CAC closed at a new high on Monday.
After a poor first quarter, profit at CAC 2000 more than doubled in the April quarter, to $59 million from $23 million in 2017. For the six months to April, profit was just ahead of the 2017 results and ended at $54 million from $51.4 million in 2017.
Sale revenues rose 45 percent for the quarter, to $384 million from $266 million and rose 10 percent for the year to date, to $623 million from $568 million in 2017.
Improvement in profit margin in the first half of the year, increased from 36 percent to 40 percent and in the April quarter to 43 percent from 37 percent in the 2017. The effect, gross operating profit rose a sharp 68 percent in the quarter to $167 million from $99 million and increased 23 percent for the year to date, to $249 million from $203 million in 2017.
Administrative expenses jumped a sharp 68 percent to $101 million in the quarter and increased 39 percent in the six months period to $179 million. Steve Marston, Managing Director, stated in his report accompanying the quarterly that the increase in administrative cost was primarily related in salaries, professional fees, including cost related to the recent preference share issue and travel related expenses.
Selling and distribution expenses declined by 11 percent to $9 million and fell by 9 percent to $17 million for the half year. Finance cost rose 33 in the quarter, to $5.5 million from $4.1 million in 2017 and rose 41 percent from $8 million to $11 million for the six months period.
Steven Marston,
Chief Executive Officer
Gross cash flow brought in $60 million but growth in receivables and inventories amounting to $109 million less a $33 million increase in amounts owing to creditors pushed cash flow into an outflow which was funded by net new borrowings leaving cash on hands at $261 million at the end of April. Cash funds on hand is expected to fall when $148 million in preference shares is repaid in July.
At the end of April, shareholders’ equity stood at $477 million with borrowings at $365 million. Net current assets ended the period at $1.1 billion inclusive of trade and other receivables of $591 million, cash and bank balances of $261 million. Current liabilities of ended the period at $489 million.
Earnings per share came out at 43 cents for the quarter and 42 cents for the half year could end the fiscal year ending to around $1.30 if the current trend continues. The stock traded at $9.05 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday in reaction to the improved results and now boast a PE ratio of 7 times 2018 earnings. Net asset value is $3.70 with the stock selling at 2.45 book value.
