Main Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange resulted in more gains for the major indices on Tuesday, but with declining stocks edging out advancing ones.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,603.82 points to close at 554,689.07, the JSE Market Index gained 1,368.73 points to 505,051.51 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.86 points to end at 137.19.
The market closed with 42 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with the prices of 16 stocks advancing, 18 declining and 8 trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 36 securities accounting for 25,370,029 units valued at $66,307,015 in contrast to 12,661,713 units valued at $111,971,239 from 47 securities on Monday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund dominated trading with 16.9 million shares for 67 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.1 million units for 16 percent of the day’s trade, and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution with 1.9 million shares for 7 percent of the market’s volume.
The Market closed with an average of 704,723 units valued $1,841,862 units for each security traded, in contrast to 301,469 units valued at an average of $2,665,982 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 463,503 units valued at $2,179,721 for each security changing hands, compared to 439,042 units valued at $2,218,333 for each security traded. Trading in December resulted in an average of 595,143 units valued at $9,344,514 for each security.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two securities closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 19.4, while the Main Market ended at 18.7 times the 2019 earnings.
In the prime market, Caribbean Cement dropped $4.50 to end at $69, with an exchange of 21,839 shares, Eppley gained 60 cents to close at $14.40 trading 5,607 shares, Grace Kennedy lost 99 cents exchanging 28,130 shares to end at $76.01, Jamaica Broilers closed 50 cents lower to $38.90, after swapping 8,915 shares. Jamaica Producers dropped $2.39 to settle at $24.01, with an exchange of 14,000 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed 90 cents transferring 150,186 units to end at $28.85, JMMB Group closed $2 higher to $48 in trading 106,771 units. Mayberry Investments ended at $8.50, after losing 50 cents with 21,947 shares changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities closed 89 cents lower at $11.31, in swapping 4,158 units, NCB Financial Group gained $3 to settle at $198, after transferring 23,644 shares. PanJam Investment closed $2 higher at $102 after trading just 364 units, Pulse Investments lost 44 cents to close at $6.45, with 122,736 units changing hands. 
Sagicor Group gained 40 cents to end at $70 in swapping 50,866 shares, Scotia Group advanced $3 to $58 in exchanging 58,212 shares and Supreme Ventures closed with a loss of 50 cents to end at $25, in swapping 10,227 shares.
Trading in the US dollar market ended with 84,352 units valued at over US$42,656. The market index advanced 8.56 points to close at 238.40. Margaritaville closed at 34.99 US cents, with 425 units changing hands, Proven Investments traded 58,581 units, in losing 1 US cent to close at 32 US cents. Sygnus Credit Investments ended with 8,800 shares changing hands at 18 US cents, Sterling Investments closed at 3 US cents after exchanging 3,458 units. JMMB Group 5.75% preference share traded 8,731 units at US$2.02 and JMMB Group 6% preference share traded 4,357 units at US$1.04.
Limners & Bards revise EPS
Kimala Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of The Lab.
Following IC Insider.com’s report that the earnings per share (EPS) for Limners & Bards were incorrect, the audited accounts of the company are now revised to reflect the EPS the article suggested they should be.
The revised audited reports now state that the calculation of earnings per stock unit is based on the profit after taxation and the weighted average number of stock units in issue during the year. Net profit attributable to shareholders of $94,746,238 in 2019, $62,313,858 in 2018. The weighted average number of ordinary stock units is 803,836,715 in 2019 and 756,552,202 in 2018, resulting in Basic and diluted earnings per stock unit of12 cents in 2019 and 8 cents in 2018.
The original audited financial statements showed the basic and diluted earnings per stock unit at 10 cents for the 2019 fiscal year and 7 cents for 2018 based on the weighted average of ordinary stock units 945,690,252 in each year.
IC Insider’s report on Tuesday stated that “Limners and Bards released full-year results with profit after taxation of $95 million, up by an impressive 52 percent from the $62 million earned in 2018 from healthy gains in revenues, with earnings per share (EPS) works out at 12 cents for 2019 and 8 cents for 2018.”
The company’s operating revenues grew 31 percent to $632 million from $483 million in 2018, with the last quarter growing a stunning 58 percent to $146 million, generating income just below the $152 million generated in the July quarter and profit before tax of $18 million versus $16.5 million in the July quarter. 
While revenues for the year rose 31 percent, direct cost rose at a slower pace, resulting in the gross profit climbing 39.4 percent over 2018 as gross profit margin rose to 36 percent compared to 33.7 percent in 2018. Administrative cost rose well ahead of revenue growth with a 41 percent increase over 2018, but the full-year increase is below a 70 percent surge in the July quarter while the fourth quarter saw a rise of 39 percent over 2018, is in line with the full-year increase.
