Lasco Manufacturing profit jumps

February 14, 2016 by

Bottle heating machine at Lasco Manufacturing.

Bottle heating machine at Lasco Manufacturing.


Profit at Lacso Manufacturing before tax jumped 79 percent to $764 million for the nine months ended December 2015, this compares with $426.3 million for the same period in 2014, while profit for the quarter increased 69 percent over the same period in 2014 to $267 million before provision of $35 million of corporate taxation.
The strong improvement flowed from 45 percent jump in revenue for the nine months from $4.83 billion, for an increase of $1.5 billion or over prior year’s $3.33 billion. Revenue for the quarter rose by a slightly slower 39 percent from $1.25 billion in 2014 to $1.74 billion in 2015. Gross profit for the nine months rose from $892 million in 2014 to $1.60 billion in 2015, an increase of $703 million or 79 percent in line with the increased profit. For the quarter, gross profit rose by $257 million or 89 percent from $290 million in 2014 to $548 million in 2015 but increased interest and depreciation cost associated with the new factory ate up proportionately more of the revenues than other cost.
One of Lasco's new products

One of Lasco’s new products


Operating expenses for the nine months to December 2015 rose by 82 percent or $313 million over prior year’s $383 million to hit $696 million, due to increases in staff compliment, marketing expenses and new products development costs. For the quarter to date, operating expenses were $220 million compared to $89 million in prior year.
Earnings per share for the nine months ended December 2015 rose from 10 cents for the same period prior year to 18 cents and should hit 29 cents for the full year and close to $1 in 2017. The stock which trades at $5 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange junior market, is selling above the market average, at PE of 17 times current fiscal year’s earnings. With new products now being produced, revenues and profit should continue to increase in the next fiscal year which would ensure that the current PE is not all that high but the stock make bounce around for a while until the next set of results are known.
The company generated gross cash flow from operations of $994 million versus $509 million in 2014 even as receivables rose to $2 billion inclusive of prepayment and deposit on equipment of nearly $600 million, compared with $897 million at the end of 2014 and $1.1 billion at the March year-end. Fixed assets net of depreciation swelled to $3.1 billion from $1.1 billion at March 2014 as capital work in progress fell from $2.26 billion to only $400 million. Cash funds grew to $372 million from just $50 million in 2014 but borrowings jumped to $2.15 billion including overdraft of $641 million from $1.38 billion at March 2014.

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

C&W first profit in 7 years

February 14, 2016 by

C&W HQ 3Cable and Wireless reported a profit $144 million in the December quarter last year, the first time since they reported a profit of $32.6 million for the December quarter of 2008.
The 2015 quarterly profit was realised after accounting for an exceptional charge of $334 million for the quarter and is down sharply from a loss of $1.8 billion in 2014 that included an exceptional charge of $1.5 billion. For the nine months the loss was down to $644 million after an exceptional charge of $504 million compared with a huge $3 billion loss in 2014 after exceptional cost of $1.5 billion.
Revenues climbed in the quarter by 12 percent, to $6.1 billion on continued growth in mobile customers and data usage and for the nine months by 11 percent to $17.2 billion. Growth in revenues was helped by a 15 percent increase of 125,000 in new mobile customers, 22 per cent growth in mobile revenues and a more than doubling in mobile data income.
Operating expenses fell in the December quarter as wages declined by $420 million for the nine months period and fell by $122 million to $600 million in the quarter compared with the 2014 December quarter.
Advances from the parent company is up to $49 billion with interest cost being static at $1 billion but depreciation charge is down while amortization cost rose to $768 million from $489 million in 2014.
The results point to the company entering the 2017 fiscal year being the first full year in which the company should make a profit since 2007. The company’s stock last traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $1.69 on Friday February 12, rising 29 cents in response to the results.

