junior market — Page 128

NCB out of IC TOP 10

October 25, 2020 by IC Insider.com

The Main and Junior Markets closed the past week lower than the close of the previous week, with the Main market at a higher level than the third week of July, while the Junior Market continues at the lowest levels since the early summer months.
The Junior Market is currently signaling a big surge coming that will start in a few weeks as short term moving averages cross over longer-term ones to confirm a strong rally.
The price of Salada Foods sank to $20 on Friday, pushing NCB Financial out of the IC TOP 10 Main Market. As the markets continue to trade in a narrow band, there was no other movement in and out of the TOP 10.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks with the potential to gain between 282 to 764 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year profit, projected to recover from reduced profit for the 2020 financial year. With expected gains of 151 to 227 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Berger Paints, followed by JMMB Group and Grace Kennedy.
The local stock market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on companies reporting full year’s results from now to the second quarter in 2021. The Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, indicating the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 16.1 and the Junior Market 12.2, based on ICInsider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.7 at just 47 percent to the Junior Market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.4 or 52 percent of the PE of that market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 299 percent and 144 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, indicating potentially greater gains in the Junior Market than the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in movements in and out of the lists for most weeks. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: Access Financial, Berger Paints, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, General Accident, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, Jamaican Teas, junior market, Laco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lumber Depot, Medical Disposables, Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group, Stocks to Watch, Sygnus Credit Investments, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity, Victoria Mutual Investments

Paramount Q1 profit inches higher

October 25, 2020 by IC Insider.com

Paramount Trading continues to struggle to return to its glory days in netting profit of $15 million for the August quarter, just four percent more than the $14.7 million generated corresponding period in 2019, from revenues that inched up to $362 million from $360.5 million in 2019.

Paramount lubricant factory.

The company is involved in the importation and distribution of chemicals, lubricants and other related products and processes chlorine, bleaches and lubricants.
Direct expenses fell 3 percent from $254 million in 2019 to $246 million resulting in gross profit growing nine percent to $116 million from $106 million in 2019.
Other income dropped from $10 million to $5 million, a reduction the Chairman attributed to exchange rate movement. Administrative, selling and distribution expenses grew marginally, from $88.9 million in 2019 to $89.3 million in 2020. The effect, profit before finance cost climbed 20 percent from $25.3 million in 2019 to $30.3 million. Net finance costs also jumped 51 percent for the period, moving from $8.6 million in 2019 to $12.9 million as the company increased borrowings.
Profit peaked in 2017 and declining since, as costs incurred in anticipation of expanded revenues from new business outpaced revenue increases. While the business has expanded into the manufacturing of lubricants, chlorine processing into smaller packages and bleach, revenues have not kept pace with cost increase, resulting in depressed profit and ultimately pushing borrowings upward to help with funding expansion.

Paramount Lubricant plant.

The situation is compounded by the closure of the Alpart Alumina plant and sugar factories, entities that consume produce sold by the company.
Gross cash flow from operating activities brought in $29 million. Inventories fell by $149 million compared to May year-end to $535 million, but amounts provided by creditors fell $147 million, while credit provided to customers rose by $22 million. Current assets ended the period at $901 million, including receivables of $292 million and cash and bank balances of $71 million as well as inventories. Current liabilities rounded out at $413 million. The company also held investments of $138 million at the end of the quarter. At the end of August, shareholders’ equity stood at $810 million, with borrowings at $524 million.
The company reported earnings per share came of a mere one cent for the quarter compared to 0.9 of a cent for the corresponding quarter in 2019. For the fiscal year to May 2020 and EPS was just 3.4 cents. ICInsider.com forecasts 8 cents per share for the full year resulting in a PE Ratio of 21 times 2021 earnings based on the price of $1.70 the stock last traded at on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
In its annual report for the just concluded financial year, the company reported that “during the new financial year, the Company will continue to build out its productive capacity. We have capitalized our lubricant plant and installed the packaging line. Renovation activities already started on the bleach and chlorine plants will continue in the new financial year. We have also expanded into manufacturing sanitation products and will widen the product base over time. Our main drivers in the short term will be the revenue we will derive from our new products, the expansion of our offerings in the Bleach division, and our continued pursuit of contract manufacturing in our Lubricant division”.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Alpart Alumina, Emerging markets, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, junior market, Paramount Trading

