Shareholders of Sagicor Group will be paid an interim dividend of 28 cents per share on November 7, to shareholders on record as at October 27. The payment while greater than the final one made in 2013 is only back to the last payment that was made in 2012. The stock will trade ex-dividend on October 23, 2014.
The latest dividend, will bring the total dividend payment in 2014, to 63 cents per share, with the interim dividend of 35 cents per share, paid on March 31, this year.
The company paid a dividend of 21 cents per share on October 31, 2013, for a total dividend payment in 2013, of 40 cents per share with the 19 cents per share paid on March 28, 2013. In 2012 the company paid two dividends of 28 cents each.
Sagicor Group dividend back to 2012 level but
October 16, 2014 by
Seprod & Lasco Distributors hike dividend
October 9, 2014 by
Seprod will pay a dividend of 35 cents per share on November 14, to shareholders on record as at October 31. The stock will trade ex-dividend as of October 29.
Seprod paid a dividend of 55 cents per share on July 4, this year. Last year a dividend of 30 cents per share was paid on November 15 and 53 cents per share on July 8 Lasco Distributors declared an interim dividend of 3 cents per share payable on December 9, 2014 to shareholders on record as at November 25, 2014. The stock will trade ex-dividend on November 21, 2014. An interim dividend of 2.3 cents per share was paid on December 10, 2013.
Medical Disposables & Supplies declared an interim dividend of 4 cents per share payable on November 19, to shareholders on record as at November 14. The stock will trade ex-dividend on November 12, 2014. This is the first dividend the company is paying since listing in December last year.
4 stocks up 1 down on TTSE
October 8, 2014 by
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange, Wednesday, resulted in 11 securities changing hands of which 4 advanced, 1 declined and 6 traded firm, with 377,472 units, valued at $1,473,711.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.25 points to close at 1,143.28, the All T&T Index gained 0.02 points to close at 1,972.02and the Cross Listed Index increased by 0.06 points to end at 41.18.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price, at the close are, Ansa Merchant Bank with 4,164 shares to put on a cent at $39.38, a new 52 weeks’ high, Grace Kennedy added 23,558 shares valued at $88,556 and gained a cent at $3.76, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with a volume of 66,106 shares valued at $29,748, closed up a cent, at 45 cents, while Sagicor Financial Corporation contributed 37,882 shares with a value of $236,763 and put on 4 cents at $6.25.
Declines| The only stock declining at the end of trading is, National Flour Mills trading 1,500 shares, declined 2 cents to end the day at $1.29.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund with 17,500 shares valued at $385,020, remained at $22, First Citizens Bank with 4,669 shares to end at $36.52, Guardian Holdings with 11,199 units closed at $13.49, National Commercial Bank with 210,000 shares changing hands for a value of $210,000, closed at $1, Scotiabank 600 shares at $59.49 and Scotia Investments with only 294 units closed at $1.50.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 2 stocks with the bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
More insider buying of D&G shares
September 27, 2014 by
Within less than a month of the release of Desnoes and Geddes full year results, to June, the company is reporting another purchase of shares by a director. The latest, is 3rd such inside purchase to have taken place, since the June results were released.
The latest acquisition is 507,650 shares on September 23. This comes on the heels of Desnoes and Geddes reporting strong full year results, with the promise of higher earnings, in the new fiscal year. The company previously reported the purchase 250,000 shares by a Director, on August 29, 2014 and 100,000 units, on September 1.
Profit on the rise for Dolphin Cove
September 27, 2014 by
The fast growing Jamaican north coast entertainment company Dolphin Cove, is reporting increased profits for the six months ended June, this year. Profit rose 30 percent to $287 million over the $221 million in the 2013 comparative period, according to the unaudited six months financial report.
For the June quarter, Dolphin made profit that is 34 percent ahead of that of 2013 to hit $139 million up from $103 million last year.
