Stocks to watch — Page 14

Cable & Wireless leads stocks to watch

August 12, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Cable & Wireless Head quarters.

Cable & Wireless is possibly the main stock to watch for the coming week with the company returning to profitability in the June quarter.
The company lost several billion dollars for many years but posted a profit of $222 million in the latest quarter on an 11 percent surge in revenues. Subsequent to the close of the quarter, Cable and Wireless increased rates on a series of services that should add to revenues and profits in the coming quarters. Profit for the full year to December should end positively, thus wiping out the $311 million loss for the first half of the year after tax and a lower pretax loss of just $199 million. The recent turn around in the fortune of the company is likely to be a big surprise to many investors and will help move the stock price much higher than the $1.07 it closed at, on Friday.
Other stocks that investors should keep an eye on this week include, Barita Investments with an announced take over offer on the table, JMMB Group, Stationery & Office Supplies that just listed and selling below potential, NCB Financial with limited supply, Jetcon Corporation with profit doubling for the half year leading to strong buying in the past week and recently listed Express Catering with demand to buy 765,925 shares at $5.50.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: Barita Investments, Emerging market, Emerging market stocks, Express Catering, Jetcon Corporation, JMMB Group, NCB Financial, Stationery & Office Supplies

NCB breaks out & heading higher

July 30, 2017 by IC Insider.com

NCB Financial Group broke out of a triangle pattern over the past week, as the price hit a record $81 on Friday. The technical indicator is signaling a strong buy signal and a huge movement ahead, with the group reporting strong gains in profit for 2017 over 2016. The stock has traded in a very narrow band in the $70 region for a number of months as it consolidated ahead a the big move it seems ready to make with limited supply coming into the market. Results for the none months to June suggest earnings in excess of $8 per share for 2017 with more to come in the new year starting in October. IC Insider.com placed the stock two weeks now on a market watch list.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: Emerging market stock, Jamaican Stock, National Commercial Bank, NCB, NCB Financial Group

Neveast the next office supplies IPO

July 30, 2017 by IC Insider.com

It was a big giveaway for those familiar with companies prepping for listing, by way of a pending initial public offer of shares. The Jamaica Observer newspaper on Wednesday, July 26, carried an advertisement for Neveast Supplies Limited, telling readers that they were celebrating 55 years of service to its customers.
The advertisement also stated that they were leader in stationery, office furniture and office supplies. In true Jamaican nationalistic style, the advert was rapped in the black, green and gold of the Jamaican flag, no doubt in synch with the 55 years of independence celebration this year.
Industry players say, they may be one of the biggest in stationery and office supplies but not of the office furniture and fixtures. Regardless, checks by this publication with persons knowledgeable about the company’s future plans, confirmed that they are likely to be the next stationery and office equipment to list on the Junior Market of the Stock Exchange. Recently, competitor Stationery and Office Supplies concluded a successful initial public offering of shares that were several times oversubscribed and are set to be the first to list when trading in the stock is expected to commence on August 9.
The brokers to the issue when it does take place, will be Mayberry Investments. Our sources state that they have been contemplating this move from at least 2016, but there are a few issues that need sorting out and should definitely be going to the market to raise capital and be listed before the end of 2017.
According to the company’s website, Neveast Supplies Limited is a family owned Jamaican company that started in 1962 when Founder, Neville East, decided to service the country’s stationery needs. Through market penetration and the help of his wife, Pamela, Neveast Supplies Limited expanded operations to include the supply of office and systems furniture.
Today, the second generation of Easts are at the company’s helm to oversee the daily operations. Sons, David, Paul and Gregory together with thirty-two other members of staff are devoted to the company’s success and ensure that Neveast remains the leader in office furniture and supplies with competitive prices on high quality products and efficient company service.
Neveast continues to be the authorized local distributor for international brands such as Teknion Inc, Global Upholstery Inc, MIN Office Furniture, Godrej, Aurora, Moderco, Virco, and a host of stationery manufacturers from across the globe. With its headquarters located in Kingston, the company’s distribution network covers the entire island of Jamaica and recently includes coverage in neighboring Caribbean countries.
IC Insider.com has been reliably informed that Mayberry Investments should be brokering another two public offers by the end of September and possibly a third by the end of 2017, while there are listings being worked on by other brokers.

