Wigton price dreamers

May 27, 2019 by

Wigton stock price could top out soon.

“Buy now, Ride the $3 wave”. That’s a stunning advice by an online stock market investor to another, regarding the likely performance of the Wigton Windfarm stock after trading, on the first day of listing.
Wigton shares closed trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday at 83 cents, with a PE of 14, placing the value in the upper half of the most valued main market stocks. The premium over net asset value, another measure of valuation, is 291 percent above the net asset value. Few stocks in the main market are selling at such a premium.  At $3, the stock would trade at a stunningly high PE ratio of 50 times 2019 and 2020 earnings. The only main market stock close to that valuation is Kingston Wharves (KW) at 35 times 2019 earnings and that is coming down from more than 50 times 2018 earnings in 2018, when investors traded it at $85, now it’s trading around $70 even as profit for 2019 is up in the first quarter of this year.
Unlike KW, that has less than 10 percent of the shareholding amounting to a few million units, that trade, Wigton has billion of shares that will trade. The high liquidity of Wigton shares almost ensures that the stock will not become overvalued and if so, will not remain that way for a prolonged period.
The bulk of investors who would be buying the vast quantity are more professional than not and are versed on the valuation levels of stocks. Accordingly, they are unlikely to be buying a stock that has doubtful expansion credentials at an inflated value. The most popular valuation tool, the PE ratio does not support a price much higher than $1.20, with EPS of 6 cents per share. A price of $1.20 equates to a relatively high PE ratio of 20. Only a few stocks are valued close to this multiple and many of them have prospects for profits to grow. Wigton has no immediate prospects for growth in earnings, pricing it at 20 times EPS would, therefore, be unwise. The market will speak but the heavy selling on Friday is more in line with the thinking that the top is not far off. Investors who buy shares above the accepted market norm will likely get crushed unless they have a long term investment horizon on their minds. PE ratios are there to give a sense of appropriate values. When investors try to break away from where the bulk of investments funds place the value of a stock at, they usually end up regretting the move.
In the investment world staying close to the crowd with pricing is a prudent investment practice that tends to be less costly than trying to predict lofty heights for a stock to reach.

 

Filed Under: Investment Tips, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , ,

Wigton star attraction to watch

May 20, 2019 by

Wigton stock could double soon.

Wigton Windfarm is will be on a large group of local investors this week as the stock makes trading debut on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday.
While the new main market listing will most likely be the star attraction, investors who left Junior Market stocks to languish while they drove main market to several new highs as they waited for Junior Market company, 2019 first quarter results are again looking for gains in the Junior Market.
A number of the Junior Market results were strong, in fact very strong and some prices were driven up, in response. More gains are expected in the coming weeks as investors pile funds into a number of companies with limited supply of stocks for sale.
Good numbers for the 2019 first quarter came from, Derrimon Trading with revenues rising 63 percent to $3.15 billion and profit jumping 33 percent to $69 million. Elite Diagnostic with strong growth in profits for the March quarter that more than doubled the $6.7 million reported in 2018 March quarter to $16 million.  Fontana grew pretax profit by 51 percent to $30 million with earnings per share of just 2 cents will not provide the fire for much more price gains for a while.

Honey Bun doubles Q2 profit.

General Accident was mildly up but FX losses disguised the strong gains in operating results, smart investors will see this and lend support to the stock price. Honey Bun grew revenues by 15.5 percent but profit blasted off by 104 percent. Jamaican Teas second quarter profit rose 45 percent before tax to end at $65 million from $45 million in the 2018 March quarter but profit after tax rose 38 percent to $55 million from $40 million, for the six months profit after tax rose 27.5 percent from $91 million to $116 million. ISP Finance an IC Insider.com TOP 10 listing last week, saw profit rising by 75 percent to $16 million in the quarter to help lift demand for the stock and Stationery and Office Supplies that posted a 30 percent jump in profit to reach $58 million jumped in price since releasing results but could go higher after taking a break.
Caribbean Cement has fallen in price below $70 making it extremely attractive. The company’s managing director, speaks at Mayberry’s monthly forum on Wednesday and that could provide more information to fuel increased demand for the stock.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

