Profits are the primary driver of stock prices. The early release of third quarter results for 2023 for some listed companies has been less than inspiring, with the majority reporting lower revenues and profits for the third quarter and, in some cases, reduced revenues and profits for the year to date. That is not the results the market needs to lift a sagging market weighted down by some poor profit results for the year and tight monetary policy being pursued by Jamaica’s Central Bank.
Margaritaville, located in the Turks & Caicos Islands
So far, Companies reporting include AMG Packaging, Caribbean Cream with it trading brand Kremi, Express Catering, Image Plus Consultants, Knutsford Express, Margaritaville, Mayberry Investments, Paramount Trading and Portland JSX Fund.
AMG Packaging reported a slight drop in full year earnings to August of $94 million. The 2023 performance is better than that of 2022, with the current year’s figures including a one-off charge and vastly increased taxation than in the previous year.
Profit after tax is down from $105 million in the previous year, but this is after taxation that climbed from $18 million to $39 million in the current year. Revenues in the current year come out at $1 billion, up from $996 million in the prior year. For the quarter, revenues fell to $230 million from $257 million, with profits after tax of $19 million, down from $25 million in the previous year. The 2023 result was dragged down by a one off charge relating to payroll tax credits that were not allowed in prior years, amounting to $11 million, had this not been the case, profits would have been higher than for the previous year. Additionally, the taxation charge for the year was $11 million versus just $5 million in the prior year’s fourth quarter.
Caribbean Cream reported revenues of $646 million for the 2023 August quarter versus $645 million in 2022, with the year to date revenues slipping into $1.25 billion from $1.257 billion in 2022. Profit fell to $3.6 million in the August quarter, down from $7 million in 2022, but is up to $10 million for the six months from $8.5 million in 2022.
Revenues and profits rebounded strongly at Express Catering in the first quarter to August 2023 versus 2022. Net profit for the quarter ended at US$843,114 for EPS of 0.051 US cents, up 29 percent from a profit of US$652,841, with EPS of 0.040 US cents in the similar period in 2022 as revenues climbed 30 percent to US$5.4 million from US$4.9 million in 2022 aided by a strong rebound in tourism traffic passing through the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, as well as the opening of new restaurants in the airport.
Image Plus reported sharply lower second quarter results, a 40 percent drop in earnings from $64 million before tax in 2022 to just $39 million for the second quarter as revenues declined by 7 percent to $254 million from $274 million in 2022 but remained flat for the half year at $554 million, resulting in pretax profit falling 33 percent from $153 million down to $103 million. The company indicated that revenues decreased due to machine breakdown.
Revenues at Knutsford Express jumped 18.5 percent for the first quarter ending August to $492 million from $415 million in the 2022 first quarter. The revenue improvement translated to slight growth in profit as cost rose nearly 26 percent to $380 million from $303 million. The company stated that it increased its workforce to manage growth. Before tax, profit increased marginally to $86 million from $84 million in the prior year.
Margaritaville was one company delivering improved revenues and profit for the 2023 first quarter, primarily reflecting improvement in tourism traffic in the Caribbean region. The company generated revenues of US$1.8 million in the August 2023 quarter, up solidly from US$1.42 million in the prior year and delivered gross profit of $1.33 billion this year versus US$1.03 million. Net profit surged to US$230,000 for the year to date against just US$94,000 in 2022.
Mayberry Investments released nine months’ results with a $985 million loss for the third quarter and $693 million loss for the nine months after reporting significant investment losses of around $2 billion in both periods, but shareholders’ equity remains strong at $15.75 billion.
Paramount
Paramount Trading reported lower revenues and profits in the first quarter ending August, following what the company states is the conclusion of the best major six month contract to supply admixture to the construction sector. Revenues declined by 28 percent to $426 million from $595 million the year before and profits fell by 32 percent to $65 million from $97 million the previous year.
Portland JSX Fund reported a worsened loss of US$1,457,327 for the quarter to August this year, up from US$416,643 in the similar quarter in 2022 and a loss of US$8.71 million versus a profit of US$376,681 profit for the six months to August 2022.
The results reflect net fair value losses on investments of US$1.3 million in the quarter and US$8.3 million for the half year.
Investors traded 13,829,730 shares for $26,730,250 compared to 14,406,305 units at $31,278,834 on Thursday.