Filed Under: Initial Public Offers, Stock Market, Stocks to watch, Street News & Views Tagged With: Aurora, Global Upholstery Inc, Godrej, Jamaica Observer, Mayberry Investments, MIN Office Furniture, Moderco, Neveast Supplies Limited, Stationery and Office Supplies, Virco

JSE Q2 profit jumps 41% one to watch

July 24, 2017 by IC Insider.com

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A sharp fall of $92 million in Exchange Operations’ revenue for the half year to June, resulted in the segment results falling $110 million to $41 million but a 41 percent rise in Depository Services’ revenues to $156 million and 20 percent in Trustee Services’ income to $137 million resulted in the segments’ profit rising by 83 percent and 17 percent to $82 million and $75 million respectively.
The improved performance in the newer services of the Jamaica Stock Exchange saw second quarter results increasing over the performance of the first quarter with a rise of 41 percent in profit after tax compared to a decline in the first quarter versus the strong 2016 first quarter. The gains in the June quarter reduced the fall in profits for the by percent to $102 million, compared with the corresponding financial period last year of $158 million. The six months performance resulted in earnings per share of 15 cents, the June quarter returned 6 cents per share.
Total Expenses grew 19 percent over the 2016 quarter to $167 million and 13 percent for the six months to $330 million. Major increases were experienced in professional fees which included cost for defending claims against an employee and advertising and marketing.
“It is expected that for the remaining quarters there will be more companies listing their securities on the exchange and a positive movement in fee income due to the expected increase in trustee Services clientele,” the chairman, Ian McNaughton and Managing Director Marlene Street Forrest stated in a release to shareholders accompanying the financials.
The balance sheet shows assets of $1.24 billion, cash funds of $517 million and stockholder’s equity of $891 million.
IC insider.com is forecasting earnings per share of 35 cents for 2017. The stock last traded on the Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $6.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: Daily Trading, Emerging market stock, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican Stock, Trading Activity

ISP Finance and C&W back in TOP 10

July 16, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Pull back in the prices of several Junior Market stocks, resulted in changes in the TOP 10 junior stocks at the close of the week. The changes took place against the back ground of an unprecedented 5 issues of new shares around the same time in the market.
Some investors are of the view the public issue of shares all coming around the same time, contributed to the softness in the market over the past two weeks.
On Wednesday, this week, IC Insider.com BUY RATED Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS opens to the public for purchase, at a priced of $2 and is expected to close on the same day it opens. Express Catering IPO opened and close last week Wednesday with more than 1,000 applications received.
ISP Finance price dropped to $13.56 during the past week to re-enter the Top 10. Returning back to the TOP 10 are Caribbean Flavours and Lasco Distributors
Moving out of the top list are AMG Packaging, Lasco Manufacturing with the price rising to $4.70 from $4.30 at the close of the previous week and tTech with the price rising 50 cents to a record $10.
In the main market Sagicor Group spent just one week in the top listing with the price moving from$30 at the end of the previous week to end at $33 and is replaced by Cable & Wireless with the price down under $1 at 80 cents, support for the stock is around 75 cents, hence it could bounce back from these levels soon.

NCB Financial Group is worth watching keenly in the days and weeks ahead.

