Revenues dipped 5 percent at Jamaica Broilers in the July quarter to $12.6 billion from $13.26 billion in the prior year. At the same time, operating profit rose 25 percent to $851 million from $679 million in the preceding year, with profit after taxes rising moderately by 6 percent from $361 million to $383 million.
Jamaica Broilers announced a new acquisition last week
Distribution costs rose to $467 million from $445 million in the 2019 first quarter. A significant fall in administration and other expenses was the main contributor to the improved profit performance by adding $375 million to the results with a decline in cost from $2.28 billion to $1.9 billion while other income added nearly $200 million to the increase as well after gross profit had declined by $377 million to hit $2.95 billion. The fall in gross profit resulted in a gross profit margin slipping to 23.43 percent from 25.07 percent in 2019.
Provision made for corporate taxes doubled from $55 million to $112 million. Other comprehensive income net of taxes rose from $112 million to $246 million resulting from exchange differences in translating foreign operations and resulted in total Comprehensive Income Attributable to Stockholders of the company amounting to $629 million versus $473 million in 2019.
In commenting on the results, Robert Levy, Chairman and Christopher Levy, Group President & CEO, informed shareholders, “We are seeing improved corporate results due to early decision-making, aggressive cost reductions and improved FX positions. There has been a refocussing on the absolute basics to keep the company running profitably due to the challenges brought on by COVID-19. This has translated to a better and deeper foundation for the company.”
Christopher Levy – Jamaica Broilers President and Chief Executive.
Segment results show the Jamaican operation losing $1.38 billion in revenues to end at $7 billion in the July quarter, with segment result of $730 million compared to $764 million in 2019. The US segment kept up well with revenues of $5 billion, an increase of $660 million and segment results of $316 million, down slightly from $334 million in 2019. Haiti delivered $483 million in revenues, moderately down on the $530 million produced in 2019, with segment results of $11.5 million versus $19 million in 2019, while other Caribbean Operations brought in a profit of only $27 million, down sharply from $536 million in 2019.
Cash flow from operating activities netted $860 million, but it fell with a significant reduction in payables of $1.74 billion and the purchase of fixed assets amounting to $840 million. At the close of the quarter, the company utilized $480 million of the funds held at the end of April. There was a major increase in inventories and biological assets to reach $17.7 billion from $13.3 billion in 2019. The company seems to have worked off some of its excess inventory in the quarter, built up resulting from lower demand, following the outbreak of the Coronavirus that stood at $18.6 billion at the end of April. Shareholders’ equity stood at $16.6 billion, with total borrowings at $18.5 billion comprising current portions at $9.5 billion and the long-term amount at $9 million. Current assets ended the period at $27.7 billion inclusive of trade and other receivables of $4.2 billion, cash and bank balances of $5.7 billion. In comparison, current liabilities stood at $17.5 billion, resulting in net current assets of $10 billion.
Earnings per share rose to 41 cents for the quarter. The stock traded at $24 on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. IC Insider.com forecasts earnings of $2.80 per share for the full year to April 2021, putting the PE at 8.6 times 2021 earnings, providing the basis for the stock price to rally higher in the periods ahead.
