Declines continue to dominate

June 23, 2014 by

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday saw the prices of only 3 stocks rose and 8 declined as 20 securities changing hands resulting in 1,417,573 shares trading valued at $12,223,034 as the market continues to remain soft.
JSE 2nd sum 24-6-14 Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell by 310.45 points to 69,430.63 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 347.13 points to close at 76,344.27.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Caribbean Cement with only 747 shares to close with a gain of 50 cents at $2.75, Jamaica Broilers with 100 units gained 13 cents to close at $4.70 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 4,100 shares to close with a gain of a cent at$6.66.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Barita Investments with 1,780 shares closing at $2.34, Carreras with 5,000 units and closed at $33.50, Grace Kennedy with 11,646 units as the price closed at $54, Mayberry Investments 58,414 shares and closed at $1.45, Pan Jamaican Investment with a mere 377 shares at $48.01 and Proven Investments with 73,960 ordinary shares as the price closed at 18 US cents.
Declines| The number of stocks declining in the main market are Jamaica Producers with 15,287 shares as the price dropped $1.40 to end at $15.60, a new 52 weeks low, Kingston Wharves 135,850 shares while losing 10 cents to close at $4.90, a new 52 weeks low, National Commercial Bank only 10,100 units to close with a loss of $1.20 at $17.30, Sagicor Group with 395,701 shares changing hands for a 2 cent decline to $8.88 and Scotia Group with 76,490 shares as the price slipped by 51 cents to close at $18.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded with 370,000 units changing hands for a 2 cents decline to end at $3.03 and Jamaica Teas debenture note traded 10,000 units at par of $100.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 4.81 points to close at 714.54 as only 4 stocks traded with none advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| In a low trading market there were no stock recording gain at the end of trading in the junior market.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial 107,600 shares to close at $13.50 and Lasco Distributors with 127,598 units and closed at $1.20.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Lasco Manufacturing with 10,000 shares changing hands for a 2 cents decline to close at $1.10 and Lasco Financial with 12,823 shares closed 8 cents lower at $1.07
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 9 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Advancing stocks dominant

June 2, 2014 by

In Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange advancing stocks was most dominant as June started with price mostly up with the prices of 14 stocks recording gains and 5 declined as 30 securities traded resulting in 3,459,512 shares trading valued at $16,201,075. There was one new all-time high at the end of trading as Access Financial recorded a $1.50 increase.JSE 2-6-14sumMain Market| The price of 10 companies in the main market rose and only 3 declined as the indices moved up with the JSE Market Index rising by 312.54 points to 70,570.46 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved up by 349.47 points to close at 77,618.79.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Barita Investments 1,150,000 shares and rose 9 cents to close at $2.34, Carreras with 11,652 units trading closed with a gain of$1.05 at $35.25, Desnoes & Geddes gained 5 cents to close at $4.30 with 11,025 units changing hands, Gleaner with 20,000 shares closed up by 2 cents at $1.12, Jamaica Broilers 69,833 shares an d gained a cent to close at $4.71, Mayberry Investments 1,122 units and gained 6 cents to close at $1.76, National Commercial Bank had 17,894 shares trading up by 5 cents to close at $17.50 after trading as low as $16.55 before the close, Pan Jamaican Investment put in only 507 units to close at $48.42 for a 2 cents rise, Radio Jamaica had 3,500 shares changing hands with a cent gain to close at $1.30 and Sagicor Group traded 851,708 units to close at $9.30, up 35 cents.
Firm| There were only 4 ordinary stocks in the main market to close without a change in price as Berger Paints with 3,592 units and closed at $1.66, Cable & Wireless with 293,293 shares changing hands to close at 28 cents but traded as high as 32 cents during trading. Grace Kennedy traded 2,561 units and closed at $54, Scotia Investments had 700 shares trading and closed at $23 after profits results to April quarter showed a 12 percent increase to $415 million and Seprod with only 124 units and closed at $10.50.
Preference shares| There were a series of preference shares trading on the market with Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share having 50,000 units changing hands and closed at $2, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share 651,500 units and closed at $3.03, followed by Jamaica Public Service 5% C preference share, 500 units to close at 36 cents and Jamaica Public Service 5% D preference share, 8,945 units to close at 35 cents.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 1,500 to close at $2.70 with a decline of 15 cents, Jamaica Producers traded just 270 shares as the price eased by a cent to close at $18.24 and Scotia Group with 109,330 units to close at $19.07 after shedding 53 cents following the release of six months showing a 16 percent decline in profits to $2.28 billion for the in the April quarter from a one percent fall in revenues and a decline of profit after tax for the six months of $4.7 billion versus $5.3 billion in 2013.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index gained 11.60 points to close at 733.31 as 8 stocks traded with 4 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Access Financial traded 7,765 shares and gained $1.50 to close at $13.50 for a new all-time high, Caribbean Cream with 100,000 to close a cents higher at 75 cents, Caribbean Flavours put on a cent to close at $2.51 while trading 38,500 units and General Accident Insurance with 10,191 units gained 2 cents to close at $1.52.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before with AMG Packaging having 1,500 units trading to close at $3.30 and Lasco Financial 5,000 shares and closed at $1.15.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Honey Bun 2,000 units to close with a 3 cents fall to $3.02 and Lasco Manufacturing with 35,000 shares to close at $1.10 down 2 cents after full year results to March this year was down to $584.45 million or 14 cents per share compared with $640 million for 2013.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Portfolio adjustment pressure prices

