22% percent increased cement sales in Q3
For the nine months to September 2015, the company ended with a profit after tax of $1.486 billion. In 2014 a profit of only $25 million was realised for the nine months last year. The 2015 results translate to earnings per share of $1.75 at September. For the quarter to September, profit after tax amounted to 72 cents per share or $617 million compared with just $78 million in the 2014 quarter. If the sales trend continues, earnings per share should hit $2.50 for 2015 which includes an exceptional income of $168 million or about 15 cents per share. The company’s stock traded at $15 on Friday and now carries a PE of 6.5 times this year earnings, and seems set to move up in price with these results with the valuation of the most valued stocks on the market being at 10.
Gross cash generated by operating activities amounted to $2 billion and after repaying loans ended at $997 million in cash funds.
Revenue for the third quarter grew by $741 million or 21 percent over the same period in 2014 mainly driven by improved domestic sales volumes and increased clinker exports which compensated for the decline in cement export sales volumes. The company benefited from lower costs of fuels and energy and Interest expense that decreased by 73 percent for the quarter to only $16 million, from $59 million in 2014. For the nine months interest expenses ended at $120 million from $196 million as a result of the company’s financial restructuring initiative resulting in some prepayments of long-term debt in excess of $800 million. Depreciation and amortisation cost, however, rose from $83 million in the September 2014 quarter to $102 million in 2015 and to $296 million for the nine months from $251 million in 2014.
The vastly improved results have changed the financial structure with net working capital jumping from just $360 million surplus to $2 million at September and equity rising to $6.4 billion from $4.8 at the end of September 2014.
JSE closing on record for Jamaican stocks
The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Thursday with the All Jamaican Index just under 2,500 points away from the old record 138,917.59 reached on 24th of January 2005.
By the close 4 stocks ended trading, at 52 weeks’ closing highs and Desnoes and Geddes traded during the day at intraday high of $30.25. A total of 14 stocks rose, with 10 declined as 29 securities, totalling 5,416,421 units valued at $103,069,379 changed hands, in all market segments. The JSE Market Index shot up 355.39 points to 123,026.73, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 397.16 to end at 136,445.59 and the JSE combined index climbed 435.35, points to end at a new high of 127,702.70.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading of 12 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.In trading, Cable and Wireless closed with a gain of 5 cents as 368,000 shares changed hands to end at 52 weeks’ high of 67 cents, Caribbean Cement gained 38 cents to end at $14.18 for a new 52 weeks’ closing high, with 137,325 shares changing hands. Carreras fell 50 cents while trading 219,140 shares to end at $52, Desnoes & Geddes had 2,001,720 units changing hands, to close at $30, Grace Kennedy exchanged 63,262 shares at $64.75 to gain 19 cents, Jamaica Broilers lost 20 cents in trading 62,885 shares to close at $7.80, JMMB Group gained 55 cents in trading 231,000 shares to close at $10.
Kingston Wharves traded 13,300 shares to close at $9, National Commercial Bank closed with a loss of 60 cents with 259,300 shares trading to end at $31. Pan Jamaican price jumped $2 in trading 20,000 shares to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $72, Radio Jamaica traded 55,799 units but the price fell 50 cents to close at $3.50, Scotia Group ended with 61,695 shares trading at $25 after falling $1. Scotia Investments ended with 20,000 shares trading at $26, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 170,644 units with a loss of 0.50 cent to end at of 24.5 US cents and Supreme Ventures gained 15 cents and ended at $3.90 with 372,698 units changing hands.
Juniors just shy of the 1,300 mark
The market closed with 5 securities ending with no bids to buy, while 4 had no stocks being offered for sale. A total of 7 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 1 closed with a lower offer.
In trading, Caribbean Cream rebounded with a 20 cents gain and closed at $3.10 with 69,419 shares changing hands. Caribbean Flavours rose 30 cents to $3.80 with 400,000 shares changing hands to close at a new 52 weeks’ high, Derrimon Trading had 54,665 units changing hands to end at $2.30 having lost 3 cents,
Dolphin Cove rose 90 cents in trading 19,357 shares, to end at $12.90. Honey Bun ended with 5,000 shares changing hands to gain 8 cents and end at $4.08, KLE Group had 50,000 units changing hands at 43 cents, Lasco Distributors with 28,800 shares changing hands, closed 1 cent higher at $2.87 but traded as high as $3. Lasco Financial lost 19 cents and closed at $2.41 while 439,750 shares changed hands, the stock traded at $2.60 during the day, Lasco Manufacturing traded 228,050 shares to end at $3.30 after trading 19 cents lower.
The JSE enjoying slow Thursday morning
The Jamaica stock market is enjoying a slow morning of trading with only 16 securities being active at 11 am with a volume of 1,157,117 units as 5 stocks gained and 6 declined.
In trading, Caribbean Cement traded at a new 52 weeks’ high of $12 with limited volume as the supply has effective dried up with only one offer at $15. Derrimon Trading had 635,700 shares traded at $2.30, subsequent to 11am Desnoes & Geddes traded at $28.50 for an increase of $3.47.
The All Jamaican Composite index rose 405.74 points to 127,674.61 JSE Market Index rose 397.92 points to 115,213.23, the JSE combined index rose 446.32 points to be at 119,607.39 and the junior market index rose 11.59 points to 1,216.38.








The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Tuesday with the All Jamaican Index is now 4,000 points away from the old record 138,917.59 reached on 24th of January 2005. By the close 7 stocks ended trading at 52 weeks’ closing highs. A total of 14 stocks rose, with 10 declining as 31 securities, totaling 3,337,233 units valued at $31,552,287 changing hands, in all market segments.