Market movement continues to be constrained by near term resistance points, it does not prevent stocks from moving in either direction, but it will tend to keep prices overall from big movements upwards.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is down at 6.8 with SOS in at a PE of 5 times 2017 earnings. The PE for the main market holds at 6.7. The average PE for the overall main market, remains at 13 and 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 43 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead in the market.
Two stocks to watch are Cable & Wireless with the price around support level and NCB Financial with very limited number of stocks currently being offered.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: Barita Investments, Berger Paints, Cable & Wireless, CAC2000, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Express Catering, General Accident, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jetcon Corporation, JMMB Group, Key Insurance, Lasco Financial, Medical Disposables, NCB Financial, Radio Jamaica, Sagicor Group, SOS, Stationery and Office Supplies, tTech

Office supplies’ company heads TOP 10

July 9, 2017 by IC Insider.com

IC Insider.com BUY RATED Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) jumped into the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks in the number one position at the close of the past week.

The SOS stock which opens to the public for purchase, starting on the 19th of this month, is priced at $2 and is expected to close on the same day it opens, as sentiments towards it are very positive.
SOS is projected by IC Insider.com to produce earnings of 40 cents per share for 2018 and is expected to benefit from the increased exposure leading up to the listing and the continuing exposure post listing, giving them an added advantage over the competition. Medical Disposables sits second spot and Caribbean Producers is in at the third spot. CAC 2000 moved into the TOP 10 with the price having fallen to $6.57 by the end of the week.
The inclusion of SOS and CAC 2000 means that Lasco Distributors and Lasco Finance have been edged out of the Top listing. Express Catering that goes to market on July 12, is priced at a level placing them well outside the top listing.
In the main market Sagicor Group fell to $30 by week end and helped it into the TOP 10 lists edging out Grace Kennedy in the process.
Market movement continues to be constrained by near term resistance levels, it does not prevent stocks from moving in either direction, but it will tend to keep prices overall from big movements upwards.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks remain at 7 even with SOS being added at a PE of 5 times 2017 earnings. The PE for the main market slipped to 6.7 with the sharp fall in prices during the week. The average PE for the overall main market, is down to 13 while it remains at 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 40 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: Barita Investments, Berger Paints, CAC2000, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Express Catering, General Accident, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jetcon Corporation, JMMB Group, Key Insurance, Lasco Financial, Medical Disposables, NCB Financial, Radio Jamaica, Sagicor Group, SOS, Stationery and Office Supplies, tTech

Berger & Scotia Group drop TOP 10

May 28, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Image courtesy of suphakit73/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The two main markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, pulled back this past week as the volatility in the price of some stocks resulted in shifts in the position of some stocks in the TOP 10. Movements were not enough to change the Junior Market list, even as Caribbean Producers saw a 25 percent fall during the week with heavy volume, the stock enjoyed partial recovery by weekend.
This week’s pull back, seems to support the comment last week, “that both markets are trading close to recent resistance levels which could act as a short term restraint on upward movement.”
In the main market, decline in the prices of Seprod down to $30 and Sterling Investments to $15.50 moved them into the top list and replaced Berger Paints and Scotia Group that maintained their prices and are now some distance from the top list.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is 7.5 and 6.8 in the main market, these compare favourably with 13.7 for the main market and 13.4 for Juniors, based on 2017 estimated earnings. With several stocks trading below the average, the potential for more gains for the rest of 2017 seems positive, barring any major negative developments.
Recent TOP 10 listings remain just below the top spots with Access Financial, Jetcon Corporation, AMG Packaging, Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Cream and Blue Power sitting just below, with potential gains of more than 100 percent and in the main market, Grace Kennedy and Sagicor Group are just below the Top spots with good potential gains ahead.
The history of the Top stock performance indicates that, it takes a few months for most of the stocks to reach potential targeted prices as they tend not to be the stocks favoured by a large segment of investors, in the short term.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 44 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving several stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.
At the close of the week, bid volumes for junior market stocks remained relatively low ranging from a high of 66,436 units at $5.15 for Lasco Manufacturing with an offer of 16,685 units at $5.20, Access with a bid of 35,425 at $42.50, Caribbean Producers with 34,300 units on the bid at $3.50, with 100,000 shares on offer at $3.80. Key Insurance closed with 15,213 units on the bid at $2.90 and 51,361 offered at $3.80 and Lasco Financial ended the week with a bid of $4.05 to buy 24,000 units with 47,888 units being offered for sale at $4.40.

