Medical Disposables fell out of the Top 5 junior market selection during the past week, based on price movement, with the bid at $4.95 and Jetcon Corporation with the price at $4.51 returns, making it back into the top list by just inching ahead of General Accident.
The insurance company enjoyed strong buying during the past week and could slip out in the coming week. Medical Disposables still has more room for growth with the company expanding its product range. Derrimon Trading moved up to third spot after the stock traded at $4 during the week but pulled back to $3.50 by the close. Knocking at the Top 5 position in the junior market are tTech now that the price slipped to $5.30, Caribbean Flavours and Caribbean Cream with Paramount Trading just below.
Stocks in the main market all remained in the Top 5 but positions have changed, the top attraction for the week is JMMB Group that climbed to $13 and sits just and now sits at number 5 spot having entered at the top spot last week. With the news of the group obtaining a banking license, the way may be clear for the price to surge a bit more in the coming week and most likely push it out of the top 5. Stocks peeping in at the Top 5 in the main market are Grace Kennedy, National Commercial Bank and Sterling Investments.
With the junior market trading at new records this past week, the attractive gains that were evident a few weeks ago are receding in the junior market with IC Insider data showing just 7 junior market stocks that could double by early 2017. That is in contrast to the main market that shows 15 stocks that could double or more than double. All that is reflected in the fact that the junior market is up 33 percent year to date, while the main market is up just 9 percent.
Stock split for Paramount Trading
Paramount puts stock split resolution to AGM in October.
No recommendation is being put to the shareholders as to the level of the split. The timing and extent of the split is proposed to be left for the directors of the company to determine. The resolution included on the agenda of the annual general meeting and included in the company’s annual report states: “That each of the issued ordinary stock units in the capital of the company be sub-divided in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation of the company, into such number of stock units as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.”
Based on the current stock price of $17.50 and lack of supply, the split seems likely to be in the order of 5 or 6 to 1. The top 10 shareholders of Paramount own just over 95 percent of the 154.24 million shares issued by the company.
Stunning 47% increased Scotia profit
Scotia Group reported a stunning in net earnings jumping 47 percent for the third quarter to $3.3 billion over the 2015 July quarter. For the nine months, net earnings jumped 36.7 percent to $8.2 billion. Total comprehensive income for shareholders of the group ended at $9.3 billion for the nine months ended July 2016 up 10.5 percent from $8.8 billion.
For the third quarter, total comprehensive income of declined from $4.4 billion to $3.66 billion.
The results translate to earnings per share of $1.07 cents in the July quarter and $2.64 for the nine months, with full year’s earnings set to end around $3.90 and would put the PE at 7.8 versus an average of 9 based on estimated 2016 earnings for the main market valuation.
President and CEO of the banking group, Jackie Sharp, in a report to shareholders, commenting on the performance stated, “We continue to show strong performance this year, resulting from the execution of our strategic initiatives to grow revenues and reduce operating costs. All business lines showed good volume growth year over year, as we continued to meet our customer’s diverse needs. Our loan portfolio, after allowance for impairment losses, grew by $15.2 billion or 10.2 percent year over year. Customer Deposits also increased by $42.4 billion or 20.8 percent year over year. Funds under management in our wealth business grew by $15.9 billion or 14.9 percent year over year.”
Jackie Sharp – CEO Scotia Group
Other revenue for the nine months ended July 2016 amounted to $10 billion, an increase of $1.7 billion or 20.6 percent compared to the same period last year. This was due to growth in net fee and commission income from increased transaction volumes on our deposit and payment services, credit card and merchant service business segments, as well as higher foreign currency gains.”
Sharp went on the further state “Operating Expenses amounted to $15.6 billion over the nine months ended July 31, 2016, a decrease of $464 million or 2.9 percent compared to prior year. Salary related expenses declined by $400 million, which offset higher operating expenses of $276 million. There was also a decline in asset tax of $330 million.”
Loans, after allowance for impairment losses amounted to $163.9 billion as at the end of the 2016 quarter, while nonperforming loans totalled $4.4 billion, representing 2.7 percent of total gross loans down from 3.1 percent last year. Total customer liabilities represented by deposits, securities sold under repurchase agreements, and policyholders’ funds grew to $350 billion, an increase of $35.3 billion or 11.2 percent compared to July 2015. A significant portion of the growth was reflected in core deposits, which grew by 20.8 percent year over year the company stated.
The stock that traded at $30.50 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange is undervalued and importantly with strong growth in the third quarter and increased growth in the loan portfolio as well as a pickup in economic growth in Jamaica augurs well for strong growth in profits going forward. Note need to be taken of a possible fall in foreign exchange gains an area that grew sharply in the July quarter by 127 percent to $1.17 billion.
