Market activity dropped sharply on Wednesday ended, with trading in 73 fewer shares worth 50 percent less than on Tuesday, resulting in more stocks falling than rising and the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange recording losses at the end.
At the close, 16 securities trade, down from 20 on Tuesday, with prices of four rising, seven declining and five remaining unchanged. The Composite Index fell 8.35 points to 1,336.60, the All T&T Index fell 1.66 points to 1,781.42 and the Cross-Listed Index dipped 2.06 points to 120.62.
At the close, 69,397 shares traded, for $4,069,853, down from 258,714 units at $8,205,655 on Tuesday.
An average of 4,337 units traded at $254,366 compared to 12,936 at $410,283 on Tuesday. For the month to date, an average of 9,257 units traded at $253,524 versus 11,385 units at $253,159. The average trade for March amounted to 12,610 units at $342,338.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Angostura Holdings declined 3 cents to $15.45 in switching ownership of 2,210 shares, Ansa Mcal dropped $2 to $54 trading 500 stock units, Clico Investment Fund declined 9 cents to $25.11 with an exchange of 1,005 stocks, First Citizens Bank rose 16 cents to $46.75, with 2,571 stocks clearing the market. Grace Kennedy dipped 5 cents to $4.90 in switching ownership of 675 stock units, Guardian Holdings climbed 40 cents to $26 with an exchange of 3,920 units, Massy Holdings closed at $64 with an exchange of 2,370 units. National Enterprises shed 5 cents to end at $2.95 after exchanging 10,400 units, National Flour Mills ended at $2.20 after exchanging 844 stock units, NCB Financial Group declined 29 cents to $8.21 while exchanging 250 stock units. Prestige Holdings fell 1 cent to $7.49 in clearing the market with 104 shares, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $132.01 after exchanging 24,293 stocks, Scotiabank closed at $54 in exchanging 1,950 stock units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL climbed 25 cents to $15, trading 17,227 shares, Trinidad Cement ended at $3 after exchanging 1,068 shares and Unilever Caribbean climbed 10 cents to $16.20, with 10 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
T&TSE suffers declines on Wednesday
Rising USD market
Trading on Wednesday ended with the market rising after 88 percent fewer shares passed through the market than on Tuesday, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market.
Just four securities traded, down from six on Tuesday and ended with two stocks rising, one declining and one remaining unchanged. The JSE USD Equity Index rose 3.83 points to end at 211.27, up 13.4 percent for the year to date.
The average PE Ratio ended at 12.9 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Investors exchanged 86,122 shares for US$17,581, down from 734,815 units at US$20,472 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 21,531 units at US$4,395, down from 122,469 shares at US$3,412 on Tuesday. The average trade for the month to date amounts to 57,110 units for US$3,132 in contrast to 68,058 units at US$2,743 on Tuesday. Trading in March averaged 68,746 units at US$13,137.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital settled at 8.9 US cents trading 24,550 shares, Proven Investments declined 0.5 of a cent to close at 25 US cents in exchanging 61,570 units, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 1.71 cents to 15.72 US cents in trading just one stock and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.13 of a cent to close at 0.95 of one US cent in clearing the market with one stock unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
FosRich closes the year with strong 4th quarter
FosRich, a Junior Market listed company that is a distributor of lighting, electrical and solar energy products, recently added the manufacturing of PVC pipes and repairing of transformers to its list of goods and services it provides.
The company reported strong fourth quarter results, with profit before tax rising 46 percent to $50 million from $34 million in the December quarter of 2019. Profit rose just 15 percent over 2019 to $126 million for the 2020 fiscal year, up from $110 million in 2019.
They incurred $2.7 million in taxes for 2019 due to under accrual of the 2016 taxation and no interest income was booked on advances to a related company. There was no tax charge in 2020, under tax savings enjoyed from listing on the Junior Market.
Revenue climbed 18 percent in both the final quarter and for the year, coming in at $504 million and $1.9 billion, respectively, up from $1.6 billion for 2019. “The product lines that had significant increases over the prior year were PVC Products, which grew by 252 percent, Industrial Electrical Products, which grew by 194 percent, Hardware, which grew by 153 percent and Control Devices which grew by 144 percent,” management reported in the analysis of the company’s financial performance for the year.
