Trinidad’s West Indian Tobacco company profit jumped 23.5 percent in the June quarter, to hit $127 million as revenues climbed by a smaller 15 percent, to $324 million.
For the six months to June, profit is up to $224 million from $188 million, a 19 percent spurt, from revenues of $590 million versus $556 million in 2013. For the year to June, distribution, administrative and other cost were flat at $72 million, but corporate taxes was up to $73 million from $66 million. Earnings per share came in at $1.50 for the quarter and $2.65 for the half year. Earnings for the full year to December should reach $5.70 per share. The stock last traded for $118 in Trinidad putting the PE at 21. Witco will pay a dividend of $1.20 for the June quarter and $2.18 for the six months, an increase over the payments last year of $1.04 and $186 respectively.
West Indian Tobacco is listed on the Trinidad Stock Exchange and is a subsidiary of British American Tobacco, it is a fellow subsidiary of Carreras in Jamaica to whom it is the major supplier of cigarettes.
Witco has no borrowed debt but has shareholders’ equity of $284 million and cash funds of $191 million at the end of June. All currency are in T&T dollars.
WITCO Q2 profit jumps 23.5%
Dividend from Montego Freeport
Montego Freeport plans on paying a dividend of 10 cents per share in the form of a capital distribution, on September 12, to members on the register at August 24. The payment is subject to approval by members, at the company’s annual general meeting to be held on August 21.
More than $2 is still left to be paid over to shareholders, when the company which is slated for liquidation is wound up. Montego Freeport reported profit of $12 million for the year to March this year and $28.9 million in 2013. The bulk of the income came from gain on sale of property. An amount of $23 million was written off as a result in a fall in value property, held for resale and booked in 2014, based on the price obtained for the sale of some of the lots compared to the value booked previously.
The directors’ report to shareholders, indicates that all lots have been sold, but the sale of a few of them have not been closed. At the end of March 2014, Freeport had net assets on its book of $1.39 billion or $2.47 per share and cash funds amounting to $491 million or 87 cents per share. There was $843 million due in receivables, $794 million of it represents amounts held in escrow, relating to funds received on the sale of property and assets held for sale amounting to $620 million. Amounts due to creditors and shareholders amount to $620 million, $527 million of it represents deposits on the sale of land.
Montego Freeport was previously listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange but was delisted in January 2012, after the company’s shareholders voted in 2011 to have it delisted.
Dividend for Lasco Financial Shareholders
Lasco Financial Services advised that an interim Dividend of 3 cents per stock will be paid on September 2, 2014 to shareholders on record at August 21.
The X-dividend date is set for August 19, 2014. The company last paid a dividend of 30 cents per share on March 8, last year, prior to a 10 for 1 split of the stock.
Grace & JPS paying shareholders
Grace Kennedy approved an interim dividend of 78 cents per stock, to be paid on September 30 to stockholders on record of September 12, the EX dividend date is September 10, 2014.
An interim dividend of 70 cents per share was paid on April 30, this year. A third dividend is expected to be paid later in the year, in keeping with the company’s policy of making three payments per annum.
Jamaica Public Service approved a Class F preference share a dividend of US$1,137,653 or 0.463287757 per stock, to be paid on August 15, 2014, to stockholders registered at the close of business on August 4, out of retained earnings. The EX-dividend date is July 30, 2014.
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Pan Jam & Cargo Handler considering dividends
Pan-Jamaican Investment Trust will consider the payment of a third interim dividend for the year 2014 at a meeting scheduled for August 12, 2014.
Interim dividends of 60 cents per share was paid on June 20 and on March 31, this year.
Cargo Handlers advised that at a meeting scheduled for August 12, 2014, the Directors will consider the payment of an interim dividend for 2014. Previously, Cargo Handlers paid a dividend of 50 cents per share on March 6, this year. In 2013, the company paid a dividend of $1 per share on March 28, 2013.
Carreras pays out $9.09 in last 12 months
Carreras declared an interim dividend of $1.20 per stock unit, to be paid out of accumulated profits on September 4, to stockholders on the Register of Members as at August 18, 2014.The Ex-dividend date is August 14, 2014.
Carreras last declared a special capital cash distribution of $1.34 per stock unit to be paid on July 31. The latest approved dividend will bring the total payments the company made to shareholders since August last year, to $9.09 per share. Carreras traded today at $34.20.