May 26, 2014 by

A realignment of pension portfolio following the merger of Sagicor Investments with Sagicor Group In placed pressure on the prices of some stocks as the pension fund disposed of shares to bring the portfolio in line with the pension requirement. The realignment was not completed at the end of trading IC Insider sources advised.
JSE 26-5-14sumIn trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of a mere 3 stocks rose and 10 declined as 23 securities traded resulting in 8,747,969 shares trading valued at $91,511,864.
Main Market| Only 2 companies in the main market rose and 8 declined as the indices lost altitude for yet another day with the JSE Market Index inching fell by 925.16 points to 71,355.85 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index erased 1,034.48 points to close at 78,497, this is the lower the index has reached since December 20 last year went it closed at 78,575.66.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Barita Investments with 3,780 shares to close with a gain of a cent to end at $2.30 followed by Seprod with 98,565 units changing hands as the price closed with a 20 cents gain at $11.
Firm| There were only 5 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with Berger Paints trading 65,394 shares as the price closed at $1.67, Grace Kennedy with 56,859 units and closed at $55, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share 128,400 units to close at $3.03, Kingston Wharves 5,000 shares to close at $5 and Mayberry Investments with 66,992 units in closing at $1.71.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Cable & Wireless 62,277 shares while losing 4 cents to close at 35 cents, Carreras traded 1,329 units at $35.26 while losing 54 cents, Hardware & Lumber 20,000 shares to close down 20 cents at $10, Jamaica Broilers 1,486,786 units in closing at $4.70 for a 5 cents fall, National Commercial Bank 2,614,665 units to close down 56 cents at $17, Sagicor Group 3,508,391 as the price lost 30 cents to end at $9, Scotia Group with 95,460 shares with the price closing down by 30 cents at $19.30 and Scotia Investments 28,235 units to close at $23.10 with a 40 cents fall.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.74 points to close at 730.97 as 8 stocks traded with 1 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| The only stock recording gain at the end of trading in the junior market is General Accident with 10,000 units to close at $1.50 with a 2 cents rise.
Firm Trades| 5 stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before with Caribbean Producers exchanging 540 shares to close at $2.75, Consolidated Bakeries 301,953 shares to end at 80 cents, Knutsford Express Services 37,868 shares at $5.16, Lasco Financial Services 2,500 units to close at $1.15 and Paramount Trading 2,575 units to close at $2.68.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Caribbean Cream traded 100,000 units to close at 70 cents with a 3 cents fall and Lasco Manufacturing with 50,400 units lost 2 cents to close at $1.12.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Main market closes week up slightly