“This rise in profits is mainly as a result of the growth in revenues and supported by cost containment measures which resulted in operating expenses increasing by a lower percentage than the growth in sales. The decision to increase our investments in sales and marketing in the June 2014 quarter produced the desired results, as sales increased by 17 percent above that of 2013 and also surpassed the 11 percent increase in revenue which was experienced in the first quarter,” Manager said in a release of the results to shareholders.
Total revenues climbed 15 percent to $923.4 million for the half year, from $800 million and $471 million versus $400 million in June 2013 quarter, for an 18 percent increase.
The company would have benefited from the fall in the value of the local currency as its income is denominated in United States dollars, but much of its cost are in Jamaican dollars. The end may be in sight for a sharp fall of the local currency, even as the country in now in the period of low inflows and high demand for US dollars. So far the inflows have been buoyant, meeting demand up to the end of September with a stable rate so far. The company’s income is substantially reliant on developments in the tourism sector as it get the bulk of its income from overseas visitors for meals and the attraction of dolphins, sharks and stingrays.
IC Insider’s forecast for earnings, is $1.20 per share, for the current year ending December. In 2013 the company earned 82 cents. Based on the rise in profit, the company pushed dividends up by 50 percent for this year to date and works out at a yield of 8 percent on the stock price of $8.
Equity stood at $1.57 billion at the end of June with borrowed funds at only $355 million.
50% hike in dividends at Dolphin Cove
September 27, 2014 by
Dolphin Cove hiked the amount being paid out as dividends this year, continuing to pay out 50 percent more than they did in 2013.
The latest dividend to be paid will be on Wednesday October 22, 2014, has moved from 10 cents last year, to 15 cents per share to shareholders on record at October 3, 2014. The stock trades Ex-dividend on October 1.
Previously, Dolphin Cove earlier this year, pushed up the dividend payment by 50 percent when they paid interim dividends of 15 cents per share, on June 30 and on April 9 this year. In 2013, 10 cents per share was paid on December 4, September 16, on June 6 and March 28.
The increase comes against the back ground of a continued rise in profit for the entertainment company, with profits for the six months ended June 2014, increasing 30 percent to $287 million, over the $221 million in the 2013 comparative period.
Dividends steady at Scotia companies
September 8, 2014 by
Scotia Group Jamaica (SGJ) and its subsidiary, Scotia Investments Jamaica (SIJL), approved a third interim dividend for the current financial year ending October, to be paid on October 16, 2014.
SGJ dividend will pay 40 cents and SIJL 45 cents per stock unit, to stockholders on record at September 25, 2014. The stocks of both companies will trade ex-dividend, effective September 23, 2014. The payments are consistent with amounts previously paid, from 2013 on a quarterly basis.
Cargo Handlers’ impressive June quarter
September 6, 2014 by
Cargo Handlers made profit of $31.6 million for the third quarter, ending June and $83 million for the nine months. The 2014 results are up 40 percent from $22.6 million and 31 percent over the $63.6 million earned last year, respectively.
Revenues excluding interest income, grew 32 percent for the Montego Bay based and junior listed company, over the June 2013 quarter, to hit $56 million, and reached $155 million for the nine months to June, an increase of 23.5 percent over the $126 million in the prior year. Some of the growth is driven by $3 million in management fees relating to management of the petroleum transport business, pending finalization of acquisition of the transport company. Movement in the value for the local dollar also played a role in the revenue growth, management confirmed with IC Insider.
Other operating expenses grew from $17.7 million to $22.6 million, an increase of 12.7 percent for the June quarter, and reached $65 million in the nine months, up by 17 percent. Administrative cost were flat for the quarter at $2 million and up from $6.4 million to $7.8 million for the year to date.
Earnings per share rose from 60 cents to 84 cents in the quarter and $2.22 for the nine months. Earnings for 2014 which ends in September, should be $3 per share. For the year to September 2013, the company earned $2.27 per share.
