ISP Finance the leading price mover in the Junior Market jumped 94 percent for the year, to the end of September while Lasco Distributors soared 70% followed by Main Event, with a solid gain of 58 percent, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose a robust 56 percent and Regency Petroleum up a respectable 46 percent and cross country passenger mover, Knutsford Express, 45 percent, to close out the top six winners against a decline by just 0.7 percent for the Junior Market over the same period.
The performance comes even as Jamaica’s Central Bank maintained a very tight monetary policy with interest rates on Certificate of Deposits close to 10 percent for most of the year so far.
Relatively high interest rates were only one part of the negative drag on the market. Profit results released during the period for several companies were lower than the comparative period in 2022 and investors hammered those stocks and by extension pressured the market index but rewarded most companies with growing profits, with higher prices.
Junior Market performance was vastly better than the Main Market with most of the top ten companies recording b increase in profits for the first half of the year over 2022.
ISP Finance, a microfinancing company led the Junior Market following news that two new directors with experience in the financial service sector and who had worked with in the past in arranging deals for them were appointed to the board. There was also speculation that the majority shares could probably change hands sooner rather than later. There is also the expectation for increased lending to customers is expected to impact revenues and profit positively following a decline in the half year profit when loans jumped to nearly a billion dollars from under $800 million. Lasco Distributors profits for the fiscal year to March jumped and was followed by improved results in the June Quarter as investors rewarded the performance with s solid price movement. Main Event continued to recover from the damage to revenues and profits during the COVID, bouncing back as profit more than doubled to $216 million from $104 million for the nine months to July. Movement in Caribbean Assurance Brokers’ stock price follows profit jumping from just $4.5 million in the June 2022 half year to $18 million this year. Regency Petroleum profit fell from $51 million to $25 million for the half year but hope for improved profits drove the stock with new gas stations being opened or to be opened. General Accident migrated from the Junior Market to the Main Market on the last day of the month, with the increased stock price spurred by profit surging 195 percent to $165 million in the 2023 half year.
Indies Pharma profit declined moderately for the nine months to June but was up 16 percent in the latest quarter, that performance does not warrant a 34 percent cut in the stock price to September but investors seem impatient with the progress of the company growth. 
Fesco stock price declined sharply for the period even as the net profits for the June quarter were marginally higher than that of the similar 2022 period, with revenues marginally higher. The stock price pulled back from heady levels in 2022 to adjust to the earnings in the last fiscal year of just under 23 cents per share with indications that it may not significantly improve in the current fiscal year to warrant the high premium it had in 2022. Fosrich, on the other hand, had a sharp decline in profits for the second quarter and the half year but it too enjoyed a big premium in the stock price in 2022, investors readjusted their expectations by marking the price down, although both stocks got a two day bounce at the end of September that improved their performance year to date. Lasco Financial had a third less profit in the 2023 fiscal year than the prior year and reported vastly poorer results in the third quarter to June and that seemed to have encouraged more selling of the stock. Revenues and profit bounced in the third quarter for Limners and Bards but are still down year to date compared with last year and that did not help the stock that lost value during the period. Edufocal profit bounced in 2023 and may not necessarily justify the 38 percent fall in the stock price, while iCreate had totally disastrous results in the 2022 fiscal year as well as in the first half of 2023, with the company’s performance continuing to raise questions about its future. Elite and CAC 2000 suffered a reversal in fortune that is reflected in the decline in stock prices of both companies.
Transjamaican stock doubles in 2023
Transjamaican Highway stock closed trading on Wednesday with a gain of 105 percent at a record close of $2.87 on Wednesday and traded at a record $2.95, up 111 percent on Thursday morning, to be one of only two stocks on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange to gain more than 100 percent for the year to date, the other being Ciboney up 139 percent.
New record high for the JSE Junior Market.
Investors in Transjamaican, the operators of Highway 2000 have much more to cheer about as the company raised the dividend to be paid in October by 118 percent to 18.66 cents up from 8.55 cents last year. The dividend adds another 13 percent to their return for 2023 based on the opening price for the year of $1.40. While the 2023 performance is a big reward for investors in the stock, it has been a long wait for early investors who bought in the IPO at $1.41 in February 2020, valued then at a PE ratio of 25 times, when the market was averaging 16 times. Critics of the value at the time indicated the serious overvaluation but supporters hailed it as reasonably priced. Now the stock is trading at less than 10 times 2023 earnings of 30 cents per share and buyers have been less than ecstatic about it, by slowly driving the share price to current levels over several months.
