lowest selling rate dropped $3.50 to $174.50.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, FX Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , ,

Trading in only 8 main market stocks

October 30, 2014 by

Thursday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 3 stocks rising and 8 declining as 17 securities changed hands, ending in 3,395,725 units trading, valued at $14,458,959, in all market segments.
JSE sum 30-10-14f IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 147.24 points to 71,804.85, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 164.64 points to close at 78,999.10 and the JSE combined index gained 108.17 points, to close at 73,655.26.
Gains| Stocks gaining at the last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Mayberry Investments with 10,000 shares changing hands, gained 10 cents to $1.50 and Scotia Group trading 411,651 shares as the price gained 64 cents to $19.75.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless with 2,297,611 shares closed at 28 cents, followed by Grace Kennedy’s 244 shares at $57.24 and Sagicor Group 20,000 units at $9.65.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras had 11,692 shares trading, with 10 cents fall to $34.50, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 7,661 shares with a loss of 6 cents to $4.10 and National Commercial Bank with 243,752 units closed 65 cents higher at $17.30.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Trading in 9 junior market securities

October 30, 2014 by
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Caribbean Flavours price fell 45 cents

Caribbean Flavours price fell 45 cents

The Junior Market closed trading with 393,114 units valued at $810,392 . The JSE Junior Market Index fell 3.23 points to close at 656.79, with 9 securities traded, 1 advanced and 5 declined.
At the close of the market, there were 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to exhibit weakness with 11 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 4 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
In trading, Lasco Financial with 1,640 units, closed 2 cents at 98 cents to be the sole stock to advance in the junior market.
Declines| AMG Packaging with 300,150 shares lost 9 cents to end at a new 52 weeks’ low of $2.15, Caribbean Flavours traded 16,581 shares, lost 45 cents to end at $2.35, Caribbean Producers had 3,735 shares changing hands as it lost 10 cents to end at $2.20, Eppley 9.5% preference share traded 8,300 units, with the loss of 2 cents in ending at $6.08, Lasco Manufacturing with 26,000 shares lost 4 cents to end at 91 cents after posting slightly lower profit for the six months to September.
The stocks trading firm on Thursday are, Consolidated Bakeries in trading 20,030 units, closed at 82 cents, General Accident had 14,867 units changing hands at $1.55 and Lasco Distributors traded just 1,811 units to close at $1.25.

Filed Under: JSE Junior Market, Stock Market

Only 8 securities traded in Trinidad

October 30, 2014 by

Only 8 securities traded on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Thursday, 1 advanced, 1 declined and 6 traded firm resulting in a total of 33,413 units changing hands, valued at $1,796,156. At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.01 points to close at 1,146.53, the All T&T Index edged up 0.02 points to close at 1,962.10 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 43.38.
TTSE 30-10-14 Gains| Trinidad Cement inched up a cent to $2.02 while trading 1,000 shares to be the sole stock to gain in price.
Declines| The only stock declining at the end of trading is Scotiabank with 1,000 shares, fell 1 cent to close at $57.99 to a new 52 weeks’ low.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Agostini’s traded 284 shares at $17.34, Clico Investment Fund with 9,160 shares valued at $202,436 closed at $22.10, First Citizens Bank traded 869 shares to close at $36.75, Guardian Holdings contributed 3,100 shares to end at $13.50, National Commercial Bank with 6,000 shares closed at $1 and Republic Bank with 12,000 shares changing hands for a value of $1,449,000, ended at $120.75.
With results being released for the September quarter and the end of the year nearing, financial information may be forthcoming that could result in more interest in some of the stocks. The number of stocks with bids higher than their last sale prices is in keeping with the above.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator was showing a moderately bullish signal as had 6 stocks closed with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 stock with the offer that was lower.