Caribbean Cream exits IC TOP 10

October 17, 2020 by IC Insider.com

Investors responded strongly to Caribbean Cream more than doubling profit in the half year to August and a tripling of second quarter profit by pushing the stock up 9 percent on Friday, accounting for the second highest volume for the day. The rise in the stock price resulted in it moving out of IC TOP 10 Junior Market listing and replaced by Lumber Depot.
Lumber Depot returns to the top flight of stocks with earnings per share projected at 20 cents for the current fiscal year and the price just over $1. The Main Market is as you were last week, with no new change.
The Main Market closed the past week higher than the highest level since the beginning of July, except for September 30, another reminder that the market traditionally commences rallying in July each year and slowly builds towards the end of the year. The Junior Market closed the week just above the close of the previous week. That disguises the critical signal that is the market is currently sending. The jump in Caribbean Cream’s price this past week speaks eloquently to the underlying interest that is still in the market and displayed by the demand for Barita Investment stock, with investors’ demand pushing the price within a few dollars of the record high. The broader signal is the big surge that the Junior Market will experience in a few weeks as short term moving averages cross over longer-term ones to confirm a strong rally to come.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks with the potential to gain between 293 to 705 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year profit, projected to recover from reduced profit for the 2020 financial year. With expected gains of 151 to 245 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Berger Paints, followed by JMMB Group and Grace Kennedy.
The local stock market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on companies’ profits reporting full year’s results from now to the second quarter in 2021. The Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, indicating the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.8 and the Junior Market 11.6, based on ICInsider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.7 at just 49 percent to the Junior Market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.5 or 54 percent of the PE of that market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 298 percent and 144 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, indicating potentially greater gains in the Junior Market than the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in the selection process in and out of the lists for most weeks. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: Access Financial, Berger Paints, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, General Accident, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, Jamaican Teas, junior market, Laco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lumber Depot, Medical Disposables, NCB Financial, Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group, Stocks to Watch, Sygnus Credit Investments, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity, Victoria Mutual Investments

Profit more than doubles at Kremi

October 16, 2020 by IC Insider.com

Add your HTML code here...

Profit after taxation at the IC Insider.com BUY RATED Caribbean Cream more than doubled, with a jump of 110 percent for the six months to August and 220 percent in the August quarter, to $74 million from $35 million in 2019 for the half-year and a rise from $14.7 million for the 2019 quarter to $47 million.
Operating revenues rose nine percent for the quarter, to $461 million from $422 million and six percent for the year to date, from $840 million in 2019 to $891 million. For the fiscal year to February, this year, revenues rose by 10 percent to $1.7 billion.
Improvement in profit margin resulted in gross profit rising faster than sales with 15 percent improvement in the first half of the year to $310 million versus $269 million in 2019 and 28 percent in the August quarter with gross profit of $171 from $133 million.
Selling, distribution and administrative expenses declined from $114 million in the 2019 quarter, to $111 million in 2020 and from $221 million in 2019, to $216 million in the six months to August. The decline in cost took place in spite of a sharp increase in depreciation charges in the current year, from $29 million to $59 million. Finance cost increased in the quarter to $6 million from $4 million in 2019 and from $10 million to $9 million for the six months period. Taxation doubled to $10.6 million for the half-year from $5 million in 2019 and moved from $2 million for the quarter to $6.7 million.
Historical results going back to the 2014 fiscal year shows steady annual growth in sales revenue but a more uneven increase in profits. The latter is partially due to the cost associated with expansion and the buying of market share that saw a less aggressive increase in selling prices for its products.
Earnings per share for the quarter came out at 12 cents and 20 cents for the six months.
Gross cash flow brought in $143 million, but growth in inventories, loan repayment offset by loan inflows and reduced payables pushed the cash funds to $152 million at the end of August, up from $58 million at the end of August 2019. With the increased profit for the year to date, shareholders’ equity now stands at $818 million, with borrowings at just $249 million. Net current assets ended the period at $191 million, including trade and other receivables of $63 million, while Current liabilities stood at $162 million.
The company paid 2.49 cents per share as the final dividend for the year ended February 29, 2020, on Friday, October 2. Net asset value is $2.16, with the stock selling at 2.3 times book value.
The results encouraged buying into the stock on Friday, with the price moving from $4.71 it last traded at on Thursday to a high of $5.25. IC Insider.com forecasts earnings of 60 cents per share for the current year that ends in February 2021 and 95 cents for 2022. The PE is currently 8.5 times the current year’s earnings based on the latest price of $5.15, the stock traded at on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Caribbean Cream, Emerging market stock, Emerging markets, IC Insider BUY RATED, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, junior market, Kremi

Caribbean Flavours highlight of IC TOP 10

October 12, 2020 by IC Insider.com

For the past week, activity in the Jamaican stock market was mostly stable following the Barita Investments and Tropical Battery successful public offers. Buying interest increased for Caribbean Flavours and Jamaican Teas stocks, both with pending stock splits.

