Company Results — Page 57

Huge profit turn at Honey Bun – BUY RATED

November 27, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Honey Bun turned around a loss of $17 million in the September 2014 quarter into a profit of $4 million in 2015 and a profit of only $23 million into a one of $68 million for the 2015 fiscal year or earnings per share of 72 cents.
The performance and IC Insider’s forecast for the next two years, (See EPS forecast below) have elevated the status of the stock to BUY RATED.
The change came from a 22 percent rise in revenue in the quarter to $215 million from $169 million in 2014 and from a 19 percent growth in revenues for the full year, to $887 million from $747 million in 2014. The profit in the September quarter is a major achievement for the company it being the first time since 2012 when a small profit of $550,000 was realized that the company is reporting a profit.
“The company services lots of schools and so the summer months are normally reduced due to the holiday season for July and August. We will always have this challenge but we have somewhat overcome a significant portion of it by way of the development of new products that are not directly geared for schools and by targeting other markets also.

One Honey Bun’s Products

This has made a significant impact,” Chong stated in response to questions posed to her by IC Insider.com subsequent to the release of the June quarterly report.
Helping the growth in profits was an improvement in gross profit and gross profit margin with the latter being 42.8 percent up from 41 percent in 2014 and from a 9.5 percent increase in administrative and other expenses, selling & distribution costs of $307 million from $280 million.
Investments, cash and equivalents rose to $92 million, net current assets stood at $102 million, borrowed funds fell from $73 million in 2014 to $51 million while equity rose to $368 million.
The company’s shares are listed on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and last traded at $5.50, with the price being up 164 percent since 2015, and now sports a PE of 7.6 times 2015 earnings. IC Insider is forecasting earnings per share (EPS) of $1.15 for the 2016 fiscal year which gives it a PE of 4.8 and EPS of $1.70 for 2017.
The company advised that the Board of Directors will meet on Monday, December 7 to consider the declaration of a dividend. An interim dividend of 12 cents per stock, amounting to $11.3 million was paid in May this year.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Dividends, Honey Bun, Jamaica Stock Exchange

Jump in Gleaner’s Q3 profits by 70%

November 24, 2015 by IC Insider.com

The Gleaner Company, producers of Jamaica’s oldest newspaper, earned increased profits for its September quarter. The North Street based institution earned $27 million profit for the quarter, 70 per cent more profit than a year ago.
The 2015 results are commendable as its revenues dipped to $777 million or 9 percent less than a year earlier in the quarter, including a fall of $26 million in investment income to $54 million for the quarter while media income fell $68 million for the same period.
For the nine-months, the Gleaner made $130 million net profit or 122 per cent more than the $58.6 million earned a year earlier. Revenues continued its downward drift by 5.6 percent to $2.38 billion, partially helped by a fall of $34 million in investment income to $90 million while media income fell $120 million for the same period
Gleaner enjoyed other operating income of $61 million and $63 million in 2014 as a result of gains on foreign exchange on investments and Finance income includes interest on loans. Consequently, the profit resulted from efficiency gains in slashing administrative and ‘other operating’ expenses during the quarter.
Interestingly, however, with the jump in profit the company ended the quarter with $93 million in cash flow down from $164 million from operation in 2014 period and ended with $37.7 million cash in the bank at September 2015 and $42 million September 2014 and $772 million in investments up from $690 million at September 2014.
The Gleaner continues to prepare its media operations for the merger with the Radio Jamaica Group, another legacy media entity. It will create one of the largest broadcast and print media entities in the Anglophone Caribbean. Plans to merge were announced on August 5, 2015, with the merger is expected to be concluded by year-end, subject to the approval of a splintered shareholders of Radio Jamaica. There is little doubt that the Gleaner’s shareholders will not approve, with the company’s Chairman in control of a large block of the Gleaner’s shares.
Net asset at the end of September is $2.32 per share. The stock is priced at $1.90, with earnings per share of 10.76 cents for the nine months period and 2.27 cents for the quarter. The company seems on target to earn 20 cents per share, for the full year.
Gleaner’s shareholders will get the equivalent of a third of each of the RJR existing shares as well us retain shares in the remnants of the Gleaner with net assets around $1.70 per share, if the merger proceeds. But the overall gains will be well in above the current combined value of $3.53 based on the $5.20 price of RJR shares last sold at with indication of further rise to come, based on a big jump RJR’s revenues and profit in the September quarter.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Gleaner, Radio Jamaica, RJR

