Grace climbs following Q1 profit – Friday

May 13, 2016 by

Grace Kennedy closed at a 52 weeks' high on Friday after releasing jump in profits on Thursday.

Grace Kennedy closed at a 52 weeks’ high on Friday after releasing jump in profits on Thursday.

Grace Kennedy climbed to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $87 but closed with a gain of $1.51 at $85.51 with 18,308 shares changing hands after it traded at $87 earlier in the day. The company reported a big jump in earnings for the March 2016 quarter of 153 percent after strong growth in most divisional profit and investors are quietly buying into the fortunes with selling down to just two offers amounting to 4,700 shares.
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the main market on Friday was saw low volumes changing hands, but the market closed with less active selling than before the reading of the budget, on Thursday by the Minister of Finance.
The market closed with 35 securities changed hands, accounting for 7,118,990 units valued at $65,679,792, in all market segments. The junior market had only 193,019 shares traded, valued at $1,341,812. Investors pushed the price of 12 stocks in the overall market up, 8 were pushed down, including 3 stocks rising and 6 declining, from the junior market.
JSE Sum-13-5-16The JSE Market Index declined 19.98 points to end at 151,766.65. The all Jamaica Composite Index fell 22.35 points to close at 168,562.31 and the JSE combined index rose 64.63 points, to close at 163,186.81.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 13,000 shares to close at $4.25, Cable & Wireless closed at $1.49 after trading 483,787 units, Caribbean Cement traded 28,865 shares to close at $25. Carreras traded 96,066 shares and rose by $1 to $64, this after the Finance Minister announced increased taxes on, in his budget presentation. Jamaica Broilers ended at $14.50 while trading 7,734 shares with a loss of 5 cents. Kingston Wharves climbed 15 cents in trading 252,745 shares to close at $11.80. Mayberry Investments fell 21 cents with 50,000 shares trading to close at $3.99, National Commercial Bank traded 17,700 shares, to close at $39.75. Pan Jamaican Investment closed trading at $120 with 311,591 shares changing hands, in response to the company’s announced a 5 for 1 stock split. JSE MM fn qts 13-5-16There are only two offers on the board at the end of trading to sell between $130 and $150. Radio Jamaica traded 330,850 shares at $1.10, Sagicor Group ended with 236,769 shares changing hands and rose 50 cents to end at $23, Scotia Group closed at $30.01 while 155,668 units changed hands after falling 99 cents, Supreme Ventures closed at $5.47 with 6,641 shares changing hands after rising 21 cents. Proven Investments traded 9,200 shares at 17.50 US cents, JMMB 6% US dollar preference share gained 4 cents to end at US$1.09 while 21,200 units changed hands and JMMB 7.5% preference share ended with 4,878,670 units trading at $1.05.

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JSE first quarter results jump

May 12, 2016 by

JSE frnt 2Jamaica Stock Exchange reported a 44 percent jump in the first quarter profit to $126 million, from $87 million in 2015 for the three months ending March. The growth in profit flowed from revenues of $327 million, a 29 percent increase over the $253 million in 2015. The increase this year comes against the background that the quarter in 2015 results came from a loss position of $2.3 million.
Earnings per share ended at 89 cents in 2016 versus 62 cents in 2015. Profit before tax, grew from $130 million in 2015 to $187 million, with tax taking $61 million in the 2016 first quarter from $43 million.
Revenues growth benefited from increased trading activities this year over 2015, new business from the handling of repo business and from a big trade in the shares of Desnoes and Geddes, in 2015 there was a large trade in the shares of Scotia Group.
Expenses climbed at a slower pace than income, with an increase of 16 percent to end at $150 million. Wages climbed from $46 million to $57 million due to salary increases and additional staffing. Advertising and amortization is up from $14 million to $20.7 million, while other operating cost rose by $10.6 million from $5 million.
At the end of the quarter, cash and equivalent stood at $589 million and equity capital climbed to $751 million up from $649 million at the end of March 2015.
JSE’s stock traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with the price closing at $21 on Thursday.

