Emerging Stock — Page 183

JMMB Group 1 of 2 jamaican stocks to advance on the TTSE.

A mere 316,137 shares valued at $2,505,928 traded on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Tuesday, versus 1,141,204 shares valued at $11,232,310 on Monday.
The market closed with 13 securities changing hands compared to 14 on Monday with 2 stocks advancing, 5 declining and 6 holding firm.
The Composite Index declined 1.22 points to 1,220.80, the All T&T Index fell 0.12 points to 1,800.95 and the Cross Listed Index lost 0.32 points to close at 85.90.
IC bid-offer Indicator|The Investor’s Choice bid-offer ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Gains| GraceKennedy gained 6 cents to close at $2.76, with an exchange of 137,900 units valued at $380,604 and JMMB Group closed at $1.28, with gains of 3 cents while trading 21,000 shares.
Losses| First Citizens lost 1 cent to close at $31.99, with 300 units changing hands, National Flour Mills closed at $2.50, losing 2 cents trading 5,125 shares, NCB Financial Group closed 9 cents lower to $3.90, with an exchange of 60,000 shares, Readymix closed at $11, with a loss of 6 cents exchanging 1,437 units and Republic Financial Holdings lost 1 cent to close at $101.99, with 10 units traded.
Firm Trades| First Caribbean International closed at $8 with 4,088 units being exchanged, One Caribbean Media closed at $16.85, with trades of 37,113 shares valued at $625,354 and Scotiabank held firm at $58.06 trading 4,540 shares. Trinidad Cement closed at $4.20 with 6,100 units changing owners, Trinidad & Tobago NGL traded at $22.50, with an exchange of 38,417 units valued at $864,348 and West Indian Tobacco exchanged 107 units at $127.

Is this Honey worth buying?

Honey is a sweet product savoured by many, but is this Honey likely to attract many to buy into it? Junior Market listed Honey Bun is reporting first quarter results to December, which is not so sweet, but the results to come could get sweeter as the year unfolds based on many factors.
The company enjoyed increased sales of 11.6 percent, hitting $206 million and resulting in gross profit growing by 11.3 percent compared with the corresponding period last year. As gross profit margin fell slightly to 45.4 percent compared with 45.54 in 2013 and administrative and distribution costs rose by 17.4 percent, profit also declined, falling 17 percent for the quarter to $16.5 million or 17 cents per share. “This reduction was mainly due to increased distribution cost resulting from the takeover of a large contract distributor to maintain our customer service and the lease of vehicles due to accidents of two of our main distribution vehicles. Improvements in this area will be seen in the next quarter. Further, one time cost was incurred during this period as the building on the property acquired was demolished,” management reported, in a statement accompanying the financials.
In the last fiscal year to September, profit fell from $35 million in 2013 to only $23 million partly. The decline was due to added costs associated with the distribution of the products that rose by 20 percent when revenues grew by only 5.7 percent, gross profit margin slipped marginally in the last fiscal year, from 42 percent to 41 percent. But Honey Bun is set to benefit from a fall in the price of fuel used in the transport area and reduced energy cost based on a reduction in rates charged by Jamaica Public Service Company.
The bulk of profit is made in the first six months of the year, with the Easter period significant for sales. The September period is usually a period of losses. The company should be looking at earnings in the 50-55 cents region for the current year with reduced cost in some areas and continuation of growth in sales.
“Exports continue to rise and increased year over year corresponding period by over 150 percent. This was mainly due to the export of its Buccaneer Jamaica brand of fruitcakes to the UK market, where Honey Bun displayed their cakes in ASDA for the first time. We have also seen increased demand in the local market.” the company’s management reported.
At the end of the period, equity stood at $325 million in contrast to borrowed funds of only $64 million and cash funds of $33 million. The current asset ratio was 1.64 to 1.
The company’s stock last traded on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $1.91 and should enjoy some gains if the company hits the projected profit or comes close to it. The stock closed on Thursday with a bid to buy 20,994 units at $1.91, followed by a bid for 99,900 units at $1.80 but offers start at $2.90 to sell 11,000 units.