In a statement accompanying the nine months results, Chairman, Steven Gooden and Kimala Bennett, Chief Executive Officer stated, “Administration expenses increased by $23.737 million, or 42 percent, which represent 16.63 percent of revenue for the nine months compared to 14.60 percent to the corresponding period ended July 31, 2018. These increases are primarily attributable to staff costs (due to increase work volume), subcontractors (on retainer contracts), depreciation charges and security costs”.
The company reports on three segments comprising Production, Media and Agency. For 2019 Production generated earnings of $226 million and profit of $100 million while Media raked in $292 million but ended with just $40 million in profit and agency the most profitable brought in $114 million and delivered $85 million in net income.
The company ended the year with cash and equivalent of $292 million with shareholders’ equity of $356 million, up from $123 million in 2018. Borrowings stood at $50 million with payables of $83 million and current assets of $387 million.
IC Insider.com forecast earnings per share of 20 cents for 2020 that puts the PE ratio at 15 with the stock closing trading at $3 on Tuesday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and is a stock to be watched into 2020.
Gains for TTSE market – Monday
Market activity on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange ended Monday with 15 securities changing hands against 17 on Friday, with four stocks advancing, two declining and nine remaining unchanged.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 4.73 points to 1,457.19. The All T&T Index gained 4.38 points to 1,827.44, while the Cross Listed Index added 0.69 points to close at 147.30 as two stocks closed at 52 weeks’ high and one ended at a 52 weeks’ low.
Investors traded 369,862 shares amounting to $5,832,895 compared to 790,993 shares amounting to $4,244,292 on Friday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended at two stocks with bids lower than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund concluded trading 2 cents and ended at $25, after exchanging 21,009 shares, First Citizens Bank gained $1 and settled at a 52 weeks’ high of $44, after trading 50 shares. NCB Financial added 10 cents and settled at $11.30, with 304,000 stock units changing hands and Republic Financial rose 5 cents and concluded trading of 7,687 stock units at a 52 weeks’ high of $130.15.
Losses| Calypso Micro Index Fund fell 5 cents in trading 920 shares and closed at $15.75 and One Caribbean Media closed 25 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.50, with 5,000 units.
Firm Trades| Ansa Mcal completed trading at $52.50, with 200 units crossing the exchange, Ansa Merchant Bank settled at $35.50, with 160 units trading, Massy Holdings closed at $59.75, with 327 stock units changing hands. National Enterprises ended at $5.55, with an exchange of 463 stock units, Scotiabank settled at $60, with 3,540 units, West Indian Tobacco concluded at $41, with 828 units crossing the exchange. Trinidad Cement completed trading at $1.95, after exchanging 1,000 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL traded 24,453 shares to close at $21.11 and Unilever Caribbean settled at $23.50, with investors swapping 225 units.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
Strong first quarter for Wisynco
Wisynco traded at $22 on Thursday.
According to brothers William and Andrew Mahfood, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer respectively, in their joint commentary accompanying the quarterly, “we had very strong growth in our core beverage brands as a result of increased demand and improved efficiencies in plant productivity. In addition, the strategic alliances between Worthy Park and St Mary’s Snacks along with increasing revenue from other portfolios contributed to drive revenues to new highs.”
The quarterly revenues are much higher than the $6.9 billion generated in the June quarter and profit of $694 million after-tax.
Wisynco brand Wata to benefit from 3 new production that is now in operation.
According to the directors, “the leveraging of our distribution system with the new portfolios, while driving revenue growth, favorably impacted our expense to sales ratio that declined to 22.5 percent of sales from the 25.6 percent for the first quarter of 2019. Selling, Distribution and Administrative expenses for the quarter increased by 18 percent to $2 billion above the $1.7 billion for the prior year and well below the increased revenues.
True Juice orange juice bottled by and distributed Wisynco
The Group had equity capital of $12 billion with loan funding of $2.6 billion but with cash and investment funds at $5.5 billion after the Group operations delivered cash inflows of $1.64 billion. Net Current Assets stood at $6.2 billion with current assets of $11.5 billion.
IC Insider.com projects earnings of $1.40 for the current fiscal year with revenues reaching just under $37 billion and $1.95 for 2021. The stock closed at $22 and now sells at a PE ratio of 15 times the current year’s earnings and is fairly valued currently and seems to hold good long-term growth potential.