Seprod shares dropped from $45.10 in February to $30 on Friday.

Caribbean Cement had a bid to buy 54,903 units at $28.50 and offers of 7,850 shares at $29.95. Carreras had just 1,233 units on the bid at $77 with 4,954 shares being offered at $80, JMMB Group’s has bids to buy 8,272 units at $19.80 with an offer to sell 6,224 shares at $20, Radio Jamaica bid ended trading at $1.68 to buy 883 units with 30,000 units on offer at $1.79 while Scotia Investments closed the week with 14,753 units on the bid to buy at $36.50 and 14,049 units offered for sale at $37.85. Interest in Seprod has fallen with only 250 units on the bid at $29.50 and selling of 95,352 units at $30, this is way off from the 52 weeks’ high of $45 the stock sold at late February this year.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: Access Financial, Barita Investments, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Emerging market stock, Emerging markets, General Accident, ISP Finance, Jamaica Broilers, Jetcon Corporation, JMMB Group, Key Insurance, Lasco Financial, Medical Disposables, NCB Financial, Pulse Investments, Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group, Scotia Investments, tTech

TOP 10 selling at steep discount

April 9, 2017 by IC Insider.com

I$P hits a new high on Friday.

The IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks, continue to trade at an average discount of 40 percent to the market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 50 percent discount presently.
The PE ratio of both markets are currently at an average of 12 based on this year’s estimated earnings.
During the past week ISP Finance hit a new high of $15.50 up from $12.50 at the close of the previous week to gain 24 percent for the week and 675 percent since it was listed just over a year ago, and is now out of the TOP 10. The company reported earnings of 46 cents per share for the year to December 2016 with management suggesting growth in business in the order of 30 to 40 percent for the current year, that should lift earnings sharply.

Blue Power was eased out of the Top list for Juniors with Lasco Financial moving in to occupy the tenth spot, this past week. Access Finance that ended the previous week with the bid at $39, traded to end the past week at $34.25 to be back in the list.
Overall bid volumes for junior and main market stocks remain low with the only one of the Top 10 stocks with a sizeable volume on the bid for junior stocks being Key Insurance, with 172,600 units on the bid at $2.50 which is well below the last traded price of $3. Lasco Distributors is next with 37,012 units on the bid at $6.61 and a last sale of $7.30. Blue Power has 17,856 units on the bid at $35 without any stocks on offer.

In the Main market, Barita Investments has limited buying interest at the current price with just 100 units on the bid at $6.86 and just 9,200 units on the offer at $7.70, this represents quite some change form the week past when the offers were at $7, which were taken out by buyers.
Berger Paints ended with 2,500 units on the bid at $12.20 with 4,243 on offer at $12.30. Caribbean Cement’s weak demand continues in the mid-thirty dollar range, with the stock closing with only 2,340 units on the bid to buy at $31.50 while offers are at $32 to sell 53,579 units. JMMB Group’s buying is at $18.55 for 3,200 units on the bid and only 300 units offered at $18.98, Pulse Investments has offers for 245,639 units at $8 and buying at $7 for 1,000 shares while Radio Jamaica bid is at $1.60 to buy 280,761 units with 36,513 units on offer at $1.80 and Scotia Investments closed the week with 38,000 units on the bid to buy at $39.20 and 4,180 units offered at $39.40.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: Access Financial, Barita Investments, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, General Accident, ISP Finance, Jamaica Broilers, Jetcon Corporation, JMMB Group, Key Insurance, Lasco Financial, Medical Dispoables, NCB Financial, Pulse Investments, Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group, Scotia Investments, tTech

Big Berger gain lets in Scotia

March 25, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Scotia enters IC Insider.com’s TOP 10