New stocks to watch

May 15, 2019 by

Image courtesy of suphakit73/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Listed companies are releasing results with a number of them reporting strong increase in profits.
It now looks like the Junior Market‘s time to shine having been in the shadow of the main market form  last year. Investors should be on alert for the following, Stationery and Office Supplies that posted a 30 percent jump in profit, Elite Diagnostic with strong growth in profits for the March quarter of $16 million versus $6.7 million in 2018. Jamaican Teas second quarter rose 45 percent before tax to end at $65 million from $44.7 million in the 2018 March quarter but profit after tax rose 38 percent to $55 million from $40 million, for the six months profit after tax rose from $91 million to $116 million. ISP Finance supply dried up completely after having stock being offered doown to $12 last week. Keep an eye open for Derrimon Trading, General Accident, Honey Bun, Jamaica Producers and Victoria Mutual Investments.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Watch NCB but Cement not finished

May 6, 2019 by

NCB the top stock to watch following inforamtion that they got go ahead to acquire Guardian Holdings majority shares.

NCB Financial is the main stock to watch this week with group having sealed the deal for majority shares in Guardian Holdings but Caribbean Cement (CC) is still in the stock to watch list. 
Fresh from posting record first quarter profit of $1.13 billion or $1.33 per share, from only $348 million in 2018, the shares of CC started right out of the blocks on Monday gone, with a jump of $13.87 to $77.99 and moved higher thereafter during the week.
Cement now sits at $80 and should move higher in the weeks ahead with potential earnings of $7 per share for 2019. The stock price reached $100 briefly during the past week. NCB Financial Group came in for increased buying with the announcement of approval granted for the group to acquire majority shares in the Trinidad based Guardian Holdings, thus returning it to it Jamaican roots. Guardian was previously majority by Mutual Life but the majority shares were sold to Trinidadians, when Guardian had cash flow problems in the 1990s.
Sagicor Group moved up from $44 at the start of the week to close at $46.50 and should move higher with 2018 results showing gains and pointing to a brighter 2019. Wisynco traded as high as $15 during the past week but some selling came in leaving the stock at $14.40 at the close on Friday. The stock is selling at 15 times projected earnings for the for the fiscal year to June 2019, but with strong earnings

Grace Kennedy could suprise.

growth investors could still pile into the stock in anticipation of greater profits in the 2020 fiscal year.  RJR and Seprod remain attractive buys and continue on the watch list along with Barita Investments that posted very strong second quarter results. More company results should be flowing this week and investors should be watchful for their release to identify any important message of future earnings. Other stocks of interest in the main market, include Berger Paints, Grace, Jamaica Producers, Jamaica Stock Exchange and PanJam Investment that seems headed to $100, with very few stocks on offer for sale.
The Junior Market rose last week as it starts the recovery from the impact that the recently closed Wigton IPO had on the market. At its recently held annual general meeting, Honey Bun directors pointed to continued improved revenues, created by expansion of the factory providing added capacity

SOS anticipates maximising profits from every business line in 2019.

to meet demand for their products, resulting from the expansion and new products lined up to come. Stationery and Office Supplies released their annual report with the directors stating that the outlook for 2019 and beyond is positive, given the increase in business and consumer confidence locally and regionally. “The economy is continuing to show positive signs with increased foreign and local investment in the island, particularly in the business outsourcing sector. For the export market, we are supplying a project in Barbados during the first quarter of 2019, and have another project planned for the second quarter in 2019.

Honey Bun should be watched.