Trading & prices rise on TTSE – Tuesday
Trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange climbed well above Monday’s level with 646,866 shares valued $8,173,637 crossing the exchange compared to 31,251 shares at a value of $1,140,527 on Monday.
Trading ended with 15 securities changing hands compared to 13 on Monday and ended with 8 advancing, 3 declining and 4 remaining unchanged.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index added 0.44 points to 1,389.72. The All T&T Index declined 1.19 points to 1,751.52, while the Cross Listed Index rose 1.86 points to close at 139.26.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 2 stocks closing with the bids higher than the last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Gains| Angostura Holdings closed with an increase of 1 cent at $15.85, with 2,000 stock units changing hands, Clico Investment Fund rose 10 cents and to close at $24.10, with 11,070 units crossing the exchange, Grace Kennedy added 1 cent and ended at $3.30, after exchanging 349,363 shares. JMMB Group gained 5 cents and ended at $2.25, with 260 units crossing the exchange, Massy Holdings rose 45 cents and completed trading of 48,380 units at $54.50. NCB Financial closed with a gain of 24 cents, settled at $10.25, with 468 stock units changing hands One Caribbean Media finished trading with 9 cents and ended at $10.10, with 200 stock units trading and Trinidad & Tobago NGL traded 79,140 units and gained 1 cent to close at $24.51.
Losses| CinemaOne lost 35 cents and concluded trading of 740 units at 52 weeks’ low of $7.15, First Citizens Bank ended trading 29 cents lower and settled at $40.10, in swapping of 3,137 shares and Trinidad Cement closed with a loss of 5 cents at 52 weeks’ low of $2.30, with 4,284 stock units changing hands.
Firm Trades| Guardian Holdings ended at $18.01, swapping of 15,428 shares, Guardian Holdings completed trading at $18.01, with 15,428 units, Republic Financial concluded at $121.33, with 524 units, Sagicor Financial completed trading 126,967 units at $10.45, with and Scotiabank settled at $58.50, with 5,645 units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those at which the last trade took place.
RJR heads market watch list
Radio Jamaica came into increased buying last week to hit a 52 weeks’ high of $2.58 before pulling back to close at $2.07. The stock shows strong signs of going higher and is the main stock to watch this week.
More buying interest developed for General Accident having posted net profit after tax of $135 million, up 42 percent on the $95.4 million earned in the 2018 period. Pretax profit for the second quarter grew by a stronger 58 percent to $127 from $80 million in 2018. There was no tax change in the second quarter of 2018. The stock price is range bound between $3 and $5.80 but has broken out and should pave the way for a higher price level going forward, some selling around $6.40 could hold back the move higher for a while.
More buying came in for Elite Diagnostic it is unclear if investors are ready to buy out supplies just above $7 in the short term. The stock is poised to move higher with recent signs of improving financial performance. Caribbean Cement has some new buying interest that suggests higher prices ahead, but all of that could well be due to month-end dressing up than real short-term demand. Recent big selling for Jamaican Teas could be over with the near 11 million trade in the second half of last week. Buying interest continues to build that could take the price higher soon.
True Juice orange juice bottled by and distributed Wisynco
One technical indicator is showing Jetcon Corporation’s downturn is over and there is likely to be a big upside for the stock after the company reported in their second results an upswing in sales in June and July over the similar periods in 2018 and that orders for August suggest they will enjoy a much better sales than in 2018. It is not very clear but Honey Bun is on an upswing and could move higher over the next few weeks.
Medical Disposables closed with just one offer of 49,900 shares for sale at $8.80, but buyers may wait out buying until more sellers come with lower offers.
Lasco Manufacturing is hitching to break into the $6 region as more demand has come in for the stock. Wisynco Group came under selling pressure recently with the price moving into the $30 region, technical reading shows it at support around $24 with an upward bias.
Wigton profit to help light up JSE
Wigton stock could spike on Wednesday.
Some main market companies are reporting big gains in earnings after the market closed on Tuesday and these could push prices up on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm posted positive results for the June quarter, with profit jumping from $175 million to $366 million with modest foreign exchange gains, resulting in earnings per share of 3.3 cents that should translate to over 10 cents for the year. Revenues grew 12 percent at Kingston Wharves to $3.8 billion, over the corresponding period in 2018 and net profit attributable to shareholders increased by 40 percent to $1.2 billion. For the June quarter, net profit rose 54 percent to $729 million on revenues that rose 12 percent to $19.7 billion. Importantly, Kingston Wharves reported earnings of 51 cents per share for the second quarter (annualized $2 per share) and 82 cents for the half-year.
