Company Results — Page 84

Big profit jump at Purity

November 12, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Profit more than tripled before taxes at Consolidated Bakeries (Purity) and was up more than 400 percent after factoring taxation in the 2012 period to September, as profit after tax rose to $30.4 million up from $5.7 million, a 429 percent increase. For the September quarter, profit rose to $6 million compared to the 2012 quarter when the company reported a loss of $2.8 million.

The improved numbers did not show up in the quarter over quarter results as profit was lower than the $10 million earned in the June quarter. Some of the improvement is a recovery from a bad period in 2012. The second half of 2012, the year Consolidated went public, was not a good one as the company recorded a loss in the period compared to a profit in the 2011 period.

Revenue for the nine month period increased by 37.6 percent to reach $500 million compared to revenue of $363 million for the same period in 2012. For the quarter, revenue is up by 53.2 percent over the same period in 2012 to reach $172 million up from $112 million. “These increases represent growth in both unit sales and average sales per customer. During the quarter under review, input cost increased due to exchange rate movements and other factors,” management stated in their report to shareholders. Gross profit margin came in at 49 percent for the quarter down from 53 percent in 2012 and is 54 percent year to date, an improvement over the 52 percent enjoyed in 2012.

It looks as if the company will enjoy profits in the order of $35-40 million for the year or earnings per share around 20 cents. The company is focusing on improved efficiency, increased sales from existing products and new ones for both the local and export markets.

Cash funds and investments are up to $99 million from $24 million last year September and $98 million at the end of December. Current assets are up to $205 million from $184 million at the end of 2012 helped by increased receivables and inventories which grew $40 million year over year. At the same time, current liabilities are down as a result of the clearing of overdraft balance of $13 million and taxation of $9 million leaving $61 million as owing to third parties. Borrowing is up from $19 million to $49 million at the end of September this year versus last year September.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Consolidated Bakeries, JSE Company, Purity

Carib Cement turns profit

November 11, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Aggressive pricing and increased cement sales helped Carib Cement Company turn a big loss last year into a profit this year. For the quarter ending September, profit jumped to $169 million, a marked change from a $245 million loss in the similar quarter of 2012.

For the nine months, profit was only $32 million reflecting a very poor first quarter resulting from a loss incurred along with a big foreign exchange loss of $689 million and interest of $349 million. The nine month figures may not appear great, but when viewed against a mammoth loss of $1.45 billion in the same period in 2012, the extent of the about turn is vivid.

Admittedly, the parent company had to step in to restructure loans that were lent to Carib Cement and were choking them, thus cutting interest cost. Revenues climbed 50 percent to reach $3.2 billion in the quarter and $8.89 billion for the nine months, an increase of 30 percent. The improvement flowed from increased volume of cement and clinker sales which accelerated in the third quarter by 34 percent over the 2012 quarter. For the year to date, volume sales climbed 7.6 percent, as exports declined in the 2013 nine months period. Export sales rose in the latest quarter by 44 percent and local sales by 19 percent, year to date it is up by only 10 percent.

Price increases | Since last year, the company has increased the price of its product on a number of occasions. In January, cement prices increased by 16.5 percent on average, 3 percent in April, 1 percent in July and in October, a 2.7 percent increase, which was on top of a 9.2 percent increase in July last year.

The full 2013 results should come out to be in the order of 20-25 cents per share if all goes well, but it’s the 2014 numbers investors should be focusing on from now as it looks like earnings could well be in the 80 cents per share range, which would see a big hike in the stock price. The situation could get even better if some of the major infrastructure works that have been announced come on stream along with any pick up in the housing market.

All this is why IC Insider has now upgraded the stock to Buy Rated. There are still risks involved. Cement plants are notorious for bad news flowing from accidents or other major setbacks, as is the case in the company parent Trinidad Cement. The company seemed to have been doing very well only to be hit by problems in the factory, as well as in Barbados, and just barely reported a profit in the September quarter. While the company has depended on Trinidad Cement to bank roll it, the group is under strict dictates of its lenders.

Balance sheet | End of the period cash funds were down to $149 million from $244 million at the end of December last year. This needs to be rebuilt to reasonable levels to provide for smooth operations and for the company to be able to ride out any storm they may encounter.