May 16, 2014 by
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In Friday’s trading on the Stock Exchange, the prices of 4 stocks rose and 8 declined as 24 securities traded resulting in 6,969,870 shares changing hands, valued at $58,489,956. Main Market| Only 4 companies in the main market advanced in price and 3 declined as the indices closed up with the JSE Market Index rising by 319 points to 73,381.97 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gaining 356.70 points to close at 80,762.55.
JSE sum 16-5-14Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 17,115 units changing hands to close at 31 cents with a one cent gain, Caribbean Cement with 16,500 stock units to close at $3.55, up by 4 cents, Kingston Wharves 8,396 shares to close at$5.50 for a 50 cents gain and Scotia Investments with 2,200 shares to close up by $1 at $25.50.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Berger Paints with 50,444 shares to close at $1.67, Carreras with 3,650 stock units to close at $34.75, Grace Kennedy 2,000 stock units to close at $55, Hardware & Lumber 4,000 shares to close at $10.20, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share, 145,400 units to end at $3.03, Mayberry Investments 2,761 units to close at $1.80, Pan Jamaican Investment 1,000 shares to close at $48.60, Proven Investments 900 ordinary shares to close at 18 US cents and Proven Investments 8% preference share with 5,000 units to end at $5.09.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Barita Investments with 52,500 shares while closing at $2 with a 30 cents fall, Jamaica Broilers 3,000,000 units and closed at $4.70 with a one cent loss and Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 231,503 ordinary shares to close at $7.30 down by 11 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 5.06 points to close at 728.25 with only 6 stocks traded, none advanced and 3 declined.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 4,900 shares to end at $11.50, Dolphin Cove with 5,529 units and closed at $8.10, Paramount Trading 32,722 units to close at $2.68.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Caribbean Producers that traded 220,900 units to close at $2.73 down 2 cents, General Accident with 19,798 shares to close at $1.49 with a loss of a cent and Lasco Manufacturing with 16,800 stock units to close at $1.15 with a 1 cent fall.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New year, new dividends

March 7, 2014 by

IC Insider’s tracking of the latest announcements on dividends for the New Year to February 28th 2014.

Sagicor Group ups dividend and approved the payment of an interim dividend of 35 per share payable on March 31, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 21, 2014. The ex-dividend date is March 19, 2014. The company paid a dividend of 21 cents per share on October 31, 2013 and brought dividends paid in 2013 to 40 cents per share with a dividend of 19 cents per share paid on March 28, 2013. In 2012 the company paid two dividends of 28 cents each.

Jamaica Broilers Group has declared an interim dividend of 8 cents per share payable on April 9, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 13. The ex-dividend date is March 11. The 2013 dividend represents an increase of 33.33 percent on the amount paid in 2012. The company paid an interim dividend of 6 cents per share on March 28, last year and 8 cents per share on December 2.

Pan-Jamaican Investment Trust will pay its first interim dividend for the year 2014 of 60 cents per share on March 31, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 17, 2014. The ex-dividend date is March 13, 2014. Dividends per share paid in 2013 amounts to 45 cents on September 20, $1.10 in March and 50 cents on December 20.

Scotia Investments approved an interim dividend of 45 cents per stock unit, payable on April 10, 2014, to stockholders on record as at March 20, 2014. The company pays four dividends per annum and have paid 45 cents each for the prior four quarters

Scotia Group approved an interim dividend of 4o cents per stock unit, payable on April 10, 2014, to stockholders on record as at March 20, 2014. The company pays four dividends per annum and have paid 40 cents each for the prior four quarters.

Supreme Ventures declared a dividend of 3 cents per share payable on March 26, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 12, 2014. The stock traded ex-dividend on March 10, 2014. The company paid a dividend of 3 cents per share on January 8, 2014.  In 2013 dividends per share were paid as follows –  3 cents on September 2, 8 cents on June 17 and 10 cents on March 28.