We anticipate to realise at least six containers of exported products during the year including both the SEEK products and our lines of Torch and Image furniture.  With the purchase of SEEK and six months of learning, planning and making adjustments, we now anticipate maximising profits from every business line in 2019.”
Fontana came in for increased buying this past week with trading as high as $4.20 with supply of the stocks declining, General Accident saw improved results last year and this should continue into 2019 but the company is scheduled to release results for quarter one, next week.  tTech grew revenues 30 percent in 2018 and 28 percent in the December quarter. More growth is expected for 2019 to boost profit for the year. Derrimon Trading took over the distribution of of Juiciful, Busta and other products for Trinidad-owned SM Jaleel & Company and acquired Woodcats International, late last year. First quarter results should show above normal increase in revenues as a result of the acquisitions in 2018. It will be interesting to see how the new lines, impact first quarter profit.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Cement is primed to watch

April 29, 2019 by

Caribbean Cement is the clear leader as the stock to watch for this week, with the company posting blowout first quarter profit of $1.13 billion or $1.33 per share up from only $348 million in 2018.
The sharp rise in profit resulted mainly from the removal of lease of equipment cost and cost of imported cement. The result is a tad below what IC Insider.com forecast of $7 per share for 2019would suggest, but is in keeping with that forecast on the basis of expected pick up in sales as the year rolls on.
The head of one of the country’s largest brokerage houses, advised his team about the results. “Please make sure all CCC on the sell side are cancelled before market opens on Monday. All clients must be informed of the results before any sales orders can be placed.” The coded message here is that the stock price will jump sharply in trading on Monday. Keep on watching this one.
Sagicor Group had buying up to $44 on Friday and should continue to attract investors’ interest. NCB Financial Group came out with a fall in profit for the March quarter and is unlikely to see buying coming in to move the price even if they announce the closure of the Guardian acquisition of majority shares. Supreme Ventures released flat March results that may put pressure on the stock price that is selling close to 30 times 2019 earnings.

Wisynco, most attractively priced main market stock.

Continue to keep an eye on Wisynco that closed at $12 on Friday with increased buying interest during the past week as the company continues to expand the volume of products it represents that augurs well for increased profit going forward. The stock remains one of the most appealing main market buys currently. RJR and Seprod remain attractive buys and continue on the watch list along with Barita Investments that seems set to post very strong second quarter results.
The picture for the Junior Market is unclear but with Caribbean Cream full year results to February, are now due and will provide information in directing the stock price. Added to the list are Honey Bun that holds its annual general meeting on Monday that may provide price sensitive information and Stationery and Office Supplies.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Watch Sagicor & NCB

April 22, 2019 by

Sagicor Cayman

Sagicor Group closed the shortened Easter week at $45 up from $38.15 at the close of the prior week following release of 2018 full year results.
The price could move higher this week with limited supply for sale on the market, below $50.
Helped by the sharp rise in the price of Sagicor, the main market climbed more than 8,000 points for the week, with the biggest move coming on Thursday of just under 7,000 points, while the Junior Market had no clear direction.
Trading for the week suggests that investors are over the impact on the market of the Initial Public Offer of Wigton Windfarm that opened on the 17 of April.
The release of some of the 2019 first quarter results are due late this week and are worth watching. Chief amongst them will be Caribbean Cement, NCB Financial Group and Supreme Ventures. While NCB’s results are due on Thursday and investors could react to them on Friday, others may not comeuntil after trading on Friday, as such may not have any impact until the following week.

NCB Financial traded at $145 on the JSE on Thursday.

Investors should keep an eye on, Wisynco that continues to hold just under $12. The company continues to expand the volume of products and companies it represents that augurs well for increased profit going forward. The stock remains one of the most appealing main market buys currently. RJR and Seprod remain attractive buys, continue on the watch list and are joined by Barita Investments.
The picture for the Junior Market is unclear but with Caribbean Cream full year results to February, due by the end of the week, it will be interesting how investors treat with it.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Watch Cement and Sagicor

April 15, 2019 by

Image courtesy of suphakit73/FreeDigitalPhotos.net


The past week saw stocks prices moving up and down with the announced initial Public offering of Wigton Windfarm, a pattern is likely to continue for a while.
The release of 2019 first quarter results could change the pattern for some stocks, with a few due for release before the end of April. Last week there was increased buying interest in Caribbean Cement, NCB Financial Group and Sagicor Group on Friday with the release of full year results for 2018. Investors should keep an eye on these, Wisynco, RJR, Seprod that remain attractive buys.
The Junior Market is being shaken up following the release of the prospectus for Wigton, as such there are no clear security to watch in this market during the week.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Profit rises 29% at PanJam

