Inflation jumps 1 percent in May, the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin) stated in a release today, compared to the index for April. An increase of 0.7 percent in ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ and 3.6 percent increase in the index for the division ’Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other Fuels’ were the major reasons for the sharp climb. The movement in the index for May 2014 resulted in a calendar year-to-date inflation rate of 2.4 percent. Inflation declined in April by 0.7 percent compared to March this year.
According to Statin, the division ‘Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages’ was impacted by increases of 1.9 percent and 1.6 percent in ‘Bread and Cereals’ and ‘Milk, Cheese and Eggs’ respectively. There were declines of 0.4 percent and 0.3 percent for the classes ‘Fruit’ and ‘Vegetables and Starchy Foods’ respectively. Within the division ‘Housing Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ the advance in the index for ‘Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ of 7.3 percent was moderated by the fall of 3.4 percent in the index for ‘Water Supply and Miscellaneous Services Related to Dwelling’
The other divisions that recorded increases in the All Jamaica ‘All Divisions’ index were: ‘Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco’ 0.5 percent, ‘Clothing and Footwear’ 0.2 percent, ‘Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance’ 0.5 percent, ‘Health’ 0.2 percent, ‘Transport’ 0.4 percent, ‘Recreation and Culture’ 0.1 percent, ‘Restaurants and Accommodation Services’ 0.5 percent, and ‘Miscellaneous Goods and Services’ 0.5 percent.
Profit down at Blue Power
Blue Power reported a fall in profit for the year to April this year with profit declining to $93 million compared to $104 million in 2013 with most of the decline coming in the last quarter, with the quarterly profit falling to $22.7 million versus $37.1 million in 2013, but the April quarter’s profit was above the third quarter profit of $15.2 million. Earnings per stock unit moved down 10 percent from $1.84 to $1.65.Management indicated the overall contraction of demand in the country and the completion of projects supported by a foreign agency in the last two years, are contributing factors to the flat sales with combined sales for the twelve months at $1.05 billion roughly the same amount as in 2013. Revenues in the last quarter came in at $268 million versus $345 million in 2013. The last quarter figure is slightly below the $263 million generated in the January quarter.
Divisional profit contributions came from the Lumber Depot division with $42 million, while the Blue Power division provided $51 million with sales rising 5 percent from $303 million to $318 million for the Blue Power division while the Lumber Depot division had a small decline of 2 percent from $745 million to $728 million.
Administrative and other expenses fell to $135 million from $136.5 million. Gross profit declined to $218.3 million from $232 million in 2013.
Financial strength| The company remains financially sound with the bulk of the $95 million funds generated during the year, going to fund increased inventories and receivables but they still held on to $136 million in cash, at the end of the financial year. Equity climbed to $431 million up from $346 million last year.
The company announced that they will be considering the payment of a dividend at a meeting to be held on Monday, June 23, 2014.
Management stated that they have undertaken a number of initiatives to contain costs and improve margins. They also indicated that they completed solar installations at two of their locations which will begin to impact positively on energy expenses during the coming year and the third energy-saving project will be completed before the end of this calendar year and its impact will be felt in the fourth quarter. For the current fiscal year earnings should come in close to that earned for the 2014 year.
Guardian General Profit drops
Guardian General Insurance the Jamaica general insurance arm of the Trinidad Stock Exchange listed Guardian Holdings recorded lower profits in 2013 than it did the year before thanks to higher claims and lower investment income. Profit after tax came in at $272 million versus $392 million in the prior year even as premium income rose to $109 billion up from $$8383 million. The company reported an underwriting loss of $39 million compared with a surplus of just $12 million in 2012 due mainly to increased underwriting losses of $877 million versus $552 million in 2012.
Investment income fell from $389 million in 2012 to $296 million while administrative expenses climbed to $427 million from $323 million.
Total assets moved from $6.12 billion in 2012 to $8.65 billion due to the combination of what was formerly Globe Insurance and West Indies Alliance in September 2013 and equity ended down at $2.87 billion from $2.98 billion as dividend of $1.16 billion was paid out during the year.
40 minutes world cup loss damages JPS image
As if its public image was not already low JPS did more damage to it today with a massive power outage at the start of the popular world cup series and amidst a near 100 degree hot a muggy temperature. Football enthusiasts who rely on television for the viewership of their sports were deprived of catching the start of the world cup match between Mexico and Cameroon which started at 11 Jamaica time. The outage could hardly have been at a worse time for them, especially at a time when they have mouthed the thought of getting the permission to supply the additional amount of new electrical power to the system.
While government is trying to get third parties to set up a new power plant to feed into the JPS grid, JPS would not have done themselves much favour if what would appear to be the logical decision of allowing them to add the needed supply to the grid. What has not been said in the saga of getting cheaper power to consumers of electricity is, with JPS already having the overheads for supplying the current and near term needs, switching to a new supplier of power generation will not provide the best cost option as two sets of overhead cost will have to be borne by consumers, plus the profit margin of a separate supplier as well as additional mark up the JPS will effect for transmitting the supply. So consumers will be hit with double cost and double profits.
