LASCO Manufacturing enjoyed a 15 percent increased profit for the year ended March 2013 before taxation from increased revenue of 13% for the year. Profit after taxation was up only 9 percent as the 2012 results benefited from a tax credit which boosted the after tax figure. In the latest quarter, revenues were up just 8 percent, a lower pace than the September and December quarters with growth of 21 percent and 15 percent respectively. But the best is yet to come with the near completion of the factory expansion that will cut cost and result in new products being introduced.
4th Quarter | Pretax profit for the March quarter was up 29 percent to reach $175 million. After tax, the increase was just 8 percent. In the March quarter, gross margin increased from 27 percent in 2012 to 30.7 percent and is up from 27 percent in the December quarter. Administrative expenses rose 6.5 percent year over year, much less than the growth in revenues while selling and promotional expenses remained flat for the year, helping to boost profit.
The improvement shown in a better margin and subdued cost increases has been highlighted by management in a report to shareholders. “The company continues to focus on cost control, cost containment, cost management and increased efficiency,” the statement said.
Financials | Trade Receivables increased by $180 million from $447 million in 2012 which management states was due to a temporary timing difference of payment with one of their distributors and has subsequently been settled. Inventory also increased $210 million from $279 million in 2012. Equity capital was $1.9 billion at the end of March, enough to facilitate the loan taken on, allowing for appropriate coverage.
Factory expansion | LASCO Manufacturing embarked on 70 percent factory expansion of the manufacturing operation which is nearing completion at the White Marl location. When completed with new machineries in production, cost is expected to be reduced considerably. The areas that the reduction will be most visible include direct production cost, with less direct labour, material waste and cost relating to the double handling of goods. The capital spend on the expansion at the end of March is $1.7 billion out of a budgeted expenditure of J$2.2b. So far the company has drawn down J$1 billion of a loan facility to help fund the capital expenditure with the rest coming from internally generated funds.
“We are poised for further growth as we experienced higher demand for our products in the local and export markets in the past year,” Management said.
Products | The company manufactures several well-known food items such the soy protein based LASCO food drinks, LaSoy Lactose Free, Oats Porridge Mix. It will also package Full Cream Milk Powder and Skimmed Milk Powder and purchase and co-package a wide range of other food items, consumer, personal care, infant care and household products.
Exports | The company exports its products to 23 countries, including UK, Canada and USA. Export sales now represent 9% of overall sales.
Stock outlook | Lasco has a competitive advantage with a well-known and respected brand and the expansion will reduce the cost of production making the existing products even more competitive. New products are to be added to the existing ones and some products that are being manufactured by others will be produced in house.
The stock price raced to $15 after the company announced a 10 for 1 stock split and it gained added support with the release of the recent results. The growth seen during the year, with more to come, makes this stock one that must be on all investors’ radar.
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