Scotia Investments (SIJL) reported net income of $1.79 billion results for the year ended October 2014, down $205 million from the last year. Net income for the quarter was $450 million, down $54 million from the previous quarter, and $123 million from the corresponding quarter last year.
Earnings per share for the year ended at $4.23 compared to $4.71 in 2013. The Return on Average Equity fell was from 16.55 percent in 20123 to 13.6 percent.
Net interest income for the year was $2.3 billion, down $519 million or 18 percent below last year and for the quarter, $499 million, down $81 million or 14 percent below the July quarter.
Non-interest income, which includes fee income, securities trading gains and net foreign exchange trading income, was $1.89 billion for the year, is up $237 million or 14 percent; and $487 million for the quarter, down $61 million compared with the July last quarter.
Total Operating Income, comprising net interest revenue and other income was $4.17 billion, a reduction of $281 million relative to prior year. Total Operating Income for the quarter of $986 million was down $233 million over the corresponding quarter last year.
Total operating expenses for the year was $1.62 billion, up $33 million or 2 percent compared to 2013. Expenses amount to $364 million for the October quarter, down $32 million or 8 percent against the July 2014 quarter, and it is also down 19 percent, against the 2013, October quarter.
Total on balance sheet assets amount to $72 billion and show a reduction of $1.4 billion compared to last year. At the end of October 2014, total funds under management stood at $151 billion, $96 billion or 64 percent represents off-balance portfolio, compared to 60 percent last year. The Scotia Premium Money Market Fund grew to $10 billion by the end of the year. For 2014, funds managed through the unit trusts and mutual funds increased by 17 percent year over year, due to both growth in volume and appreciation in value of the funds. Management states that “the change is consistent with our strategic initiative to focus on the growth of our unit trusts and mutual fund portfolios.”
Shareholders’ equity stood at $13.6 billion as at October 31, 2014, an increase of $1.15 billion or 9 percent compared to last year. Net asset value per share is $32.14 and the stock price $23.40 with the PE ratio just above 5 times 2014 earnings. With interest rates falling and the funds under management rising SIJL should put into a better performance in 2015.
Scotia Investments in transition
Barita’s ugly Q4 results
Barita Investments had a decent nine months’ performance to June this year, with profit of $156 million versus $77 million in 2013. Profit had dipped for the June quarter from that of 2013 by just under 50 percent. The net result was earnings per share of 35 cents.
With those results investors would be forgiven if they felt that full year’s earnings would be closer to 50 cents per share than the 16 cents they reported. That company reported a loss in the September quarter of $66 million down from a profit of $24 million in 2013, pulling full year results to $71 million compared to $63 million in 2013.
Major contributors to the final quarter’s loss, are increased taxation of $26 million, with a loss before tax of $40 million. Investment impairment resulted in $42 million hit against profit while securities and foreign exchange trading ended up in losses and dividend income fell by $19 million. Net interest income dropped sharply as well, by 60 percent to $45 million while administrative cost was up 17 percent. Barita also picked up a loss of $10 million from an investment in an animated development company GSW Animated Ltd. Barita’s investment in the company is $28 million, for 11.84 percent interest.
For the full year interest expense rose 21 percent but income fell marginally, while income from fees, commission and securities trading were the only areas to show growth. Cost was kept pretty tight with only a 4 percent rise.
In 2013 Barita took a big hit on its investment portfolio when it swapped Government bonds for lower yielding ones, resulting in a write off of capital gains on their holdings. Interest rates rose between 2013 and mid 2014 resulting in a squeeze on interest margins. Some of the reduction on the interest income side was made for by a switch to foreign exchange holdings to benefit from the devaluation of the local dollar. Revaluation of the Jamaican dollar in the September quarter would have negatively affected return in this area. The local dollar slipped in the December quarter which should benefit them. Economic measures being pursued by the Jamaican government along with the sharp drop in oil prices will lead to greater stability or possible some revaluation of the local dollar in the months ahead. This will likely result in a portfolio shift that will improve net interest income. The local stock market is showing signs of improved interest and if this continues, trading income will improve for 2015 and the large investment impairment hit should not occur. The end result is that the company should enjoy better results in 2015.
Of import is the higher level of profitability, shown in comprehensive income statement, with gains of $242 million excluding revaluation gains on property. The increased comprehensive income resulted in the capital base of the company rising to $1.67 billion from $1.4 billion at the end of the 2013 fiscal year. Total assets being managed is $13.6 billion.
Barita should be seen a good play on the revival of the local stock market which is going to happen at some time in the near future, exactly when is unsure at this time, based on valuation and performance of companies it may not be far off.
The company’s stock is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and last traded at $2.18 with net assets of $3.75 per share. Profit may have slipped in 2014 but that is not an indication of a permanent slippage as such the stock remains BUY RATED based on it low price and the potential for higher earnings ahead.
Massy Holdings profit jumps 23% in Q4
For the year to September, profit for Massy Holdings rose only 2 percent, to $555 million or $5.68 cents per share.
