Jamaica Stock Exchange

Financial stocks pull JSE down

January 9, 2015 by IC Insider.com

NCB stock fell back to $18.80 from the $19.99 it was pushed to on Thursday

Friday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange saw decline in the prices of Jamaica Money Market Brokers, National Commercial Bank and Scotia Group pulling the main market indices down more than 700 points. On Thursday National Commercial Bank closed at a new 52 weeks high at $19.99, leaving a big gap between buyers and sellers, hence the fall on Friday.
Investors participated in a small number of securities on Friday, resulting in the prices of 6 rising and 6 declining as 17 securities changed hands and ended with 2,404,440 units, valued at $12,847,928 traded, in all market segments. At the close there was demand for more with bids failing to attract sellers at the closing bid prices.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the close of the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 702.66 points to 76,333.54, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 785.62 points to close at 84,062.74 and the JSE combined index declined by 667.53 points to close at 78,323.69.

JMMB stock closed down to $6.50 on Friday but JSE had the price falling 54 cents in computing the index.

Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless closing with 236,428 shares changing hands, 2 cents higher at 48 cents, Grace Kennedy ending with 3,383 units, with the price rising $1.50 to end at $63. Jamaica Stock Exchange ended trading with 795,000 units changing hands and gained 30 cents to $1.90, Margaritaville finished with 46,000 shares changing hands to close with a gain of 0.05 cents to 10.5 US cents and Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended with 10,000 units trading, to close with a 15 cents gain at $7.20.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Scotia Group which ended with 147,987 units trading to close at $20.10, Desnoes & Geddes closing with 325,000 shares trading to close at $4.90 and Scotia Investments ended with 15,000 shares changing hands at $23.

Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Broilers closing with 102,265 units trading as the price slipped 5 cents to $4, Jamaica Money Market Brokers finished with 514,668 shares trading lower by 1 cent to $6.50, National Commercial Bank closed with 7,200 shares changing hands to close lower by $1.19 at $18.80 and Pan Jamaican Investment finishing with 6,750 units, the price slipped $3.99 to $52.01.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference shares traded 27,000 units at $3 and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference shares traded 941 units at $1,006.10.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: C&WJ, Carreras, D&G, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaica Public Service Co, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican Stock, JMMB, Margaritaville, Mayberry, NCB, Pan Jam, Sagicor Real Estate Fund, Scotia

Cargo Handlers’ Q4 profit doubles

January 1, 2015 by IC Insider.com

Profit for the September quarter at Cargo Handlers is up 117 percent over the 2013 results to $49.7 million from revenues that climbed a very strong 77 percent. Profit rose by a smaller 55 percent, for the nine months ending September this year, to $131.7 million or $3.52 per share from revenues for the nine months of $220 million.
Other income, mainly foreign exchange gains, fell 13 percent in the quarter and was flat for the year, at $16 million. During the year the company earned $13.6 million from leasing and $8.9 million from management fees charged to a related party – Bulk Liquid Carrier and Petroleum Transport Ltd.
Administrative expenses dropped 31 percent in the quarter and 9 percent for the year but operat9ing expenses climbed 37 percent for the quarter and 22 percent for the year well below the increase in revenues. The company paid a dividend of $1.80 per share during the year for a yield in excess of 13 percent based on the stock price of $13.50 at the start of 2014.
Looking forward the foreign exchange gains earned in the last two years is unlikely to repeat in 2015 as the Jamaican dollar is unlikely to slip to the same degree it did in the recent past, so earnings will need to exclude most of these gains which amounts to just over 40 cents per share. Investors could be looking at earnings per share around $4.80 in 2015. At a price of $16 the stock is undervalued but they are difficult to come by.
Equity capital stood at $200 million and net book value at $5.33 per share. There is virtually no borrowings and cash of $93 million.
The company is involved in primarily in stevedoring services and is in the process of acquiring a petroleum haulage company which it now manages pending completion of the sale. The stock is listed on the Jamaican Stock Exchange.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Bulk Liquid Carrier and Petroleum Transport Ltd, Cargo Handlers, company results, Jamaica Stock Exchange