Even if the company was able to continue the profits levels seen in the third quarter, it is going to take about 7 to 8 years for them to wipe out the huge accumulated loss of $7.5 billion and be in a position to start paying dividends again. It may well happen before that time frame due to the likely impact of inflation in driving up profits in the years ahead and, if the Jamaican economy starts to grow at a reasonable pace, sales of cement could surge and boost profits.

Both Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) and Caribbean Cement Company are IC Insider Buy Rated stock.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Caribbean Cement, JSE Company

Caribbean Producers’ impressive profit

November 11, 2013 by IC Insider.com

When Caribbean Producers pitched their vision of an impressive future, many investors saw a new rising star on the horizon coming from the west and the company easily raised $425 million. The shares were heavily oversubscribed and shot up as high as $3 but reported results never met the hyped expectations.

All that has now changed with the latest quarterly results to September showing a 19 percent jump in revenues and a big turnaround for CPJ in the first quarter of the 2014 fiscal year which ends in June. From a loss of US$172,981 in the 2012 quarter, the company swung into a profit of US$447,421. IC Insider projects the company should pull in profits for the full year of US$8 million, around J$0.80 per share. However, the market’s lackluster reaction to the robust results leaves one searching for reasons why CPJ is not pleasing to investors’ palates.

Cost control | Although sales rose strongly from US$14 million to US$17 million contributing to the big improvement in profit, a major factor is the improved profit margin that rose from 37 percent in 2012 to 44 percent in the latest quarter helping to increase gross profit by a strong 35 percent. Also contributing is the maintenance of other cost increases to levels below or just above revenue growth as well as a turnaround of other operating activity from a loss of US$48,000 to a surplus of US$7,041. Selling and administrative cost rose 20 percent, a shade over the rise in revenues. Depreciation increased faster than sales, at 27 percent to reach US$435,500 but finance cost rose by just 7 percent to US$476,664.

The numbers suggest that the expansion into meat and juice processing is now bearing fruit and should get even better as they capture more market share with their new products.

Borrowings | The company took on a large amount of debt to help fund its expansion with borrowings at US$29 million at the end of September and equity of US$13.5 million, which was quite a risky financing arrangement. Since September 2012, loans have been used to fund a US$3 million increase in inventories and receivables and US$1.6 million increase in plant and machinery.

Positive cash | The good news is that in the latest quarter, there was a strong positive cash inflow of more than US$900,000 which should end up around US$10 million by the end of the fiscal year. That will be enough, coupled with cash now on hand of US$2.7 million, to meet loan payment of US$8.6 million due by June next year and US$9.5 million due in the next twelve months.

If the forecasted cash inflows materialise, equity would jump to US$21 million and borrowed funds should fall in line with equity, subject to funds being used in further expansion by the financial year end.

The company’s working capital is in very good shape with slightly more than 2 to 1 ratio, a situation that should improve as loans are reduced.

The company will begin operations in St. Lucia in 2013 with a well-established partner in the Eastern Caribbean. The new company, CPJ St. Lucia, will primarily focus on setting up beverage system programmes for the hotel sector on the island.

Insider call | IC insider is not only forecasting continued strong growth for this new fiscal year but a continuation into the next year as well, making the stock a good medium term investment. Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited is an IC Insider Buy Rated stock.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Caribbean Producers (CPJ), JSE Company

LASCO manufactures more profits

November 11, 2013 by IC Insider.com

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Profit rose 15.5 percent for Lasco Manufacturing in the September quarter over the similar period of 2012 to reach $176.4 million versus $152.7 million. This reflects an improvement over the results in the first quarter, which when combined with the second quarter results, amounted to $315.2 million compared to $306.3 million for the same period last year, an increase of $8.9 million or 2.9 percent. The company had taken a $40 million hit in custom duties for spoilt raw material in the first quarter that occurred during the 2013 fiscal year.

The improved profit for the latest quarter came about primarily due to a rise in revenue, from $958 million in 2012 to $1.03 billion in 2013, an increase of 10.75 percent and far stronger than the year-to-date performance of 4.6 percent increase to $1.88 billion up from $1.79 billion to September last year. Gross profit for the six months rose from $502.4 million to $526.2 million, an increase of $23.8 million or 4.7 percent. For the quarter to date, gross profit rose margin declined a bit as evidenced by the by slower growth in gross profit of $18.5 million or 7.2 percent, which is below the growth in revenues. “The company was able to mitigate the effects of foreign exchange volatility by making early payments to foreign suppliers” management stated in their release with the results.