A big 36 percent jump in the price of Berger Paints kicked it out of the main market TOP listing, allowing Scotia Group into the top list for the very first time. Berger returned to its 52 weeks high of $15 at the end of the week but had 103,511 units on offer at $15 with buying of 1,735 units at $13.01.
The top main market stocks now sell at a 50 percent discount to the average main market stocks and is lower than the discount of stocks in the junior market.
Pulse Investments gained 21 percent during the past week, to end at $8.50 and was the second largest mover in the top listing for main market stocks. Pulse has offers for 118,391 units at $8.50 and buying at $8 for 1,500 shares. Carreras earnings have been up graded with the increase in the price of cigarettes this month, following increased taxes on the product. Interest in the stock is not great currently, with 21,125 on offer at $69.50 and buying of 2,000 shares at $69.20. Radio Jamaica closed the week with 990,792 units on offer at $1.90 and buying for 5,300 units at $1.80. Barita Investments has limited buying interest at the current price with just 447 units on the bid at $6.85 and 171,830 units on the offer at $6.90. With the increased level of construction activity currently taking place in Jamaica and plans for increase construction to meet growing demand for commercial and residential units in the sector, Caribbean Cement’s weak demand continues in the mid-thirty dollar range, with the stock closing with only 2,000 units on the bid to buy at $31.50 while offers are at $32.45 to sell 24,440 units. JMMB Group weakened in the week and now sits at $17.50 but buying is on the weak side, with 5,000 units on the bid at $16.60 and only 378 units offered at $17.50.

Top 10 junior market stocks are trading at a 40 percent discount to the average of the junior market, at the close of the week, this is after Lasco Distributors fell out of the top listing and is replaced
by Lasco Financial Services that suffered a reduction in price during the week to $3.70.
During the past week ISP Finance hit a new high of $12.25 up from $11.75 at the close of the previous week, the stock still sits high on the list at number 3. Access Financial and Jetcon had a bit of price movement during the week, with both closing lower than the week before.
Price movements remained volatile during the past week, as buy and sell orders remained thin for several stocks. With little new news to come until a flood of first quarter results start to flow volatility is likely to continue for a few weeks and this could provide patient investors with some good entry points, if bids and offers are strategically placed. The sharp one week move in Berger signals that supply may not last too long before demand kicks in.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: Access Financial, Barita Investments, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Emerging markets, Emerging stock market, General Accident, IC Insider BUY RATED, ISP Finance, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jetcon Corporation, JMMB Group, Key Insurance, Lasco Financial, Medical Dispoables, NCB Financial, Pulse Investments, Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group, Scotia Investments, tTech

50% off sale for TOP 10 stocks

March 18, 2017 by IC Insider.com

TOP 10 stocks are selling at a discount to the rest of the market of 50 percent, making them the stocks with the best appeal for investors looking for above average returns.
The best indicator that investors who want to beat the market is the be found in the TOP 10 or stocks close to them is the low valuation compared to the market average and ultimately targeted PE based on where the market is based on 2016 earnings. At the close of the week the TOP 10 average PE ratio is 7.5 well off the average market PE of 12 for the junior market while the main market TOP 10 average at 6 is just half the average market PE of 12.
Quite a number of the TOP stocks pulled back in price during the week, with just a few moving higher, one ending at a 52 weeks’ high, another hit a new high and pulled back below the previous week’s ending price.
ISP Finance hit a new high during the past week of $12 and sits just below at $11.75. In the main market Berger Paints hit a new high of $15 during the week but selling pushed it down to $11 at the end of the week
The sharp movements resulted in Dolphin Cove moving out of the TOP 10 junior market list and let in Access Financial which fell in price during the week from $43.80 to as to a recent low of $32.81. Access bounced back to close at $35.62, still low enough to push it back in the TOP 10.
The past week saw some volatility in prices similar to what occurred in the previous week as the thinness in the supply and demand for many stocks leaves prices more exposed than just a few weeks ago when demand was greater.
The 2017/18 budget was officially disclosed the week before, but had little negatively or positively for investors in the short run, longer term there may be winners with a large pool of workers having more disposable income and in the case of Carreras, the tax imposed will mean that the company will take advantage to increase prices and ensure continued growth in profits.