Transjamaican Highway
The stock’s performance is supported by an outstanding jump in profits for the six months to June over the similar period last year, with earnings of 14 cents per share versus just 3 cents for the same period last year, with the profit ballooning 338 percent for the June quarter to US$6 million and 442 percent to US$11 million for the half year. Revenues and profit rose as a result of the acquisition of its new subsidiary, Jamaican Infrastructure Operators which reduced cost considerably as well and the group benefitted from increased revenues from operating the toll road. The stock’s performance was also helped by the declaration of the substantial increase in dividend.
Profit climbs 16% at Jamaica Broilers
Profit rose a cool 16 percent at Jamaica Broilers Group for the quarter to July 2023, to $1.2 billion over the $1.1 billion in the July 2022 quarter from a mere two percent increase in revenues to $23.4 billion from $23 billion in 2022.
Jamaica Broilers
Gross profit grew faster than revenues, with an increase of 8 percent to $5.7 billion from $5.3 billion in the prior year. The Jamaica Operations had segment results of $1.75 billion, down 7 percent below last year’s result of $1.88 billion. “The reduction was mainly driven by increased pressure from high levels of imports, affecting baby chick sales to our small farmers,” Robert Levy, Chairman and Christopher Levy, Group President & CEO advised investors in their comments on the quarter’s performance.
“The Jamaica Operations showed an increase of 5 percent over the corresponding quarter, which was mainly driven by poultry sales. Our US Operations reported a b segment result of $1.2 billion for the first quarter, 44 percent above last year’s results,” the directors went on to state. The group earned $815 million in segment results in 2022 from segment revenues of $9.2 billion which slipped to $9.1 billion in 2023 from external business in the US Operations.
“We did have a 3 percent decline in total revenue due primarily to falling prices in most of our product lines. However, a 56 percent year over year increase in poultry volumes assisted in offsetting the negative market pressures. Our South Carolina plant which produces the Best Dressed Chicken line of products has gained impressive market acceptance in the United States,” the directors reported.
The Caribbean operations segment that had positive results of $106 million in 2022 recorded a loss of $480 million in 2023.
Administrative costs declined marginally from $2.98 billion to $2.92 billion in the current period, distribution costs rose four percent from $690 million to $720 million, finance costs almost doubled, moving from $320 million to $633 million, taxation moved up from $332 million to $393 million during the 2023 quarter.
Total comprehensive income ended the quarter at $1.45 billion up from $920 million in 2022.
The group reported earnings per share of $1.24 versus $1.07 in 2022. ICInsider.com projects earnings of $7 for the current fiscal year and $9 for the following one. The stock last traded at $32.50, with a price earnings ratio of just under 5, compared to the average of the market of 12.4 based on current year’s earnings.
The group continues to fund expansion with $952 million invested in fixed assets during the quarter, down from $1.2 billion in the similar quarter in 2022, with net fixed assets climbing almost $7 billion from $15.4 billion to $22.2 billion at the end of the quarter. Funds were borrowed to finance the investment in fixed assets, with new loan funding of $2.44 billion during the quarter compared to $3.7 billion in the previous year. Loans repaid amounted to just $664 million versus $1.6 Billion in the previous year. The increased borrowing is the major factor in the climb in interest costs during the quarter, in addition to movement in interest rates internationally.
Cash inflows before working capital requirements for $3.4 billion and is up from $2.6 billion in the previous year after working capital funding rose, the group ended up with a negative cash flow of $2 billion that is up from $1 billion in the previous year.
After the investment in fixed assets, loan payments and receipts, the group was left with negative cash flows for the quarter of $1.9 billion which reduced cash from $4.6 billion at the beginning of the year to $2.8 billion.
The statement of financial position shows a healthy financial status with equity capital of $34 billion net current assets of $17 billion, total current assets amounting to $51 billion and total current liabilities of $34 billion which includes short term borrowings of $21 billion.