The group declared another dividend of 45 cents per share and seems set to pay total dividend for the fiscal year of $1.80 providing an attractive yield of 6 percent.
More gains ahead for BUY RATED stocks
Image courtesy of suphakit73/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The Jamaican market has seen strong reaction by investors on the announcement of stock splits with the price of each company stock climbing. IC Insider added Seprod to the list while lifting the watch on Sagicor Group, thus restoring a BUY RATED status on it. There are no other changes to the list.
AMG Packaging is IC Insider’s top junior market stock for growth in the next 12 months.
Caribbean Flavours price lost flight earlier this year, but with reported audited earnings of $0.82 per share, the price is rebounding. Caribbean Producers suffered from competitive pressures in the Jamaican market and wrote down inventory but should see some reversal of that pressure in the New Year.
However, it does not have a high ranking on the BUY RATED list at this time. Dolphin Cove is up 34 percent since its recent elevation to the BUY RATED list and should trend higher. ISP Finance, a recent addition, gained 140 percent since listing. The company is in the process of raising funds through a bond issue, which will provide funding for an expanded loan portfolio. The stock is very scarce, but 2017 could be a big year for the company and the stock.
Investors are ignoring the robust profit performance of Jetcon Corporation but may regret it as the price is likely to grow strongly. Profits have climbed nearly 100 percent over 2015 to June,
Barita is the top IC Insider’s stock for growth over the next 12 months in the main market.
In the main Jamaica stock market, Caribbean Cement remains undervalued and is poised for a big price rise as the company increases revenues from a growing economy and reduce cost. Many investors keep focusing only on the reported earnings, but these include one off cost that should be taken out in assessing earnings and value.
Better yet, come 2017 the one off costs won’t be there, importantly, not only will the cost relating to staff separation not be there but the ongoing cost for staffing will be reduced by amounts that approximate redundancy cost. GraceKennedy is benefiting from an improving economy locally and overseas and should see more gains ahead in profits and the stock price.IC Insider sees JMMB Group as highly undervalued with decent profit results for the current fiscal year and could surprise to the upside. Barita Investments is having a better 2016 than 2015 and has a big pool of unrealised investment gains on its balance sheet that can be released to profit at any time. The stock seems poised for more growth in the years ahead. Jamaica Stock Exchange’s stock could trend higher with the expectation of a stock split, the price may be getting a bit rich for much short term gains.
IC Insider considers the future to be bright for the stock, as trading activities rise in future years, consequent on growth in the local economy and further declines in interest rates that are bound to drive more money into the market seeking decent return. National Commercial Bank is on target to earn around $6 per share in 2016 while Scotia Group’s results to July showed strong growth in the second quarter over 2015, suggesting that increased profits are once more on the table for this entity. Investors should consider that the year end for these two entities is September and October as such very early in 2017 fresh results will be out before even some of companies with 2016 December year end, release their final numbers for this year. Seprod is engaged in cutting cost in various areas and with growth in the economy, the company is in a good position to do well for investors.
The Trinidad market remains a tough one with the price of oil under pressure. Trinidad Cement seems the only compelling buy, but pressure in the construction sector will be seen as negative for the company. [Read more…]
ISP Finance revving to expand
ISP Finance plans to issue $150m in bonds in September.
The issue opens at 9 am on September 1 and will close at 4:30 pm on September 22, 2016. The Company will have the option to prepay the bonds at par before the due date. ISP reported revenues of J$52 million, a 7.2 percent increase over the J$49 million record in the second quarter of 2015, according to its unaudited financial results for the second quarter ended June, this year. Gross profit amounted to J$49 million compared to J$44 million in the comparative quarter in 2015. Net profit for the June quarter came out at J$11.7 million representing a 240 percent the $3.4 million generated in 2015, however, the company reversed $7.9 million in the June quarter, cost relating to the IPO, which it expensed in the first quarter, thus inflating the second quarter profit. For the six months to June revenues grew to $106 million from $99 million in 2015. Net profit for the six months ended at $8.6 versus $3 million in 2015.
The increase in the company’s revenue in the 2nd quarter of 2016 resulted from increased business activities, while the decrease in interest expenses in the 2nd quarter of 2016 was due to repayment of a loan to commercial bank.
At the end of December 2015, the company’s loan portfolio, before loan loss provision stood at J$304 million and grew marginally to J$305 million at the end of June. After loan loss provision of $70 million, it stood at $234 million as of June this year versus $241 million at December and is up from the $225 million at the end of March 2016. Cash on hand stood at $67 million while the amount borrowed fell to $127 million including overdraft balance of $38 million from $328 million at the end of 2015.
