Profit jumped 92 percent at IC BUY RATED, Lasco Manufacturing for the year to March 2019, to $1.08 billion, from $561 million in 2018 and $707 million for 2017.
The profit for the year got support from a huge 41 percent jump in sales of $1.954 billion for the March quarter, pushing sales revenue up 13.6 percent to $7.57 billion, for the year.
Improvement in profit margin rose to 36 percent from 35 percent in the 2018, as input cost climbed much slower than revenues growth at 10 percent, to $4.8 billion. The effect, operating profit rose a strong 20 percent to $2.756 billion from $2.29 billion. Administrative, marketing and sales expenses rose much slower than growth in revenues at 4.7 percent to $1.5 billion.
The positive out turn reflects growth in volumes, improved operational efficiencies and streamlining and cost control.
Lasco Manufacturing products
Gross cash flow brought in $1.4 billion but growth inventories, addition to fixed assets of $588 million offset by net loan inflows, dividend payment, reduced receivables and increased payables resulted in cash rising by $1.1 billion, leaving cash on hand and bank at $1 billion.
At the end of March, shareholders’ equity stands at $5.85 billion with borrowings at $1.4 billion. Net current assets ended the period $2.26 billion well over Payables of $813 million. The company completed the 65,000 feet warehouse that is expected to simplify logistics and result in cost savings.
Earnings per share came out at 26 cents for the year and is projected at 45 cents for the 2020 fiscal year. The stock traded at $3.25 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with an attractive PE ratio of 7.2 times 2020 earnings, well below the market average.
The company will pay a dividend of 3.8 cents per share during the year, resulting a total payment of $155 million.