Profit for the September quarter amounted to $190 million and is up a strong 23 percent over the 2013 results. The yearly profit is negatively affected by a $58 million cost incurred in relating to the company changing its name and form Neal and Massy to Massy Holdings along with other rebranding expenses. Earnings per share for 2015 should end up around the $6 levels, on the assumption that measures needed in the Trinidad economy to deal with the fall in oil price will not have any serious negative effect on the Group’s operations in that country. The PE for the stock will be around 11 times 2015 earnings and should provide a basis for the price to increase during next year as the target should be around 15.
Total revenues for the year is up 14 percent to $10.7 billion, and up 18 percent in the September quarter to $2.77 billion, the latter benefitted from the acquisitions in Columbia that contributed $123 million in revenues and $2.5 million in segment profit. Additionally, the group acquired majority interest in a supermarket business in St Lucia in late December last year. The income form that operation is included in the October quarter but would not be there in 2013.
Segment profit before rebranding cost saw growth in Automotive and Industrial Equipment increasing by 5 percent, Integrated Retail gaining a mere 2.5 percent, Insurance up by 17.6 percent, Energy and Industrial Gases 52.4 percent, Information Technology Communications 10.3 percent and Other Investments down 21.5 percent. Jamaica contributed 37 percent more in profits to the group in 2014 than in 2013, Trinidad from which the bulk of profit comes saw a 6.7 percent increase and Guyana 4.7 percent.
Massy Holdings is listed on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange and is involved in a wide range of products and services.
Ethanol losses & loan cost hit JBG profit
Profit fell 30 percent, for the six months ending October this year and a whopping 43 percent for the October quarter at Jamaica Broilers (JBG). With chicken processing being their main product line, the company reported profit of $210 million in the six months to October, down from $301 million for the similar period last year.
JBG reported a net profit of $99 million for the October quarter down from $173 million in 2013. The fall in profit is due to three main factors. Interest cost climbed 106 percent in the latest quarter and 68 percent in the six months period and corporation tax jumped 180 percent in the quarter and 58 percent for the six months against revenue growth of 15 percent in the quarter and 14 percent year to date. The ethanol operations contributed considerably to the lower profit with a loss of $144 million versus $27 million profit in 2013, the loss made in the October quarter was $55 million. Rising profit in the US segment accounted for the bulk of the tax increase.
On a positive note management indicates that “new business in the Ethanol division looks promising with income already received in October and November.”
Administrative expenses climbed 11 percent in the quarter and 21 percent for the nine months to October, with the latter growing faster than revenue increase.
The United States segment has done exceedingly well, with segment profit moving from $202 million in 2013 to $572 million this year. Ethanol is a concern especially with world oil prices having fallen sharply this year. Other areas have just kept pace with the prior period, the increased debt cost is weighting down on profit and needs to be put on firmer and more cost effective footing. The company makes the bulk of it profit in the second half of the year and with ethanol seems to be generating added revenues things could be looking up in the second half.
Jamaica Broilers borrowed $800 million more since the year-end at the end of April pushing borrowed funds to $7 billion this was used to fund increased inventories that rose by $800 million over the same period.
H&L ups dividend slightly
Rapid True Value one of the Companies owned by Hardware & Lumber
The stock will trade Ex-dividend on January 5, 2015. An interim dividend 30 cents per stock unit was paid on January 17, 2014 in connection with the 2013 profit. The increased dividend comes in the wake of Hardware and Lumber reporting profit after tax for the nine months to September of $113 million, or 26 percent more than the $90 million, for the same period in 2013. Earnings per stock unit for the nine months, is $1.40, up from $1.11 for the comparative period in 2013.
US to normalise Cuban relations
The long period or US embargo in trade in goods and services, with Cuba since the Castro regime seized power in the late 1950s, seems set to be reversed, according to a report earlier today.
According to Bloomberg news U.S. will begin to normalize relations in a surprising move by the Obama administration that will loosen a trade and travel embargo that is among the last remnants of Cold War policy. The action means not simply the opening of a U.S. embassy in Havana but the lifting of restrictions that have limited commerce and kept aficionados from legally bringing Cuban cigars to U.S. soil.
The change in the US attitude could have far reaching implications for Jamaica and the rest of the region specifically, as it affect tourism trade.
First Caribbean 2014 profit disappears
First Caribbean International Bank reported a big loss of US$151 million, a huge increase from a loss of just US$22 million in 2013. The news may appear gloomy but there is more to that than meets the eye. The news may well be a strong signal that its time to buy shares of this bank that sprawls over the wider Caribbean region.
Management cleaned shop, resulting in loans loss provision climbing 36 percent to US$206 million in 2014 and impairment cost relating to intangible assets of US$115 million. The latter should not repeat in the near term and loan loses may remain subdued with the heavy write off in 2014.