Jamaica Producers increased second-quarter revenues by 12 percent to $5.4 billion over the 2018 period and net profit attributable to shareholders increasing 52 percent to $399 million.
Jamaica Producers snacks
PanJam results benefited from investments gains and gains from the sale of shares in an associated company. Productivity Business Solutions posted a rise in profits toUS$724,000 in the June quarter compared to a profit of $372,000 in 2018 and a profit of US$184,000 for the six months to June.
SOS & tTech head IC MarketWatch
SOS anticipates maximising profits from every business line in 2019.
Second-quarter results are coming out but still, a number of them are due out over the next few days. Results released today throws up a few strong numbers and the stocks of these companies are worth watching.
First, out the block today was tTech an IC TOP 10 BUY RATED selection with possible gains of 167 percent. The company reported a 20 percent increase in revenues in the second quarter of $91 million and a 62 percent rise in profit to $16 million and 15 cents per share with flat profit of $17 million or 16 cents per share for the half-year. The stock climbed to $6.50 at the close on Thursday and seems headed higher.
Stationery and Office Supplies reported a strong 195 percent rise in profit fro the second quarter to reach $34 million compared to just $12 million in 2018 from a 23 percent rise in sales to $295 million. for the half-year profit rose 63 percent to $92 million from $56 million from a 23 percent revenue increase to $639 million. The company is on target to meet IC Insider.com’s forecast of 75 cents for the full year. Radio Jamaica is yet to release its first-quarter results but investors have sent to stock to a high of $1.90 on Thursday. 
Demand has built and supplies shrank sharply and that should help move the price higher.
Caribbean cement traded 3,770,741shares up to $85 and is worth watching with supply falling. Sagicor Select ETF Fund was listed on Thursday but demand resulted in the price exceeding the 30 percent limit permitted by the JSE with investors attempting to trade the stock as high as $1.90 but the stock closed with no trading and closed with bids amounting 12 million shares at $1.30 and 324,520 were the lowest offers at $1.85. Lasco Manufacturing could be moving higher in coming trading days as supply declines and demand rises.
Market watch remains on Junior Market
Focus on the entire Junior Market was the advised investors got last week, as the market remained severely undervalued with technical indicators pointing to a breakout.
The advice remains for the second week as investors switch their focus decidedly on the market that lagged the main market for most of 2019 to date. The market reversed the near 10 percent loss in the first half of the year and moved solidly into the black with a rise of 9 percent to the end of last week. Technical indicators suggest a huge rise in the market as it moves to close the valuation gap with the main market.
In the process, the market rose 152.80 points during the week and ended at a record close of 3,537.21 after breaking the old mark of 3,436.54 points set in September last year.
Jamaica Broilers has just two offers for sale at the close on Friday.
The main market also contributed its fair share of excitement with a new record close and a number of stocks hitting new highs. A number of main market stocks could be coming to a short-term peak as is evident in the pullback of NCB Financial and Caribbean Cement during the past week with the latest quarterly results not lending much fuel to the stock prices.
It will be interesting to see how investors react to announced terms of the rights issue for Barita Investments with the offer of 11 for every 100 units at $45 each.
Jamaica Broilers has just 2 offers to sell, suggesting that the price has a far way to go. Some buying came for Radio Jamaica in the past week but with the price closing at $1.35 on Friday. It is worth noting that supply is drying up with only four offers totaling 115,000 shares posted at the close on Friday.
Sygnus Credit Investments is coming into its own with a limited supply of the stock for sale, the price closed at a record high at the close of the past week and may move higher this week. Jamaica Stock Exchange stock could fall some more with the stock facing increased selling and reduced buying.
Some selling came into the market for Blue Power but buying interest remains at the close on Friday with buying interest around the $12 but with some selling just above. Caribbean Flavours has a 
limited supply of stocks for sale and is worth watching. Elite Diagnostic with rising demand and virtually no supplies could bounce again this week following last weeks’ rise. General Accident moved away from the $4.50 level to close at $4.95 on Friday against declining supplies for sale with just two offers posted on Friday. Jamaican Teas hit new records during the week with investors trying to buy at $8.40, a level over the 30 percent limitation set by the market. The stock last traded at $7.26. Lasco Financial price bounced above $5 last week. The stock remains undervalued and should see increased buying interest, with the release of June quarter results, due out shortly. Lasco Manufacturing released first-quarter numbers at the close of the week with net profit rising 19 percent to $282 million, enough to move the price higher. Lasco Distributors should release quarterly results this week and could move prices of the stocks higher. Limners and Bards climbed to a record high of $3.99 but closed at $3.75 on Friday. Buying interest remains strong but some investors are taking profits, it will be interesting to see which has the upper hand, this week. Medical Disposables looks poised to move higher with the first-quarter numbers, set to play an important role in further gains. Investors await the second-quarter results for Stationery and Office Supplies to determine if higher prices are on the cards anytime soon, but the supply of the stock remains low with only 43,000 units offered for sale at the close on Friday.