Lab’s sharp turnaround in fortunes
A sharp turnaround in the fortunes of advertising agency, Limners and Bards was manifested in the July quarter, with revenues and profit rising above those in the same period in 2022 and represents a reversal of the trend of declines during the first two quarter of the year with a 31 percent revenues decline with profit plunging 83 percent for the half year.
Kimala Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of The Lab.
According to Managing Director, Kimala Bennett, the improvement in the third quarter came from the acquisition of new clients and other initiatives pursued by them, some of which will bear fruit in the next fiscal year.
The third quarter performance while very positive was not enough to erase the reduction in the top and bottom line of the company, racked up in the period to April.
Revenues came in at $913 million for the nine months to July, down 18 percent from the $1.1 billion generated in a similar period in 2022 but revenues bounced a solid 17 percent from $320 million in 2022 July quarter to $374 million in the latest quarter ending July 2023. Profit after tax for the nine months to July, amounts to $57 million, down sharply by 60 percent from $144 million reported for the similar period in 2022 but profit for the quarter jumped 76 percent from $21 million in 2022 to just under $37 million in the current year.
Finance income jumped from just under $3 million for the nine months in 2022 to $8.7 million in the current year and nearly doubled from 2.5 million in the July 2022 quarter to $4.1 million in their latest quarter.
Although revenues are down during the current year, administrative costs rose 13 percent from $227 million to $256 million, but in the quarter administrative expenses moved up by 9 percent from $80 million to $87 million. Finance costs declined from $13 million to $8.7 million for the nine months and dropped sharply from $6 million in the July 2022 quarter to just $1.7 million.
Segment performance shows the company reporting results in three segments, Production, Media and Agency. During the July quarter, the Media segment reflected revenue growth of 34 percent to $225 million, Agency was up 44 percent to $50 million but Production declined by 22 percent to $99. Gross profit jumped by 83 percent to $56 million for the Production, Media climbed 16 percent to $30 million and Agency slipped 26 percent from $49 million to $36 million. Year to date revenues are down compared to 2022 by 35 percent in Production to $229 million. Media is down 11 percent to $532 million and Agency slipped 6 percent to $152 million.
The stock trades below its 50 day moving average since March. Projected earnings = 8 cents for the fiscal year with a PE of 21.
The fourth quarter of the fiscal year is usually the company’s weakest, however, the rebound in revenues in the third quarter reflecting improvement in production and advertising revenues compared to the fiscal half year, suggests that the improved performance in the third quarter could carry somewhat into the final quarter and record improvement in revenues and profits.
Accordingly, ICInsider.com forecast is for earnings of $0.08 per share for the current year ending October and $0.20 for the next fiscal year, compared with 6 cents per share for the nine months to July this year and 4 cents per share for the July quarter.
The stock traded on Monday at $1.72, with a PE ratio of 21 times ICInsider.com’s latest projected earnings of $0.08 per share with the value at the higher end of the market, which currently averages PE of 10.3 times earnings.
The company generated gross cash flows of $75 million and net cash provided by operating activities was just under $31 million with net cash flows of just $2 million after paying dividends of $34 million and ended the year with cash and cash equivalent of $355 million.
The company’s finances remain b with current assets of $787 million and current liabilities of $244 million given the net working capital of $543 million, borrowings of $100 million with shareholders’ equity of $598 million.
Profit surges 74% at Scotia Group
Scotia Group generated a huge 74 percent jump in net profit to $12.8 billion for the nine months to July 2023 over $7.3 billion in 2022. Profits for the quarter rose a much more subdued 40 percent to $5.16 billion and is up strongly from $3.68 billion in 2022 as well as form profit $4.2 billion in this year’s April quarter.
Earnings per share for the July quarter was a strong $1.66, up from $1.18 in July 2022 and $4.11 for the nine months to July this year and puts the group on track to generate income close to $6 per share for the fiscal year end in October 2023. ICinsider.com is forecasting $5.50 in earnings for the current fiscal year.