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

JSE pockets $110m from D&G trade

February 4, 2016 by

D&G adds $110m to JSE coffers

D&G adds $110m to JSE coffers

When 630,339,249 units of Desnoes and Geddes traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, carrying a value of $19,439,662,439, it resulted in the stock exchange boosting their already rich earnings in 2015, by added income of $110 million for 2016, from fees earned on this block of shares.
The JSE had their best year ever, in terms of earnings last year, as they picked up close to $120 million in fees, when Scotiabank switched their direct share ownership from Canada, to a company set up in the Caribbean, to hold all the shares of the Caribbean based entities.
Trading levels increased in each of the last three quarters last year, ending with the December quarter reaching $11.35 billion or 31 percent higher than the levels in the September quarter. For the year to date, regular trading levels are at $2.689 billion, up 79.6 percent from $1.497 billion for the similar period in 2015. The stock exchange has also increased some of its fees to investors and the brokers for 2016. In addition to the increased trading activity, the exchange in August last year started handling repo transactions, which is expected to enhance income for the full 2016 year as opposed to a few months last year.
The JSE stock has been trading in relatively high volumes, around the $20 range and closing on Thursday at $20 with just over 57,000 units.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Feature Stories, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , ,

Berger Q3 profits up 26%

February 2, 2016 by

Berg logo .pngBerger Paints continue to enjoy an outstanding year, with an increase of 61 percent in after tax profit of $153.6 million from $95.3 in 2014 for the nine months period from on sales that rose 11 percent to $1.67 billion from $1.496 billion in 2014 and 12 percent in the December quarter to reach $759.4 million up from $678.5 million.
For the last and best quarter for revenues and profit, growth in profit after tax slowed to just 26 percent to hit $79.6 million, up from $63 million in 2014. Petroleum constitutes a major item of material into paint production and with the decline in oil prices on the world market, Berger should see a cut in cost that will help the profit margin.
The company generated operating cash flow of $193 million for the nine months compared to $147 million in 2014. Earnings per share for the quarter, is 37 cents and 51 cents for the nine months and is projected for the full year to be in the order of 65 cents.
One of the great attraction for the stock which is undervalued, is the high dividend payment that investors can expect, especially with strong gains in profit. The stock closed at $4 in trading in Tuesday, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.

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

Q1 profit up at Jamaican Teas

February 2, 2016 by

Jamaican Teas DoorJamaican Teas quarterly results to December ended with profits after tax of $36.6 million or 22 cents per share, up 33 percent from $27.5 million in 2014. Profit before tax amounted to $42.5 million, is up from 54 percent from $27.5 million to $42.5 million.
The results came from revenues that grew by 22 percent to $387 million, with real estate sales accounting for $40 million and other income of $15 million which includes gain on sale of investments of $7.5 million.
Gross profit margin grew to 20.6 percent from 19.5 percent in 2014. Selling and marketing cost rose to $8.6 million from $7.3 million by 18.7 percent, administrative expenses was up $30 million from $25.5 million by 17.4 percent and finance cost grew by 76 percent to $10.9 million from $6.2 million.
Going forward interest cost should fall due to two factors. The company has a debenture that carries a variable rate tied to treasury bills, with the latter declining the company will see a reduction in the cost additionally the first phase of the real estate development will release cash to pay down bank borrowing.
There are signs that the economy is picking up and that should help in moving local sales at a faster pace than in 2015.
Based on the first quarter earnings, full year results could be in the region of 85 cents per share, but this could be affected by profit from sale of real estate units and depends on any added gains that may be realized from the sale of the $125 million investments portfolio.
At the end of the quarter borrowings were at $370 million with equity at $79s million. The stock which is quoted on the Jamaica Stock Exchange junior market last traded at $5.

