Development Bank of Jamaica

Lasco Financial EPS hides profit plunge

Net profit declined by 30 percent to $214 million for the fiscal year to March 2023 from $306 million in 2022 for Lasco Financial Services. Still, the earnings per share barely fell, according to the recently released audited report. The earning per share is actually 16.7 cents rather than the 23.94 cents reported in the audited Financial Statement, compared with 24.05 cents in 2022.
The company did not have a good year, with revenues falling from $2.5 billion in 2022 to $2.27 billion even as loan income grew during the latest year. Revenues in the fourth dropped sharply to only $410 million versus $662 million in the 2022 fourth quarter. Fourth quarter profit came in slightly below the December quarter’s $31 million at $27 million on far lower revenues than the $572 million in the December quarter.
Loans payable include two with ten year tenure amounting to $1.095 billion due to JMMB with interest rates at 8.25 and 8.75 percent per annum and 2 percent per annum loans amounting to $143 million from the Development Bank of Jamaica for on lending.
Loans advanced to borrowers ended at $1.039 billion for the fiscal year, up from $1.013 before provisions, and after provisions, loans are up nearly 11 percent to $900 million from $813 million in 2022. Quality improved in 2023, with amounts set aside for impairment dropping to $138 million, or 1.3 percent of the loan portfolio, from $201 million or 2 percent in 2022, as $60 million was recovered from impaired loans during the 2023 fiscal year. Loans that are current have a provision of $24 million compared with $13 million in 2022.

Jacinth Hall-Tracey, Managing Director of Lasco Financial.

Administrative and other expenses rose 6.8 percent to $1.18 billion from $1,105 billion in 2022, but Selling and promotion expenses fell 13 percent to $647 million from $745 million, partially as Commission and fees fell seven percent from $653 million to $609 million. Overall, non-financial expenses declined from $1.85 billion to $1.83 billion. However, staff cost jumped 18 percent to $654 million, with staffing at the end of the year jumping 23 percent to 201 employees from 164 in 2022. Finance costs fell to $117 million from $167 million in 2022 and Taxation fell from $187 million to $115 million.
At the close of the financial year, cash and short term deposits amount to $1.7 billion, giving it much dry powder to increase lending if viable opportunities arise. Shareholders’ equity increased to $2.11 billion at the end of March from $1.96 billion in 2022.
The company is a work in progress as it attempts to recover from losses suffered in its loan portfolio from 2020 to 2022, this is an area of above average potential growth, but there have been few signs that the company will be more aggressive in this potentially lucrative segment of the financial market.
The stock is listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stocks Exchange and last traded at $2.35 with a PE ratio of 14 times 2023 earnings. Investors need to watch this one for possible recovery.

Access vs Dolla Financial

Investors chased shares in the recent Junior Market listed Dolla Financial as high as $3.60 at 18 times 2022 estimated earnings but is now priced at $2.90 at 14 times earnings. At the same time, Access Financial trades around $22 with a PE of 6.5 times this year’s projected earnings. Why the vast difference in valuation?
The above is based on projections that could vary from the actual outturn to be known in the first half of 2023. Using historical earnings, Dolla earned 7 cents per share for 2021 and now trades at 40 times those earnings, while Access earned $1.60 and trades at a more appealing PE of 14.5. Historical data suggests that Dolla could enjoy growth in profits close to 100 percent per annum for several years. ICInsider.com projections for Access are for a 126 percent increase in profit this year as it continues to recover from the declines caused by Covid. In the year to March 2024, profit is projected to rise 70 percent and thereafter 40 percent. Notably, the stock price should increase about 1,000 percent to more than $250 per share by 2026. Projections for Dalla are for profits to rise 230 percent this year to 20 cents and 70 percent next year and 60 percent for the next two years, with the price increasing 524 percent to $17.50.
The above data suggest that investors should pay greater attention to the less expensive stock that could deliver twice the returns over the next four years.
Helped by reduced provision for doubtful loans and an adverse economic environment, Access’ profits dropped from $2.61 per share in 2018 to $1.63 in 2019 and bottomed out at $1.05 in 2021 before bouncing to $1.60 for this year to March as credit losses declined from $388 million to $282 million, these are up from $177 million in 2019, having peaked at $507 million in 2020.

Access Financial HQ

Access loan portfolio amounts to $4.5 billion compared to, Dolla is at $751 million at the end of 2021 and $917 at March this year, up from just $350 million at the end of March last year, that is rapid growth, that should continue to increase with additional funds coming from the inflows from the IPO of $250 million and more profits to come.
The high returns possible from these micro financiers provide fresh capital from profits to on-lend during the year. This is what is so attractive about them, even after providing for loan losses. But Access has an added advantage over Dolla, as the Development Bank of Jamaica accredits it to on-lend funds originating from them at rates much lower than micro lenders typically charge.
For the year just ended, loan interest income at Access grew 8 percent, but other income fell 6 percent to $142 million. Fees and commissions inched marginally from $413 million to $417 million. Other income slipped from $149 million to $142 million. Interest expenses declined 14 percent to $220 as loans received were reduced to $2.3 billion from $2.7 billion. Provision for loan losses dipped 51 percent to $145 million, staff costs climbed 3 percent to $690 million. In comparison, other operating expenses rose 5 percent to $275 million, loans written off jumped 48 percent to $139 million from $93 million in 2021 and depreciation was flat at $117 million.
Access wrote off $138.5 million in loans in 2022 for the group, with $93.4 million in 2021 and $36.6 million for the company in 2022 and $12.9 million in 2021, with the largest portion by far being for the USA segment. But the bulk of the provision for expected losses is for the Jamaica segment. Allowance for credit losses for the group was $144.7 million in 2022 and $295 million in 2021 and for the company $134.6 million versus $324.7 million in 2021.
Segment results show that in 2021, the Jamaican market had a profit of $354.7 with a loss of $13.4 million for the USA market while for 2022, the Jamaican market ended with a profit of $650 million, with a loss of $77 million for the USA market. The data suggest that future earnings could come out with lower costs in this area.
Profit ended 51 percent up at $438 million after taxation of $135 million. Dolla may be growing quickly, but as the loan portfolio grows, the growth rate could slow until it becomes more mature, but that does not seem to be anytime soon. They could be constrained by relatively small capital based for now.