Caribbean Flavours a Derrimon’s subsidiary

This week’s focus: Caribbean Flavours (CFF), a former IC TOP 10 listed stock, ten for one stock split becomes effective Tuesday. This stock is worth watching this week. After the split, the company will have just under one billion shares issued. Many investors foolishly position themselves to buy stocks after the split at a higher value than before. It is almost a certainty that the price of CFF will move higher after Tuesday’s split. The company reported a 42 percent rise in second-quarter revenues and an increased profit of 25 percent, with profit for the half-year up by 23 percent. The forecast for earnings per share is $1.15 for 2020 and $1.75 in 2021. The PE ratio at the current price of $19.65 the stock traded at on the Junior Market on Friday is 17 times the 2020 earnings and 11 times 2021 earnings.
For a fifth consecutive week, there were no changes in the companies on the IC TOP 10 listings, but that could change with some results set for release during the week. The markets moved moderately higher to close at their highest levels since mid-August for the. The Main Market closed the past week higher than the previous one, but the Junior Market closed the week lower than the prior one.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 281 to 726 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year profit, projected to recover from reduced profit for the 2020 financial year. With expected gains of 152 to 240 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Berger Paints, followed by JMMB Group and Carreras. Radio Jamaica is now down to the fifth spot with slightly lower earnings per share of 15 cents from 20 cents previously.
The local stock market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on companies’ profits reporting full year’s results, from now to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, indicating the potential gains. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.4 and the Junior Market 11.3, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 6.1 at just 54 percent to the overall Junior Market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.4 or 55 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 279 percent and 145 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication of potentially greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in the selection process in and out of the lists for most weeks. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: Access Financial, Berger Paints, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Caribbean Flavours, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, General Accident, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, Jamaican Teas, junior market, Laco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lumber Depot, Medical Disposables, Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group, Stationery and Office Supplies, Stocks to Watch, Sygnus Credit Investments, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity, Victoria Mutual Investments

Intriguing week for IC TOP 10

October 5, 2020 by IC Insider.com

Activity in the Jamaican stock market for the past two weeks was mostly on Barita Investments following the successful public offer of new ordinary shares, Tropical Battery, with the listing after their IPO success. the prices of both rose above the public issue prices with Barita trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $98 and Tropical at $1.35.
For a fourth consecutive week, there were no changes in the companies on the IC TOP 10 listings. The markets moved moderately higher to close at their highest levels since mid-August for the junior Market. The Main Market closed at its highest level at the close of September since the beginning of July gave up all the gains on Wednesday and Tuesday to close back at mid-September level on Friday.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 297 to 764 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year profit to recover from reduced profit for the 2020 financial year. With expected gains of 204 to 228 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Berger Paints followed by Radio Jamaica and JMMB Group.
This week’s focus: Jamaican Teas came in for increased buying during the past week after the company advised the Jamaica Stock Exchange that the board of directors will meet to determine a new record date for the sub-division of the Company’s shares, following the deferral at the Annual General meeting. The stock traded at $4.30 on September 29 and closed at $4.83 on Wednesday, with 161,040 units changing hands, with the offer at $4.50. The volume ballooned to over one million units on Thursday, with the price hitting $5.55 during the day. The company completed the 2020 fiscal year at the end of September.
The market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on the profits of companies reporting full year’s results, from now to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, indicating the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.1 and the Junior Market 11.2, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 6.1 at just 54 percent to the overall Junior Market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.2 or 54 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 283 percent, and 153 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, indicates potentially greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in movements in and out of the lists for most weeks. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: Access Financial, Berger Paints, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, General Accident, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, Jamaican Teas, junior market, Laco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lumber Depot, Medical Disposables, Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group, Stationery and Office Supplies, Stocks to Watch, Sygnus Credit Investments, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity, Tropical Battery, Victoria Mutual Investments

Closed IPO & APO restore life to market

September 27, 2020 by IC Insider.com

Oversubscribed public stock issues were the most pronounced development in the Jamaican stock market for the past two weeks. Barita Investments raised $13.5 billion from the public offer of new ordinary shares in the previous week and was joined by Tropical Battery, with their IPO that closed on the same day of opening, with a raise of $325 million.