Other income dropped 38 percent for the year to $32 million, from $52 million in 2019 and fell from $30 million in the final 2019 quarter to negative $366,000 in the 2020 fourth quarter.
Cost of sales increased by a mere one percent for the quarter but grew by 19 percent for the year, from $902 million to $1.1 billion. Gross profit climbed 39 percent for the December quarter to $270 million and 16 percent to $825 million for the 2020 fiscal year, up from $709 million in 2019. Gross profit margin for the year remained at a healthy 44 percent and 54 percent for the final quarter. Cost of sales is based solely on cost of goods sold and not the full direct cost entailed in selling. It is troubling that with such a high mark up on goods sold, net profit is just contributing a mere 6.6 percent, due partially to the high level of inventory carried and high distribution cost currently, in addition, finance cost accounted for 8.4 percent of sales in 2020 and 6.79 percent in 2019.
Administration, marketing and selling expenses fell 13 percent for the quarter but grew by four percent for the year from $487 million to $506 million. Finance cost rose 46 percent for the year to $160 million, from $109 million with $38 million of the increase due to provision for expected credit losses.
Current assets for the 2020 financial year stood at $2 billion inclusive of cash and bank balances of $34 million and trade receivables of $245 million, while current liabilities increased by 5 percent to $580 million. Shareholders’ equity stood at $869 million and borrowings totalled $1.6 billion, resulting in a high degree of leveraging that is extremely risky.
A total of $365 million is due from a related party, with the funds used to complete the construction of an apartment complex in Kingston that is yet to be completed. According to Cecil Foster, Managing Director, the units are virtually complete and should be disposed of within two months. “All 80 units are sold at prices between $16 and $35 million and that will allow for full repayment this year of the amounts advanced,” Foster informed ICInsider.com. No interest was booked on the debt during the year, even as Fosrich has to pay interest on amounts borrowed to help fund the amounts due from the related party. The cost to the company is around $30 million per year, Foster confirmed that interest is payable and will be fully paid when the debt is paid this year.
FosRich paid dividends of 9.5 cents per share in November 2020, amounting to $48 million. Earnings per share came out at 25 cents for the fiscal year. ICInsider.com projects 45 cents per share for 2021.
The company is not focusing solely on its traditional business of distribution. In 2019, the company commenced the manufacturing of PVC pipes, with the plant producing 16 different types of PVC pipes, on a 24-hour basis and currently has the capacity to supply the entire local market. According to the company’s management, PVC Products delivered revenues of $66 million for the period in 2019 that they operated and in 2020 up to September. “We have been profitable in this area since November last year, Foster told ICInsider.com.” There is more to come from the manufacturing of PVC pipes. “We will be manufacturing four to sixteen inch PVC pipes at Hayes in Clarendon as well as fittings for the pipe,” Foster informed this publication. From all indications, the company should have a full year of profit for the pipe division in 2021.
After 20 months of discussions with JPS in taking over their pole-mount transformer repair activity, the company has an agreement to do so and the activity is now in operation. Phase one of the reconstruction of our new distribution centre at 76 Molynes Road is completed, management told shareholders in their September interim report.
The application for Blue Emerald Limited, a new company for registration under the Special Economic Zone Authority, in order to take advantage of the significant long-term tax concessions is at an advanced stage. Activities being undertaken at the new Hayes facility in Clarendon will be done through this company, acting exclusively for FosRich under a contract manufacturing arrangement.
The stock last traded at $5.25 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a PE of just 11.7. Going forward, Foster says that 2021 has started out well in fact, he said “very good.” As such, shareholders can look forward to more gains in 2021. This is clearly a stock to have on ones’ watch list if not already owned.
Trading climbs on JSE USD market
Trading ended on Tuesday with the market index slipping after 390 percent more shares changed hands than on Thursday on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulting in an even number of stocks rising and falling.
Six securities traded, down from seven on Thursday, ending with prices of two rising, two declining and two remaining unchanged.