April 14, 2019 by

Stephen Facey Chairman & Paul Hanworth Chief Operating Officer

Trading income at PanJam Investment grew a strong 35 percent to $3.26 billion for 2019 while operating expenses rose just 7 percent to $1.7 billion leading to a 66.6 percent increase in operating profit of $1.55 billion, up from $938 million in 2017.
The major contributor to the increase in operating income was a 151 percent increase in investment income to $1 billion, from $423 million in 2017.
Share of results of associated companies contributed $4.7 billion to profit, compared with $3.9 billion in 2017. After taxation of $311 million and finance cost of $624 million, profit ended at $5.3 billion for an increase of 29 percent. Earnings per share rose to $5.06 for the year.
The group saw growth in profit from Sagicor Group and Downing Street Fund 11 and V but suffered a loss at Chukka Caribbean with revenues falling from $4 billion to $3 billion. New Castle saw a reduction in profit even with an increase in revenues while Caribe Hospitality saw profit rising from $242 million to $271 million of which their share is 32 percent.
PanJam holds equity investments worth $6.8 billion up from $2.4 billion at the end of 2017. The value of investment properties moved from $7.9 billion in 2017 to $8.4 billion and investments in associated companies total $26.3 billion. Total assets at the end of the year was $45.9 billion up from $39.4 billion in 2017. The group borrowed $10.6 billion at the end of 2018, up from $7.5 billion in 2017 and has equity of $34 billion.
PanJam is in the process of upgrading the Oceana building in downtown Kingston to a combination of hotel and residential units slated for sale. There also plans for a business hotel in Montego Freeport in Montego Bay.
The group stocks trades at $81 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at a PE of 12.5 times 2019 estimated earnings of $6.50 and a net book value of $32. PanJam is a stock Investors should consider holding in the long term portfolio to benefit from growth to flow from expansion in the investment field and real estate holdings.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , ,

Cement still top stock to watch

April 8, 2019 by

Caribbean Cement traded at a new high of $73.90 recently.


Jamaican stocks continue to consolidate as they await some major price moving events to change direction. During the past week, Caribbean Cement make a gallant move to break out but selling pushed the price back to close at $60.61, after posting a high of $73.90. On Friday, it traded at $66 but sellers pushed it back lower by the close. 
Buying interest remains good for Carib Cement while selling seems a bit muted. With first quarter results due by the last week in April, investors could be positioning to get ahead of those results, expected to be well ahead of the 2018 profit. The stock could close higher during the week based on demand and supply.
Earlier in last week, NCB Financial looked as if it was going to move back to the $150 range with no offers below $150 for an extended period of trading. That never lasted as sellers entered, keeping the price in the $145 range. Other main market stocks to watch include, Barita Investments, Berger Paints, Jamaica Producers, Radio Jamaica and Wisynco Group that has some selling around the $12 level and my take some more time to move higher.
While there are stocks that are pregnant with possibility to move, the sideways movement of the market, seems set to continue this coming week. The situation will be made worse, with the pending Wigton Windfarm IPO, that should be coming the market this week, and will suck up approximately $6 billion, at around 50 cents per share.

Wigton IPO with propectus expected in a day or two could pressure existing stock prices.

