The wonderful aroma of increased profit brewed by Salada Foods ended with an impressive 43 percent jump in earnings in the March quarter, to $68 million from $48 million in 2023. For the six months to March, profit rose by a more sedate but still impressive 31 percent to $99 million from $75 million in 2023.
The latest results follow a moderate rise in profits in 2022 and 2023 and a 42 percent jump in 2021.
Contributing to the gains in profits was an 8 percent rise in sales revenues for the quarter, to $427 million from $394 million and a 6 percent pop for the year to date, to $727 million from $688 million in 2024.
Gross profit margin slipped to 68 percent from 69 percent in both the second quarter and for the half year, effectively, pushing operating profit 13 percent in the quarter to $138 million from $122 million and 6 percent for the year to date to $229 million from $216 million in 2023.
Increased revenues were not the sole contributor to the solid rise in profits. Administrative expenses fell 11 percent to $36 million in the quarter and slipped two percent in the six months to $74 million. Marketing and sales expenses dropped by a sizeable 29 percent to $17 million for the second quarter and declined by 28 percent for the six months to $32 million. Finance cost jumped to $6 million in the quarter, from $1.4 million in 2023 and from $3.5 million to $7.6 million for the six months.
The operations generated gross cash flows of $189 million after working capital spend and ended with $95 million after paying $62 million in dividends.

Current assets ended the period at $1.2 billion inclusive of trade and other receivables of $305 million, cash, investments and bank balances of $492 million, inventories climbed to $417 million from $374 million at the end of September last year. Current liabilities ended the period at $291 million. Net current assets closed the period at $923 million.
At the end of March, this year, shareholders’ equity amounted to $1.13 billion, with no outstanding loans.
Earnings per share for the quarter was 7 cents and 10 cents for the year to date. IC Insider.com computation projects earnings of 22 cents per share for the fiscal year ending September 2024, with a PE of 16 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $3.76 the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market. The PE ratio compares with an average of the market of 12.9. Net asset value ended the period at $1.09 with the stock selling at 3.44 times book value.
Dropping from the ICTOP10 are Dolla Financial from the Junior Market and Lasco Manufacturing and Jamaica Broilers from the Main Market.
With the investing environment slowly improving, the company appears set to enjoy a profitable year, accordingly, ICInsider.com’s estimate is for earnings of 50 cents per share, which could be bettered if investments deliver more returns in the next three quarters.
The average PE in the top half of the market is 17 and is possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks, currently.
At the same time the settlement time for trades will be shortened from the day of trading plus two additional business days (T+2) to one business day after trading (T+1). The effect of the change will result in investors entitled to get a settlement on the day immediately after trading.
The market closed with an exchange of 233,466 shares for US$32,685 compared to 276,289 units at US$33,572 on Wednesday.
At the close, AS Bryden remained at 22.49 US cents after 40,144 stocks passed through the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy ended at 61 US cents after an exchange of 95 units, Proven Investments dipped 0.01 of a cent to finish at 13.81 US cents, with 2,926 shares crossing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 1.7 cents and ended at 9.4 US cents with a transfer of 100,001 stock units and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.01 of a cent to end at 2.09 US cents with investors swapping 81,455 shares.
The market closed with 14,203,187 shares trading for $79,115,438 versus 7,063,416 stock units at $68,154,039 on Wednesday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Pan Jamaica gained 40 cents to end at $45 in an exchange of 71,493 stocks, Sagicor Group increased $1 and ended at $41, with 68,224 units changing hands, Scotia Group skidded $2.79 to finish at $41.50 with investors trading 80,038 stock units. Seprod climbed $1.30 and ended at $78.50 with 5,238 shares clearing the market and Supreme Ventures shed 70 cents to $24.30 after exchanging 31,826 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading closed with 4,564,235 shares for $8,534,568 compared to 3,223,099 units at $8,496,465 on Wednesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Honey Bun skidded 76 cents in closing at $7.10, with 2,348 stocks clearing the market, Indies Pharma sank 35 cents to $2.35 with investors dealing in 22,265 stock units, ISP Finance climbed $4.01 and ended at $28.01 in switching ownership of just 80 shares. Knutsford Express shed $1.37 to end at $10.13 with investors transferring 7,662 stocks, Lasco Financial increased 8 cents to close at $1.60 in an exchange of 1,400 units, Main Event dropped 35 cents to finish at $12.74 with traders dealing in 31,528 stock units. Medical Disposables lost 17 cents and ended at $2.02 as investors exchanged 18,859 shares and Spur Tree Spices rallied 9 cents to $2.40 with trading in 434,369 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading ended with 141,778 shares changing hands for $1,996,526 down from 208,677 stocks at $2,019,712 on Thursday.