NCB & Carreras dominant on JSE

November 19, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, on Wednesday was extend by an hour, to close at 2 PM, instead of the usual 1 PM close, problem with the stock exchange computer system, prevented some brokers from logging on to the system during the regular hours, hence the extension.
At the conclusion of trading the prices of 8 stocks rising and 6 declining as 25 securities changed hands, ending in 6,166,523 units trading, valued at $52,443,460, in all market segments. Of the total amount traded Carreras and National Commercial Bank that reported improved results for the period to September this over 2013 had $26,045,350 and $18,446,572 being invested in their stocks respectively.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 475.78 points to 74,488.38, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 531.99 points to close at 81,999.67 and the JSE combined index gained 506.05 by points to close at 76,389.41.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless finished trading with 2,623,534 shares to close with an 8 cents gain to 50 Cents, Carreras concluded trading with 723,500 shares, and climbed $1 to $36, Desnoes & Geddes exchanged 29,700 shares to gain 5 cents at $4.90, Jamaica Broilers dealt in 34,809 shares as the price ended at 1 cents up to $4.01. Jamaica Money Market Brokers contributed 4,534 ordinary shares with the price moving 3 cents higher at $6.60 and National Commercial Bank finished trading with 969,173 shares, to end with an increase of 54 cents at $19.05.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Ciboney with 1,600 shares changing hands, closed at 7 cents, Hardware & Lumber concluded trading with 9,100 shares, at $6.50. Mayberry Investments finished trading with 258,123 shares changing hands at $1.50, Radio Jamaica with 6,005 shares changing hands, ended at $1.18 and Supreme Ventures ended trading, with only 1,900 shares, at $1.76.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Gleaner closing with 10,000 units, the price slipped 5 cents to a new l52 weeks’ low $1. Jamaica Stock Exchange finished with 10,000 shares trading, 29 cents lower to an all-time low of $1.55, Pan Jamaican Investment with 2,155 shares trading, lost 1 cent to end at $50.26, Scotia Group finished trading with 60,649 shares changing hands, 22 cents down, at $19.40 and Seprod shed 38 cents in trading 273,005 units, to close at $11.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 34,600 units at $3.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: C&WJ, Carreras, Ciboney, D&G, Daily Trading, Gleaner, Grace Kennedy, Hardware & Lumber, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaica Stock Exchange, JMMB, Mayberry, NCB, Pan Jam, Radio Jamaica, Sagicor, Scotia, Seprod, Supreme Ventures

C&W jumps 28% more gains ahead

November 10, 2014 by IC Insider.com

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In Monday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Cable & Wireless traded just 25,000 shares at 41 cents, the highest price the stock could trade at for the day as it gained 28 percent form the last traded price of 32 cents that it traded on Thursday. At the close the bid was at 47 cents with buying for 1,391,360 shares. Just below the highest bids are 7.92 million units on the bid at 41 cents. Supplies that were offered a 50 cents were pulled shortly before trading closed, leaving offers at 60 cents, but the stock cannot trade above 54 cents, on Tuesday.
Trading resulted in the prices of 7 stocks rising and 3 declining as 24 securities changed hands, ending in 2,567,049 units trading, valued at $7,942,673, in all market segments
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 185.93 points to 72,656.95, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index fell 207.8 points to close at 79,951.87 and the JSE combined index gained declined by 169.98 points to close at 74,491.53.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless closed with 25,000 shares changing hands 9 cents higher at 41 cents, Desnoes & Geddes exchanged 9,420 shares while gaining 35 cents higher at $4.95, Pan Jamaican Investment contributed just 1,545 shares traded 50 cents higher at $50 and Scotia Group ended trading with 101,774 units and put on 17 cents to $19.77.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Gleaner saw trading in 1,550,630 shares at $1.05, Grace Kennedy ended with 500 units to close at $60, Jamaica Money Market Brokers closed with 47,800 ordinary shares at $7, Jamaica Stock Exchange concluded trading with 792 shares to end at $1.84, Proven Investments contributed 17,000 shares to end at 18 US cents, Sagicor Group ended trading with 24,545 shares at $9.65, Sagicor Real Estate Fund ended trading with 33,650 shares changing hands ended at $6.60 and Supreme Ventures closed with 77,202 shares trading at $1.73.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Ciboney finished trading with 3,000 units to fall 1 cent to 7 cents and Mayberry Investments exchanged 209,025 shares traded with a loss of 1 cent to $1.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share finished trading with 193,450 units at $3.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: C&WJ, Carreras, Ciboney, D&G, Daily Trading, Gleaner, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican Stock, JMMB, Mayberry, NCB, Pan Jam, Proven, Sagicor, Scotia, Supreme Ventures

