Stationery & Office Supplies is enjoying a strong rebound from the COVID-19 afflicted 2020 financial year, with profit swinging from a loss of $22 million in the June 2020 quarter to a small profit of $3 million in the 2021 second quarter and well off from a profit of $34 million in the 2019 June Quarter.
Stationery & Office Supplies Montego Bay
Profit rose over 168 percent year on year for the first 6 months of 2021, from $21.8 million in 2020 to $58.4 million.
Sales surged 76 percent in the June quarter to $238 million from the 2020 covid-19 battered quarter and 17 percent for the half year to $551 versus $472 million in the 2020 period. While making a good recovery, this year’s revenues trail that of 2019 by some degree. Revenues in June 2019 quarter were 24 percent higher at $295 million and for the half year, 15 percent greater than the $633 million generated in 2019.
The cost of goods sold rose 61 percent in the quarter to $117 million and 7 percent for the half year to $261 million. Gross profit margin rose to 51 percent in the quarter, with gross profit of $120 million up from 46 percent in 2020, with gross profit of $63 million. For the half year, gross profit margin rose to 53 percent from gross profit of $290 million up from 46 percent in 2020, with gross profit of $228 million.
Administrative and general expenses rose 54 percent to $82 million from $55 million in 2020 during the June quarters and climbed a milder 16 percent to $163 million from $141 million for the six months period. Selling and promotional costs rose from $14.6 million in the June 2020 quarter to $22 million and moved from $38 million for the six months in 2020 to $43 million in 2021.
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment charges were slightly down in the quarter at $8.2 million versus $8.7 million in 2020 and $16.5 million compared to $17.8 million for the half year. Finance and foreign exchange cost accounted for $5.2 million in the quarter versus $6.4 million in 2020 and $10 million in the six months period this year, from $12 million in 2020.
“History has shown that SOS’s second quarter is normally the slowest period during the year, but even though we continue to suffer through the Covid-19 virus and all of the issues that come along with it, SOS was able to post a profit, with significant improvements compared to the second quarter of 2020. 
These are good indicators that Jamaica’s economy is continuing to rebound and as we progress through the summer months, we will see the return of children to school which will also help improve the sales of SEEK back to school products in the market,” stated David McDaniel, Managing Director and Marjorie McDaniel, Chief Administrative officer in their joint commentary of the results.
Earnings per share for the second quarter for 2021 amount to one cent and 23 cents for the half year. ICInsider.com projects full year earnings at 85 cents per share and $1.50 for 2022. The stock traded at $7.50, with a PE of 9, based on 2021 earnings and that compares favourably with the market average PE of 12.4.
The company remains in a healthy financial position at the end of half year period. At the end of June, shareholders’ equity stood at $668 million, with long term borrowings at $114 million and short term borrowings at $39 million. Gross cash flow amounts to $89 million but, with growth in working capital and repayment of loans, the company ended the half year with net negative flows of $6 million. Current assets stood at $509 million, including inventories of $276 million, trade and other receivables of $102 million, and cash and bank balances of $91 million. Current liabilities ended at $126 million, with net current assets ending at $382 million.