Profit drops at Trinidad’s NGL

November 20, 2015 by IC Insider.com

T&TNGL traded at $21.51 on Thursday

Recently listed Trinidad and Tobago NGL suffered a sharp fall in profit in the September quarter with an out-turn of TT$44 million compared to $114 million in the same period last year and $125 million for the nine months to September, down from $219 million for the 2014 period.
The profit generated in the third quarter although sharply down from the similar period in 2014, is well up on the operating profit of $28 million for the March quarter but down on the $53 million in the June quarter of 2015. The decline is reflective of the fall in world energy prices.
The results flowed from the company’s share in a liquid gas joint venture of $46 million in the quarter, a fall from $129 million in the 2014 period and $134 million versus $277 million for the nine months in 2014. There were hardly any expenses incurred in operating the company.
Earnings per share for the September quarter is 28 cents and 85 cents for the nine months and should be around $1.15 for the full year.
NGL was incorporated in Trinidad and Tobago in September 2013. The The company does not do the processing on its own but acts as an investment holding company following acquisition of 39% of the share capital of Phoenix Park Gas Processors that is the largest producer of natural gas liquids in Trinidad and Tobago with its operation commencing in 1991.
The company will be paying a special dividend of 50 cents per share on December 15. A total of 75.8 million out of 116,100,000 issued shares, were offered to the public to raise $1.5 billion for the government of Trinidad and Tobago in September and is listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange and last sold at $21.51 at a PE of 19.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Phoenix Park Gas Processors Limited, Trinidad and Tobago NGL, Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange

Guardian Media’s Q3 profit up 134%

November 18, 2015 by IC Insider.com

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Guardian Media is one of two media stocks in T&T to have the greatest benefits from the General elections.

Guardian Media’s profit after tax for the 9 months ended September, increased 49 percent to $28.4 million, from $19 million in 2014.
For the quarter, profit after tax more than doubled to $18 million from $7.7 million in 2014, from revenues that climbed 35 percent, to $76 for the quarter and 13 percent for the nine months, to $173 million. Earnings per share, increased by 23 cents, from 48 cents to 71 cents, with the full 2014 year, being 85 cents.
“These results were from political advertising earned from the recently concluded general elections, and the strength of our brands, based on progressive investments in talent, content and technology. I am also pleased to report that during the quarter GML acquired 100% of the issued shares of iRadio Inc., a company that is registered and operates in the Republic of Guyana. This acquisition now expands our TBC radio network to 7 stations and is in alignment with the strategic objectives of our Company”, Grenfell Kissoon, Chairman of the company stated.
Cash generated from operations amounts to $51 million for the quarter and is up from $28 million in the similar period in 2014, the flows to date, exceed the $43 million generated during 2014.
The company is a part of the Trinidad based Ansa McAl, the shares listed on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange and last traded at $19.77 with a PE ratio of 18 times 2015 earnings.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Ansa Mcal, TTSE

Sale and profit down at Unilever

November 17, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Unilever products

Unilever continues to face challenges in the Caribbean market with decline in sales and profit for 2015. Despite the negative development investors keep on pushing the stock to new highs just about every time it trades.
For the third quarter revenues fell 3.5 percent to TT$139 million from $144 million last year, which is better than the 5 percent fall suffered in the second quarter. The company’s revenues have been recovering, from a 10 percent fall for the six months revenues are now off by 8 percent for the nine months, to reach $393 million, down from $427 million in 2014.
Profit fell from $13.9 million to $10.45 million for the third quarter and from $45 million for the 2014 nine months period to $29 million for 2015. Profit before taxation declined even more than the after tax profit with a fall from $19.2 million down to $13.9 million or 27.6 percent. Earnings per share amounts to 40 cents in the quarter and $1.10 for the nine months. In 2014 Unilever earned $2.52 per share.
Unilever spent 13.8 percent more on selling and distribution this contrast with a 3 percent increase for the nine months which all the increase coming in the third quarter moving the amounts spent to $93.3 million. Administrative cost fell $3 million in the last quarter to $5.8 million and is down nearly $5 million in the nine months to $21 million.
The company had blamed the first quarter results as being negatively affected by computer glitzes from the software change over late in 2014. With the release of second quarter results the company had stated that “Looking forward we expect the challenges of the regional economies to impact our growth prospects. In Trinidad and Tobago the uncertainty of the upcoming elections continues to affect the business environment. Regionally, recovery continues to be slow due to the depreciation of local currencies and shortage of US dollars across markets, which is cause for concern. While the recovery from the first half of the year remains a challenge, Unilever Caribbean is optimistic that the investment in our new IT systems and infrastructure will build the foundation for future growth. However, at this time the outlook for the rest of the year remains moderate” Pablo Garrido, Chairman of the company reported to shareholders.
The company’s stock traded on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange at $67.54.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: TTSE, Unilever Caribbean