Barita eyeing acquisition.

Barita, a former IC Buy Rated stock capital raise, resulted in its share capital more than doubling from $10.88 billion to $24.4 billion and the overall equity capital moving to $28.74 billion. The stock price climbed to $77 at the close on Friday and provided investors in the APO with a nice 48 percent gain and more for smaller investors who bought at $49.
For a third consecutive week, there was no change in the companies on the IC TOP 10 listings, with the markets moving moderately higher partially helped by the rise in the price of Barita’s stock.
With the two public share issues out of the way, the Jamaica Stock Exchange market indices rose during the week with the JSE Main Market indices closing at the highest point since August 3 while the Junior Market was highest since August 26. The week’s movement reversed the negative effect the two issues had in diverting funds away from the market.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking for the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 295 to 709 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is the 2021 fiscal year results, projected to show recovery from the 2020 financial year final numbers. The top three Main Market stocks, with expected gains of 205 to 231 percent, are Radio Jamaica, followed by Berger Paints and JMMB Group.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on the profits of companies reporting full year’s results, from now to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior Market and the Main Market are currently trading well below this level, indicating the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 14.8 and the Junior Market 11.2, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere six at just 54 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.3 or 56 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 280 percent, and 151 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, indicates potentially more significant gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: Access Financial, Berger Paints, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, General Accident, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, Jamaican Teas, junior market, Laco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lumber Depot, Medical Disposables, Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group, Stationery and Office Supplies, Stocks to Watch, Sygnus Credit Investments, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity, Victoria Mutual Investments

Another quiet week for IC TOP 10

September 21, 2020 by IC Insider.com

For a second consecutive week, there were no changes in the companies on the IC TOP 10 listings, with the markets going sideways and little or no significant price moving news.

Barita public stock offer pulled money away from other JSE stocks.

The Jamaica Stock Exchange market activity was negatively affected by funds diverted away from the as investors moved money into the successful Barita Investments issue of new shares. The Issue closed on Wednesday gone and was upsized to $13.5 billion, resulting in a more than doubling of the issued shares from $10.88 billion to $24.38 billion and the overall equity capital to $28.74 billion.
The past week that saw the local market trading in a narrow range, with the Junior Market closing slightly down for the week after ending the previous week at the highest point since August 28 and the Main Market had the highest weekly close since the end of August.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 292 to 695 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year results projected to show recovery from the 2020 financial year final numbers. The top three Main Market stocks, with expected gains of 204 to 228 percent, are Radio Jamaica, followed by Berger Paints, with the price rising 7 percent during the week and JMMB Group.
This week’s focus – Tropical Battery issue for 325 million ordinary shares at $1 each of with up to 187.5 million units reserved for priority applications, opens Tuesday, September 22, with the scheduled closing of September 30, subject to the right of the Company to close it earlier. With earnings per share around 7.7 cents, the stock is priced around a PE ratio of 13 times 2020 earnings, leaving little or no room for short term gains as it is priced 19 percent above the market average.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on the profits of companies reporting full year’s results, from now to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, indicating the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.3 and the Junior Market 11, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere six at just 55 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.2 or 54 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 280 percent, and 151 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, indicates potentially more significant gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on possible gain for each Company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: Access Financial, Berger Paints, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Caribbean Producers, Carreras, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, General Accident, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, Jamaican Teas, junior market, Laco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lumber Depot, Medical Disposables, Radio Jamaica, Scotia Group, Stationery and Office Supplies, Stocks to Watch, Sygnus Credit Investments, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity, Victoria Mutual Investments

Q3 profit jumps 43% for the Lab

September 15, 2020 by IC Insider.com

Profit jumps 43 percent before tax at Limners and Bard trading as the Lab, with revenues up 41 percent for the third quarter. Aftertax, profit climbed 66 percent from $12.7 million to $21 million for the July quarter. Nine months profit, rose 54 percent to $108 million, from $70 million, aftertax, while profit rose 22 percent from $88.6 million before tax in 2019, to $107.8 million. In 2019, the Company incurred a tax charge of $19 million for the nine months but had none in 2020, as it benefited from the listing on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. Profit for the nine months equals the 2019 full year pretax profit of $107.5 million. The company enjoyed increased profit due to a 41.4 percent rise in revenues in the July quarter, from $152 million to $217 million and an increase of 41 percent for the nine months from $486 million to $686 million.
The cost incurred in generating operating revenue grew faster than incomes, of 46 percent for the nine months to $459 million and 48 percent for the quarter to $154 million.
Administration expenses and other costs rose 47 percent to $119 million for the nine months and by 31 percent for the quarter to $40 million. In a report accompanying the results, the chairman, Steven Gooden and Kimala Bennett, Chief Executive Officer, stated, “these included a systemization initiative and training to assist inefficiencies linked to our growth drivers and a pay-out of 50 percent of our 2019 employee profit share.

Kimala Bennett, Chief Executive Officer of The Lab.

The Company earned 2 cents per share in the quarter and 11 cents for the nine months. IC Insider.com projects the full-year earnings ta 16 cents per share, with expenses traditionally lower in the final quarter. The Company generated cash flows from operating of $116 million, up from $77 million in 2019.
Shareholders’ equity climbed to $45 million from $332 million at the end of July 2019. Current assets stand at $529 million including Cash and cash equivalents of $384 million, up from $213 million in July 2019. Current liabilities amounted to $134 million leaving strong net current assets at the end of the period. Borrowings stood at just $66 million.
The stock last traded at $2.80 on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday for a PE ratio of 17.5. With the current year ending a little over a month from now and IC Insider.com projecting 28 cents earnings per share for fiscal 2021, the stock can be considered appropriately priced.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Emerging markets, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, junior market, Kimala Bennett, Limners and Bards, Steven Gooden, The Lab

IPOs are back the Tropical issue

September 15, 2020 by IC Insider.com

Just when investors thought COVID 19 had killed off IPOs for this year, suddenly pops up, Tropical Battery‘s long-promised initial public offer. The prospectus for the issue is now available to the public.
The issue for 325 million ordinary shares at $1 each of with up to 187.5 million units reserved for priority applications, opens September 22 and is scheduled for closing on September 30, subject to the right of the Company to close it earlier.
The Company intends to apply for the shares to be listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, subject for at least $260 million being raised, by way of this invitation.
The total issued shares following the offer will be 1.3 billion units, with the parent company owning 75 percent. That will allow enough shares to be in the public hands to facilitate adequate liquidity in the stocks for some time.
The Company generated profit before tax of $87 million from revenues of $1.74 billion in 2019, a decent increase of 18.6 percent higher than in 2019 and a pretax profit of $45 million from revenues of $1.47 billion in the prior year, to September or 8.6 percent above the 2018 sales.
Gross operating revenue for the nine months to June this year increased nine percent to $1.36 billion from $1.25 billion in 2019, with profit before taxation falling from $67.6 million to $62 million.
Future growth, the Company says, “will come primarily from the addition of new product lines, i.e., Renewable Energy Batteries, Oils and Lubricants, Tyres, etc., organic growth of existing products, expansion and the renovation of our retail stores.”
The proceeds of IPO will be split equally between the selling shareholder and the Company, resulting in $162.5 million going to each, net of cost.
The Company plans to use the amount collected for expansion and working capital purposes, including but not limited to new product lines, expansion and renovation of retail stores, including an expansion of the parking area at the retail store at Grove Road in St Andrew. Completion of the buildout of and relocating to the new warehouse, head office and retail store at Ferry, Acquiring and install information technology systems for greater efficiency and improve customer experience and expansion of Mobile delivery fleet of vehicles.
Total shareholders’ equity at the end of June stands at $593 million, while our long term liabilities fell by to $315 million with the total interest-bearing debt of $415 million. The Company is owed $190 million by a related party and is interest-free, but payable on demand.
With earnings per share around 7.7 cents, the stock is priced around a PE ratio of 13 times 2020 earnings, leaving little or no room for short term gains.
NCB Capital Markets are the brokers for the offer. Unfortunately, for investors, there are no forecasted earnings included in the prospectus to help to guide them. This practice leaves a lot to be desired and it is fulltime, the authorities step up to the plate and ensure that all prospectuses include forecasted data for a least three years. That is not asking too much in the drive to build a developed capital market.