Loans grew by $40.5 billion or a solid 18.5 percent compared to July 2022, with loans net of allowances for credit losses increasing to $259.6 billion. “Our core loan book continues to perform well with mortgages increasing year over year by 29 percent, consumer loans by 10 percent and commercial loans by 20 percent,” the group informed investors in their commentary on the results.
Audrey Tugwell Henry Scotia Group’s CEO
Total revenues excluding expected credit losses for the nine months to July, grew by $10 billion to $41.5 billion reflecting an increase of 31.5 percent over the comparative prior year period. “This was primarily driven by an increase in net interest income of $7.1 billion stemming from the strong growth in our loan portfolio, higher insurance revenue as well as higher fee and commission income earned given the significant increase in transaction volumes” the directors informed shareholders in their commentary on the financial performance.
The directors hiked the dividend to 40 cents per stock unit, payable on October 19, to stockholders up from 35 cents per stock unit last paid.
ICInsider.com is accordingly placing an ICBuyRated seal of approval on the stock, which is one of ICInsider.com TOP10 Buy Rated list of stocks. Investors have hardly noticed this performance with the share price falling from $33.44 in the morning session to $33 mid morning with trading in just over 54,000 shares with the stock trading at 5.5 times earnings currently, compared with an average of 12.2 for the overall Main Market, with a huge upside potential for growth for the next 12 months or so.
Healthy climb in profit at Wisynco
Profit jumped 21 percent at Wisynco Group to a record $4.9 billion for the year to June, this year after corporation tax, over the 2022 earnings, resulting in earnings per share of $1.31 from sales revenues that climbed 20 percent to $58.45 billion up from $48.7 billion in 2022 but after investment and other income of $697 million compared with $453 million in the prior year.
Wisynco Group’s profit rose 21% for the 2023 fiscal year.
The profit margin improved during the year, with cost of sales dropping from 66 to 65 percent, with gross profit rising faster than sales, up 27 percent to $16.9 billion from $13.25 billion.
Loss at JP Snacks, an associate, worsened during the year with a modest 4 percent rise in revenues moving from $1.65 billion to $1.72 billion, with the loss jumping from $94 million to $194 million. Wisynco wrote down their investment due to impairment by $105 million during the year.
Administrative expenses jumped 25 percent to $1.8 billion from $1.4 billion. Sales and distribution expenses increased 29 percent to $9.2 billion from $7 billion. Staff cost climbed well ahead of inflation by nearly 25 percent to $6.33 billion, with wages up 23 percent to $5 billion. Finance cost declined to $131 million from $149 million in 2023. Depreciation rose 22 percent to $1.09 billion.
The operations generated Gross cash flow of $7.6 billion, but growth in working, addition to fixed assets offset by loan inflows and increased payables and dividend payment of $1.6 billion during the year, up from $1.5 billion in 2022, resulted in net inflows of $3.5 billion of which $1.17 billion was used to purchase investments.
Addition to fixed assets absorbed $2.4 billion during the year and includes work in progress of $1.4 billion. In 2022, addition to fixed assets was $637 million as the group increased investments in plant and machinery to expand its operation, which William Mahfood advises is targeted to expand factory and warehouse space by 60 percent to meet growing demand locally and overseas for its products.
Current assets climbed from $17.8 billion to $22.8 billion, including trade and other receivables of $5.45 billion cash and bank balances of $11.2 billion. Current liabilities ended at $8.3 billion versus $7.3 billion in 2022. Net current assets stood at $14.58 billion, up from $10.5 billion in June 2022.
At the end of June, shareholders’ equity climbed to $21 billion from $17.8 billion in 2022, long term borrowings stood at $3 billion, up from $747 million in 2022 and short term loans at $1.1 billion, up from $822 million. 2022.
Going forward, the group is set to acquire the distributorship of additional products during the year, in addition to the expansion now being undertaken to meet ongoing demand.
IC Insider.com computation projects earnings of $1.80 per share for the fiscal year ending June 2024, with a PE of just over 10 times current year’s earnings based on the price of $17 the stocks traded on Thursday morning on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
Net asset value ended the period at $5.63, with the stock selling at 3 times book value.
The stock is one for the future. Investors may not see any notable price movement from the current level in the short term, but with the expansion now on the way and new products to be distributed, a successful future seems assured and the stock price will grow appreciably into the future.