The October 2014 quarter enjoyed a major turn-around in fortunes as after-tax profit rose to US$24.6 million from a loss of US$66 million in 2013. The quarterly result was helped by a sharp drop in loan loss provision, falling from US$76 million in 2013 to US$13 million and operating expenses declining from US$130 million to $88 million. The July quarter also showed positive results, amounting to US$23 million after tax, suggesting that profit could be back on track.
Net interest revenues were down 1 percent for the year, but fell 7 percent in the October quarter, from the similar quarter, in 2013 as revenues fell 6 percent and interest cost was down by 5 percent. Other income fell in the quarter moderately, but was up for the year, by 2 percent. How will the bank grow its income, is the challenge going forward in the medium term, in a region that is suffering from economic stagnation and beset by high levels of national debt?
Customer deposits ended at US$9.2 billion from $9.8 billion at the end of the 2013 fiscal year while loans fell to US$6.14 billion from US$6.33 billion in 2013 and as high as US$6.83 billion at the end of the 2012 fiscal year. The bank’s balance sheet contracted during the year to $10.78 billion from $11.4 billion in 2013 due mainly to contraction in cash balances and loans but investment securities rose from $2.2 billion to $2.3 billion.
A final dividend of 1.5 US cents per share payable in January, was declared, it brings the total for the year to 3 US cents. The stock is listed on the Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago stock exchanges.
First Citizens 2014 profit up slightly
Trinidad’sFirst Citizens Bank reported profit of $773 million before taxation for the year to September compared to $745 million in 2013. Profit after tax, amounted to $627 million in 2014, up 2.9 percent over the profit of $609 million of 2013.
For the October 2014 quarter pre-tax profit rose 9 percent over 2013 to reach $180 million from $165 million but profit after tax for the quarter was virtually flat at $149 million versus $145 million in 2013. The information was included in an abridged version of the bank’s results for 2014.
Citizens had assets of $34.9 billion at the end of September marginally down from the $35 million at the end of June. Since June customer deposits fell from $26.5 billion to $25.7 billion. The bank did not report details on loans at September. At the end of June this year, there was no growth in this asset which stood at $13.75 billion, slightly down on the amount at September 2013 and is hardly likely to have changed much since with flat assets.
Earnings per share amounted to $2.50 for 2014. The stock remains on the Buy Rated list with earnings per share of $2.75 projected for 2015 and a target price in the around $45.
A final dividend of 61 cents per share payable in December was declared, and it brings the total for the year to $1.18, up from $1.09 per share paid as the final dividend for the 2013, the amount was paid in January 2014.
The dividend policy of the Citizens is to distribute to its ordinary shareholders funds surplus to the operating capital and strategic requirements of the Group, as determined by the Directors, with an annual target dividend pay-out percentage range of 45 to 55 percent of net profit after-tax.
The company was listed on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange in September 2013, after a successful public share issue.
Eppley goes to Market again
Eppley goes to Market again, this time to raise between $150 million and up $250 million by way of an additional amount of the 2019 preference shares. The yield will initially be 10 percent for the first two years, with step of rates thereafter.
According to the company, “as a result of excessive demand for the cumulative redeemable preference shares of the Company due 2019 (the “2019 Preference Shares”) for which subscriptions were invited subject to a prospectus dated 4 November 2014, the Company now invites further Applications for subscription for 25,000,000 additional new 2019 Preference Shares in the capital of the Company”. JMMB Securities Limited is acting as lead broker and listing agent to the Company in the Invitation. The Company reserves the right to make available further 2019 Preference Shares prior to the Closing Date.
The Company reserves the right to issue up to 41,666,667- 2019 Preference Shares in the event that the Invitation is oversubscribed by applicants and on that basis the total consideration for the subscription of such shares would be greater than $150,000,000 but will not exceed $250,000,002. The issue opens on Tuesday 16 December and closes Tuesday 23 December 2014 with the shares being issued at $6 each.
The Company already has accepted applications for the issue of 58,333,334 – 2019 Preference Shares by way of prospectus dated 4 November 2014 however these shares have not yet been allotted and as such, at the date of this Prospectus there are no holders of the 2019 Preference Shares as yet. It is the intention of the Board that any 2019 Preference Shares for which Applications are made pursuant to this prospectus, or for which applications were successfully made pursuant to the earlier prospectus dated 4 November, will be allotted simultaneously by the Company. The shares are expected to be listed on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Cable & Wireless acquires Dekal Wireless
Cable & Wireless Jamaica (C&W) advised that a member of the CWC Group of companies entered into an agreement to purchase all the shares in the parent company of Dekal Wireless Jamaica on November 9, 2014.
Subject to the relevant regulatory approvals, Dekal Wireless Jamaica Limited will in the interest of efficiency be operated by Cable & Wireless Jamaica. Dekal Wireless the release said is a licensed provider of wireless internet services to rural Jamaican communities. C&W further stated “that this collaboration will increase internet availability to previously under-served communities; improve prepaid internet accessibility via laptops, tablets or smartphones to more consumers, islandwide.”
This is the second company to be acquired by the CWC group within a matter of a month.The acquisition will add customers and income to C&W and help to cut overhead cost in the new acquisition.