JSE USD Equity Index lost 2.83 points to end at 207.44. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Investors exchanged 734,815 shares, for US$20,472 compared to 149,937 units at US$15,185 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 122,469 units at US$3,412, up from 21,420 shares at US$2,169 on Thursday. Trading averaged 68,058 units for the month to date at US$2,743. March ended with an average of 68,746 units for US$13,137.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital rose 0.19 of a cent to end at 8.9 US cents trading 29,292 stock units, Margaritaville settled at 11 US cents, with 1,838 stocks crossing the market, Proven Investments gained 0.05 of one cent to end at 25.5 US cents after trading 5,295 shares. Sterling Investments closed at 2 US cents, with 134,493 units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments declined 0.98 of a cent to 14.01 US cents in switching ownership of 63,828 stocks and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.12 of a cent to end at 0.82 US cents after exchanging 500,069 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps Tuesday on TTSE
Stocks mostly rose, with the number of securities trading remains elevated after investors traded 59 percent more shares valued 607 percent higher on Tuesday than on Thursday, resulting in more stocks rising than falling at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange after a two day break for the Easter Holidays.
Trading ended with 20 securities changing hands versus 17 on Thursday, with prices of six rising, three declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The Composite Index carved out a gain of 1.79 points to settle at 1,344.95, the All T&T Index advanced 3.57 points to end at 1,783.08 and the Cross-Listed Index remained unchanged at 122.68.
At the close, 258,714 shares valued $8,205,655 traded up from 162,517 units at $1,161,234 on Thursday.
An average of 12,936 units traded for the day at $410,283 upon 9,560 at $68,308 on Thursday. An average of 11,385 units traded at $253,164 for the month to date versus an average of 12,610 units for March at $342,338. Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s settled at $26, with 1,000 shares crossing the market,Angostura Holdings dropped 1 cent to close at $15.48 after trading 26 stock units, Ansa Mcal rose $2 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $56, with 3,786 units crossing the market, Calypso Macro Investment Fund closed at $14.25 trading 300 stock units. Clico Investment Fund rose 5 cents to $25.20 in exchanging 5,000 shares. First Citizens Bank lost 16 cents in closing at $46.59 after exchanging 846 stocks, FirstCaribbean International Bank settled at $6.95 in switching the ownership of 6,000 stock units, Grace Kennedy increased 1 cent to $4.95 trading 6,676 stock units. Guardian Holdings advanced 10 cents to $25.60 after an exchange of 68,976 stock units, Guardian Media stayed at $3.25 in exchanging 48,618 shares, JMMB Group gained 1 cent in closing at $1.81 after 580 units cleared the market. Massy Holdings ended at $64 in trading 2,061 stock units, National Enterprises stayed at $3, with 11,642 stocks crossing the market, NCB Financial Group ended at $8.50, trading 51,395 stock units. One Caribbean Media lost 1 cent to $4.89 in an exchange of 6,985 stock units, Republic Financial Holdings gained 18 cents in closing at $132.01 after an exchange of 37,871 stock units, Scotiabank ended at $54 trading 1,018 stocks. Trinidad & Tobago NGL closed at $14.75 in an exchange of 4,770 stocks, Unilever Caribbean settled at $16.10, with 164 shares crossed the exchange and West Indian Tobacco ended at $33 with an exchange of 1,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Jamaica Broilers profit jumps 64%
Nine months through the fiscal year, profit after tax at Jamaica Broilers Group jumped 64 percent to $1.9 billion, up from $1.1 billion for the similar period to January 2020. The group had a solid third quarter performance registering a 61 percent increase of $287 million over the corresponding period to land at $758 million.
Revenue gains have been small, with a two percent rise to $41 billion for the nine months through January and a three percent rise to $14.7 billion for the third quarter. However, the second quarter enjoyed a seven percent increase in revenue that pushed profit before finance charge up a strong 42 percent at $1.3 billion for the quarter and 35 percent for the nine months at $2.97 billion.
Gross Profit climbed 11 percent to $3.84 billion from $3.45 billion and three percent to $10.28 billion from $9.94 billion in 2020. Gross Profit margin increased to 26 percent in the 2021 quarter from 24 percent in 2020 and remained at 25 percent for the nine months period.
Other Income rose from $81 million in the 2020 January quarter to $225 million and from $184 Million to $453 million for the nine months period.
Distribution Costs fell 14 percent in the third quarter to $601 million from $696 million in 2020 and by 6 percent to $1.7 billion for the nine months period from $1.8 billion in 2020.