Eppley Limited declared an ordinary interim dividend of $9 per share payable on February 28, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 21, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 19, 2014. This is the first dividend the company is paying on its ordinary shares since listing in 2013.

General Accident Insurance approved an ordinary dividend of 7.64 cents per stock unit payable on April 1, 2014, to shareholders on record as at March 6, 2014. The stock traded ex-dividend on March 3, 2014. General Accident Insurance paid an interim dividend of 8.728 cents per share on October 14, 2013 and also paid an interim dividend of 4.85 cents per share on March 28, 2013. In 2012 they made two payments of 4.85 cents each.

Dolphin ups dividend up 50% | Dolphin Cove has declared an interim dividend of $0.15 per share payable on April 9, 2014 to shareholders on record as at March 21, 2014. The ex-dividend date is March 19, 2014. Interim dividends were paid as follows by the company, 10 cents per share on December 4, 2013, 10 cents per share on September 16, 2013, 10 cents per share on June 6, 2013 and 10 in March 28 last year.

Gleaner Company declared an interim dividend of $0.04 per share payable on March 13, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 27, 2013. The ex-dividend date is February 25, 2014.

PROVEN declared a dividend of US$0.0015 per ordinary share payable on March 13, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 26, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 24, 2014.

Carreras declared an interim dividend of $1.62 per share payable on March 13, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 20, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 18, 2014. This is the fourth regular dividend being paid for the year. An interim dividend of $1.30 per share and a special dividend of $0.94 per share were paid on June 20, 2013. Interim dividends of a dollar per share each were paid in August and November last year. A special capital cash distribution of $1.18 was also paid on January 30, 2014.

Cargo Handlers declared a dividend of 50 cents per share payable on March 6, 2014 to shareholders on record at February 18, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 14, 2014. In 2013 ahead of the change in the tax rate on dividends from 5 percent to 15 percent the company paid a dividend of $1.00 per share on March 28, 2013.

AMG Packaging declared a dividend payment of 20 cents payable on March 28, 2014 to shareholders on record as at February 17, the Ex-dividend date is February 13. At the current stock price of $3.48 the yield is 5.7 percent. This is the first dividend the company has paid since listing in 2011.

The Board of Directors of Kingston Properties Limited has declared its first dividend for the year 2014 in the amount of US$0.0025 per stock unit payable on February 28, 2014 to stockholders on record as at February 10, 2014. The ex-dividend date is February 6, 2014.

Caribbean Producers (Jamaica) Limited | declared an interim dividend of 3 cents per stock unit payable on January 31, 2014 to shareholders on record as at January 16, 2014. The ex-dividend date is January 14, 2014. An interim dividend of 4.5 cents per stock unit was paid on March 28, 2013, previously an interim dividend of five cents per share paid on June 20, 2012.

Barita cuts dividend to 3 cents | Stung with a big drop in reported profits from $255 million in 2012 to only $70 million for the year ended September 2013, Barita Investments’ board approved the payment for an interim dividend of 3 cents per stock unit to be paid on January 27, 2014 to shareholders on record as at January 10, 2014.  The ex-dividend date is January 8, 2014. In January 2013 a dividend of 11.4 cents per share was paid.

Dividends delayed | Sagicor Group has moved the dividend consideration from February 28 to March 6th.

Not announced | The Board of Caribbean Flavours and Fragrances who had indicated that they will consider a dividend declaration at a meeting to be held on February 5, 2014 has not yet reported the decision to the Jamaica Stock exchange nor has Jamaica Broilers who should have met on February 26.

The Board of Directors of Grace Kennedy will consider a resolution for the declaration of an interim dividend at a meeting to be held on Friday, February 28, 2014. Grace last paid an interim dividend of $0.70 per share paid on December 11, 2013, an interim dividend of $0.78 per share paid on September 30, 2013 and an interim dividend of 70 cents per stock unit was paid on March 27, 2013.