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Grace Kennedy’s blow out quarter

May 12, 2016 by
Grace Kennedy profit for Q1 jumped 153%

Grace Kennedy profit for Q1 jumped 153%

Grace Kennedy reported a 153 percent jump in it results for the first quarter ending March with profit after tax of $1.5 billion versus $589 million in 2015. Grace reports that $606 million of the increase came from disposal of investment, with the bulk of it coming from the liquidation of a subsidiary.
Earnings per share ended at $4.51 compared to $1.78 in 2015 and the full year’s earnings looking to exceed $13 per share.
Grace reported sales revenues of $22 billion up from $19.36 billion in 2015, with profit from operations doubling to $1 billion, while other income amounted to $991 million up from $316 million in 2015.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Don Wehby steering the Grace ship to safer waters.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Don Wehby steering the Grace ship to safer waters.

The food and trading division enjoyed the most growth, moving from $398 million to $855 million, the banking and investing segment recorded lower profits of $29 million than the $89 million in the 2015 period, while the money transfer segment, continues to deliver attractive increases of 26.5 percent, with profit of $587 versus $464 million and the Insurance division went up 48 percent from $67 million to $99 million.
The company attributed the strong increase in the food and trading division to “improved performance of our food distribution and manufacturing business in Jamaica and internationally.”
Grace’s stock has come in for increased demand on the Jamaica Stock exchange over the last few trading days, with the price closing at $84 on Thursday with 1,021,582 units traded.

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Pan Jam’s 5 for 1 split

May 11, 2016 by

pan_jamaican_logo280x150IC Insider.com long standing BUY RATED stock, Pan-Jamaican Investment Trust (PJAM) may now be set to come into its own with an announced 5 for 1 stock split approved by the board in February, with the Jamaica Stock Exchange being informed more than 2 months after they should have been.
The stock last traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $98, but based on its earnings of $15.19, the price should be much higher. The stock price has struggled for some time to achieve the valuation that most other stocks in the main market have attained, since the start 2015. As one of the highest priced stocks on the Jamaican market, investors have been looking elsewhere, to invest their money, leaving the stock attractively priced and undervalued.
Various investors in the past, have been saying that the company needed to split the stock to make it more attractive for investors. Management felt otherwise, saying that a split would make it appear to be a penny stock, in the eyes of overseas investors.
It seems like the decision of both Jamaican Teas and the Lasco group to split and the impact that the spilt has had on the prices of these stocks may have convinced the Pan Jam directors to take the plunge.
The company in a release to the Stock Exchange today, advised that the following resolution was recommended by the Board of Directors at its meeting held on February 29, 2016: “Special Resolution- Resolution for the Sub-Division of Shares – “That each of the 250,000,000 ordinary shares in the capital of the company be subdivided in 5 ordinary shares each thereby making a total share capital of 1,250,000,000 ordinary shares of no par value at the existing total stated capital of 2,141,985,000 with effect from the close of business on May 31, 2016”.
The resolution is subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 26, 2016.
Interestingly, the Jamaica Stock Exchange rule states that a company is required to give notice to the Exchange of at least a week in advance, the date of the Board meeting at which the declaration or recommendation of a dividend, bonus issue or rights issue will be considered. Question did Pan Jamaican comply?