Sales up margin down at Lasco Distributors

October 31, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Peter Chin – Lasco Distributors’ Managing Director

Sales climb 17 percent for the September quarter, at Lasco Distributors to hit $2.7 billion and 10 percent in the six months to September, to reach $5.1 billion. Gross profit margin declined, leading to a growth of just 3.8 percent in gross profit, to $475 million from $457 million, for the quarter, and declined 2.2 percent to $910 million for the half year.
Operating cost jumped 15 percent in the quarter, to $377 million and just over 17 percent for the six months to $738 million, pushing profit down 19 percent to $112.5 million for the quarter, from $138.7 million in 2013 and down a much larger, 33 percent, to $203 million for the half year, versus $303 million in the 2013 period.
As disappointing as the second quarter numbers are, they represent a major improvement over the first quarter with a revenue increase of 4 percent, and a fall in profits of 45 percent compared to the 2013 June quarter.
Finances|The company has quite a bit of funds tied up in inventories $1.3 billion and receivables $1.7 billion, that are in excess of normal trading levels, cash funds on the other hand is up to $850 million and will be handy in helping to finance the 110,000 square foot warehousing facility, that they will be embarking on shortly, to meet what management says, is increasing demand flowing from new products to be distributed by the company.
The expected payment from their successful law suit against Pfizer is not yet booked and the amount not yet made public but should exceed $1 billion.

Lasco Manufacturing new “I Cool” drinks

Lasco Distributors markets a wide range of household, foods and pharmaceutical products and is listed on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. the company recently started the distribution of I Cool barnds of drinks its sister company Lasco Manufacturing commenced manufacturing recently, as well as Salada Foods products which it commenced distributing, at the start of the year.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: I cool, Jamaica Stock Exchange, junior market, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, Pfizer, Salada Foods

3 sevens clash again on JSE

October 22, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Wednesday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 7 stocks rising and 7 declining as 21 securities changed hands, culminating in 1,774,287 units trading, valued at $11,185,286, in all market segments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index lost 478.38 points to 71,406.17 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 534.89 points to close at 78,553.31.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Caribbean Cement with 3,000 units, increased 1 cents to $2.13, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 3,350 shares, 5 cents higher at $4.05, National Commercial Bank saw trading in 459,910 shares as the price ended 39 cents higher to $17.90, Pan Jamaican Investment with 5,000 shares closed 10 cents higher to $49.10, Proven Investments with 414 shares added 0.99 cents to 18 US cents and Scotia Group had 10,400 shares changing hands, 4 cents higher to $19.11.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Carreras with 17,596 shares trading to close at $34.99, Gleaner with 140,883 units closed at $1.05 and Mayberry Investments traded 1,357 shares at $1.55.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes in trading 14,000 shares at $4.79, slipped 1 cent, Jamaica Money market Brokers with 14,420 ordinary shares, closed 50 down at $7, Jamaica Stock Exchange with 592 units, lost 5 cents to end at $1.84, Kingston Wharves traded 98,465 units with a fall of $1.40 to close at $5.10 and Salada Foods with only 6,100 shares, closed with a 5 cents loss at $7.85.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 1,067 units at $2.98 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 12,200 units at $5.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Caribbean Cement, Carreras, D&G, Daily Trading, Gleaner, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaica Stock Exchange, JMMB, Kingston Wharves, Mayberry, NCB, Pan Jam, Proven, Sagicor, Salada Foods, Scotia

Sterling Investments trades at $134

October 13, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Sterling Investments, the latest listing on the Jamaica Stock Exchange started trading on Monday with 56 trades ranging from 100 shares to 1,000 shares for a total of 10,075 shares. All the lots sold were executed by Proven Wealth Management, and only 3 lots purchased were done by other brokers.
at the close of trading, there were no stocks being offered for sale and no bids to buy. Sterling, a St Lucia registered company, was listed by introduction, as such there were no shares issued to the general public as an initial public offering. The total number of stock listed is 4,014,547 units which is up on the amount of 3.6 million reported in the 2013 audited accounts. The stock traded just below its net asset value of $138 per share at the end of June, but at a PE ratio of around 10.
Sterling Investment reported income of $70 million and comprehensive profit of $56.7 million, including $11 million from unrealized gain on investments, for the 2013 financial year. For the six months to June this year, income amounted to $25.7 million plus gain on sale of investments of $2.8 million and $25 million in Forex gains resulting in profit of $34 million for the half year. SIL generates interest income from the securities and capital gains realized from increases in the price of the securities.