Access Financial Services declared an interim dividend of 36.5 cents payable on September 1, to stockholders on record at August 18, 2014. The Ex-dividend date is August 14. Access last paid 31 cents per share on August 15, last year as dividend. Access last traded at $8.97.
NCB Profit grows set for $4.80 EPS for year
National Commercial Bank reported impressive results for the nine months ended June 2014 compared with the nine months ended June last year. Net profit reported is $8.8 billion, an increase of 29 percent, or $2 billion for the nine months. For the latest quarter, net profit of $2.9 billion was made, an increase of 29 percent, from $2.27 billion in June 2013.
Earnings per stock unit amounted $3.56 and is set to get to $4.80 per share for the full year. Gross revenues of $42 billion increased 17 percent, or $6 billion from $36 billion generated in 2013.
As impressive as the results may appear two things have to be borne in mind, one is that in 2013 a large charge was incurred flowing from government of Jamaica debt swap, and the segment accounts show a mixed picture with just four out of the seven segments contributed to the improvement, as the others, recorded declines for the nine months. On the plus, was a $550 million reduction in loan loss provision, from $1.78 billion to $1.24 billion, with this year’s June quarter being $357 million or roughly half of what it was in 2013.
Staff cost a bit item, is up a bit, year over year, but part of that was due to the general insurance company coming into the group, for a part of the year. A more telling picture is seen form the quarter over quarter figures of $2.86 billion versus $2.7 billion for June 2013 quarter, which was marginally up.
Loans| Loans and advances, totaling $152 billion net of provision for credit losses at June 2014, grew by 12 percent, or $16.8 billion, compared to the loan portfolio as at June 30, 2013. Non-performing loans totaled $7.8 billion as at June 2014 ($6.6 billion at June 2013) and represented 5 percent of the gross loans compared to 4.8 percent as at June last year.
Deposits| Customer deposits were $205 billion, up 19 percent or $33 billion over the prior year. The increase was driven by growth in fixed deposits and savings portfolios, which increased by 65 percent and 10 percent respectively, over the prior year.
Capital| The Group’s stockholders’ equity stood at $78 billion, up 12 percent over the prior year.
The stock traded last at $18 and puts the PE ratio, at just 3.7 times the current year’s results. NCB declared another dividend of 35 cents per share, bringing the total in the last twelve months to $1.18. NCB remains a strong IC Insider buy rated stock.
NCB to pay 35 cents per share
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National Commercial Bank declared an interim dividend of 35 cents per ordinary stock unit payable on August 25, 2014 for stockholders on record as at August 12, 2014.
The bank reported profits profit of $8.8 billion, an increase of 29 percent over 2013 for the nine months to June.
Proven Investments will consider making dividend payments to both its ordinary and preference shareholders at a meeting to be held on August 11, 2014.
Carreras to consider another dividend payment
Carreras advised the stock exchange that a dividend payment will be considered at a meeting to be held on July 30, 2014 by the board. This should be the regular quarterly dividend which is usually paid in August.
Carreras last declared a special capital cash distribution of $1.34 per stock unit to be paid on July 31, 2014 to stockholders on July 18, 2014 with the Ex-dividend date July 16, 2014. The funds are out of proceeds received from the liquidation of a subsidiary, pending the granting of a transfer tax exemption pursuant to the Transfer Tax Act the company said in a release to the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The special capital cash distribution will brings the total payments the company made to shareholders since August last year to $8.89.
A special capital cash distribution of $1.18 was paid in January this year, the company also paid an interim dividend of $1.75 per stock unit on June 26, $1.62 per share. On March 13 they paid a dollar per share as well as in August and November last year.
NCB & Paramount plan dividend payments
Times may be tough for many Jamaicans but the majority of listed companies continue to distribute dividends to their shareholders.
The latest announcement of plans for dividends are from National Commercial Bank (NCB) and Paramount Trading.
NCB advises that the Board of Directors will consider the payment of an interim dividend to stockholders at a meeting to be held on Thursday, July 24, 2014. National Commercial Bank approved an increase dividend payment of 35 cents per share paid on May 22 and a dividend of 32 cents per ordinary stock was paid on February 20 this year.
Paramount advised that Board Meeting to be held at 8 Bell Road East on Thursday, July 24, 2014 receive the audited financials and consider a dividend. Paramount paid an interim dividend of 13.5 cents per share payable on December 10, 2013.