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Jamaican Teas profit rises

May 11, 2016 by

Jamaican Teas Door A 55 percent jump in the profit before tax for the quarter to March 2016, to $31 million over the previous year’s quarter, was one of the highlights of Jamaican Teas’ 2016 performance to date. After tax profit jumped for the quarter by 30 percent to $26 million. There was no taxation provision in the 2015 period.
For the six months to March, profit before tax was up 69 percent to $73 million but after accounting for tax, in the current year ended 44 percent higher at $62 million for the 2015 period. Total comprehensive income which includes unrealized gain on sale on investments was up year over year at $95 million versus $57 million in 2015.
Sales for the Quarter of $326 million exceeded the $293 million for the previous year’s quarter by 11 percent, while for the six months, sales grew 17 percent to $713 million. Gross profit for the group increased faster than revenues, with an increase of 22 percent to $73 million for the quarter to March and for the year to date, by 24.5 percent to $152 million.
The manufacturing division recorded growth of local sales of 11 percent to $94 million for the quarter and 14 percent for the half year to $190. Exports grew 12 percent for the quarter to $90 million and 8 percent for the six months period to $199 million. Retails sales grew ahead of inflation with an increase of 12 percent to $141 for the quarter and an increase of 10 percent for the half year, to $257 million. There were no sales recorded for residential property for the quarter but sales of $40 million were recorded in the year to date results.
Profit before tax for the manufacturing division was $47 million compared to $34 million for the six months to March while for the retail segment profit was just $1 million compared to $577,000 in 2015. Share of associated company loss amounted to $5.10 million versus $3.34 million in 2015.
JamTs trck Expenses for quarter to March rose 18.5 percent and 18 percent for the six months to March but the increase was less than that of gross profit. Sales and Marketing cost rose by 24 percent to $18 million, Administration cost rose 17 percent to $66 million, Finance cost ended the period at $20 million, an increase of 16 percent, partially due to delay in completing sales in the real estate development, as well loans used in the funding of equity investment.
Investments contributed $8.6 million to profit from sale of investments for the half year leaving unrealized gains of $44 million at the end of March, with the gains included in the investment portfolio of $119 million.
Inventories grew from $396 million in March 2014 to $434 million, including $240 million cost of the real estate development. Amounts due from purchasers of houses in the development, totalling $75 million, helped to push receivable balance to $275 million.
Payables increased by $42 million over the year-end, due mainly to the purchase of inventories which increased by $45 million, or 11 percent over the September 2015 balance.
Cash generated from operations amounted to $38 million after paying corporate taxes of $20 million and repaying loans of $36 million and cash and cash equivalent ended at $35 million.
Shareholder’s equity stood at $820 million for a book value per share of $2.43 compared to a stock price of $3.90 on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. (John Jackson is a director of Jamaican Teas).

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JSE reverses most of early losses – Tuesday

May 10, 2016 by

Carib Cement jumped $1.99 to close at $27.99 on Tuesday.

Carib Cement jumped $1.99 to close at $27.99 on Tuesday.

Volumes climbed sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the main market on Tuesday, with a number of individual stocks having large trades, a feature that was absent from the market for weeks. Market activity in the early morning session, saw the main market indices down close to 1,000 points, by the close, most of the losses were wiped out.
The market closed with 37 securities changed hands, accounting for 5,791,740 units valued at $159,776,122, in all market segments. The junior market accounted for 1,364,688 units of the shares traded, valued at $9,672,342. Investors pushed the price of 18 stocks in the overall market up, 7 were pushed down including 7 stocks rising and 3 declining, from the junior market.
The JSE Market Index fell 42.46 points to end at 151,501.07. The all Jamaica Composite Index slipped 47.48 points to close at 168,265.30 and the JSE combined index rose 75.85 points, to close at 162,773.46.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 13 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
JSE Sum-10-5-16At the end of market activities, Berger Paints traded 99,158 shares to rise 14 cents and closed at $4.14, Cable & Wireless closed at $1.39 after trading 154,987 units, Caribbean Cement traded 154,987 shares as the price jumped $1.99 to close at $27.99, Ciboney traded 418,270 shares at 13 cents after gaining 1 cent. Grace Kennedy closed at $84 with 945,030 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers lost 5 cents to end at $14.50 while trading 428,112 shares, JMMB Group rose 50 cents in trading 20,044 shares to close at $10, Kingston Wharves traded 95,600 shares, to close at $11.65. Margaritaville Turks fell 0.50 US cent in trading 402,850 shares at 16.50 US cents, National Commercial Bank gained 3 cents while trading 990,580 shares to close at $39.80, Pan Jamaican Investment jumped $1 with 12,640 shares trading at $98,JSE MM fn qts 10-5-16 Radio Jamaica traded 15,327 shares to end at $1.10. Sagicor Group ended with 41,056 shares changing hands with a gain of 31 cents to end at $22.30, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 131,542 shares to close at $10.10 after rising 10 cents, Scotia Group rose 50 cents to close at $31 while 8,841 units changed hands. Scotia Investments ended trading 19,695 shares to close at $26, Seprod Fell $1 to close at $16 with 13,284 units changing hands, Supreme Ventures gained 22 cents and closed at $5.49 with 6,693 shares changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 431,660 units at 17.05 US cents, down from 19 US cents.