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

Barita reports improved profit

February 1, 2016 by

BaritaBarita Investments released the long delayed 2015 audited results to September today with profits of $242 million or 55 cents per share, up from $66 million in 2014.
In the final quarter, profit before tax amounted to $134.8 million and after taking a larger tax charge than usual, ended at $70 million but that is up from a loss of $90 million in pretax profit and a loss of $64 million after tax in the September 2014 quarter.
The results came from revenues comprising interest income of $891 million, a fall from $1 billion in 2014 but with a big final quarter with $275 million, other income amounting to $640 million of which gain on sale of investments accounted for $346 million, but fees and commission jumped 67 percent to $171 million. Net interest income fell to $265 million for the year from $395 million in 2014 but the net take ended with 29.7 percent margin compared with 30 percent in 2014 and with net interest income of $118 million in the final quarter with a margin of 43 percent. Ian McNaughton, Finance Director indicates that approximately 40 percent of the amount relates to prior quarters. that would result in the final quarters net interest income being around $70 million.
The pick up in the stock trading and growth in unit trust will result in increased fee income and capital gains from their holding of stocks with a value at $496 million at September.
Total assets amounted to $13 billion virtually the same as in 2014. The stock did not trade on Monday but last traded at $4.28 resulting in a PE of 7.8 but the first quarter results should be out by the February 5 based on when they were released last year. IC Insider is forecasting earnings around 75 cents per share for 2016 with the stock at a PE of 6 based on these forecasted earnings.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results

NCB increases profit & dividend

January 28, 2016 by

NCB hqtrNational Commercial Bank (NCB) enjoyed a 12 percent increase in profits for the quarter to December last year, of $2.4 billion up from $2.1 billion in 2014 for earnings per share of 97 cents.
Profit before taxation came in at $3 billion compared with $2.9 billion in 2014. The improved numbers came from growth in revenues net of interest cost, fee and commission expenses of $12.68 billion, up from $11.96 billion in 2014. Net interest income rose $530 million and insurance premium increased $5000 million but foreign exchange trading contributed $300 million less than in 2014.
Provision for credit losses declined to $424 million from $587 million while asset tax swelled other operating expenses by an estimated $700 million based on 2014 figures, to $3.87 billion for the quarter compared with the September 2015 quarter of $3 billion.
NCB’s assets grew from $500 billion at the end of 2014 to $538 billion with loans accounting for $172 billion, an increase of 9 percent from $157 billion in 2014.
In December 2015, NCB entered into an agreement to purchase a 29.99 percent stake in Trinidad’s Guardian Holdings.
NCB con spngThe banking group seems on target to record profit around $5.80 per share for the full year on existing business operations.The stock last traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $40 for a PE of 6.9 times earnings based on the profit estimate and with some room for increased value.
Based on the results the dividend was raised from 45 cents per share paid last year to 50 cents per share to be paid on February 26 with the record date of February 15.

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

Margaritaville Turks profit up 86%

January 18, 2016 by

Margaritaville+cargoThe Turks and Caicos based Margaritaville Turks, a Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market listed company, reported a big 86 percent jump in profits of US$518,134 in the six months to November last year versus $278,508 in the prior year.
The improved profit came from revenues that climbed 11 percent to $3.376 million. For the quarter ending November, the company reported improved results with net profit of $247,253, a whopping increase of 728 percent over the profit of $33,611 for the same quarter in 2014. Sales revenue for the quarter rose a very strong 24.7 percent to $1.65 million, compared to $1.32 million in 2014. Gross profit grew by 25 percent, slightly faster than sales revenue and for the six months by 10.7 percent.
Administrative expenses rose by 5.3 percent to hit $1.68 million for the six months and for the quarter to November to $829,364 for an increase of 8.7 percent. Management fees fell from $212,614 in 204 for the six months to $125,000 and for the quarter from $92,628 to $62,500. Depreciation charge was essentially flat at $123,748 for the six months and $62,444 for the quarter.
The company generated earnings per share of 0.77 US cents to November and 0.37 US cents for the quarter. IC Insider expects earnings for the full year to May to be around 2 US cents per share. This puts the PE of the stock at a low 5 times current year’s earnings.
Cash flows from operating activities amounted to $642,173 for six months versus $399,202 in 2014 before increase in related party receivables of $1.24 million and $685,495 in 2014 and ended with cash of $24,977. The equity capital stood at of $4.3 million and the company had no borrowed funds.