At the close, Access Financial advanced 89 cents and ended at $25, with 546 shares crossing the exchange, Blue Power rose 23 cents to $2.93, with 500 stock units crossing the market, CAC 2000 popped 44 cents to close at $4.92 with traders dealing in 30 units, Cargo Handlers shed $3.52 to end at $10.98 in trading 1,271 stocks. Caribbean Flavours climbed 8 cents in closing at $1.48 after 72 units passed through the market, Dolphin Cove skidded 15 cents in closing at $16 in an exchange of 1,000 shares, EduFocal gained 14 cents and ended at $2.50 after an exchange of 4,737,278 stocks, Elite Diagnostic increased 12 cents to close at $1.77 with investors transferring 104,458 stock units. Everything Fresh lost 28 cents to finish at $1.40 with an exchange of 1,792 units, Express Catering declined 9 cents to end at $4.60, with 3,864 stocks clearing the market, Fosrich rallied 7 cents in closing at $2.60 while exchanging 20,590 shares, 
Honey Bun gained 15 cents to close at $6.50, with 7,698 stock units crossing the market. ISP Finance fell $2.33 to $31 as investors exchanged 145 units, Jamaican Teas advanced 14 cents to end at $2.44 with dealings in 300 stock units, Jetcon Corporation dropped 16 cents and ended at 88 cents with a transfer of 59,054 stocks, Knutsford Express dipped $1.28 to close at $11.11 after 13,819 shares changed hands. Lasco Distributors lost 14 cents and ended at $4.15 after a transfer of 344,799 stock units, Limners and Bards rallied 13 cents to end at $1.89 after an exchange of 174,618 shares, Mailpac Group declined 8 cents in closing at $2.15 after 212,021 units changed hands, Main Event dipped 11 cents to $14.49, with 13,836 stocks changing hands. 
MFS Capital Partners climbed 36 cents to end at $2.13, with shareholders swapping 312,940 units and ONE on ONE Educational rose 7 cents to $1.07, with stakeholders exchanging 1,625,329 stock units.
Investors traded 14,406,305 shares for $31,278,834 compared with 8,489,623 units at $18,335,956 on Wednesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.8, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Derrimon Trading rallied 25 cents in closing at $2.20, with 518,403 units crossing the market, EduFocal gained 46 cents in closing at $2.36 with investors swapping 3,622,536 shares. Fontana lost 10 cents to end at $11.40 in switching ownership of 40,070 stocks, Indies Pharma popped 12 cents to close at $2.75 after an exchange of 30,000 stock units, Jamaican Teas shed 25 cents to $2.30 with an exchange of 450,000 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 29 cents and ended at $4.55 with traders dealing in 36,911 stock units, Mailpac Group climbed 23 cents in closing at $2.23 after a transfer of 5,304,942 shares, Main Event dropped 40 cents and ended at $14.60, with 12,341 units crossing the market. MFS Capital Partners dropped 23 cents to $1.77 after 122,791 stock units changed hands, 
Paramount Trading rose 20 cents to close at $1.70 after 25,205 shares passed through the exchange and tTech advanced 50 cents to end at $2.18 in trading a mere two stocks.
Investors traded 8,489,623 shares for $18,335,956 compared with 4,491,437 units at $10,456,683 on Tuesday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
GWest Corporation rose 8 cents and ended at 98 cents with an exchange of just one unit, Honey Bun shed 39 cents to end at $6.30, with 5,428 shares changing hands, Image Plus skidded 10 cents in closing at $2 as investors exchanged 37,675 stock units, Indies Pharma declined 48 cents to $2.63 with shareholders swapping 58,810 stock units. ISP Finance gained $1.13 to close at $33.33 with investors transferring 3,380 stock units, Knutsford Express lost 10 cents to end at $12.40 with 975 shares clearing the market, Lasco Manufacturing fell 11 cents and ended at $4.84 after a transfer of 17,004 units, Main Event dropped 50 cents in closing at $15, with 3,063 stocks crossing the exchange.
Medical Disposables fell 19 cents to end at $3.81 with a transfer of 1,436 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies lost 14 cents and ended at $1.72 with investors dealing in 209,957 shares.
Investors traded 4,491,437 shares for $10,456,683 compared to 55,529,342 units at $124,157,944 on Friday.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 29.80 points to 3,885.12, but the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator is flashing positive signals for trading on Wednesday.