Filed Under: Company News, Dividends Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Barita – look beyond 2013 profit

December 20, 2013 by

Investors can lose out on some incredible investment opportunities if they focus too much on headline reports. This is true of the latest annual results for Barita Investments.

With a drop in the 2013 profits to September of $70.3 million, one would be tempted to dump the stock. However, a deeper look into the numbers says it’s a big buy. On the surface it looks disastrous, but when the one-off investment loss of $240 million is taken into consideration, a far different picture emerges. Barita reported a $196 million in loss on sale of Investments in its latest results versus $255 million in 2012. The investment loss, which is before corporate taxation, arose from the swapping of government bonds for new lower yielding ones. When this is factored in, earnings would have been around $230 million for the year or just slightly lower than the 2012 out turn.

The company incurred a small loss in the last quarter having reported a profit of $78.6 million up to June. The figures also indicate a loss of $79 million on disposal of investments in the last quarter on top of the $117 million reported to June this year. Going forward, Barita should not encounter another debt exchange charge and should recover from the reduction in interest rates on the government paper.

ExpoBusinessmanSitingNet interest income jumped to $111 million in the final quarter compared to $76 million in the June quarter and $76 million in the final quarter of 2012 fiscal year, a positive development that means that the company has gotten back the interest rate spread to where it should be.

This is a classic case of “buy when blood is in the streets”. The only major thing that has changed in the company over the last year relates primarily to the losses picked up from the debt exchange. This is a not a recurring item and the results should be adjusted to get a proper perspective of the stock’s value. Accordingly, normalised earnings should be around 60 cents per share for the year just ended, rather than 16 cents reported.

Expenses | Expenses were kept under control during the year but much of this may have been due to the impact of the debt write off on profits forcing the company to keep costs down, like reduced bonus compensation based on lower profits. Staff cost fell from $251 million in 2012 to $217 million in 2013, while administrative cost rose by $12 million to $218 million. Taxation fell sharply from $93 million in 2012 to only $222,000.

IC Insider projects earnings of 90 cents per share for the 2014 year.

Finances | The value of shareholder’s equity fell sharply from $1.7 billion in 2012 to $1.4 billion in 2013. Total assets amounted to $13.17 billon just slightly less than the $13.56 billion held at the end of September 2012. Securities of just over $12 billion is included in the assets. On the liability side, repurchase agreements make up $11.6 billion. Not included in assets are the unit trust funds managed by Barita Units Trust Management Company. 

Barita Investments is an IC Insider Buy Rated stock.

Related posts | Profits up at Barita | NDX hits out Barita’s profit

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,

Dividends galore coming

December 19, 2013 by

It should be a Merry Christmas for investors in the companies listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange as several companies have either announced dividend payments or have announced plans to make one.

Sagicor Investments Jamaica Limited declared an interim dividend in the amount of 91 cents per stock unit payable on January 28, 2014 to stockholders on record as at January 7, the ex-dividend date of January 3. The company paid an interim dividend of 12 cents per stock unit on October 31, 2013 and 48 cents per stock unit on March 27, 2013. In 2012, Sagicor paid a dividend of 57 cents per stock unit on October 29, 2012 to stockholders and 74.3 cents per stock unit on April 27, 2012.

Jamaica Producers Group Limited has declared an interim dividend of $0.20 per share payable on January 28, 2014 to shareholders on record as at December 31. The ex-dividend date is December 27.

Supreme Ventures Limited has declared a dividend of $0.03 per share payable on January 8, 2014 to shareholders on record as at December 20. The ex-dividend date is December 18.

Jamaica Public Service Company Limited has declared quarterly preference share dividends payable on December 31, 2013 to shareholders on record as at December 13, as follows:

  • JPS 5% “C” – $0.025 per share, JPS 5% “D” – $0.025 per share, JPS 6% “E” – $0.030 per share
  • JPS 7% “B” – $0.035 per share. The ex-dividend date is December 11, 2013.

FirstCaribbean International Bank Limited declared a final dividend for the year ended October 31, 2013 of US$0.015 per share payable on January 30, 2014 to shareholders on record as at December 19. The ex-dividend date is December 17.