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BUY RATED top Carib markets with 830%

January 4, 2016 by
The JSE stock racked up huge gains in 2015

The JSE stock racked up huge gains in 2015

IC BUY RATED stocks were top of the Caribbean markets in Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago for 2015, with Jamaica Stock Exchange share, chalking up a massive gain of 830 percent since IC Insider elevated it to BUY RATED status.Caribbean Cement followed with gains of 640 percent, Caribbean Cream with 444 percent and Trinidad Cement with a 299 percent increase on the Trinidad market.
While it was easy to make money in Jamaica, with profits rising and interest rates falling, developments in Trinidad went in the opposite direction, with interest rates rising and profits under pressure with the economy ended in recession.
At the beginning of 2015 of the 14 junior market selections, few recorded gains and only Knutsford Express with a 17 percent increase reflecting any meaningful positive movement. Losses were large, with AMG Packaging down 39 percent, Blue Power 31 percent, Caribbean Cream 23 percent, Jamaica Teas 28 percent, Lasco Financial 37 percent and Lasco Manufacturing 32 percent. What a difference a year can make? By the end of 2015, gains were all over the place with the list having 17 companies with two being dropped. There were no losing stocks in the list that had a new addition, tTech which could be listed this week. Honey Bun was added to the listing in November and gained 9 percent since. Eight stocks have more than doubled, four gained 40 percent to 91 percent. Caribbean Cream jumped 292 percent to be the top selection in this market, followed by Lasco Distributors up 274 percent. Blue Power was removed from the list in July with a small gain.
In the JSE main market, at the start of 2015, Hardware and Lumber was the best performing stock with gains of 62 percent followed by Cable & Wireless with 47 percent and Jamaica Broilers had the worst performance with a loss of 24 percent. In all, 7 of the 15 selections were lower than at the time they were BUY RATED.
By year-end, all selections in the JSE main market were up, with Scotia Investments having a mere 15 percent increase, being the poorest performer. This stock is being moved to Market Watch as the 2015 profit performance was far too disappointing to warrant buying now, while Hardware and Lumber remains a hold. The rest, present opportunities for continuing profit making. BUY Rated fn 12-15JMMB Group ended with just 28 percent gain, but seems undervalued at the current price. While the list had a few lousy performers, the same can’t be said about a 640 percent gain in Caribbean Cement and 830 percent increase for Jamaica Stock Exchange share. In all, 9 stocks posted gains in excess of 100 percent and 4 below 100 percent but with a 50 percent increase and more.
There were 13 selections in the Trinidad market with Trinidad Cement being the best performer with gains of 150 percent, the next was Point Lisas with 11 percent at the start of 2015. Five stocks suffered losses with the highest being 22 percent and the next 18 percent. For 2015 the price of Trinidad Cement is up 299 percent followed by National Flour with a 59 percent gain.
Looking ahead, the junior stocks should continue to grow, with several of the companies actively expanding resulting in profits climbing at a fast pace. There are a few stocks to be cautious of just now. Lasco Distributors selling at almost 16 times 2016 March earnings. Growth should be strong but unless investors have a long term objective they should be careful buying at current price level, the same applies to Lasco Financial that is selling at 15 times earnings. Dolphin Cove remains a hold at this time.
The Trinidad market needs to be watched at this stage, with the country needing to adjust to the lower price of oil and the recession now being endured.

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A rich 2015 for JSE shareholders

December 10, 2015 by

JSe online logoShareholders in Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) are having a wonderful 2015. The stock last traded at $1.57 in December 2014 and has since shot to $16 for a gain of 919 percent but if that was not enough the company has declared a dividend of 47 cents per share payable on December 30, to shareholders on record as at December 23. As great as the gains for 2015 has been so far for the JSE stock price is still lags some of the best gains ever recorded for the market with highest being West Indies Glass with a n astounding 3,438 percent in 1985 followed by Jamaica Flour Mills with 2,054 percent in 1984.
JSE highest gns -12-15The stock will trade ex-dividend on December 21. In July this year, the JSE paid 53 cents per share which brings the total payout to $140 million and to $1 per share making for a dividend yield to a staggering 63.7 percent based on the 2014 closing price.
The JSE reported earnings of $139 million in nine months to September this year, from $8 million in 2014 and seems set to increase profits in 2016 that should push to stock up even further with strong prospects of another year of big dividend payment.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Dividends, Feature Stories Tagged With: ,