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Strong JPS financial performance

May 10, 2016 by

JPSJamaica’s main power generator, Jamaica Public Service Company, delivered improved results for its shareholders for 2015. The company reported US$26.5 Million in profit and US$30.7 Million total Comprehensive income for the full year to December. The result was an improvement over the $23 Million and $7.5 Million recorded respectively in 2014.
The improvement was due to a combination of factors, including growth in energy sales, improved generation efficiency and lower than expected finance costs.
The Company earned operating revenues of US$760 million for the year, a decline of $263 million or 26 percent than in 2014, due primarily to the 46 percent decrease in fuel costs recovered from customers, offset by a 2 percent increase in energy sales. JPS states that the increased energy sales, 1.9 percent above the 2014, reversed a three year trend of declining sales. “The increase was attributed to warmer weather, lower fuel costs and increased consumer confidence. As a result, the non-fuel revenues were approximately $7M or 1.7 percent above budget.”
The company also stated that it recorded the best thermal plant fleet Heat Rate ever: which also better than the target set. Operating expenses of $200 million incurred in the current year compares to $191 million in 2014. Excluding depreciation and amortisation expenses, the increase flowed from $5 million increase in other operating expenses which moved from $137 million while depreciation and amortisation expenses increased to $58 million as opposed to $54 million in 2014.
Net finance costs decreased by $13 million or 23% from $55 million in 2014 to $42 million in 2015 mainly as a result of a reduction in net losses suffered on foreign currency transactions and balances. Cash inflows from operating activities improved from $106 million in 2014 to $119 million in 2015. The improved inflows from operating activities were offset by increases in the cash outflows from investing and financing activities. Cash outflows from financing activities increased marginally from $64 million in 2014 to $65 million in 2015. Cash outflows from financing activities increased from $36 million in 2014 to $57million in 2015. At the end the cash position saw net cash & cash equivalents decreasing from $8 million in 2014 to $6 million.
JPS has preference shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange but no ordinary shares.