Eppley’s stock scarce & undervalued

November 15, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Eppley’s profit after tax increased 5 percent for the first nine months of the year to $41.7 million compared to $39.7 million in 2014. For the September quarter, profit jumped sharply by 91 percent to $19.3 million versus $10 million in 2014.
Earnings per share of $52.47 was achieved for the nine months and $24.17 for the quarter. A dividend of $9 per share will be paid on November 30 to ordinary shareholders on record at November 20.
Revenues grew 93 percent for the quarter to $63 million and 60 percent for the nine months period, to $171 million. Net interest income increased from 39.56 percent in the nine months to 43.9 percent in the quarter. Operating expenses climbed 16 percent for the quarter and 15 percent for the nine months.
As of September, Eppley had a $1.38 billion portfolio consisting mainly of loans, leases and receivables. The average income yield of the portfolio was 14 percent, the company stated.
Equity capital at the end of the quarter stood at $341 million and borrowing at $1 billion with average cost of debt being 10 percent. We ended the quarter with $237 million of cash and short-term investments, the company also stated.
Eppley provides loan and insurance premium financing. At the end of the quarter, the stock that is listed on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange last traded at $380 much lower than the net asset value was $429 per share.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Eppley, Jamaica Stock Exchange, junior market

Revenue growth pushes down C&W loss

November 15, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Cable & Wireless HQ

Subscribers and revenues are up in double-digits at Cable & Wireless Jamaica which contributed to reduced operating loss of $346 million, or 58 percent better than the outcome in the similar quarter in 2014 before exceptional expenses of $139 million.
The company posted losses of $485 million after exceptional expenses in the September quarter, or 11 percent less than the $548 million loss for the six months in 2014.
EBITDA earnings grew to $1.2 billion compared to $971 million a year ago and for the half year $2.58 billion versus $1.78 billion, an increase of 45 percent.
“Each line of business showed improved results leading to growth in total revenues and EBITDA. Our mobile business was again the leading performer with our pre-paid subscriber base growing by 23 percent and our post-paid subscriber base growing by 6 percent when compared to the prior year first half,” stated Garfield Sinclair who heads C&WJ, in the financial report.
During the quarter, revenues grew 9 percent to $5.63 billion. This growth was filliped by mobile subscriber base and revenues up 22 percent and 16 percent respectively; and broadband subscribers and revenue up 8 percent and 11 percent respectively. Revenues for the half year grew 10 percent to $11 billion as revenues for the September quarter exceeded that of the June quarter by $179 million or 3.3 percent.
Interest cost declined in the quarter to $934 million from $1 billion last year and should fall in the coming quarters as the interest rates reset downwards in November, to 7.2 percent from 7.787 percent with the fall in local Treasury bill rates. For the half-year interest cost amounts $2 billion. Staff costs are down by $300 million in the six months period from that of 2014 to be at $1.246 billion but out payments and direct cost rose $226 million with the September quarter by $149 million over the June quarter.
The company generated operating cash flow of $520 million compared with negative cash flows of $133 million in six months to September 2014.
The financials does not show any indication of a merger between the local operations of Flow and C&W but the latter wrote large amounts of assets and made staff redundant but no mention is made in the report as to how the two entities will be operating going forward. There are questions to be answered here.
The company’s shares are listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange last traded at $1.45.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: C&WJ, Flow, Garfield Sinclair, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican Stock

Profit up 60% at Jamaican Teas

November 14, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Profit at Jamaican Teas for the 2015 fiscal year to September rose 60 percent to $81 Million from a 17 percent increase in revenues of $1.3 billion and from a 32 percent rise in exports to $370 Million.
Export sales exceeded domestic sales from the manufacturing arm that ended at $363 million for a 6 percent increase for the year.
In the final quarter, net profit increased by 520 percent to $12 million from a loss in 2014 and $15.6 million after other comprehensive income. For the full year total comprehensive income amounted to $97 million compared to $46 million in 2014. The company incurred some one-off costs that are not likely to recur in 2016 and should help in contributing to increased profit.
The group operates two supermarkets, one in Kingston and one in Savanna-la-Mar with sales of $520 million for the year compared to $491 Million in 2014. The jointly owned supermarket in Montego have been challenging in a tight but competitive Montego Bay economy.
June marks the end of the tax free status of Jamaican Teas. Accordingly, the company became subject to income tax, effectively at 12.5 percent commencing in the fourth quarter of the 2015 financial year and continuing for another 4 years and nine months.
The company said they completed construction of 29 two bedroom units along with infrastructure work during the fiscal year, with all units being sold, with the majority of sales to be booked in the new fiscal year. The company expects that the net proceeds of sales will be used to pay down loans, pay a dividend to shareholders and finance Phase II of the development of which there are several commitments for.
Outlook|The company is expecting another year of good performance in 2016, in line with this, the 2016 financial year has started off on a favourable note with strong interest shown in units in phase 2 of real estate development. The expected completion of the sale of all units in phase 1 are of real estate development, good export sale orders so far. The electioneering ahead of the general elections could bring increased consumer spending and positive development in the tourism sector with the expectation of a strong tourist arrivals in 2016 could see the company benefitting. Jamaican Teas also holds a portfolio of equities that has increased in value with the 2015 results shows with an increased value of $16 million, that amount would have grown with the growth in the Jamaican Stock market since the year end.
The company is primarily involved in the processing of local teas and packaging along with imported teas and for the Jamaican and overseas markets, operates supermarkets, and the rental and development of realty. The company’s shares are listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, last traded at $3.85.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Jamaican Teas, Jamaica’s stock exchange