But JPS should have been performing better than they have. But clearly government ministers have not been thinking properly being 20 percent owners in JPS. Have anyone thought about the effect that by passing JPS for power generation will have on the 20 percent stake owned by taxpayers through the government, if that been considered seriously no one is telling the country?
While the government is focusing on new supply to deliver cheaper power,
Palace movies go ½ off
Movie promoters, Palace Amusement Company announced the giving of patrons ½ off on movie tickets for Monday evening movies and Tuesday matinees at all cinemas ahead of the start of the hectic summer season. Previously, the company offered patrons the benefit of the purchase of 2 tickets for the price of one, allowing two persons to attend at the price of just one ticket. The new arrangement will see each patron enjoying a 50 percent reduction in the price of their ticket on the specified days and times.
The company also indicated that” it has upgraded and improved its automated systems and user access. Patrons are now able to select and purchase specific box seats, as well as regular seats online with a Palace Card at Carib 5 and Palace Cineplex, in Kingston and collect the tickets purchased by swiping the Palace Card used for purchase, or by scanning e-receipt at the bar code reader station on location at the cinema. Fans can also top up their Palace Cards online using a Credit Card”.
The company is also celebrating Father’s Day this Sunday, June 15, with the gift of ½ off movie deals for all show times at all cinemas. Fathers who are football fans can see the Argentina v Bosnia-Herzegovina match, scheduled for 5:00 pm on Sunday, Live in HD at Carib 5 and Palace Multiplex. ½ Off Specials on Father’s Day apply to movies only.
The company’s website www.palaceamusement.com, will feature a Fresh New Look and users will also have the convenience of mobile access in addition to other User Friendly Features. Member login will remain the same.
Palace Amusement indicated in a release, that they have already begun to roll out the Summer Blockbusters and coming soon are: –
3D flicks – Edge of Tomorrow, How to Train Your Dragon 2, Transformers: Age of Extinction and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, also Steve Harvey’s Think Like a Man Too, Hercules, Jersey Boys, Sex Tapes and many more.
7 up 5 down at JSE
In today’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 7 stocks rose and 5 declined with only 23 securities traded, resulting in 2,098,406 shares changing hands valued at a mere $19,487,112.
Main Market| JSE Market Index inched down by 56.24 points to70,039.27 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index eased by 62.89 points to close down at 77,024.83.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Carreras with only 4,000 shares as the price gained 18 cents to end at $33.19, Cable & Wireless 93,020 units with the price gaining 3 cents to land at 30 cents, Scotia Group with 127,744 shares to close at $19.31 with a cent increase and its subsidiary Scotia Investments with 7,267 shares as it closed at $24, with a gain of 90 cents.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are, Berger Paints with 4,773 shares to close at $1.70, Ciboney with 11,000 units in closing at 7 cents, Jamaica Broilers with 238,932 shares as the price ended at $4.57 followed by Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 8,274 ordinary shares at $6.70, Kingston Wharves 7,520 units as the price closed at $5.10, National Commercial Bank had one of the better volume days with 633,525 shares as the price closed at $18.50 but the bulk of the trade were done at $17, Radio Jamaica had 9,292 shares to close at $1.29 and Sagicor Group 308,000 units at $9.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 125,000 units to close with a 2 cents gain at $3.05, Proven Investments 8% preference share put through 64,000 shares at $5.09 and Jamaican Teas debenture note traded 7,000 units at $100 each.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 22,386 shares as it lost 35 cents to end at $2.05, Grace Kennedy 310 units, declining by 50 cents to close at $53.50 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 5,500 units and declined 40 cents to close at $6.10.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.59 points to close at 711.45 as 5 stocks traded with 2 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Caribbean Cream with only 2,000 shares to trade 13 cents higher at the close to reach 83 cents and Lasco Manufacturing with 35,863 units to close with a 2 cents gain at $1.02.
Firm Trades| One stock in the junior market stocks traded to close at the same price as the day before, as Consolidated Bakeries with 250,000 units closed at 90 cents. Jamaican Teas junior listed bond closed at $100.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are General Accident Insurance with 90,000 units, declined 14 cents to close at $1.36 and Lasco Distributors 43,000 units and declined 1 cent to close at $1.18.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Outflows dominate
The Jamaican dollar was mixed against the main currencies, in Wednesday’s trading as the purchase of foreign currency by dealers, saw more demand than supply, breaking a three day spell of more inflows than outflows. A total of the equivalent of only US$24,428,168 entered the market with the equivalent of US$31,678,079 leaving. On Tuesday dealers bought the equivalent of US$33,917,829 and they sold the equivalent of US$28,025,802.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought only US$19,806,494 compared to US$26,384,979 on Tuesday as the buying rate for the US dollar fell 7 cents to $110.77 and sold US$27,301,779 versus US$22,336,540 on Tuesday with the rate closing up 5 cents to $111.45.
