Jamaican Teas just reported a 32 percent rise in profit for the year to September from a 49 percent jump in sales. The company earned profit attributable to the group’s shareholders of $99 million for the year versus $75 million in 2012.

For the last quarter, the group reported profit of $23 million compared $6.2 million in the similar quarter in 2012. The results for the quarter reflect the booking of revenues resulting from the completion of the real estate development and sales of all but two of the units. The 2012 last quarter figures were negatively affected by an adjustment for impairment to an investment amounting to $9 million.

Sales up | The Group recorded improvement in sales for the year increasing by 49 percent to $1.23 billion versus $824.5 million in the prior year. This was due to mainly increased supermarket sales, a strong 46 percent growth in export sales and income from sale of units in the real estate development.

While sales for the manufacturing division were up 26 percent for the year they were only up 5 percent for the latest quarter partially due to flat exports, which was affected by the termination of the sale of coffee that was included in last year’s figure while there were none in the latest quarter.

Image from Behance.net

The sales performance was also helped by Caribbean Dreams’ Jamaica Blue Spring Water, which was introduced shortly before the commencement of the start of the fiscal year.

Sales at the Kingston supermarket in last quarter were up on the similar quarter in 2012 by 15.8 percent and up by 20 percent for the financial year.

Investments | The group holds $140 million including stocks and bonds and generated income of more than $30 million from them during the year. The amount is a part of other income which amounted to $40 million versus $23 million in 2012.

The group absorbed losses of $4.8 million in the latest quarter for the associated company that operates a supermarket in Montego Bay and a loss of $11.3 million versus $8.4 million for 2012. The company made $2.5 million adjustments to differed tax assets during the year based on the change in tax rate to 25 percent thus increasing the loss for 2013 by that amount.

Cost increase | Administrative cost rose by 20 percent to $86.5 million and distribution and marketing cost rose 69 percent to $30.4 million. The admin cost rise is partially due to the booking of the full year’s cost for the supermarket in Savannah La Mar versus only part year cost in 2012 and increased labour cost. Finance cost rose from $8.36 million to $11.3 million due in part to increased borrowings to fund the real estate development and the acquisition of the new factory building.

Statement of Financial Position | Inventories increased mainly as a result of increased cost of inputs and the cost of inventories at the supermarkets due to rising local cost flowing primarily from the devaluation of the Jamaican Dollar. The receivables rose sharply due to pending completion of sales for the apartments sold and increased export sales, especially the last two months of the financial year, causing in the total due from overseas’ customers to rise.

Borrowings | Borrowings jumped from $113 million in 2012 to $245 million at the end of 2013 financial year but this was effectively $162 million as $83 million represented a loan that was kept as a bank deposit for a short time after the year end. The increased borrowings related to the development of the apartment complex and funding of the purchase of the property to house the factory for the manufacturing operation. Subsequent to the year end, most of the short term borrowings were either paid off or converted into long term loans. The amounts used in the funding the construction of the apartment complex were fully liquidated after the year end. Jamaican Teas issued 5 year bonds amounting to $105 million, fixed at 8.5 percent for two years after the balance sheet date. The funds will be mostly used to fund the company’s next real estate development. At the end of the year, shareholder’s equity stood at $596 million, a $85 million increase over 2012.

Outlook | “We expect to build on the foundation created to date. New lines were recently added that will positively impact sales and profit in the new fiscal year. We expect that our latest real estate development planned for St Thomas will contribute positively to profit during the year. Our expectations are that export sales should continue to perform well and so far the local market seems to have stabilized.” Management stated in their release to shareholders.

If the company successfully executes the new real estate development and sales in the other segment continues to grow at close to that of the last year, then the group should go on to see another record year of profit in 2014.

Jamaican Teas is an IC Insider Buy Rated stock.

Related posts | Jamaican Teas lists corporate bond | New additions to Buy Rated stocks | Exports push Jamaican Teas’ profit

A strong 70.6% increase in exports for the nine months to June helped in pushing profit at Jamaican Teas up to $75.3 million or 16 percent when compared to $64.8 million for the similar period of the prior year.

Export sales accounted for 52 percent of the total manufacturing sales for the latest quarter. The improvement in exports was driven mainly by increases in sales to the USA and Trinidad. Results for the June quarter were not as strong as the prior two quarters with an increase of 9.5 percent to $24 million as local sales slipped marginally compared to $22 million in the comparative period in 2012. While the growth in profit for the year may not appear impressive, the quality is far better as there was a large $13 million swing in earnings reported from gains on investments in 2012 resulting from a $10 million gain in 2012. While there was a $3 million loss this year, the net amount is partially offset by a $5 million gain from exchange rate movement.

The group recorded improvement in sales for the first nine months of the financial year, increasing by 34.5 percent to $783 million versus $582 million in the prior year. Improved sales was due to healthy increases in both export and supermarket sales, including the newest supermarket in Sav-La-mar, which was acquired by the company in March 2012.

The supermarkets also contributed to the bottom-line improvements which helped the improvement in revenues and profits. The results do not yet reflect sales from the completed real estate development which the group expect to be reflected in the final quarter of the fiscal year in September.