The funds being raised could propel loan growth significantly and with it profits particularly in 2017 as the funds would be available for a full year compared to a few months for 2016. Importantly, more funds will be available for the busy Christmas period. IC Insider forecast earnings for 2016 at of $59 million or 57 cents per share with earnings jumping sharply higher in 2017, if most of the bond funds are received and are on lent.
The company is not without risk and success will be highly dependent on management’s ability to make proper credit assessment and police tightly loan repayments by its clients.
Undervalued JMMB Group
JMMB Group traded 1,790,063 shares but fell 34 cents to $9.50 on Monday.
Total comprehensive income for period, amounted to $1.14 billion versus $894 million in 2015 and is a factor worth paying attention to as it gives a better indication of the performance of the group than the regular profit out turn.
The JMMB Group reported net operating revenue of J$3.42 billion for the first three months of the new fiscal year, reflecting a 9.9 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2015 and was due mainly to positive growth in net interest income, fee and commission income and foreign exchange margins from cambio trading.
Keith Duncan, Group Chief Executive Officer of JMMB
Operating revenue grew in all the territories with 26 percent of operating revenue generated outside of Jamaica. Nevertheless, the Jamaican entities continued to post positive performance. In Trinidad and Tobago, the Group’s operations continued to move in a positive trajectory, reporting a 32 percent or J$150.2 million growth in operating revenue at J$614.6 million. The operations in the Dominican Republic also posted growth in operating revenue; up 22 percent or J$49 million to J$275 million.
Operating expenses rose 14 percent to $2.58 billion a bit faster than a 10 percent rise in overall revenues net of interest cost, but if one off gains are adjusted for, revenues would have grown by 31 percent, much faster than operating cost.JMMB Group’s asset base totalled J$245 billion, up J$22 billion or 10 percent relative to a year ago. The growth was due primarily to larger investment and loan portfolios. The investment portfolio increased by J$20 billion or 13 percent to J$171 billion. In addition, loans and advances, net of provision for credit losses was J$40 billion, up 21 percent or J$7 billion. Growth in the asset base was funded by customer deposits and repurchase agreements. Customer deposits increased by J$6 billion or 15 percent to J$46 billion, while repurchase agreements were 7 percent higher at J$156 billion.
Another big quarter for Jetcon
Sanya Goffe addressing the audience at the listing of Jetcon’s shares in March.
The company accounted $4.7 million in tax, in the first quarter but none in the second quarter, with the shares listing on the junior market in March, this year. Earnings per share ended at 12 cents versus 8 cents for the June quarter and 21 cents for the six months to June compared with 12 cents for 2015.
Having been listed on the junior market our profit will be tax free for 5 years. With just half the year completed, profit is 9 percent off from the after-tax profit of $40.3 million reported for the full 2015 financial year and the company seems poised to surpass the 2015 earnings in the September quarter, if recent trend for 2016 to date continues.
Revenues climbed 39 percent for the quarter to $194.9 million and 45 percent for the six months to $342.9 million. Gross profit margin declined to 18.54 percent from 19.24 percent in the quarter and 19 percent for the six months versus 18.38 percent in 2015. Sales are usually greater in the second half of the year than in the first half.
In a release by directors accompanying the financials, the company stated that “Administrative and other costs rose by approximately $5.2 million due to listing on the market which accounted for $2.5 million while salaries adjustments accounted for $2.7 million of the increase. Part of the increase in salaries is directly tied to the increased sales that took place.”“Sales in June were the highest for the half year with sales for July is ahead of June in volume and sales revenues. Bookings which have been ahead of 2015 for each month this year continues to be positive.”
Inventories stood at $236 million at the end of June, compared to $125 million in June 2015 and $84 million at the end of December last year. Supplies peaked in June and is slated to start to decline by the end July onwards to the end of the year as deliveries to customers exceed new inflows of cars. Payables increased as a result of increased purchase of motor vehicles.
Expansion for Paramount
Allegheny Petroleum and junior market listed company, Paramount Trading joined forces to establish their jointly owned lubricant plant to be housed at 39 Waltham Park Road the same site as Paramount other operating facility.
The plant for which ground was broken in July, is expected to replace imports amounting to approximately US$4 million now being supplied directly by Allegheny Petroleum, according to Hugh Graham, Managing director of Paramount.
Establishing operations in Jamaica, adds more value and will allow for a greater customer reach and create greater margins than that which applies to imports. The initial investment is US$4 million and includes the warehouse, equipment, software and lab testing equipment. The venture will have the capability to test lubricants in use for customers in Jamaica rather having to send samples overseas for testing. There are plans to expand product range in the future and provide products for exports. The plant is expected to start production in January next, Graham confirmed with IC Insider.