Administrative Expenses rose 13 percent to $2.19 billion from $1.94 billion for the latest quarter and fell modestly for the nine months to $6.07 billion from 6.12 billion in 2020. Finance cost climbed 37 percent to $330 million from $240 million in the 2020 January quarter and dropped 33 percent for the nine months to $509 million, from $758 million in 2020.
Segment profits rose in the Jamaica operations by a convincing 29 percent, from a four percent fall in sales for the nine months largely driven by the first quarter performance with a 24 percent increase.
Sales in the USA market was up nine percent in Jamaican dollars with profit rising by 10 percent. Haiti continues to operate at a loss, but the group has managed to reduce the loss by 75 percent to just $23 million, with sales improving by 26 percent for the nine month period to $1.7 billion.
The group has been enjoying geometric growth as well as by using cheap debt in financing acquisitions of new businesses, helping to grow profits.
The business brought in gross cash inflows of $3.7 billion, up from $2.3 billion in 2020, $2.15 billion was spent on investing activities versus $2.46 billion in 2020, mainly due to acquisition of property, plant and equipment and ended with cash and equivalent of $3.4 billion up marginally from $3.37 billion in 2020. Borrowings of $20.7 billion as of the end of January 2021, while Shareholders equity stood at $17.9 billion, up from just under $16 billion at the corresponding point in 2020.
Listed among IC.Insider.com’s Top 15 for 2021 and remains on the TOP 10 list. Earnings per share closed out the quarter at 74 cents and $1.77 for the nine months. IC.Insider.com projects earnings per share of $3 for the year ending April and $4 for fiscal 2022. Jamaica Broilers last traded at $31 on Monday with a PE of 10 based on 2021 earnings and 7.4 times 2022 EPS.
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Rising Junior Market shifts IC TOP10
Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) jumped to the top spot in the Junior Market IC TOP10 this week, with the price falling to $4.78 while PanJam Investment slid into the number two spot for the Main Market, but Radio Jamaica still remains in the number one position.
The top three stocks in the Junior Market are now SOS, followed by Elite Diagnostic Main Event and Jetcon Corporation. The top three Main Market stocks are Radio Jamaica, followed by PanJam and VM Investments. The top three junior Market stocks have the potential to gain between 295 to 318 percent and those in the main market with expected gains of 173 to 452 percent.
TOP 10 stocks had a few changes during the past week, with Berger Paints back in the Main Market TOP10, replacing Sterling Investments that entered the list last week, while for the Junior Market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers returns to the TOP 10 as General Accident moved out.
The Junior Market TOP10 contains several companies that suffered a sharp reversal of fortunes in 2020, with recovery projected in 2021. Green shoots are visible for some, with sales picking up in recent quarters and improving profit.
Some of these companies may require another quarter or two of improvement before meaningful buying starts. Main Event, Caribbean Producers, Knutsford Express, Express Catering and Stationery and Office Supplies are some of the companies that are in this category.
The Main Market has JMMB Group, Jamaica Broilers, Sygnus Credit Investments and Grace Kennedy that are currently in the TOP10 Main Market listing and Caribbean Cement that is just outside.
The Junior Market and the Main Market continue to get support from technical indicators that point to robust gains ahead. To benefit from the growth to come, many investors will need to be on board at an early stage.
This week’s focus: Future Energy Source Company Initial Public Offer of 500 million shares, that ICInsider.com indicated last week should be snapped up quickly by investors, with the company having long-term prospects for strong growth, did just that. NCB Capital Markets, the brokers for the issue, reported on Thursday that the issue, priced at 80 cents per share and opened on Wednesday, closed on Thursday after another Junior Market IPO issue was oversubscribed. The successful closure of the issue will see the number of listed companies rising to 42 from the current 41.
The targeted PE ratio averages 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, up to the second quarter of 2022. Fiscal 2020-21 ended at 17.2 for Junior Stocks and 19 times for the Main Market at the end of March 2021. With interest rates on government paper below 5 percent and likely to remain there for a few years, there is the likelihood for the average PE ratios to climb higher during the next twelve months.
The Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below the market average, indicating strong gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 14.7 and the Junior Market 9.8, based on ICInsider.com’s projected 2021-22 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.4 at just 55 percent of the market average. The Main Market TOP 10 trades at a PE of 7.4 or 50 percent of the PE of that market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 274 percent and 186 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2021-22 earnings. IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in movements in and out of the lists weekly. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.