Jamaica Producers (JP) recorded improved profits for the quarter ended March this year, with after tax profits up 30 percent, hitting $85.5 million for the company’s shareholders. The 2013 performance compares to $65.8 million reported in 2012. The improvement is in spite of finance cost rising by $22 million and taxation by $42 million. The group’s directly managed operations did not fare as well as in the prior year as a $43 million profit made in 2012 was turned into a loss of $12.6 million. Damage to the agricultural segment by hurricane Sandy resulted in a loss in that division of $55 million which compares unfavourably to a profit of $38 million last year, as revenue declined $89 million to $450 million. The group is reporting improvement in its European operations with a profit of $60 million, which is up from just $7.4 million in 2012.
Revenues | Overall, revenues moved up from $1.74 billion in 2012 to $1.86 this year. Profits were helped by gain on sale of fixed assets and investments amounting to $98.7 million. In 2012, gains were $40 million and the 2013 gain was offset by a one-off charge of $36 million. Share of associated company’s profits contributed $99.6 million versus a small loss in 2012.
Dom Rep operations fully-owned | JP acquired ownership of all the shares in the Dominican Republic operations where banana chips are produced for the Latin American market. The company says it benefited from growth in exports of juice to northern Europe from its Holland juice operations, cost cutting and increased efficiency from a new packaging plant.
Financially strong | The group has equity of $5.2 billion and loans of $1.2 billion of which just $68 million is due within twelve months. Short-term liquid funds amount to $485 million at the end of the quarter. The challenge for JP is to build on the performance of the first quarter and show satisfactory improvement in its core business to justify the investments in those areas.
Stock outlook | The 2013 performance so far could help the stock price recover some of its former sparkle. How much is uncertain.
[…] Jamaica Broilers traded 269,910 shares at $4.51 and had an offer, to sell 215,000 units at $4.69, Jamaica Producers gained $1 to close at $17 while 6,004 units traded. […]