According to Graham in 2012, when they listed on the junior market, Paramount had 36 workers and now has 76 employees and the number will increase to 100 employees, with the latest expansion.
The ground breaking ceremony was addressed by Minister of Finance, Audley Shaw, who indicated that this venture vindicated the decision of the government to provide the tax incentive for the junior market as well as the economic policies being pursued that is geared to encourage more production of goods in Jamaica as opposed to relying on direct imports.
Robin Levy, assistant general manager of the Jamaica Stock Exchange indicated that the company has done well since it has listed and said “since listing in 2012 the company has gone on record higher revenues and tripled profit with the stock price rising from $2.45 to just under $11.” Since the ground breaking, the stock traded at $11.50 and now has a bid at $12.
In the year to May, the company posted an 18.5 percent increase in profit, to reach $173 million, from sales revenues of $1.02 billion with other income accounting for $39 million for the year, up from $869 million versus $16 million in 2015, respectively. Administrative, selling & distribution cost rose sharply by 34 percent to $181 million as the wage bill and rental expenses grew appreciably.
While profit grew in the year, segment results show mix out turn for each division. For 2016, Chemicals grew revenues by 12 percent and gross profit by 19 percent over 2015, for Construction and Adhesives, for the same periods, revenues grew by 59 percent and gross profit by just 6 percent. Manufacturing sales fell by 16 percent with profits remaining unchanged, while Transport enjoyed a 16 percent growth in sales leading to a 61 percent rise in profit and Lubricants sales climbed 403 percent with profits jumping 127 percent. Graham indicated to IC Insider that the fall in manufacturing sales is due to a customer reorganising their business. The data suggests that the new lubricant plant is likely to be the area of growth for Paramount.
In 2015, Graham indicated that a rights issue was likely, asked about that source of funding for the expansion, Graham stated “I can’t talk about that now,” he however, stated that “some other revenue announcement should be made soon.”
Flat results, increased profit at tTech
tTech closed at $4.50 on Thursday.
Profit after tax, is up to $16 million from $12.4 million for the six months and $9.2 million versus $7.6 million in 2015, but for tax expense saved in 2016, profit for the year to date would be flat. Profit for 2015 was subject to $1.4 million in taxes and for the six months, $3 million. A sharp rise in operating expenses due to a 50 percent rise in staffing, pushed the spend by 54 percent to $50 million for the quarter and 36.4 percent to $91 million for the half year.
Earnings per share ended at 9 cents for the quarter and 15 cents for the half year and should end up around the 35 to 40 cents range for the full year based on the results to date. The strong revenue gain is a signal for growth going forward for the company.
Management stated that “the increase in revenue was due to growth in all areas of our services including the Consulting Division. Increase in expenses was driven primarily by increases in our workforce to increase capacity to meet the growth in demand. At June 30, 2016 the company had 31 full-time employees compared to 21 at the same date in 2015.”
From Left: Mr. Hugh Allen, Resolution Manager and Executive Director; Mrs. Natalya Petrekin, Service Desk
opportunities for automation will be explored to facilitate increased efficiencies and improved service delivery.”
The company ended with cash and investments amounting to $115 million at June, up from $67 million at the end of December last year with net current assets ending at $130 million with payables at $34 million, while shareholders’ equity is at $146 million.
The stock traded as high as $5 on the JSE junior market today but fell back before the close to $4.50 for a PE of just over 11 times projected 2016 earnings. For investors will the strong growth continue and deliver increasing profit for them to buy and hold at these prices for long term gains.
Access post good Q1 results
Access Financial Services’ profit jumps 29% in Q1.
The company reported a moderate 10 percent growth in loan interest revenues to $301 million in the quarter over that of 2015. The loan portfolio for the June is 8.6 percent ahead of March, if the rate of growth continues, loans would end at $2.84 billion versus $2.1 billion as of March.
Total revenues moved by 10 percent from $315 million to $347 million for the June quarters while profit after tax for the quarter grew 29 percent to $146 million or 53 cents per share, compared to $112 million or 41 cents for the June 2015 quarter.
Cost was well contained at $184 million for the quarter, down from $186 million in 2015. Loan loss provisions fell from $54 million in 2015 quarter, to $43 million in 2016. IC Insider projects the provision to rise to $187 million for the full year, up from $184 million for the 12 months to March 2016, while earnings of $800 million or $2.90 per share are projected for the 12 months to March 2016, with growth to $4 per share or $1.1 billion in profits after tax, for 2017.
At the end of March, shareholders’ equity stood at $1.3 billion and borrowings at $1.1 billion with cash and equivalent at $299 million out of total assets of $2.7 billion.
The stock which remains BUY RATED last traded at $17.50 giving it a PE based on the above forecast at an attractive 6.