Operating expenses for the six months to September 2013 rose by a mere 2.2 percent or $4.5 million over the prior year’s $200 million to move to $205 million in 2013. For the quarter, operating expenses was just $97 million, a reduction compared to $108 million in prior year.

Improved cash management has resulted in a reduction in the finance cost of $7.2 million over prior year’s $13.8 million in 2012, compared to $6.7 million in 2013.

The new factory is expected to come into production during this month starting with liquid products of water and juices. The powder products factory will come into operation in 2014. The company was allowed to add interest on it $1 billion plus loan to the cost of the plant but once it’s in operation, interest and depreciation will be expensed and this could have a drag on profits for awhile until sales from the new plant can cover fixed cost.

Financial position | The company increased amounts tied up in inventories sharply to $664 million up from $283 million last year September and $490 million in March as trade and other receivables grew to $881 million from $710 in September last year and $629 in March this year. Trade and Other Payables have also gone up with the amount standing at $699 million from $481 last year and just $259 in March. Long Term Debt used in the expansion is now $1.37 billion versus $350,000 in 2012 and $804 million in March. The rate on the loan is under 9 percent.

The future | The real excitement about Lasco Manufacturing is the major expansion of the factory operations and the relocation of some of its activities that should reduce cost while expanding the products to be produced. This should translate into strong revenues and profits going forward, more likely in the next fiscal year which starts in April next year.

IC Insider is projecting earnings of 17 cents per share for the year ending in March 2014 and 30 cents for the following year with the new factory in full operation.

Lasco Manufacturing is an IC Insider Buy Rated Stock.

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

Profit inches up at D&G

November 5, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Desnoes & Geddes, the brewers of Red Stripe beer is reporting moderate growth in after tax profits, moving by 8 percent to $368 million from $340 million in 2012. Sales barely grew from $3.1 billion to $3.28 billion in a quarter when local sales were up 14 percent to $2.8 billion and exports were down from $643 million to $465 million with the shift of the production of beer to USA.

The company spent less on marketing, $266 million versus $313 million in the 2012 quarter while general selling and administrative expenses declined to $288 million from $310 million due most likely to the transfer of this side of the operations to Celebrated Brands, their joint venture distribution arm. The transfer may also have impacted the dollar value of sales. Other income turned a loss of $8 million compared to a surplus of $59 million in 2012. On the other hand D&G’s share in the joint venture distribution was a positive $19 million.

Segment results | In spite of the climb in local sales and a decrease in marketing spend, segments results show profit for the local operation was flat at $553 million while exports rose from $210 million to $283 million.

Financial Position | At the end of the quarter, the company has cash of $1.38 billion but receivables jumped to $1.9 billion from $739 million in 2012; things in this area would look a lot better. The company’s reduced funds tied up in inventories from $1.36 billion to just over a billion at the end of September. D&G has no interest bearing debt with equity capital of $8 billion.

D&G dominates the beer market in Jamaica and a lot of sales have been lost over the last several years as governments placed increased taxation on the products it sells. This along with a sluggish economy has held back its growth in profits and by extension the stock price. In the short turn, the company has had to resort to various cost reduction measures to help improve the bottom line. The September quarterly figures suggest that the company needs a Jamaican economy recovery in order to start delivering decent growth in profits. Nevertheless, the rate of return on equity is around 20 percent, which is not that shabby.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: D&G, JSE Company

AMG gearing for further growth

November 4, 2013 by IC Insider.com

AMG Packaging is out with flat results for the year to August with profits of $49 million up about 4 percent from 2012, even as revenues from goods sold climbed 24 percent to $444 million as a result of a 16 percent increase in the volume of items sold.

The company reported improvement in gross profit which increased by 32 percent compared to the 2012 figure of 31 percent as it grew faster than sales. Increased administrative cost ate up just about all of the improvement in increased efficiency in the factory operations. This was due mainly to what management attributed to a revision to wage package, as there was no increase since 2009. Gross profit margin increased to 33 percent in the year from 31 percent in 2012 and 26 percent in 2011. In 2010 the margin was at 32 percent.