The Junior Market is currently, supported by two major technical indicators, indicating a rising market ahead. One is a triple bottom that it is bouncing off and the other a triangle formation, both indicate a big breakout. The last time the market had a triple bottom was between March and July last year and the market gained more than 500 points after.
Junior Market stocks to watch this week and beyond include, Caribbean Cream with full year results due towards the end of April that could help the stock. Caribbean Producers supported by technical indicator suggesting a higher price down the road. General Accident currently at a PE of 15 times 2018 earnings but well below likely 2019 earnings. Investors continue to demand Elite Diagnostic stock at $3.20 or lower with sellers mostly wanting close to $3.50. Honey Bun is showing all the signs of moving higher. Fontana remains fluid at $4 level. Express Catering that will benefit from the double-digit upsurge in Tourist arrivals so far in 2019. Lasco Manufacturing was in the news with expansion of the storage facilities to accommodate increased production, the stock gained last week and could record further gains this coming week, regardless it one worth watch for longer term gains.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Watch Junior Market for break higher

April 1, 2019 by

Junior Market poised to breakout.

Jamaican stocks are in for an interesting period with Junior Market stocks down nearly 5 percent for the year to date, lagging their main market stocks counterparts that are up 2.2 percent for 2019, but technical indicators now point to a big rally for the Junior Market.
The Junior Market is currently, supported by two major technical indicators, indicating a rising market ahead. One is a triple bottom that it is bouncing off and the other a wedge formation, both indicate a big breakout. The last time the market had a triple bottom was between March and July last year and the market gained more than 500 points.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market may be consolidating, but it seems to be making another effort to challenge the record high of 433,307.22 reached by the All Jamaica Composite Index in November last year. With the market closing on Friday at 426,180.60 points, it will require some meaningful price gains to close the more than 7,000 points gap.

Carib Cement traded at $58 on Friday.

For the current week, which stock could contribute to closing of the gap? Buying interest remains good for Carib Cement that moved up by $2 by the close of the week to $58. There is some selling at the last traded price but demand should take this out soon. Radio Jamaica is in demand again with a big increase in the December quarter’s profit that spell positives for the 2020 fiscal year’s results.
Wisynco came in for some selling pressure last week by the close on Friday, the stock ended at $11.95. Going forward the stock is a strong buy with increasing business and improving efficiency in operations and with credible reports that they are in talks with other local producers to distribute some popular local brands. Supreme Ventures continues to make new highs and is worth watching. The price is high more up even higher during the week but supply seems inadequate to meet demand, but an investment in the stock now may only warrant those looking for long-term returns.

NCB Financial traded at $145.05 on the JSE on Friday.

More buying came in for NCB Financial with it closing the week marginally higher at $145.05. The stock may still take some time to break higher but with second quarter results due by end of April increase demand could well develop ahead of the results.
Junior Market stocks to watch this week include, the overhang of Cargo Handlers stock was taken out last week at $11.06 and seem set to pave the way for a bounce in the price, but the stock is a bit overvalued relative to the overall market. Caribbean Cream that closed at $5.55 but traded up to $6.60 in the previous week. Full year results are due towards the end of April and that could help the stock. Caribbean Producers came into buying last week, with a move higher going forward, supported by technical indicator. Sellers of General Accident shares continues to be low, but buyers are trying to get stocks no higher than $4.50 currently at a PE of 15 times 2018 earnings and well below likely 2019 earnings. Investors in the stock at the start of 2018 got a dividend that exceeded 5 percent. If the same were to happen in 2019, the stock would end up at $6 by the end of this year. Investors continue to demand Elite Diagnostic stock at $3.20 or lower with sellers mostly wanting close to $3.50. Trading higher may not occur until closer to the release of nine months results due by mid-May. Honey Bun is showing all the signs of moving higher and traded

Honey Bun traded higher last week.

at $4.24 this past week, up from $3.83 at the end of the previous week. The bid for the stock is now at $4.15. Fontana closed the past week with a slight uptick to end at $4.05, buying continues to be good. With strong potential for growth to flow from expansion of stores now on the way, the stock is to be watched for the inevitable breakout. Express Catering has been enjoying decent buying interest. It is bound to be a big winner from the double digit upsurge in Tourist arrivals so far in 2019. Lasco Manufacturing was in the news with expansion of the storage facilities to accommodate increased production, the stock gained last week and could record further gains this coming week, regardless it one worth watch for longer term gains.

Filed Under: JSE Junior Market, JSE Main Market, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,