Lasco Manufacturing continues on growth path
Lasco Manufacturing‘s performance for the June 2023 quarter was subdued, with pretax profit rising a respectable 28 percent to $721 million and by 27 percent after tax to $526 million versus $414 million in 2022 from revenues of $2.83 billion, 7 percent more than 2022 sales of $2.6 billion, but that was slower growth than the profit for the 2023 fiscal year that jumped 37 percent after tax to $2 billion from revenues that rose 19 percent to $11.24 billion.
The 2023 full year results reflect a greater level of rebound from the declines suffered following the fallout in the economy as a result of the advent of covid-19 and, in particular, the fallout in the global market with higher input costs that flowed from supply disruptions as well as tourism sector that were still recovering during the 2023 fiscal year that ended in March.
Helped by a reduction in the cost of inputs, the cost of goods sold rose well below the growth in revenues by just 3 percent to $1.76 billion from $1.7 billion in 2022 and gross profit rose 19 percent to $1.07 billion from $898 million. Administrative costs rose 8 percent from $332.4 million to $360 million. Depreciation slipped 2 percent to $66.7 million, while finance cost was negligible at just $3 million.
The operations generated gross cash flow of $775 million, which grew to $960 million after movements in working capital.
Current assets ended the period at $9 billion inclusive of trade and other receivables of $2.77 billion, down from $3.35 billion in 2022 and Investment and bank balances of $4.1 billion, up from $1.8 billion in 2022.
Lasco’s ICool drinks.
Current liabilities ended the period at $1.68 billion. Net current assets ended the period at $7.38 billion, up from $5.25 billion in 2022.
At the end of June, shareholders’ equity amounts to $11.65 billion, up from $9.5 billion in 2022, with borrowings at just $122 million.
Earnings per share for the quarter was 13 cents, while a dividend of 12 cents per share was paid in July, totalling $490 million. The company usually pays one dividend per annum, so this is likely to be the last payment until 2024, but with profits on the rise, the next payment seems set to be increased.
IC Insider.com computation projects earnings of 70 cents per share for the fiscal year ending March 2024, with a PE of 7.4 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $5.35, the stock traded recently on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market. The PE compares favourably with an average of 11 for the Junior Market, an indication that the stock price will be heading higher going forward. Net asset value ended the period at $2.83, with the stock selling at just under twice book value.
Dolla Financial an attractive performer
Supreme Ventures (SVL) recently informed investors of purchasing a 15 percent shareholding in the fast-growing Junior Market listed company – Dolla Financial Services.
According to SVL, the acquisition continues to align with SVL’s growth strategy, which has expanded beyond the gaming market and has been making headway into other growth industries with significant potential to meet the ever-growing needs of an eclectic consumer base.
The purchase is a high profile one, with Dollar Financial reporting second quarter profit of $105 million, a robust 78 percent increase over the $59 million in the June 2022 quarter as it pumped up profit by a solid 91 percent to $227 million for the six months to June, versus $119 million in 2022.
Dolla recorded total income for the six months to June 2023 of $592 million, an increase of 98 percent over the $298 million for the six months to June 2022. Fees and other income brought in $13 million for the quarter, up from just $4 in the June 2022 quarter and $26 million for the half year, from $4 million in 2022.
Net interest income, before expected credit losses, rose 69 percent to $242 million in the June Quarter, up from $143 million in 2022 and for the six months to $490 million, reflecting a growth of 80 percent over $272 million generated in the prior year, driven by loan expansion.
The period shows a small amount set aside for expected credit losses, but the cash flow indicates only 75 percent of interest earned was collected during the period, down from 77 percent for 2022 wit, with the first half coming in at 80 percent for the 2022 full year.
The company indicates that some 80 percent of loans made are collateralized. As such, they may not need to provide for all late payers as it could well recover some from the disposal of collaterals held against loans granted.
Operating expenses almost doubled in the June quarter to $144 million from $77 million and rose 97 percent to $270 million from $137 million for the six months. The company stated that the increased cost is “primarily due to intensified marketing efforts and increased staff capacity.”