August quarter | Data indicates a 37 percent jump in revenues to $128 million but that was not enough to prevent a fall in profits in the quarter to $14 million versus $16 million in the 2012 quarter as just about all major areas of cost rose sharply. Raw material cost is up 49 percent, direct manufacturing cost grew by 42 percent, administration grew 36 percent, finance cost rose 197 percent and depreciation by 71 percent.

Negatively, return on equity fell in the year to 18.6 percent versus 22 percent in 2012 and 24.5 percent in 2011, clearly an area where work is needed. The company is working to improve efficiency and expansion of production by investing in new machines. During the year the company expended money on roof relays and some other items that have an one-off effect and not likely to be repeated in the coming year and should free the profit going forward. They are also moving to use LPG instead of placing total reliance on the electric grid, which they say will reduce energy cost in the coming year.

Management, in their report to investors, indicated that a multi-functional machine on order will replace older manual ones and a rotary die cut machine is being manufactured. Both are expected to be functional in the November quarter of 2013. These machines are expected to increase production and enhance the quality of products.

Finances | Current assets of $209 million including cash of $34 million is more than adequate to cover current liabilities of $71 million. Inventories climbed sharply to $93 million from $75 million in 2012 but it represents just under one and a half months of raw material cost.

Money borrowed rose to $85 million, an increase on the $29 million at the end of the prior year, with most of the increase used to fund expansion of the factory and added machinery. The debt compares favourably with equity of $291 million.

The stock recently declined to $3.50 and became weak sometime after the third quarter numbers were released suggesting minimal growth in the bottom line. Notwithstanding, the junior market has been exhibiting softness across most stocks. As such there could well be further decline in this stock price as there does not seem to be any major buying interest currently.

Insider call | With the expansion and modernisation that is underway and the tendency for sales to be boosted by increased volume the stock should be an attractive buy as a medium to long term investment around $3 per share.

Related posts | AMG is investing for tomorrow

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: AMG Packaging, JSE Company

Profit up 92% for Eppley

October 28, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Recently listed Eppley Limited released results for the quarter ending September with profit almost doubling from $12 million to $23 million for the nine months and with profit of $9.8 million in the 2013 September quarter compared to $6.3 million in 2012. These figures contrast with the full year’s earnings for 2012 of $15 million.

The improvement in the latest quarter came primarily from tax reduction due to the tax free status junior market companies enjoy for 5 years. It was also helped by a $3 million increase in other income which had grown to $5.9 million. Interest income declined in the quarter from $20.5 million in the 2012 quarter to $14.9 million in the latest quarter but a reduction in interest expense to $1.3 million versus $7.2 million took effect as a result of conversion of some debt to equity and some that was paid off resulted in a slight improvement in net interest income. Income from interest in the nine months amounted to $45 million which is down from $59 million in the similar period of 2012.

Loans due from customers shrunk from $509 million last year September to $308 million in 2013. Post September, loans would have increased as the company reported having $33 million in uncommitted cash on hand compared with $121 million in actual cash on the books at September. Loans payable amounted to $109 million at the end of September and is down from $361 million at the end of September last year.

Earnings per share for the September quarter is $13.43 and for the nine months period $48.19. The company reports that yield on the total assets is 14 percent per annum, if this is maintained then the company which has 796,000 issued shares should end up in a full year with approximately $40 per share in profits. But then the company is seeking to raise added capital from a preference share issue, which if successful, will provide increased profits as the funds will allow them to provide loans at higher rates than the capital cost of the funds to be raised.

The company will hold an extraordinary general meeting this coming Thursday to seek approval of a resolution to create and offer up to 100 million preference shares to raise added capital.

The IPO prospectus stated that the board expects to distribute not less than 50% of its after-tax earnings to shareholders in the form of cash dividends, with the projected earnings that would translate to about 5 percent return.

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

Profits up 80% at Berger Jamaica

October 23, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Berger Paints starts off the new earning season for the quarter to September with improved profit for the six months of $13 million, up 80 percent compared to $7.2 million for the same period in 2012 as sales rose 12 percent to $787.4 million. Importantly, revenues accelerated in the September quarter by 17.8 percent over that of 2012 compared to only a 5 percent increase in the first quarter.

Profit in the latest quarter was up by 76 percent to $16 million and augurs well for the all-important December quarter when it has the bulk of sales and profit.

Cash resources, which amounted to $130 million at the end of the March 2013 year end, is down to $33 million at the end of September. The bulk of the reduction went into working capital which rose from $512 million to $637 million excluding cash funds.