At the close, Agostini’s rose 3 cents to $68.78 after investors traded 16 shares, Angostura Holdings ended at $18.50 after two units changed hands, Ansa McAl popped $1 to close at $59, with 19,841 shares crossing the market. Ansa Merchant Bank remained at $42.50 after a transfer of 5 stocks, Calypso Macro Investment Fund sank 97 cents to end at $23.03 with traders dealing in 450 shares, First Citizens Group rallied 25 cents to finish at $44.75 in an exchange of 5,582 units. FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $6.93 with investors swapping 3,151 units, GraceKennedy declined 20 cents to $3.75, with 3,361 stocks crossing the exchange, JMMB Group ended at $1.20 in trading 400 shares. Massy Holdings remained at $4.20, with 5,368 stocks crossing the market, National Enterprises ended at $3.65 as investors exchanged 48,079 units, NCB Financial rose 1 cent to $2.70, with 47,430 stock units changing hands.
Point Lisas remained at $3.50 with investors transferring 5 shares, Prestige Holdings shed 5 cents to finish at $12.95 after an exchange of 127 stocks, Republic Financial ended at $117 with a transfer of 1,050 units. Scotiabank climbed 50 cents to end at $66.50 after 430 stocks passed through the market, Trinidad & Tobago NGL dropped 15 cents in closing at $7.50 with investors dealing in 5,304 shares, Trinidad Cement fell 4 cents to end at $2.56, with 170 stock units clearing the market. Unilever Caribbean advanced 25 cents to $12 in switching ownership of 5 stocks and West Indian Tobacco gained $1 and ended at $10 with investors trading 1,002 units.
Trading closed with an exchange of 208,677 shares for $2,019,712 up from 140,346 stocks at $1,083,905 on Wednesday.
At the close, Agostini’s popped 15 cents in closing at $68.75 after 3,985 shares passed through the market, Angostura Holdings rallied 50 cents to $18.50 with traders dealing in 250 stocks, Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $24 with 1,184 shares crossing the market. First Citizens Group fell 50 cents to $44.50 with a transfer of 3,780 stocks, FirstCaribbean International Bank rose 3 cents to finish at $6.93, with 900 shares crossing the exchange, GraceKennedy rallied 5 cents and ended at $3.95 after a transfer of 100 units. Guardian Holdings sank 40 cents to $16.50 after 241 stocks changed hands, JMMB Group dipped 8 cents to end at $1.20 in an exchange of 92,750 stock units, Massy Holdings increased 8 cents to close at $4.20 with investors swapping 6,295 shares. National Enterprises climbed 10 cents in closing at $3.65 in an exchange of 71,756 units, NCB Financial fell 1 cent to end at $2.69 and closed after 2,920 stocks were traded, One Caribbean Media slipped 15 cents to finish at $3.55 with an exchange of 1,815 stock units.
Point Lisas remained at $3.50, with the trading of 25 shares, Prestige Holdings remained at $13 with investors trading 4,020 stock units, Republic Financial lost 50 cents in closing at $117 in switching ownership of 8,254 stock units. Scotiabank advanced 99 cents and ended at $66 with investors dealing in 10 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 5 cents to finish at $7.65 after an exchange of 72 shares, Unilever Caribbean dropped 25 cents to close at $11.75 with investors trading 258 units and West Indian Tobacco ended at $9 after an exchange of 10,062 stocks.
Trading closed with 7,063,416 shares changing hands at $68,154,039 down from 10,788,125 units at $73,059,080 on Tuesday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Proven Investments advanced 44 cents to $21.44 with investors exchanging 2,462 shares, Seprod fell $1.39 to end at $77.20 with a transfer of 126,618 units, Stanley Motta skidded $2.34 in closing at $5.15 after 10,000 stocks passed through the market. Sygnus Credit Investments rose 30 cents to close at $10.78 in trading 5,150 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance climbed 40 cents and ended at $11, with 164 shares crossing the market and Wisynco Group gained 50 cents to finish at $21 in an exchange of 11,932 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The Junior Market closed with trading of 3,223,099 shares for $8,496,465 compared with 3,806,992 units at $7,393,971 on Tuesday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
Indies Pharma popped 20 cents to $2.70 after 3,207 stocks passed through the market, ISP Finance skidded $4.01 to close at $24 with investors transferring 18 stock units, Jetcon Corporation fell 7 cents and ended at 91 cents with 716 shares clearing the market. Knutsford Express advanced 50 cents to close at $11.50 with investors dealing in 4,476 units, Limners and Bards increased 24 cents to end at $1.60 with 26,159 stocks crossing the market, Main Event climbed 58 cents to finish at $13.09 after a transfer of 9,467 stock units. Medical Disposables rallied 19 cents to $2.19 with investors swapping 2,297 shares and tTech shed 10 cents to close at $2.16 in an exchange of 389 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.