Honey Bun popped 9 cents to close at $6.69 in trading 32,257 shares, Indies Pharma climbed 15 cents to $3.11 with investors transferring 1,700 units. ISP Finance rallied $2.20 and ended at $32.20 as investors exchanged 675 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 10 cents in closing at $2.50 with stakeholders trading 23,148 stocks, KLE Group declined 17 cents and ended at $1.50 with investors dealing in 237 units, Knutsford Express shed 19 cents to $12.50 as 2,917 shares passed through the market. Lasco Distributors rose 10 cents to close at $4.26, with 56,524 stocks crossing the market, Main Event increased $1.39 to end at $15.50, with 9,768 units crossing the exchange, MFS Capital Partners fell 12 cents in closing at $1.97 with shareholders swapping 278,236 shares. 
Paramount Trading dipped 26 cents in closing at $1.50 after investors traded 26,454 stock units following the release of first quarter results that show revenues falling and profit declining to $54 million from $84 million in 2022. Stationery and Office Supplies gained 15 cents to close at $1.86 in switching ownership of 303,433 stocks and tTech dropped 51 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.68 in an exchange of 102,487 shares.
Investors traded 55,529,342 shares for $124,157,944 compared with 5,228,588 units at $25,295,195 on Thursday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
Future Energy gained 17 cents and ended at $3.58 in switching ownership of 55,512 stock units, Honey Bun rallied 59 cents to $6.60 after a transfer of 2,172 stocks, ISP Finance skidded $7.85 in closing at $30 with investors dealing in 7,818 units. Lasco Financial rose 30 cents and ended at $2.06, with 2,400 shares changing hands, Lumber Depot climbed 11 cents to $2.50 with investors exchanging 500 stocks, Mailpac Group fell 9 cents to close at $2, with 2,840,330 units crossing the exchange, Main Event dropped $1.34 to end at $14.11 after an exchange of 3,000,363 shares. MFS Capital Partners advanced 9 cents to $2.09 with shareholders swapping 58,850 stock units, 
Stationery and Office Supplies shed 7 cents in closing at $1.71 with 52,046 stock units clearing the market and tTech popped 9 cents to end at $2.19 after 10 stocks passed through the market.
Investors traded 5,228,588 shares for $25,295,195 compared with 5,987,770 units at $12,559,771 on Wednesday.
At the close, Access Financial advanced 94 cents to $28.44 in switching ownership of a mere 15 shares, AMG Packaging increased 11 cents in closing at $2.51 after investors traded 3,975 stock units, Cargo Handlers gained 50 cents to close at $14.50 with shareholders swapping 280 units, Caribbean Cream climbed 79 cents to end at $4.40 after 7,850 stocks passed through the market. EduFocal skidded 15 cents to $1.25 while exchanging 5,132 units, Everything Fresh dipped 19 cents in closing at $1.40 with a transfer of 1,300 stock units, Fontana shed 19 cents and ended at $11.50 in an exchange of 105,941 shares, Future Energy dropped 18 cents to close at $3.41 as investors exchanged 96,514 stocks. GWest Corporation rose 9 cents to 99 cents after exchanging 552 stocks, Honey Bun fell 14 cents to end at $6.01, with 25,912 units changing hands, 
Indies Pharma popped 6 cents to end at $2.96 after 669,336 stock units passed through the market, ISP Finance dropped $6.15 and ended at $37.85 with investors dealing in just 70 shares. Jamaican Teas rallied 33 cents in closing at $2.63 with 51,576 units clearing the market, Jetcon Corporation popped 16 cents to $1.04 in trading 383 stocks, Lasco Financial lost 17 cents to close at $1.76 with traders dealing in 104,000 shares, Lasco Manufacturing advanced 44 cents to close at $4.94 with stakeholders exchanging 16,100 stock units. Mailpac Group increased 6 cents to end at $2.09 with an exchange of 161,203 stocks, Main Event rallied $1.40 in closing at $15.45 after an exchange of 1,018,980 stock units, 
Medical Disposables declined 20 cents to $4 after a transfer of 3,899 shares and Regency Petroleum climbed 7 cents and ended at $2.12 with an exchange of 148,806 units.