Image from Behance.net

Associated company | The company’s jointly owned supermarket in Montego Bay, continues to show improvement but has not shown profit to date. Sales in the quarter rose 11% above the similar period of 2012. Management stated, “We enjoyed an encouraging improvement in sales since the start of the quarter pushing us closer to a break even position. Our share of the loss is $2 million in the latest quarter which includes an adjustment of $640,000 to deferred tax asset to reflect the reduction in tax rate from 33 1/3 percent.”

Investment | The company has short and long term investments of $142 million which includes $76 million of quoted equities.

Going forward | There are good indications that the final quarter should be better than that for 2012. In the 2012 final quarter, a large an impairment loss on investments of $9.3 million had to be made. In this year, the situation might swing in the other direction with the booking of the sales of the apartments. Beyond the September year end, the purchase of a property in St. Thomas should start to contribute to profits from the housing development for 72 two-bedroom single family homes.

Regarding another property purchase, management reported that, “The company will be moving the manufacturing operations to a new facility by the end of 2013, it has adequate space for our operations now and for the foreseeable future. While there may be no savings from this move, it is not expected to cost more than the current rental for the existing space. Ownership will result in savings going forward as inflation drives up rental rates.”

Financial position |The group continues to maintain a healthy financial position with good cash flows, adequate bank credit facilities and investments. Receivables increased by $41 million, which is due to a significant increase in exports that have longer credit terms. Management further stated that, “All the short and long term loans will be cleared subsequent to the quarter end from longer term loans and proceeds from the sale of the apartments. The company recently announced plans to issue $200 million of Corporate Bonds with attractive features for the investor including the fact that interest will be paid monthly and will be traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The funds will be used to pay off more expensive debt and assist with funding our next real estate development. We have also obtained medium term financing from Bank of Nova Scotia for funding of the Bell Road property acquisition.”

Related posts | Jamaican Teas expands property arm | Jamaican Teas buys property | Profits up 19% at Jamaican Teas | Is the real estate market bullish?

Jamaican Teas recorded a profit of $51.2 million for the 6 months of its fiscal year ending March. Last year for the same period, the group made $43.2 million, an increase of 18.6%.  Profit in the March quarter this year amounted to $25.7 million versus $22.2 million in the comparative period in 2012, an increase of 15.9%. Return on equity rose to 20 percent. The improved results came from growth in sales by 44% to $528.2 million, versus $365.9 million in the prior year to march. This was due to healthy increases in both export and retail supermarket sales including a supermarket in Savannah La Mar which contributed $36 million for the second quarter, compared to $12.6 million in 2012. However, during 2012 period investments sold contributed more to profits than for this year. As a result the core business contributed more profits than the reported figures suggest. According to management’s report, sale of investments in the March quarter resulted in a loss of $3 million.

Sales at the Kingston supermarket were up on the similar quarter in 2012 and the store in Savannah La Mar enjoyed steady sales during the period. It recorded its first profit in March. Management is hopeful to build on the second quarter performance, effectively wiping out, or reducing the losses experienced in the first half.

Despite tightness in the local and regional economies, the company was able to generate improved sales in the manufacturing business and more importantly in domestic manufacturing sales that contribute proportionately more to profits than either export or retail sales.

The jointly-owned supermarket in Montego Bay continues to show improvement but has not shown profit to date.  Sales in the six months rose 16 percent above the similar period of 2012. As per management, “We enjoyed an encouraging improvement in sales since the start of the quarter, pushing us closer to a break”. The group’s share of the loss is $1.6 million in the latest quarter.

Apartment complex | An apartment complex developed by the group on Kingsway will be completed by the end of May or very early in June.  Sale of the units attracted solid buying interest with more than 90 percent having written commitments. The sale of the units is expected to be booked before the end of the financial year in September when ownership would be transferred to the new owners.  The group has plans for more developments now that the first was successfully executed.

Financial strength | The group continues to maintain a healthy financial position with working capital and investments of $388 million and this position should improve when the apartments are fully sold.  Equity was $550 million and will continue to rise.

Image from Behance.net

Borrowings are up to $145 million from $75 million in March 2012, most of the increase relates to loans to partially fund the building of the apartment complex and is expected to be repaid from the sale proceeds. In addition, the group acquired the supermarket building in Kingston and is carrying a medium term loan on it, which was booked last year after the March quarter. The proceeds from the sale of the apartments is more than adequate to cover the total loans on the books.  The group is acquiring a property to house Jamaican Teas operations which will result in discontinuation of rent but there will be interest cost relating to loan-funding for the acquisition.

Outlook | Management says they will continue to see buoyancy in sales after the end of the quarter at all locations. “The equity portion of the investment portfolio has fluctuated with recent market volatility but in recent weeks we have seen some improvement in the prices of some of our investments. There are signs that the local stock market is picking up life and if that continues, the valuation of the investment portfolio should rise in the months ahead, thus improving the equity base of the group.”

Management concluded their report by stating that with the performance for the first 6 months, the pending sale of the apartment complex, as well as sales performance subsequent to the March quarter, suggest that results for the 2013 fiscal year should exceed the 2012 fiscal year barring unforeseen developments. At the annual general meeting, the range for profit given by the company was $125-140 million for the year to September, which works out at earnings per share of 80-83 cents.