Filed Under: Stock Market, TTSE Market Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Flat sales higher cost hit Lasco Manufacturing

October 30, 2014 by

Lasco Manufacturing new "I Cool" drinks

Lasco Manufacturing new “I Cool” drinks

Sales fell marginally to $1 billion from $1.03 billion in the September 2014 quarter, compared to 2013, at Lasco Manufacturing. A sharp jump in operating and finance cost helped to pressure the financial performance in the quarter to a profit of $127 million down from $176 million in 2013.
Earnings per share fell to 3 cents for the quarter and 7 cents for the six months. Year to date revenue was $2.08 billion compared to $1.88 billion for the same period last year, an increase of 11 percent. “This growth was driven mainly by increased volume in our export markets. Our International Division reported a growth of 40 percent during the quarter” management stated in their release with the financials.
Gross profit for the six months rose 14 percent to $602 million from $526 million and in the September quarter it grew to $287 million from $276, bettering gross profit margin moderately. Net profit for the six months declined 15 percent to $268 million against the comparative period last year. “The net profit performance was in line with the expectations of management and the board, this was due to temporary increase in manufacturing cost resulting from the effect of changes in staff complement, overhead costs associated with the new manufacturing plant, and increased finance cost,” the company’s management stated.
Operating expenses climbed 54 percent to $151 million in the latest quarter, and 41 percent, for the six months period. While there is no breakdown for the operating cost, other than the increased staff cost mentioned above, increased depreciation charge on the liquid factory would also be one of the factors pushing cost. With the other factory to be opened after the quarter’s end, the depreciation charge will rise again. Finance cost jumped to $25 million in the quarter from just $2 million in the 2013 quarter and for the half year to $57 million from $2.3 million. Prior to the completion of the factory, the finance cost associated with building and equipping the factories was capitalised as part of the factory cost. With the completion of the facilities, the cost will be a direct charge against income.
Heating of raw material to make bottles for Lasco's new drinks

Heating of raw material to make bottles for Lasco’s new drinks

During the quarter, the company introduced LASCO iCool water, iCool flavor water and iCool juice drinks to the market. The company made significant investments in marketing as well as promotional activities in collaboration with affiliated company LASCO Distributors.
“The company is on target with its long-term plan to invest in innovation across all facets of the business – from new product development to powering a pipeline of new products, drive financial performance and fuel continued consumer passion for the LASCO brand,” management stated.
Finances| At the end September, borrowed funds was at $1.49 billion with $187 million to be paid within the next twelve months, while cash funds were at $153 million. $2.1 billion is in work in progress to be transferred to fixed assets and will push total fixed assets to $3 billion when effected. The company is also in the process of constructing a new warehouse of 30,000 square foot. Up to the end of the September the company was operating from two factories one at the White Mall facilities as well as at Red Hills Road, thus resulting in duplicated cost. The liquid plant is to be up graded further by $3 million to reduce raw material cost and expanded for other products, including production for some foreign partner.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: , , , ,

Lasco Financial rolls out profit gains

October 30, 2014 by

Lasco Financial Managing Director Jacinth Hall-Tracey

Lasco Financial Managing Director Jacinth Hall-Tracey

Lasco Financial Services’ profit that grew 20 percent in the June quarter, and 28 percent in the September quarter, to reach $65 million. The second quarter profit, grew faster than the 19 percent revenue growth to $188 million over 2013, slightly more than in the first quarter’s revenue of $178 million and $145 million, in the March 2014 quarter.
For the six months to September, profit is up by 25 percent to $112 million or 9 cents per share and revenue climbed 14 percent to $366 million from $303 million in 2013. All things being equal, the full year earnings to March next year should exceed 20 cents per share.
Cost rose 19 percent in the six months as increased marketing cost helped push cost up, but the increase for the September quarter was only 14 percent. The company is embarking on some new initiatives to expand the business. One will be the utilization of 14 locations island-wide for the provision of loans. They indicated earlier this month that they have already signed an agreement to facilitate this. New software that that has been installed will allow for Money Grams’ data to reside locally and thus speed up the processing in the money transfer transactions, thus creating a better experience for their customers. The focus in this area, is a partial recognition that that the traditional business of cambio and to a lesser degree remittance services are fairly matured and growth has to be explored elsewhere.
Lasco Financial should generate in excess of 40 percent return on equity for the current fiscal year. As of September, equity stood at $726 million, loans and other receivables on the books is at $325 and cash funds $448 million.
A look at Access with return on equity of more than 50 percent, contrast with Lasco Financial more than 40 percent. For one, it indicates that high risk lending is very profitable area if done right as well as the benefit that leveraging can deliver, with Access borrowing funds to relend versus Lasco using its own capital alone.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,