Market watch spotlight on Junior Market
The focus this week is the entire Junior Market that remains severely undervalued, notwithstanding that it made up much-lost grounds in the past week. The Lab is the first stock to watch from this sector.
NCB Financial third-quarter results were far from inspiring with operating profit being lower in the quarter than for the prior year’s results, at the close on Friday there was good selling on offer that seems likely to keep a lid on the price for a while. NCB reported Operating profit of $6.46 billion in the June 2019 quarter, down from $8.14 billion in 2018. A $700 million net gain in associated company results eased the difference somewhat.
Barita Investments is back at the record high of $83 it closed at the close on Friday, up from $72 at the end of the previous week. Importantly, supply has mostly dried up except for a block of 1 million units offered by Barita at $98 per share. Shareholders passed the resolution at last week’s extraordinary general meeting for a rights issue that will see 106 million shares or around one for every 15 shares of shares owned offered to shareholders, at an expected price in the $40 region.
Barita eyeing acquisition.
Results for Caribbean Cement are out by but reports indicate that the company reported increased sales for the June quarter but lower profit than in 2018, due mainly to $485 million incurred as foreign currency losses. The company reported 43 cents per share versus 79 cents in the similar quarter in 2018. For the half-year, Carib Cement reported earnings of $1,79 compared to $1.18 in 2018. The company looks like earning $5 per share for the full year with increased second-half sales. Do not look for the price of the stock to move up any time soon, with these results
Jamaica Broilers and Jamaica Producers may not break out just now but there is very limited selling and good news could push them higher at any time. Investors who thought that the sky was the limit for Wigton Windfarm may be having second thoughts with the company posting their full-year results, with earnings excluding foreign exchange gains or losses working out at 5 cents per share going forward. The stock seems poised to remain under $1 for a long time. More selling came for Radio Jamaica in the past week but with first-quarter results due mid-August, the stage could be set for a break beyond the $1.40 price level.
Sygnus Credit Investments is coming into its own with a limited supply of the stock for sale, the price closed at a record high at the close of the past week and may and could move higher this week. investors should continue to watch it. Wisynco Group traded close to $30 in the past week pushing the PE up considerably. It could settle just below the $30 range for a while.
Drax Hall branch of Elite.
The Junior Market finally found its footing in moving solidly higher during the past week to within less than 100 points from the previous record high in 2018. With the entire market severely undervalued, just about all stocks are to be watched. Some are more attractive than others and should enjoy a greater focus.
Blue Power closed on Friday with strong buying interest that suggests higher price ahead arising from a proposed split-up of the company into two separate ones. Caribbean Flavours has a limited supply of stocks for sale and is worth watching. Fontana pulled out of the fall to $7.41, in the previous week as demand pushed the price over $8. The branch in Kingston could influence investors to add the stock to their portfolio. Elite Diagnostic with rising demand and slowing supplies could bounce, having traded at $5. The company’s new Drax Hall branch in St Ann is set to open in August and will add to revenues and profit at a later stage. Elite has more than 387,000 units on offer at $5 and that could constrain upward price movement for some time. Jamaican Teas reported nine months results of 32 cents per share compared with 20 cents last year. Investors reacted positively to the results pushing the stock up to $5, but supply on sale is limited and could encourage more price movement this week. Lasco Financial price bounces around $4.50. The stock is undervalued and should see increased buying interest, with release of June quarter results, due out shortly. 
In 2018, first-quarter results were released on the 17 of July. Lasco Manufacturing released first-quarter numbers on the 31 of July last year and Lasco Distributors released theirs on the 19. The results could move the price of the stocks higher. Limners and Bards climbed 30 cents to settle at a record high of $1.30 with just 100 shares changing hands on the first day of trading, the stock closed with the bid at $1.65 and looks poised to hit $2, the stock was on offer at $2.95 at the close on Friday. Medical Disposables looks poised to move higher and first-quarter numbers will play an important role in further gains and Stationery and Office Supplies hit a record of $12 during the past week and should move higher with little supply offered for sale.
