The Jamaica Stock Exchange continues to lose ground with more stocks falling than rising as the prices of only 5 stocks rose and 12 declined with 25 securities traded resulting in 2,034,342 shares trading valued at $8,897,265 but the junior market index rose although the two main market indices fell.
Main Market| Only 2 companies in the main market advanced at the end of trading and one from the US dollar market and 6 declined as the indices moved down with the JSE Market Index erasing 432.21 points to close at 72,697.29 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 483.28 points to close at 79,996.96.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless in trading 51,164 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents at 34 cents, Margaritaville gained 2 US cents to close at 12 US cents with 340 units changing hands for the first time since listing to close at a new high and Sagicor Group swapped 177,506 units 5 cents higher to end at $9.30.
Firm| There were 6 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with Grace Kennedy trading 1,000 units and closed at $55, Jamaica Broilers 156,467 shares closing at $4.70, National Commercial Bank 25,550 shares to close at $18, Radio Jamaica 30,895 shares closing at $1.29, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 4,940 units in closing at $6.60, Scotia Group 109,624 shares to close at $19.70.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 30,316 shares while losing 20 cents to end at $3.30, Carreras 11,000 shares to close at $34.75 with a $1.20 decline, Gleaner 74,821 stock units to close with a cent down at $1.10, Pan Jamaican Investment as it traded 15,486 shares to close at $48.10 with the price falling by 40 cents, Salada Foods down by 10 cents while trading 2,830 units at $7.90, Scotia Investments 10,635 shares to close at $23.50, a decline of $2 and Supreme Ventures 316,847 stock units to close with a loss of 10 cents to $2 for a new 52 weeks low.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index rose 3.56 points to close at 729.12 as only 9 stocks traded with 2 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Jamaican Teas with 49,530 units to close at $3.45 as the price rose by 24 cents and Lasco Financial Services traded 31,500 shares to close 5 cents higher at $1.15.
Firm Trades| The 2 stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Caribbean Producers with 50,000 shares closing at $2.73 and Lasco Distributors with 222,054 units to close at $1.40.
Declines| Five stocks declined in the junior market at the end of trading are AMG Packaging in trading 5,000 units to close at $3.30, down 19 cents, for a 52 weeks low, Caribbean Flavours with 53,065 units to close with a 20 fall to $2.50, followed by Consolidated Bakeries 157,299 as the price declined by 18 cents in light of the reduced profits reported for the March quarter to end at 92 cents. The company saw profits fall 48 percent to $7.4 million in the March quarter from reduced gross profit margin in spite of a 14 percent rise in sales revenues to $197 million. General Accident 200,198 shares to close at $1.48 with a one cent fall and Lasco Manufacturing that is expected to report final results for the year to March by the end of May traded 246,275 units to close with a one cent loss at $1.14.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Declining stocks dominate trade
6 up 6 down on JSE
In Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 6 stocks rose and 6 declined with only 22 securities traded, resulting in 3,971,989 shares changing hands valued at $29,955,354.
Main Market| The prices of 5 companies in the main market rose and 5 declined as the indices moved down with the JSE Market Index falling by 252.47 points to 73,129.50 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index erasing 282.31 points to close at 80,480.24.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are, Barita Investments with 30,000 shares to close 30 cents higher at $2.30, Cable & Wireless with 745,680 units changing hands as the price gained a cent to close at 32 cents, Carreras closed up by $1.20 to end at $35.95 with 51,728 shares changing hands, Gleaner’s price put on a cent while trading 4,665 units to close at $1.11 and Scotia Group traded 933,985 units as the price gained 14 cents to end at $19.70.
Firm| There were 7 stocks in the main market that closed without a change in price as Grace Kennedy with 37,200 shares closed at $55, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 5,920 units to close at $4.70, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 231,500 units to close at $3.03, Mayberry Investments put through 23,356 shares to close at $1.75, National Commercial Bank had 74,558 shares trading to close at $18, Sagicor Group with 88,440 shares in closing at $9.25 and Seprod with 35,000 shares as the price ended at $10.75.
Declines| The number of stocks declining in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 330,768 shares while losing 5 cents to end at $3.50. Jamaica Money Market Brokers traded 29,800 ordinary shares as the price eased 4 cents to $7.26, Kingston Wharves traded 11,823 shares to close 50 cents off, at $5, followed by Pan Jamaican Investment with 17,272 units to close at $48.50 with a 10 cents decline and Pulse Investments with 400,000 shares at a new 52 weeks low of 30 cents as the price dropped 50 percent or 30 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 2.69 points to close at 725.56 as only 5 stocks traded with one advancing and one declining.
Gains| Lasco Distributors was the sole stock to gain in the junior market on Monday with 100,200 units to close at $1.40 up by 5 cents.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day are Caribbean Producers with 158,094 units at $2.73, Lasco Financial Services 500,000 shares to close at $1.11 and Lasco Manufacturing with 62,000 shares to end at $1.15.
Declines| Only one stock declined in the junior market at the end of trading with Jamaican Teas exchanging 100,000 units to close at $3.21 having lost 29 cents.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had only 2 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 7 stocks with offers that were lower.
Teas profit up 32 percent
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.
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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
Jamaican Teas lists corporate bond
Monday, 25th November 2013 | Tanisha Samuels, Assistant to CEO John Mahfood, inserts the Jamaican Teas fixed & variable rate banner in the slot on the Jamaica Stock Exchange board prior to the start of trading today. To her left is the John Mahfood, the company’s CEO.
In today’s trading 1,000 units traded at $99.50 per 100 units.
Related posts | Jamaican Teas raises over $100m
New additions to Buy Rated stocks
Monday, 25th November 2013 | There are two additions to the Buy Rated and Market Watch list for the coming week. Added to the Buy Rated stock list is Jamaican Teas due to a 30 percent gain in profits for the year ended in September flowing from a 46 percent jump in export sales, sales of apartments in its first real estate development and expectation of further growth in 2014.
Carreras is added to the Market Watch list based on IC Insider’s assessment for earnings around $5 per share for the current fiscal year and dividend yield above 10 percent. Trading in the mid $30’s, this stock has a very good chance to head back into the mid $40 range.
Performance tracking | During the past week, a few of the Jamaican stocks made some recovery with JMMB breaking even in Jamaica but has retreated in Trinidad. Access Financial is up 15 percent so far but Lasco Financial and Manufacturing are still off by good margins. The selections in the main market remain mostly under water, but the ideal time to buy may be slipping away as prices seem to be at their bottom. More importantly, there are indicators that a year-end market rally will happen again in December.
While Jamaica has disappointed, the same can’t be said about Trinidad. There are only two losers so far; Guardian Holdings and Scotia Investments. During the past week Neal & Massy, that had declined below the price at the time of selection, has bounced back from its low to be just slightly ahead at the close on Friday.
What seems clear, is that the focus ought to be on longer term performance rather than just short term gains. The Trinidad market performance of slow price movements illustrates this very well. There are also signs in the Jamaican market suggesting the same, the major difference being the Jamaican market is more aggressive with price movements.
Related posts | Exports push Jamaican Teas’ profit | Carreras down but not out | Jamaican Teas raises over $100m
Jamaican Teas raises over $100m
Jamaican Teas went to the bond market in October to raise $200 million in an 8.5 percent bond issue. The offer, which closed on November 7, received over 80 applicants for just over J$100 million. The company plans to be employ the proceeds for capital projects. The note is a four year instrument fixed at 8.5 percent per annum for the first two years and variable thereafter.
“I want to congratulate the Stocks & Securities team on another successful offer. This one is significant because we were able to raise the funds needed by the client at a rate of 0.10% below the last GOJ Treasury auction. Jamaican Teas Limited is a strong company and we are happy for the opportunity to work with the organization and bring value to all who participated,” said Lamar Harris, Manager Investment Banking & Attorney-at-law.
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“I am happy that we were successful in raising over $100 Million in our corporate bond offer. This was achieved in an environment of extreme economic uncertainty when most investors tend to prefer investing for the short term. I feel that an important reason for our success was the decision to list the security on the Junior Stock Exchange so the investors had the confidence of being able to trade the securities if they needed to. I congratulate SSL for their hard work in making this a success.” John Mahfood, CEO.
Jamaican Teas Ltd distributes the renowned Tetley black tea as well as a Premium Blend of black tea, together with Earl Grey black tea, Green Tea, and Peppermint and Chamomile herbal teas. They are also proprietors of the Caribbean Dreams line of products which consists of herbal teas sourced by the company from Jamaica and other sources, as well as drinking cocoa, powdered natural coconut milk and a range of spring water.
Related posts | Capital market developments | Exports push Jamaican Teas’ profit
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Capital market developments
Access paying 16% for $102.5m | Access Financial, a junior listed company on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, is seeking to raise up to $102.5 million and will pay 9% per annum by way of unsecured notes due November 2014 to do so. The notes are priced at 97.99649% of the face value to yield 11 percent to maturity in November 2014, but the cost to the company is closer to 16 percent when all the cost of raising the funds, interest and the discount are taken into account.
The Invitation opens on Tuesday, 8th October 2013 and closes on Tuesday, 15th October 2013 subject to the right of the Company to shorten or extend the time for closing of the subscription list in the circumstances specified in this Prospectus.
Access has been very profitable and will use to funds for working capital. Earnings for the six months to June, rose 34 percent to $119.59 million from $89. 38 million in the same period last year. Revenues, which was up by 13 percent in the first quarter, is up 18 percent in the second quarter over 2012 and up 16 percent year to date.
The results are coming off of a successful 2012 when it clocked up earnings of $238 million from an increase of 47 percent from revenues of $661 million.
Access Financial is an IC Insider Buy Rated stock.
Related posts | Access growth continues | No change to Buy & Watch list | Access Financial defying IPO critics
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Jamaican Teas looking $200m | Junior market listed Jamaican Teas (JTL) is offering fixed and floating rate senior secured corporate notes due 2017 to raise up to $200 million at an initial rate of 8.5% for two years and variable thereafter until maturity. The note will be secured by way of a debenture creating a fixed and floating charge over the assets of JTL, subject only to existing registered security interests. JTL has applied to the Jamaica Stock Exchange for the notes to be listed for trading.
The offer officially opens on October 17 and is scheduled to close on November 7. The floating rate for each interest period shall be determined on each interest setting date, commencing on the first interest setting date and shall be equivalent to the 180 day WATBY plus a margin of 2.50%. Interest will accrue from the issue date and will be payable on the 30th day of each month until maturity on November 06, 2017.
JTL has the right to redeem the note after the expiration of two (2) years for the full principal value together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon without penalty subject to 90 days written notice to note holders.
The company generated revenues, which climbed from $582 million in 2012 to $783 million in 2013 and should exceed a billion for the first time based on the year to June performance.
The company generated profit of $75 million for the nine months to June 2013 versus $65 million the similar period of the prior year, an increase of 16.2% and $24 million in the June quarter versus $22 million in the comparative period in 2012, an increase of 9.5%.
Related posts | Exports push Jamaican Teas’ profit | Jamaican Teas expands property arm | Jamaican Teas buys property | Profits up 19% at Jamaican Teas
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.
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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 expands property arm
Jamaican Teas Limited (JAMT) has advised that an agreement has been signed to purchase Orchid Estates in Yallahs, St. Thomas. The property comprises eleven acres and has been approved for the construction of 71 individual housing solutions. The total cost of the purchase is $63,000,000 and construction should commence during 2013 with the first units being delivered in 2014. The low-income scheme, which was at an advanced stage of development before the acquisition by H Mahfood & Sons, requires completion of some units which require roofs and internals fittings, the full build-out of other units plus road works.
The development will be undertaken by H Mahfood & Sons Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of JAMT.
The company successfully developed a 19 unit apartment complex at Kingsway in Kingston this year and the units should be handed over to prospective owners by the end of the company’s financial year in September.
Jamaican Teas reported profits of $51.2 million for the six months versus $43.2 million in the six months period of the prior year, an increase of 18.6 percent from improvement in sales of 44 percent to $528.2 million versus $365.9 million in the prior year.
Jamaican Teas buys property
Jamaican Teas advised that they signed an agreement to purchase a property located at 2 Bell Road in Kingston. The property previously housed the operations of Beal Industries which manufactured Comet Matches, which closed some time ago.
The property will be used to house the manufacturing operations of Jamaican Teas as the current facility rented at Norman Road in Kingston is inadequate to meet the company’s growth.
The property is approximately 1.5 Acres and the building is 17,000 square feet. The company expects to move in later this year after the necessary renovations are completed.
The acquisition will be funded by a combination of internally generated funds and external funding.