Slight gain for juniors

October 29, 2014 by

amg-packaging280x150 The Junior Market closed trading with 768,343 units valued at $761,700. The JSE Junior Market Index gained 0.54 points to close at 660.02, only 5 securities traded, 2 advanced and 2 declined.
At the close of the market, there were 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to be weak with 10 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 4 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Caribbean Producers put through 50,000 units with a gain of 10 cents to end at $2.30 and Lasco Manufacturing had 187,742 units trading, to close at 95 cents, after gaining 4 cents.
AMG Packaging traded 300 shares and lost 1 cent, to end at $2.24, a new 52 weeks low and Consolidated Bakeries traded 271,241 shares, lost 3 cents at 82 cents and Lasco Financial with 259,060 units trading, closed at 96 cents.

Filed Under: JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , ,

8 up & 9 JSE stocks down Wednesday

October 29, 2014 by

Wednesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 8 stocks rising and 9 declining as 24 securities changed hands, ending in 1,412,626 units trading, valued at $4,275,609, in all market segments.
JSE 29-10-14 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 91.59 points to 71,657.61, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 102.42 points to close at 78,834.46 and the JSE combined index gained 91.20 points to close at 73,547.09.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement with 62,500 shares changing hands, closed 20 cents higher at $2.40, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 12,260 shares, 1 cents higher at $4.16, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 214 ordinary shares trading, rose 5 cents rise to $7.05, National Commercial Bank saw trading in 19,401 shares as the price ended with a 40 cents gain, to $17.95, Radio Jamaica 27,916 shares ended with the price rising 5 cents to $1.20 and Sagicor Group had 32,554 shares changing hands 5 cents higher at $9.65.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded price are, Carreras with 4,520 shares and closed at $34.60, Mayberry Investments had 2,040 shares trading to end at $1.40, Salada Foods had 20,000 shares trading to close at $7.85, Scotia Group with 21,100 shares changing hands ended at $19.11 and Seprod closed with 114,269 shares at $11.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless with 174,393 shares, closing a cent lower at 28 cents, Desnoes & Geddes with 50,000 shares, lost 18 cents to $4.80, Gleaner closed with 13,994 units changing hands, 5 cents lower at $1.05, Grace Kennedy with only 240 units, ended down 76 cents to $57.24, Pan Jamaican Investment had only 1,000 active shares, but lost 15 cents to end at $49.05 and Supreme Ventures ended with 3,500 units with a loss of 2 cents at $1.70.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 83,412 units at $3 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.25% preference share traded a mere 970 shares, closed with a cent loss, at $2.49.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

J$ gained vs Canadian & Pound on Wednesday

October 29, 2014 by

The Jamaican dollar gained most against the British Pound and Canadian dollar, but fell moderately versus the US dollar, in trading on Wednesday. Authorized dealers purchased the equivalent of US$32,884,034 versus US$33,265,759, on Tuesday and sold the equivalent of US$32,831,045 compared with US$40,508,881 on Tuesday.
FX sum 29-10-14In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$30,229,144 compared to US$27,496,261 on Tuesday. The buying rate for the US dollar gained 10 cents to $112.35 and US$31,632,195 was sold versus US$35,263,494 on Tuesday, the selling rate rose 2 cent to $112.73. The Canadian dollar buying rate, fell $1.37 to $98.28 with dealers buying C$3,177,324 and selling C$532,191, at an average selling rate that declined 49 cents, to $100.61. The rate for buying the British Pound moved down 11 cents to $178.95, for the purchase of £942,161, while £356,742 was sold, at $181.48, a fall of 13 cents. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$259,832, while the equivalent of US$149,651, was sold.
FXHL 29-10-14Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, climbed 65 cents to $113.50, the lowest buying, the highest selling and the lowest selling rates were unchanged at $91.85, $117.70 and $91.85 respectively. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 93 cents to $101.93, the lowest buying rate remained at $79.35, the highest selling rate climbed 12 cents to $103.12. The lowest selling rate jumped $1.90 to $97.50. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, rose 45 cents to $182.20. The lowest buying rate was up by 75 cents to $145.83, the highest selling rate had no change at $187.14 and the lowest selling rate jumped $3.10 to $178.

Filed Under: FX Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , ,