Profit climbs 21% at Margaritaville

margaritaville_logo600x250Revenue jumps 30.7 percent to US$1.7 million, in the first quarter, ending August and pushed up gross profit by 33.24 percent to hit US$1.267 million, as margin improved over the similar quarter in 2013, at Margaritaville Turks Ltd. It was not all good sailing for the second US dollar listed stock on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, as administrative cost climbed faster that revenues at 37.76 percent, and kept growth in profit to US$245,000, for a 21.18 percent increase.
Full year profit| For the current year, based on the growth in revenues so far, profits should climb to US$1.6 million, up from US$732,000 in twelve months to May this year and result in earnings per share of 2.4 US cents and put the PE of the stock at 4.6 making it an attractive buy currently. The standalone business depending on ships docking is not without added risk, a factor that investors should be cognizant of. The shares are not in great supply but there are offers ranging from 11 US cents to 18 cents but there has been no buying interest for weeks.
Construction of a new restaurant, is to commence in the second quarter of the financial year and end in the third quarter, to expand their offerings to customers.
Concerns| The company has little debt, but has a big jump in the amounts owing to creditors, growing from $716,000 to $973,000 while amounts owing by related companies to it, jumped sharply, from $424,000 to $987,000. This is not a good sign and there is not even an ounce of comment by management about this unusual buildup of these amounts. While all of this is happening, cash is down to only $4,000 from $58,000 a year ago.
Margaritaville is new to listing on the stock exchange, but they need to get a few things right. The prospectus stated that the shares would be listed on the stock exchange main market, the audited statement for 2014 says the same, and the current report repeats it as well. These are all incorrect as the shares are listed on the US dollar denominated market, which differs from the main market. The actual financial statement does not provide readers with the number of shares issued, this should be a part of the financial statement. The listing of the number of shares issued in the top 10 shareholders is not a part of the financials and investors should not have to look there for it.

Trading picks up 12 stocks rise

Grace gained $1.34 to close at $57.95 on Friday

Grace gained $1.34 to close at $57.95 on Friday

Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at the close of the week, resulting in the prices of 12 stocks rising and only 5 declining as 28 securities changed hands, ending in 15,077,423 units trading, valued at $56,087,259, 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 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower, suggesting fluidity in price movements in the short term.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 114.23 points to 71,665.90, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 127.73 points to close at 78,843.73 and the JSE combined index was up by only 45.79 points, to close at 73,567.74 as the junior market index fell.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras with 105,570 shares trading, rose 16 cents to $34.50, Caribbean Cement with 1,500 shares, closed 7 cents higher at $2.20, Gleaner had 3,900 shares changing hands, 5 cents greater at $1.10, Grace Kennedy put through 2,900 units with a gain of $1.34 to $57.95, Mayberry Investments with 2,453,103 shares, was up 4 cents at $1.40, Pan Jamaican Investment closed higher at $50 with 69,616 units, to gain 90 cents, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 7,800 shares traded 40 cents up to $7, Seprod had 50,000 units being active and added 5 cents to $11 and Supreme Ventures had only 2,000 shares changing hands, 12 cents higher at $1.72.
JSEsum 24-10-14 Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Cable & Wireless having 38,861 shares changing hands at 29 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 25,300 ordinary shares, closed at $7, Kingston Wharves with 450 shares, ended at $5.50, Proven Investments traded 24,460 ordinary shares and ended at 18 US cents and Scotia Group with 22,534 shares closed at $19.50.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the close of the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes trading 5,570,641 shares at $4.70, after slipping 9 cents, National Commercial Bank saw trading in 45,159 shares as the price ended 19 cents down at $17.80 and Sagicor Group with 465,779 units, fell 5 cents to close at $9.50.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 2,332,279 units 2 cents up to $3, the Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 718,300 units at $2, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% preference share traded 200 units at $1,006.10 and Proven Investments 8% preference share traded 1,800 units at $5.
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Lasco Distributors up 13 cents pushes index

Lasco_Building280x150 The Junior Market closed trading with 80,653 units valued at $113,420. The JSE Junior Market Index rose 15.22 points to close at 667.99. Only 4 securities traded, 2 advanced, 1 declined and 1 traded firm.
At the close of the market there were 4 stocks with bids higher than the last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to exhibit weakness with 11 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 5 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Caribbean Producers with 23,972 shares lost 3 cents to end at $2.35, Lasco Distributors traded 1,681 units, closed 13 cents higher at $1.30, just ahead of the release of the September results, Lasco Financial Services with 53,000 units, closed at $1 and Lasco Manufacturing had 2,000 units trading to close at 95 cents after gaining 4 cents.

JSE market rises 8 stocks gained

Thursday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 8 stocks rising and 5 declining as 20 securities changed hands, ending in 4,909,570 units trading, valued at $42,492,455, in all market segments.
JSE sum 23-10-14 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 145.50 points to 71,551.67, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 162.69 points to close at 78,716.00 and the Combined Index closed at 73,521.95 after rising 279.05 points.
Gains| Stocks gaining at the last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless with 2,296,328 shares trading, rose 1 cent to 29 cents, Kingston Wharves had 250 shares changing hands 40 cents higher at $5.50, National Commercial Bank saw trading in 12,330 shares, the price ended at $17.99, after rising 9 cents, Sagicor Group had 23,373 shares changing hands 4 cents higher to $9.55, Scotia Group with 14,700 shares, closed 39 cents higher at $19.50 and Seprod closed with 56,250 shares changing hands, 5 cents higher at $10.95.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Berger Paints with 91,230 shares, traded at $1.60, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 31,523 ordinary shares trading, ended at $7, Jamaica Producers 88,984 shares changing hands, closed at $15.50, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.15, after trading 5,882 shares and Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 12,220 units at $6.60.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras with 1,037,041 shares, lost 65 cents to end at $34.34, Grace Kennedy traded 10,300 shares, closed with a loss of $1.39 in ending at $56.61, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 58,000 shares at $4 while losing 5 cents and Mayberry Investments traded 744,406 shares, after slipping 19 cents to close at $1.36, a new 52 weeks’ low.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 346,100 units and closed at $2.98.

Only 2 stocks rose & 7 fell on JSE

For the final day of the week, activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of only 2 stocks rising and 7 declining as just 14 securities changed hands, culminating in 2,431,851 units trading, valued at $5,193,407, in all market segments.
JSE sum 17-10-14 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 49.61 points to 72,232.91 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 55.47 points to close at79,477.72.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless with 1,362,300 ordinary shares trading one cent higher at 29 cents and Scotia Group with 30,534 rose 4 cents rise to $19.07.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Jamaica Broilers with 1,950 units, closed at $4, Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 10,000 shares closed at $6.60 and Scotia Investments traded 27,028 units at $21.40.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Carreras with 11,388 shares, lost 10 cents to end at $34.90, Grace Kennedy traded just 8,960 units, with a loss of $1 to end at $58, National Commercial Bank closed with 25 cents decline to $17.75 as 1,682 shares traded and Sagicor Group with 42,800 gave up 17 cents to $9.40.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 339,669 units at $2.99 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 568,400 units at $2.

Scotia sinks again more coming – TTSE

SCot Bnk sign Friday’s trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange was negatively affected by a drop in the price to $58.50. The stock which has fallen from a high of $72 seems set to decline further, based on the closing bid which is weak, with only 100 shares on the bid at $57.50 and 4,982 units on the offer to sell at $58.50.
In overall trading, there were 10 securities changing hands, of which 3 advanced, 3 declined and 4 traded firm, with 255,055 units being dealt in, valued at $4,441,512.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 1.73 points to close at 1,148.31, the All T&T Index declined by 3.38 points to close at 1,966.34 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 43.29.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Angostura Holdings trading 90 shares to close with a gain of 1 cent to end at $12.51, First Citizens Bank with a volume of 3,054 shares traded for $112,142 to close at $36.72 with a gain of 2 cents and West Indian Tobacco contributing 2,264 shares with a value of $267,673 and gained a cent, at $118.23.
TTSE -17-10-14 Declines| Stocks declining at the end of trading are, Grace Kennedy with 500 shares, fell a cent to $3.75, One Caribbean Media with 106,757 shares changing hands for a value of $2,682,529, lost 2 cents to end at $25.20 and Scotiabank traded 200 shares and lost 98 cents to close at $58.50.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund with 21,400 shares valued at $472,032, closed at $22.05, National Flour Mills 414 shares ended at $1.18, Sagicor Financial Corporation 6.5% US$ preference share, traded 120,000 units at US$1.13 and Unilever Caribbean with 376 units closed at $64.11.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.

Stocks gaining edge out decliners on JSE

Wednesday’s activity on day on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 4 stocks rising and 3 declining as 16 securities changed hands, culminating in 5,387,514 units trading, valued at $30,063,697, in all market segmentsJSE  15-10-14
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 417.93 points to 72,553.06 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index climbed 467.31 points to close at 79,835.70.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Jamaica Broilers inched up a cent with 2,000 shares to $4.01, National Commercial Bank with 60,658 shares trading, put on 20 cents to $18 and Scotia Investments with only 1,050 shares changing hands, gained of 25 cents to $22.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Berger Paints with 257,920 units closed at $1.60, Carreras had 16,420 share being traded to close at $34.65, Gleaner enjoyed pick up in trading with 1,094,096 shares at $1.05, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 4,041 ordinary shares closed at $7, Sagicor Group had 19,615 shares changing hands at $9.55 and Scotia Group put through 1,280,705 shares to close at $19.05.
Declines| Cable & Wireless with 1,872,639 shares is the only stock to end with a decline, down a cent at 28 cents.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 781 units at $2 and the 8.75% preference share traded 9,859 units with a cent off at $2.99.

JSE dips but more stocks rose than fell

Monday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 7 stocks rising and 6 declining as 22 securities changed hands, culminating in 1,554,769 units trading, valued at only $5,881,456, in all market segments.
JSEsum -13-10-14 Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell 463.89 points to 72,211.86 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declined 518.69 points to close at 79,454.19.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Desnoes & Geddes with 15,000 shares trading, closed 9 cents higher at $4.79, Grace Kennedy had only 500 shares changing hands and closed 50 cents higher to $59, National Commercial Bank had 100,468 shares trading with a gain of 10 cents at $17.80, Sagicor Group with 43,824 shares changing hands, 3 cents higher at $9.55 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund had 4,155 shares traded with a gain of 40 cents to $7.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Ciboney with 334,000 shares at 7 cents, Jamaica Broilers with 25,897 units closed at $4, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 47,314 ordinary share closed at $7.01, Jamaica Producers had 26,228 units trading at $15.50, Pan Jamaican Investment with 2,500 shares ended at $49, Seprod put through 5,955 units to close at $10.90 and Sterling Investments, a the stock exchange latest listing had 10,075 units trading at $134.
Declines| The last traded prices of stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market are, Berger Paints had 21,140 trading at $1.60, down 6 cents, Cable & Wireless with 429,210 shares, lost a cent at 29 cents, Caribbean Cement with 80,648 shares fell 25 cents to $2.11 and Scotia Group traded 3,000 shares with the loss of 96 cents to end at $19.04.

Pan Jam profit up 29% for Q2

pan_jamaican_logo280x150Pan-Jamaican Investment Trust enjoyed a strong 29 percent growth in profit, attributable to owners of the group, for the quarter ended June this year to $627 million. Profit of $486 million was realised in the 2013 second quarter. For the six months to June, net profit hits $1.07 billion, compared to $710 million for 2013, an increase of 50 percent.
Earnings per share amounted to $5.09 for the six months and $2.99 for the latest quarter, earnings for all of 2014 should end up around $12 per share. With the stock selling at $49, there is much room for the stock price to double, that is why it is one of IC Insider BUY RATED stock.
Total revenue was higher for the quarter compared to last year, by $125 million, or 30 percent, due to the improved investment and property income, and ahead of last year for the 6 months by $185 million, or 21 percent as the group generated income of $544 million in the latest quarter versus $419 million in 2013 and $1.08 billion for the six months, compared to $895 in 2013.
The share of results of associated and joint venture companies for the quarter is $537 million and is flat compared to last year, while the six month period share increased by 16 percent to $893 million. Last year’s results were significantly affected by the first quarter NDX impact on Sagicor.Investment income of $123 million, in the second quarter of 2014 was nearly three times higher than the $44 million in the similar quarter last year, principally as a result of better foreign exchange gains of $42 million, versus $23 million last year, and trading gains of $37 million, versus a loss of $21 million in 2013. Year to date investment income of $259 million is 79 percent ahead of 2013, due principally to trading gains of $89 million versus a loss of $29 million in the prior year. Property income grew $54 million, or 16 percent, compared to last year for the quarter and $83 million, or 12 percent, year to date.
Group operating profit for the second quarter increased by $115 million, or 73 percent, compared to last year’s second quarter. For the year to date, group operating profit of $544 million is $157 million, or 40 percent, more than last year’s level.
Operating expenses were contained to $273 million for the June 2104 quarter versus $263 million in 2013 and $536 million for the year to June from $508 million in 2013.
Total assets at June 2014 amounted to $25.1 billion, compared to $23.3 billion at December 2013. Bank and other loans stand at $4.48 billion and stockholders’ equity stood at $19.4 billion from $17.8 billion at December last year, equating to a book value per stock unit of $92.34.
Pan Jamaican is involved primarily in commercial property ownership and rental and owns just over 31 percent of Sagicor Group a life assurance and banking operations.

Scotia Group & Kingston Wharves push index

SBJ HqFriday’s activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulted in the prices of 9 stocks rising and 4 declining as 18 securities changed hands, culminating in 20,710,115 units trading, valued at $66,213,940, in all market segments. Cable & Wireless traded just over 10 Million units, Desnoes & Geddes 2 million and Kingston Wharves 3 million units.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index gained 1,023.10 points to 72,675.75 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 1,144.00 points to close at 79,972.88.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator showed 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 stocks with offers that were lower. Although the signal is weak most of the weakness is in the junior market.
Gains| Stocks gaining with last traded prices, at the end of trading in the main market are, Cable & Wireless with 10,149,579 shares to close a cent higher, at 30 cents, Carreras had only 262 units being active, but gained 15 cents to $34.65, Jamaica Broilers returned to trade at $4 by putting on 15 cents in trading 45,621 shares, Kingston Wharves enjoyed a buoyant day with 3,190,455 shares, the price gained $1, to land at $6.50, Proven Investments traded 63,730 ordinary shares at 0.5 cent up to close at 17.5 US cents, Radio Jamaica gained 11 cents with 3,965 units, to end at $1.15, Sagicor Group had 9,880 units changing hands, as the price rose 2 cents to $9.50, Scotia Group had a good volume of 1,254,000 shares, the price climbed 50 cents to $20 and Scotia Investments had 38,228 units changing hands, to rise 4 cents to $21.75.
JSE sum 10-10-14 Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in the last traded prices are, Desnoes & Geddes in closing trading with 2,073,524 shares at $4.70, followed by Jamaica Money Market Brokers with only 1,100 ordinary shares at $7.01 and Supreme Ventures with 39,000 shares at $1.80.
Declines| Gleaner with 1,400 shares lost 1 cent in closing at $1.05 and Grace Kennedy with 10,566 shares, lost 50 cents at $58.50, were the only two stocks with losses at the end of trading in the main market.