Kingston Wharves has declared an interim dividend of 8 cents per share payable on December 20, 2013 to shareholders on record as at December 13. The ex-dividend date is December 11. This brings the payment for 2013 to 16 cents per share compared with 12 cents in 2012. The company paid a final dividend of 2 cents per share in respect of the financial year ended December 2012 and an interim dividend of 8 cents per share in respect of the current year, on Thursday, March 28.  On December 21st last year, a dividend of 10 cents per share was paid.

Hardware & Lumber declared an interim dividend for the year 2013 of 30 cents per stock unit payable on January 17, 2014 to stockholders on record as at December 20. The ex-dividend date is December 18, 2013. The company last paid a dividend of 12.5 cents per stock unit on January 31, 2013.

The Board of Directors of  Scotia Group Jamaica announced a final dividend of 40 cents per stock unit payable on January 13, 2014, to stockholders on record at December 18, 2013. Scotia Investments also declared a final dividend of 45 cents payable on January 13 next year. Both companies have been paying 40 and 45 cents per share from the last quarter of 2012.

Salada Foods Jamaica declared a dividend of 40 cents per share payable on December 19, 2013 to shareholders on record as at December 3. The ex-dividend date is November 29, 2013. The company last paid a dividend of 40 cents per share on January 8, 2013.

Paramount Trading declared an interim dividend of 13.5 cents per share payable on December 10, 2013 to shareholders on record as at November 29. The ex-dividend date is November.

Lasco Distributors is to pay an interim dividend of 2.3 cents per share payable on December 10, 2013 to shareholders on record at November. The ex-dividend date is November 22. The last dividend paid was of $0.25 per share payable on July 31, 2012 based on the number of shares in existence then in June this year the company split the stock into 10 shares for each one already issued..

Jamaica Money Market Brokers declared a 16 cents per share dividend payable on December 18, 2013 to shareholders on record on November 27. The ex-dividend date is November 25. This is a 23% increase over the prior period. The last dividend paid was 10 cents per share on March 28, 2013. Last year December a dividend of 13 cents per ordinary share was paid.

Pan-Jamaican Investment Trust declared a third interim dividend of 50 cents per share payable on December 20, 2013 to shareholders on record as at November 27. The ex-dividend date is November 25. PJAM paid 45 cents on September 20, $1.10 on March 25, and 55 cents on December 20 last year.

Carreras declared an interim dividend of $1.00 per share payable on December 11, 2013 to shareholders on record as at November 20, 2013. The ex-dividend date is November18, 2013. The company last paid a dividend of a similar amount in August. The amounts represent a cut from $1.50 that investors had become accustomed to.  A slide in profits from a drop in sales have resulted in the cut.

Grace Kennedy declared an interim dividend of $0.70 per share payable on December 11, 2013 to shareholders on record as at November 22, 2013. The ex-dividend date is November 20, 2013.

Proven Investments declared a dividend of US$0.0022 per ordinary share payable on December 3, 2013 to shareholders on record at November 19, 2013. The ex-dividend date is November 15, 2013. The also declared a preference share dividend of $0.10 per share payable on December 23, 2013 to shareholders on record as at December 9, 2013. The ex-dividend date is December 5, 2013.

Dolphin Cove declared an interim dividend of $0.10 per share payable on December 4, 2013 to shareholders on record as at November 15, 2013. The ex-dividend date is November 13, 2013.

Dividends for consideration | The Board of Directors of Barita Investments Limited will consider (and if thought fit), recommend the payment of an interim dividend for the financial year ended September 30, 2013 at a meeting to be held on Friday, December 20, 2013.

The Board of Directors of Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited will consider a dividend payment at a meeting to be held on Monday, December 23, 2013.

AMG Packaging & Paper Company will consider the payment of an interim dividend at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday, January 7, 2014.