Filed Under: Company News Tagged With: Jamaica Stock Exchange, Proven, Proven Wealth Management, Sterling Investments

Dividend from Montego Freeport

August 9, 2014 by IC Insider.com

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.

Filed Under: Company News, Dividends Tagged With: Dividends, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Monetgo Freeport

Carreras declared $1.34 capital dividend

July 4, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Carreras 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. Ex-dividend date July 16, 2014. The funds out of which the payment is being made come from 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.
New Transport paid| New Transport paid $6.90 per share capital dividend on the June 30 to its shareholders. New transport was the company formed after Lascelles’ shares were sold to Campari in 2012. The company was formed to hold the assets that were not sold at the time with previous Lascelles’ shareholders getting shares in the company in proportion to what they held before. The company also received some distributions from Campari based on the agreement that was struck. It’s unclear if this latest payment comes from sale of the assets taken over by the company or from Lascelles.

Filed Under: Company News, Dividends Tagged With: Capital distribution, Carreras, Dividends, Jamaica Stock Exchange, New Transport

Heavy JSE trading but mostly crosses

June 26, 2014 by IC Insider.com

Trading was heavy on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday with activity in 29 securities, accounting for 19,315,234 units changing hands valued at $138,385,972. There were a number of large trades as Barita Investment was involved in a series of crosses that helped to drive up the overall volume. At the end of trading the main indices declined but 13 stocks rose in price to 8 that declined. The stocks that dominated trades are Carreras, Desnoes & Geddes, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaica Stock Exchange, National Commercial Bank, Sagicor Group, Scotia Group and Seprod.
. Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell by 200.81 points to 70,040.17 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index closed with a fall of 224.55 points at 77,025.83.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with a mere 4,200 units to gain 4 cents in closing at 34 cents, Desnoes & Geddes with 663,400 units to end up a cent higher at $4.50, Grace Kennedy with 402,705 shares valued at $21,750,097 with the price rising by a cent to $54.01, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 23,422 shares to close 5 cents higher at $6.70, Jamaica Producers 151,096 units to gain 2 cents to close at $15.62, Kingston Wharves with 183,651 shares to close 2 cents higher at $5.02, Proven Investments 320 ordinary shares to close at 2 US cents higher at 18 US cents, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 20,200 shares to close at $6.08 with an 8 cents gain, Scotia Investments with 211,369 units to close 15 cents up, at $21.65, Seprod with 586,550 units valued at $6,168,355, closed with a 20 cents gain at $10.70 and Supreme Ventures with 28,202 units closed with a gain of 8 cents at $1.98.
Firm| There were 5 stocks in the main market closing without a change in price as Gleaner with 6,000 shares, closed at $1.10, Jamaica Broilers 1,420,087 units valued at $6,560,425 to close at $4.57, Mayberry Investments 199,260 units to close at $1.45, Pulse Investments with 40,000 shares, closed at 30 cents and Radio Jamaica with 7,025 units to close at $1.29.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 112,950 units while losing 45 cents to close at $2.50, Carreras with 545,700 units with a value of $18,549,227 as the price closed down 45 cents at $33.50, Jamaica Stock Exchange with 10,200,000 units valued at $19,278,000 and closed with a loss of 6 cents at $1.89, National Commercial Bank saw trading in 1,396,013 shares valued at $24,907,892 with 97 cents fall to $18.03, Sagicor Group put in 1,217,665 units with a value of $10,653,390 to close 50 cents lower at $8.50 and Scotia Group with 861,576 shares valued at $16,361,316, closed with a cent off at $18.99.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 321,495 units to close a cent higher at $3.03 and Jamaica Public Service 5% D preference share traded 1,000 shares to close at 35 cents
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.26 points to close at 708.86 as only 5 stocks traded in this market.
Gains| The sole stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market is General Accident Insurance with 318,132 units to close with a 3 cents decline at $1.40.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Caribbean Producers with 329,316 shares at $2.65, Lasco Distributors with 31,000 shares changing hands at $1.20 and Lasco Financial with 900 units to close at $1.
Declines| Lasco Manufacturing with 32,000 shares and closed with a cent decline at $1.06 was the only stock declining in the junior market at the end of trading.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
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