Earnings per share ended at 4 cents in the latest quarter and 9 cents year to date and is expected to exceed 30 cents for the year. The stock trades around $2.65 and above, an attractive entry point for medium term investment over a year.
Loans receivable net of expected credit losses reached $2.57 billion, representing a substantial increase of $1.5 billion, a 145 percent surge from $1.05 billion as of June 2022 and is also up over the $2.27 billion at the end of March this year. Business loans accounted for 81 percent of the total loan portfolio, with personal loans accounting for the rest, the company reported. Secured loans constituted 80 percent of the portfolio, with unsecured loans making up the remainder.
Loans payable increased to $1.7 billion from $430 million at the close of June 2022 and Shareholders’ Equity climbed to $900 million from $653 million at the end of June 2022.
At the end of June, cash resources stood at just $111 million, not a great deal to fund increased lending, but continued profitability will add to the amounts they can lend. Going forward, increased profitability and access to loan funding to facilitate rapid increased lending will be critical to the rapid profit growth.
Lasco Distributors profit surge
Lasco Distributors stock rose 85 percent since the middle of April but profit results released since then show strong full year results to March, with an increase of 33 percent to 39 cents per share, followed by impressive first quarter numbers almost guaranteeing another big rise in the price over the next several months.
Lasco released first quarter results, in late July, with a rise in pretax profit jumping a robust 57 percent to $602 million and post-tax climbing a solid 38 percent to $448 million from a 17 percent rise in revenues to $7.3 billion from $6.3 billion.
The company generated other income of $68.6 million, surging 142 percent from $28 4 million in 2022, but unrealized investments gains fell from $58 million to $13 million, pushing total comprehensive income to $460 million, 20 percent up from $383 million in 2022.
The cost of goods sold rose at a much slower pace than revenues at 15 percent to $5.98 billion from $5.18 billion. Gross profit jumped well in excess of the rise in revenues, with a 25 percent climb to $1.34 billion from $1.07 billion in 2022.
Administrative and other expenses rose 12 percent to $806 million from $718 million in 2022. Depreciation charge fell from $38.7 million to $31.5 million in the latest quarter, there was virtually no interest cost with borrowings having been repaid.
The quarterly result is continuing” the performance of the prior year, delivering growth in all key segments” John Dasilva, Managing Director, stated in his report to shareholders, and went on to state, “the company continues to invest in consumer focused marketing initiatives while increasing its distribution and product availability across all channels”, in his report accompanying the quarterly.
The operations, generated $484 million of Gross cash flow and $814 million after working capital movements and ended with $748 million, with net cash inflows that swell the funds on hand to $3 billion.
Current assets ended the period at $11 billion, which was similar in 2022. Trade and other receivables amount to $3.6 million, with short term investments, cash and bank balances closing at $3.6 million, while inventories amount to $3.76 billion and receivables $3.6 billion. While receivables were close to the June 2022 and fiscal year end numbers, inventories fell by $700 million from the March year end balance. Current liabilities ended the period at $4.6 Billion. Net current assets ended the period at $6.5 billion up from $5 billion at the end of June 2022.
Lasco Distributors profit rises
At the end of June, shareholders’ equity amounts to $8.9 billion, up from $7.36 billion at the close of June 2022.
Earnings per share for the quarter was 13 cents, up from 9 cents in 2022. IC Insider.com computations project earnings of 65 cents per share for the fiscal year ending March 2024, with a PE of just 6 times current year’s earnings based on the price of $3.86 the stock traded at recently on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market. Net asset value ended the period at $2.53 with the stock selling at 1.5 times book value.
The company paid a dividend of 10 cents in July 2023, a payout ratio of roughly 26 percent of the 2023 annual profit.
Investors were underrating the stock earlier the year, selling it well below an appropriate valuation of a mere 8 times the nine months results of 27 cents per share when the stock traded at a low of $2.09 in April and close to that price for most of the month. Although the stock has nearly doubled, it is selling at just 10 times 2023 earnings and well below the 2024 earnings of 65 cents, which makes the stock a solid buy for the medium term investment.
Currently selling outnumbers buying interest but with rapidly improving results that will not last forever and patient investors will win in the end.