The company had earlier indicated that the acquisition of the transportation business should be concluded during February. At the time of reporting, this has not yet been concluded. From all indications, concerns regarding the transport company’s audited financial reports seem to be at the heart of the delay. Cargo Handlers had deposited $69 million against the purchase. Most of these funds seem have been used to acquire fixed assets which jumped by $48 million in June this year. Cash is down to $77 million and investments at $16 million at the end of June. The company remains debt free.
A dividend of 50 cents per share was just declared by the company and is payable in March 6 and another of $1.30 per stock unit will be paid on September 16. The dividend yield at the current stock price of $14.10 is 12.76 percent. The stocks is priced at a PE of just under 5 times 2014 earnings, but supply and liquidity are very low.
Scotia Group’s profit down, future much brighter
September 6, 2014 by
Scotia Group Jamaica made profit of $2.6 billion for the third quarter ending July, $337 million above the previous quarter ended April but $278 million below the quarter ended July 2013 and $7.4 billion for the nine months period, down from $8.2 billion last year.
The group increased bad loan provisions by $130 million to $497 million for the quarter over April this year and an Increase of $320 million over the July 2013 level. For the nine months to date provisions for loans is up $550 million to $1.376 billion.
Operating expenses have been under control with an increase of 7.3 percent for the quarter and 6.7 percent year to date but this is much higher than the 2.7 percent increase in income, net of interest cost for the quarter, and 1.4 percent increase for the nine months to July. “This is due primarily to higher staff related costs of $279 million and operating expenses of $579 million, reflecting an increase in the asset tax of $498 million, resulting from the recent increase in the rates,” management said in their report to investors.
The group would have enjoyed higher income from foreign exchange trading in 2013, as the value of the Jamaica dollar slipped more than it has done during the current period, leading to a $300 million decline for this line item. Importantly, while gross interest income was flat, at $15 billion up to April versus 2013, it has grown in the July quarter, due to the stronger loan growth.
Earnings per share (EPS) for the nine months is $2.36 compared to $2.64 for the same period last year and seems set to report $3.45 for the full year ending October and $4.50 for the next fiscal year.
The Return on Average Equity was 13.74 percent, down from 16.67 percent last year.
Scotia approved a third interim dividend of 40 cents per stock unit payable on October 16.
Total assets increased year over year by $12.5 billion or 3.2 percent to $401 billion, due primarily to growth in the loan portfolio of $13.6 billion. Loans grew by 10 percent since July 2013, to hit $144.6 billion. More importantly, while loans grew only by $2 billion up to April from October last year, it jumped $8 billion in the latest quarter, a 20 percent increase, annualised, putting it on track for a big surge in lending going forward if maintained, and strong growth in profits, as well. Deposit declined marginally to $197 billion at the same time. The stock remains Buy Rated.
Pan-Jamaican hikes dividend, Eppley holds at $9
August 14, 2014 by
Pan-Jamaican Investment announced a hike in the upcoming dividend, as the directors approved a third interim dividend for 2014, of 70 cents per stock unit, to be paid on September 26 to stockholders on record, at the close of business on August 27.
The X-Dividend date is September 24, 2014. Interim dividends of 60 cents per share were paid on June 20 and on March 31, this year.
Eppley Limited approved an ordinary dividend of $9 per share, payable on September 2, 2014, to shareholders on record as at August 26, 2014. The EX-Dividend date is August 22. Eppley paid an ordinary interim dividend of $9 per share on February 28, this year.
Supreme Ventures declared a dividend of 3 cents per share, to be paid to shareholders on record, at August 22 and to be paid on September 5, 2014. The stock trades EX-Dividend on August 20, 2014. Supreme Ventures declared a dividend of 3 cents per share payable on March 26, this year and 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.
Cargo Handlers declared a dividend of $1.30 per stock unit, to be paid on September 16, to stockholders on record at August 26, 2014. The stock will trade EX dividend on September 12. The company paid a dividend of 50 cents per share on March 6, this year. In 2013, a dividend of $1 per share was paid on March 28, 2013.