Filed Under: Company News, Dividends Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Profits up at Barita

August 9, 2013 by

Barita Investments showed vastly improved numbers for the June quarter with profits of $99 million compared to $48.5 million in the same quarter last year. The June quarter numbers had no taxes applied compared to corporation tax of $22.5 million charged for the 2012.

The results swung the loss at the end of the March quarter to a profit of $78.6 million year-to-date for the current financial year, down from a profit of $191.5 million for the same period to June last year. The nine months results is a huge improvement over the loss reported for the six months to March this year. The improvement in the latest quarter came from a nearly $30 million increase in foreign exchange trading and gain on sale of investment of $47 million more than in 2012. However, net interest income fell from $119 million down to $78 million but this may be due to a shift of the investment portfolio to foreign currency denominated investments to take advantage of the weakness in the Jamaican dollar currency, rather than a permanent shift in reduction in net interest margins.

The improved June results seem to bear the fruits of what management indicated would be a diversification of revenue streams by increasing product offerings and growing non-interest income.

Barita Investments suffered a $240 million hit in February as they wrote off investment gains which related to the government’s bond swap. In a release to shareholders, the company in commenting on the March results, stated “without the impact of the National Debt Exchange, the financial performance would have surpassed the prior year to date profits of $143 million”.

Graph_arrow_up150x150March quarter | For the second quarter of the financial year, losses of $98 million were incurred and year-to-date $20 million. The company was able to grow income with the main drivers being dividends, which grew by $13 million, foreign exchange trading and translation gains with an increase of $78 million and unit trust operations. Operating expenses at the end of the second quarter were $240 million compared to $226 million for the same period of 2012.

Looking forward, earnings for this year which ends in September, is unlikely to match that of 2012 due to the debt swap charge. But looking beyond that one-off charge, the results from ongoing earnings make the stock a very attractive medium investment. Revenues could be boosted above normal as the indicators are that the stock market activities will pick up strongly going forward.

Barita is an investment bank with a stockbrokerage arm and unit trust operations. The company is listed on the Jamaican Stock Exchange. At the current price in the $2.32 range and with signs of the local stock market exhibiting increasing interest, investors could reap good returns from this stock in 2014, if not before.

Insider call | Barita Investments is an IC Insider Buy Rated stock.

Related Posts | Barita, Lasco Financial get thumbs up |  NDX hits out Barita’s profit

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,

NDX hits out Barita’s profit

May 3, 2013 by

Government’s debt swap forced Barita Investments to take a $240 million hit in February as they wrote off investment gains that were on their books, prior to the swap. The swap meant that investments had a value that was higher than the face value at which government acquired them at, resulting in the loss. The write-off severely impacted the company’s results for both the quarter and for the six months period. Accordingly, Barita recorded a loss in both periods.

The company stated in a release to shareholders, that without the impact of the National Debt Exchange, the financial performance would have surpassed the prior year to date profit of $143 million.

Barita posted losses of $98 million for the second quarter of the financial year and had year to date losses of $20 million. The company was able to grow its income with the main drivers being dividend income, increasing by $13 million, foreign exchange trading and translation gains, which increased by $78 million and unit trust operations. Operating expenses at the end of the second quarter were $240 million compared to $226 million for the same period of 2012. The company reported that cost savings in the curtailment of expenses contributed positively to the bottom line.

Management stated that they continue the diversification of the revenue streams by increasing product offerings and growing non-interest income. Funds under management for the Money Market and Capital Growth funds, maintained a level of nearly $3 billion. Barita Unit Trusts Management Company recorded significant improvements in our top and bottom line performances where revenues grew by 15 percent and profits increased by 20 percent for the quarter the company stated.

Balance Sheet | The asset base showed a $1.5 billion or 10 percent decrease over prior year, from $14.2 billion to $12.7 billion, while liabilities also decreased by $1.1 billion or 9 percent. As at the end of March 2013, shareholders equity stood at $1.38 billion.

Stock Outlook | The company, with the loss to date, faces a difficult task this year as all indications points to lower profits for the year ending in September than for 2012. The stock, at best, is a hold at this stage.

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