NCB hikes dividend as Q4 profit rises

November 13, 2015 by IC Insider.com

NCB reports improved Q4 profit but yearly amount is flat

National Commercial Bank hiked their dividend payments for 2015 by 11 in announcing the payment of a final dividend of 85 cents per share, to be paid December 11 with the record date of November 27. NCB paid three interim dividends of 45 cents each, during 2015, the latest brings the total to $2.20 and is up from $1.98 in 2014. The final payment for 2014 was 96 cents with dividend payments amounting to 35 cents per share in August and May and 32 cents per share on February.
The dividends for 2015, represent a yield of 12 percent on the price of the stock at the start of the year of $18.50.
NCB reported profit of $12.3 billion for the year ending September slightly lower than the banking group’s revised 2014 profit of $12.33 billion which is revised upward from $11.6 billion.
For the final quarter profit grew 12 percent to end at $3.75 billion for earnings per share of $1.52 from $3.36 billion in 2014. For the full year earnings per share amounts to $5. Pretax profit for the quarter is up 17 percent to $4.8 billion.
The result for 2014 was revised upward from for earnings per share of $4.73 to $5.01. Earnings should move to the region of $6 per share in 2016.
The 2014 results have in $650 million relating to gains on acquisition of a subsidiary and sale of associated company which makes the 2015 performance much better than it appears. Credit losses fell from $2.3 billion in 2014 to $1.79 billion in 2015 and for the quarter $387 million versus $987 million in 2014.
NCB made decent progress in growing income and keeping cost under control. Loans grew by 5 percent year over year to reach $165 billion, growing this asset will allow for continued growth profitability. The group also enjoyed growth in investment securities and pledged assets which moved from $265 billion to $$276 billion. Customers’ deposits and repurchase agreements that helps to fund asset growth, moved from $337 billion to $328 billion.
NCB shares are listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and last traded at $34.50.

Filed Under: Breaking News, Company News, Company Results, Dividends, Feature Stories Tagged With: Dividend, National Commercial Bank

Jamaica Producers’ profit jumps

November 11, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Charles Johnston – Chairman of JP Group

Jamaica Producers’ profit after tax attributable to shareholders for the September quarter, jumped to $190 million from $98 million in the 2014 quarter from revenues of $2 billion just less than the $2.1 billion in 2014.
Revenues for the year to September declined from $6.44 billion to $6.15 billion. Net profit nine months to September amounts to $807 million, an increase of 194 percent over $275 for the year to September 2014. The year to date profit includes gain on sales of property of $319 million recorded in the June quarter.
Gross profit inched up to $440 million in the third quarter from $421 million in 2014 and for the nine months, from $1.4 billion to $1.45 billion. Share of profit in associated companies and joint ventures contributed $217 million for the 2015 quarter up from only $61 million in 2014 and for the nine months to $491 million versus $228 million.
Cash flow from operations amounts to $186 million compared to $267 million in 2014, leading to cash and equivalent of $471 million at the end of the 2015 period. Administrative and other cost rose moderately by $12 million for the quarter to $485 million and $43 million for the nine months to $1.45 billion.

Some of JP consumer products

Jamaica Producer is headquartered in Jamaica, is listed on the country’s stock exchange, last traded at $23.80 with earnings per share including gains on property of $4.17 for the nine months to September this year and $1.02 for the quarter, for the full year earnings from ongoing operations should end around $3 per share, the stock now trades at around 8 times 2015 earnings from ongoing operations. The main activities of the company and its subsidiaries are juice and food manufacturing, the cultivation, marketing and distribution of fresh produce, logistics, land management and the holding of investments.
Total equity capital amounts to $6.5 billion, borrowed funds amount to $2.1 billion, while current assets stood at $2.49 billion and current liabilities at $1.76 billion.