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Steady progress at NCB

May 7, 2016 by

NCB hqtrFor the six months ended March, this year, National Commercial Bank (NCB) reported net profit of $6 billion or $2.44 per share, an increase of $594 million or 11 percent over the similar period in 2015. Profit after tax ended 10.2 percent higher at $3.6 billion, $332 million more than for the 2015 period, as loans and advances grew $14.8 billion for a 9.4 percent increase to $172.7 billion.
For the six months period, operating income increased by 8.6 percent, or $2 billion, compared with the six months to March, 2015. Contributing to this increase, are net interest income increasing by 9.4 percent, or $1.2 billion, due to growth in the net loans and investment securities portfolios and a reduction in interest expenses driven by the decline in the repurchase agreements portfolio. Premium income grew by $687 million, or 18.5 percent, due to higher levels of life insurance and annuity contracts and net fee and commission income increasing by 7.9 percent, or $384 million, mainly due to credit related fees from the growth in the loan portfolio, corporate finance and unit trust commissions arising from growth in those product lines.
“Operating expenses increased by 10.8 percent, or $1.8 billion, over the six months ended March, 2015 as policyholders’ and annuitants’ benefits and reserves, were up by $977 million, or 51 percent, due to increased actuarial reserves related to life insurance and annuity contracts sold. Staff costs climbed by 9.4 percent, or $593 million. Other operating expenses, were up by $366 million, or 5.5 percent, due to technical, consultancy and professional charges, licensing and processing fees” NCB directors’ report to shareholders stated.
“We anticipate a steady performance for the second half of the financial year as we pursue our strategic objectives and implement various initiatives under our digitisation agenda.”
NCB Mbay“Commercial banking activities, comprising the Retail & SME, Payments Services, Corporate Banking, and Treasury & Correspondent Banking segments, produced combined operating profits of $4.6 billion for the six months ended March, 2016, an increase of 6.9 percent, or $299 million, when compared to the six months ended March, 2015. Our Treasury & Correspondent Banking segment was the largest contributor to operating profit for the period.” The directors’ report went on to state.
IC Insider.com is projecting earnings of $5.65 for the year to September. The stock traded on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $40 and would be valued at a PE of 7.2.
Non-performing loans totalled $8.5 billion as at March, down from $8.8 billion at March 2015, representing 4.8 percent of the gross loans compared to 5.4 percent a year ago. Customer deposits of $251 billion, increased by 19.5 percent over the twelve months, at a much slower pace than growth in the critical area of lending.
NCB ended with equity of $92 billion at the end of the quarter but lending only accounts for 58 percent of customers’ deposits and funds under securitisation arrangements.

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Tax impairs Jn Life profit

May 5, 2016 by

JNB HQA rise in the charge in taxation for 2015 to $35 million, from $3 million in 2014, eroded the 20 percent gain in gross premium income, JN Life Insurance realized, for the year ended December 2015.
Premium income amounted to $352 million from $294 million for the prior period leading to net premium income of $292 million for an increase of percent over the $250 million netted in 2014.
Operating cost and net insurance benefits increased from $155 million to $184 million an increase of 19 percent, just a shade lower than the increased premium income.
The tax rate increase resulted from the introduction of a corporate income tax last year March that replaced premium and investment taxes at rates of 3 percent and 15 percent respectively. Thus the effective corporate tax rate for JN Life for 2015 was 26 percent of pre-tax profit in contrast to 2.4 percent for 2014.
Although profit before tax increased from $118 million to $135.5 million profit after tax fell from $115 million in 2014 to $100 million, due to the increased tax.
While profits declined moderate total assets grew 36 percent year-on-year from $355 million to $481 million. Investments, which were mainly in BOJ certificate of deposits and government notes, increased by 31 percent over the $293 million reported for 2014 to $384 million.

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Eppley seeks $317m from right issue

May 3, 2016 by

eppleyEppley limited, providers of insurance premium financing, is expected to raise $317 million from its renounceable rights issue of ordinary shares, when it offers 487,703 new ordinary shares priced at $650 to ordinary stockholders this month. The record date for the issue is Friday 6 May and the date for the stock to start trading ex rights, is May 4.
Proceeds from the rights will doubled the company’s existing equity capital of $314 million and improve the debt to equity ratio which is heavily weighted towards medium term redeemable preference shares with total borrowings of $997 million at the end of March, this year.
The company reported a 17.7 percent increase in profit after tax for the first quarter this year, of $10.6 million over the $8.7 million made in the first quarter of 2015. Profit for 2015 financial year ended at $56.5 Million.
Since the company announced plans for the issue, the price moved from $400.01 to $650 in this morning’s trading for an increase of 62.5 percent. The proceeds will allow them to expand their offerings and or pay down debt.
Eppley is listed on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, and last traded at $650 with a PE ratio of 8.

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