Investors traded 5,987,770 shares for $12,559,771 down from 12,574,790 units at $28,994,764 on Tuesday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
GWest Corporation declined 9 cents in closing at 90 cents in an exchange of 500 shares, Honey Bun advanced 6 cents to $6.15 with shareholders swapping 3,854 stock units, Jetcon Corporation dropped 13 cents to 88 cents with 99,954 stocks clearing the market, Lasco Distributors dipped 6 cents in closing at $4.20 after 4,255 units changed hands. Lasco Financial skidded 7 cents to close at $1.93 while exchanging 7,377 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing dropped 13 cents and ended at $4.50 with investors dealing in 111,803 stocks, Lumber Depot shed 10 cents to end at $2.42, with 5,284 units crossing the market, Mailpac Group dipped 7 cents and ended at $2.03 in an exchange of 2,250,400 shares. Main Event fell $1.45 to close at $14.05 in trading 10,749 shares, MFS Capital Partners declined 10 cents in closing at $2 after an exchange of 109,607 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies gained 7 cents to end at $1.81 with a transfer of 120,990 units, 
Tropical Battery fell 9 cents to $1.90 and closed with 76,098 stock units changing hands and tTech declined 10 cents to close at $2.10 with investors transferring 450 units.
Investors traded 12,574,790 shares for $28,994,764 up from to 5,477,776 units at $11,276,077 on Monday.
At the close, Access Financial climbed 18 cents to close at $24 in trading 1,027 shares, CAC 2000 fell $1.09 in closing at $3.81 as investors exchanged 911 stocks, Cargo Handlers rallied $1 to $14.50 with an exchange of 2 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 27 cents to $3 with shareholders swapping 2,609 units. Dolla Financial advanced 8 cents to end at $2.36 after a transfer of 588,660 stocks, Dolphin Cove gained 23 cents to close at $16.38, with 1,467 stock units clearing the market, Express Catering increased 9 cents in closing at $4.69 after 892 shares passed through the market, Fontana popped 68 cents to $11.78, with 145,847 units crossing the market. Fosrich rallied 12 cents and ended at $2.50 after closing with an exchange of 408,524 stocks, fresh a recent suspension in trading, iCreate declined 18 cents to end at 85 cents with a transfer of 360,086 units, ISP Finance rose 50 cents to close at $44 while trading 3,414 stocks, 
Jetcon Corporation gained 15 cents to end at $1.01 with stakeholders exchanging a mere 69 shares. Lasco Financial rose 7 cents to $2 in switching ownership of 21,523 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing dipped 32 cents in closing at $4.63, with 182,139 shares changing hands, Lumber Depot climbed 13 cents and ended at $2.52 after trading 8,911 units, Mailpac Group popped 10 cents to close at $2.10 after an exchange of 7,523,818 units. Main Event shed 45 cents and ended at $15.50, with 630 stocks changing hands, MFS Capital Partners dropped 28 cents in closing at $2.10 with investors transferring 336,755 stock units, 
Paramount Trading advanced 29 cents to end at $1.79, with 1,000 units crossing the market and Tropical Battery advanced 11 cents to $1.99 in an exchange of 17,942 shares.
Investors traded 8,848,848 shares at $20,102,884 compared with 7,403,059 units at $14,802,391 on Tuesday.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 79.03 points to finish at 3,819.29.
Dolla Financial increased 11 cents to close at $2.25 in an exchange of 915,854 stock units, Dolphin Cove popped 33 cents to end at $16.34, with 522 units changing hands, Fontana dipped 25 cents and ended at $10.74 with 42,597 stocks clearing the market, Honey Bun rallied 42 cents in closing at $6.77 after 600 shares changed hands. Indies Pharma lost 34 cents to end at $2.80 and closed with 12,314 units being traded, ISP Finance jumped $5.50 to close at $35.50 while exchanging 4,492 stock units, Jamaican Teas climbed 22 cents to end at $2.33 with investors transferring 2,767,534 shares, Knutsford Express gained 50 cents to close at $12.50 with stakeholders exchanging 22,724 stocks. Mailpac Group climbed 14 cents and ended at $2 with an exchange of 3,042,059 units, Main Event advanced 99 cents to $15.99 with a transfer of 1,282 stock units, 
MFS Capital Partners fell 50 cents in closing at $2 as 268,537 stocks passed through the market, Paramount Trading dropped 25 cents to close at $1.74 in switching ownership of 2,119 shares and tTech popped 24 cents to $2.45 after a transfer of 6 stocks.