Jamaica Broilers aced 2023 profit
Jamaica Broilers (JBG) recently released full year results to April, with a big jump in earnings, from ongoing operations following the write off of $1 billion relating to the closure of the Haitian operations, with group revenues rising 23 percent from continuing operations and profit after tax rising a solid 56 percent to $5.4 billion from $3.44 billion in 2022.
Jamaica Broilers announced a new acquisition last week
Profit after tax rose a solid 39 percent to $4.3 billion from $3 billion in 2022 after factoring in the above one time write off of the Haitian operation.
Segment results. The group has two main operating segments split between Jamaica and The USA, with results showing revenues in the Jamaican operations jumping 30 percent to $59 billion from $45 billion and the USA climbing 11 percent from $29 billion to $32.5 billion. The Jamaican segment delivered profit of $7.57 billion, up a significant 56 percent from $4.8 billion in 2022, with the USA market delivering $3.8 billion, up a robust 55 percent, compared with $2.45 billion in 2022.
A sharp rebound in the local economy buoyed by a strong recovery in the tourism sector over last year would have contributed a significant part of the local rebound. However, reports are that the company’s main competitor, Caribbean Broilers, had challenges during the period that saw JBG filling the gap and therefore enjoying above average growth and, if correct, could revert to lower levels in the new fiscal year.
Earnings per share reported by the audited results came in at $4.43, after the write off of the Haitian operations, excluding the write off, earnings were a much more attractive $5.35 per share, with just over $7 projected by ICInsider.com for the current year, making it a compelling buy at current prices. The PE is an appealing 6.5 times last fiscal year’s earnings from ongoing operation and just 5 times this year’s earnings at the last traded price of $35 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The stock price has a premium of 66 percent over the Net asset value of $21.43 to Friday’s stock price, with the manufacturing sector at 100 percent, which suggest the extent of a potential rise.
Profit margin rose from 24 percent in 2022 to 26 percent in 2023, increasing gross profit by 30 percent to $23.4 billion from $18 billion in 2022.
Christopher Levy – Jamaica Broilers President and Chief Executive.
Administrative and other expenses rose 9.6 percent, well below the gains in gross profit to $12.4 billion and distribution expenses increased by 17.3 percent to $2.67 billion. Finance cost jumped a sharp 70 percent to $1.85 billion from $1.1 billion. In comparison, finance income swung around by $670 million from $593 million that, mainly was debt forgiveness in 2022, to a loss of $177 million, representing loss on foreign exchange but other income comprising a potpourri of items, some of which may be nonrecurring, moved from $393 million in 2022 to $439 million. Taxation rose 35 percent from $1 billion to $1.37 billion.
The operations generated $9 billion in gross cash flow, up from $6 billion in 2022, that ended at $1.4 billion after working capital needs, compared with $2.2 billion in 2022, as inventories of finished goods and livestock consumed all of the funds generated. The group paid $783 million in dividends net of tax from $463 million in 2022, including $503 million or 42 cents per share paid in March this year and 36 cents or $432 million in November 2022. The payout amounts to 17.6 percent of reported profit, below the expected 20 percent the company indicated it would pay in the past.
The group incurred $8.3 billion in the acquisition of fixed assets well up on the $2.9 billion in 2022 and borrowed $11 billion net of repayment to fund the purchases. Current assets ended the period at $50.7 billion, up from $40 billion in 2022. Receivables amounted to $6 billion, inventories rose to $18.8 billion from $15.6 billion in 2022, farm animals were valued at $21 billion, up from $15 billion in 2022 and cash and bank balances stood at $4.8 billion, up from $3.9 billion. Current liabilities ended the year at $34 million compared with $27 billion the year before. Net current assets ended the period at $16.5 billion versus $13 billion in 2022.
At the end of April, shareholders’ equity amounts to $25.3 billion, with 2022 ending with $21 billion. Long term borrowings ended at $16 billion and short term at $17 billion, up from $10.3 billion and $13.6 billion, respectively, in 2022.
The stock gets an ICInsider.com BUYRATED seal of approval, but investors need to note a few things. Capital spend is impressive and bodes well for continued growth, however, the company is primarily involved in the agricultural business, that can be fickle and several factors could play a role in derailing its fortunes.