The Canadian dollar buying rate rose by 47 cents to end at $101.64 with dealers buying C$3,126,844 and selling C$3,327,533 with the rate rising 16 cents to end at $102.36.
The Pound closed at $184.65, for the purchase of £980,484 as the rate gained 18 cents, while £755,239 was sold, with the rate dropping 46 cents to $186.72. Other currencies bought amounted to the equivalent of only US$118,036 while selling accounted for the equivalent of just $54,991.
Highs & Lows| The highest rate gained 5 cents to $111.65 but the lowest buying rate along with the highest selling for the US dollar remained unchanged at $90.60 and $116.09 respectively. The lowest buying rate was up $17.90 to $108.50.
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose 45 cents to $102.60, the lowest buying rate remained unchanged at $80.68, the highest selling rate was up 38 cents to $104.48 and lowest selling rate was up by a mere 10 cents to $97.30.
The highest buying rate for the Pound gained 10 cents to $187.10 while the lowest buying rate remained unchanged at $149.40. The highest selling rate rose by $1.06 to $192.60 and the lowest selling rate was up 55 cents to $180.
Buy Rated update
Dolphin Cove was added to the Buy Rated list in May having produced a healthy 26 percent jump in earnings for the March quarter with indications that earnings could hit $1.20 for this year. At just $8.50, the price could jump in the months ahead.
Trinidad’s National Flour was also added to the watch list in May and AMG Packaging was moved earlier from Buy Rated to the Watch list. Access Financial which had been put back 
into the Buy Rated list when the price fell back to $8, has risen in price but remains on the Watch list until the director’s dispute is resolved.
Caribbean Cement remains in the buy list with the price having pulled back sharply, resulting from the unimpressive March quarter results. The price could still pull back some more so investors may want to watch before buying. One Caribbean Media has gained in price since placed on the Buy Rated list but is now losing some of its attractiveness with 25 percent potential gains to be expected from it now. Ivestors should be careful with this one unless their objective is for a longer term investment.
Junior Market| Some of the Junior market listings have not had a great first quarter in reporting profits, but prices have pulled back and that have helped to make them attractive buys with the hope that profit will improve going forward. The reality is that in the March quarter, government operated at a surplus and this would have pulled funds out of the system and squeezed consumers’ purchasing power, thus affecting the smaller companies more than the larger ones. Blue Power has stock buying interest but new investors may want to wait until the company reports in a few weeks’ time.
JSE Main Market| A number of the main market companies in Jamaica, reported strong first quarter growth in profits that points to the possibility of growth in 2014 profits for them. Outstanding results were reported by, Hardware and Lumber with IC Insider 2014 forecasted earnings, put at $5.40 which means a strong increase can be expected in the stock price. Grace reported 21 percent increase in March quarter results but some of this comes from one off losses incurred in 2013 and none in 2014 rather than from totally ongoing improvement in its operations. Pan Jam also reported strong increases in profit from continuing improvement in operations as well as recovery form one off losses in 2013. National Commercial Bank continues to post good numbers but the market is not yet impressed, Cable & Wireless revenues were up a strong 14 percent in the March quarter and seems headed to making a profit sooner than later as cost is also being cut. Cable & Wireless could benefit from increased customers from the heightened exposure that will flow from their sponsorship of telecast of the World Cup football on CVMTV station.
Carreras profit from ongoing operations is back on track after suffering a sharp contraction in the 2013 June quarter. With the high dividend payout the stock should gain from increased investor’s attention some time down the road. Jamaica Money Market with ongoing earnings up 81 percent for the year to March should see earnings in excess of $2 per share for the 2015 year and is clearly severely undervalued at $7. Sagicor Group’s profit was up a bit in the April quarter but remains undervalued. Scotia Group profit was down a bit in the April quarter but remains severely undervalued and Scotia Investments saw growth in profits in the April quarter but not a big increase over the NDX debt exchange affected 2013 quarter. The stock remains severely undervalued, nevertheless.
In Trinidad there are several stocks that remain undervalued compared to the average of the market, this is reflected in the Buy Rated list. See TTSE PE ratio chart for stocks selling below the market a sector levels.
Investors should note that the Jamaican market is in a period when investors’ attention on the market is low ahead of the period just ahead of the next set of company results due towards the end of July. This year with World Cup football taking centre stage the market may have to await August before the real depth of the market will be seen.
Jamaica Producers top inside trades
Jamaica Producers Group advises that a director purchased 433,941 shares in the company on June 6, 2014 while the Gleaner Jamaica advises that a senior manager sold 100,000 shares on June 3, 2014 and National Commercial Bank advises of the purchase of shares by Directors on May 30, 2014 and June 3, 2014 amounting to 37,208 units.