A dividend of 13 cents per share totalling $27.362 million was paid in July, 2013. Berger has no significant borrowed funds used to fund its operations.

If the present trend in revenues and margins continue, profit for 2014 should end up around 35 cent per share compared to 19 cents in 2013 to March. The problem with Berger is its strong reliance on the performance in the wider economy for growth. Right now that is not happening although there are signs of some pick up in the construction sector that the company could benefit from even as large amount of paints are sold for renovation of existing buildings than new start-ups.

Related posts | Economy pressuring Berger

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Berger Paints, JSE Company

Paramount misses Buy Rated crown

October 16, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Paramount Trading’s past profit performance was adequate for the Junior Market company to be ranked as an IC Insider Buy Rated stock in 2012. However, after two quarters in a row with outsized receivables, we downgraded the stock to the market watch category. Our concerns still stand as we see potential dangers with receivables that are nearly three months sales when the norm would be 30 days and no more than 45 days.

In the company’s latest quarterly report to shareholders at the end of August, total receivables was at $152 million and in May it stood at $146 million but last year August the amount was only $85 million when revenues was $152 million. Inventory at $187 million is also an area of concern. However, since the rate of exchange for the Jamaican dollar is slipping, the higher inventory level can provide an edge in setting prices and margin. The company had cash on hand of $42 million.

Paramount disclosed increased profits for the 3 months to August amounting to $19 million before tax compared to $10.7 million in 2012, up 78 percent. In the previous year 2012, after tax profit reached to $8 million and sales climbed 11 percent from $152 million to $169 million in the quarter. Helping with the increased profit was an improvement in gross profit margin which rose from 29.6 percent to 31.3 percent in the latest quarter versus last year’s and the holding of administrative and other cost to only a 7 percent increase. Other revenues also increase to $3.9 million compared to just $700,000 in 2012. Finance cost climbed from $5.1 million to $5.85 million as borrowing declined from $107.5 million to $74.5 million.

The company’s management stated that during the quarter they pursued growth opportunities. Production of formulated products for contract manufacturing commenced and the Oxyterge formulated product was launched. They also completed a significant engineering solutions project, representing a value-added service that should result in increased revenues in the future. The company also indicated that they made key management movements and recruited externally to strengthen their leadership capability.

Profits are up in the latest quarter but sales are not likely to make a big surge, which suggest that investors should pay attention as this implies that profit increase after this year may be slow. Hopefully, the changes in management will address these weaknesses and restore normality to them and reduce the risk.

IC Insider projects earnings for the year of 70 cents per share on the basis that the receivables and inventory are of good quality and will not result in large amounts being written off in later quarters.

Related post | Higher cost flattens Paramount’s profit

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: JSE Company, Paramount Trading

Changes, changes, changes

September 23, 2013 by IC Insider.com

Monday 23 September, 2013 | Both the Buy Rated and Market Watch lists have undergone major changes based on trading over the past week.

Buy rated additions | Grace Kennedy and Pan Jam made it to the Buy Rated list in Jamaica based on their low values while GraceKennedy, JMMB, Scotia Investments and Sagicor Finance have been added to the Buy Rated list in Trinidad based on a very low PE of 6 times 2013 earnings.

Buy rated removal | First Citizens Bank was removed based on the stock’s rise to the $35 price range and a 58% appreciation reached after listing on the Trinidad Exchange.

Market Watch | The Caribbean Flavours IPO hits the streets this week and has been added to the Market Watch list as it has the potential to generate capital appreciation after listing on the Junior Market. Cable & Wireless is added to the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange based on the company’s reporting of the rapid addition of mobile customers. Agostini’s has been added to the Watch list of Trinidad Stocks based on its current low PE.

The IC Insider’s Buy Rated seal of approval is given to a stock that we believe is a compelling buy with earnings that are strong relative to the price and strong prospects of generating high price gains within the next twelve months.

Better than a broker’s ‘buy’ recommendation, IC Insider has no vested interest in any stock transaction or conflict of interest. Our research is backed by published reports of the company’s performance and insights of future earnings that can be found at ICInsider.com. The final decision to buy, or not, is your personal choice.

To find published reports for a Buy Rated stock on IC Insider, please use category ‘Buy Rated’ under Company News or enter the company name, in full or part at ‘Search IC Insider’.

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