junior market — Page 159

Big jump in Paramount profit

October 29, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Paramount new designed offices.

Junior Market listed Paramount Trading, enjoyed a big turn-around in profit for the first quarter to August this year, with an increase of 126 percent, to $34 million from a 31 percent increase in revenues to $331 million.
Importantly, Paramount incurred exceptional expenses in the first quarter, last year, as the company celebrated its 25 anniversary, IC Insider.com estimates the cost to be around $20 million, excluding this one off cost, profit would have been flat, in both periods.
Administrative and other expenses jumped from $44 million to $62.7 million, but selling and marketing cost dropped from $24 million to $2.8 million. Direct cost rose 35 percent, reducing gross profit margin with gross profit rising slower than the increase in revenues, at 23 percent to reach $101 million.
Earnings per share amounts to 2.2 cents. IC Insider.com places full year’s earnings at 19 cents and for the 2019 fiscal year to May 30 cents with the coming on stream of the joint venture lubricant plant.
The directors’ report stated that they have “an optimistic outlook for the rest of the year and is very excited by the opportunities that will be realized. The construction of the blending plant and laboratory, in conjunction with Alllegheny Petroleum is slated to be complete during the next quarter.”
The balance sheet shows net current assets of US$463 million, including inventories of $338 million, receivables of $283 million and cash funds and investments at $97 million. Borrowings are at $55 million up from only $16 million in August 2016.
The stock currently trades at a PE ratio of 15 with the price at $2.90 on the Junior Market against the market average of 14 and seems to be line with the market. What is true, is the nimbleness of management to identify new income generated opportunities that makes staying close to the stock potentially profitable.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Alllegheny Petroleum, Emerging market stock, Jamaica Stock Exchange, junior market, Paramount Trading

Cement to head out of TOP 10

October 29, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Caribbean Cement increased sales by 14% in Q3 2017.

IC Insider.com BUY RATED Caribbean Cement that showed all the signs of a big pay day is set to break out of the TOP this coming week as investors belated respond to this year’s results.
The company posted earnings of 88 cents for the September quarter, from a 15 percent increase in volume sales and should earn over $3 per share for 2017 and seems set to earn more than $4 in 2018 as it benefits from an upsurge in construction activity that will accelerate next year. The stock climbed to trade at a 52 weeks’ high of $40 on Friday, but closed at $36.10, a strong 33 percent ahead of the close of the previous week. Berger Paints is up 21 percent from last week’s close and is heading higher with very good prospects for increased profits this fiscal year and the next, as construction activity continues to benefit from increased demand, helped by falling interest rates that will make home ownership less costly than before.
Pulse Investments dropped out of the Top tier and Cable and Wireless has returned, the next set of results should help to move this stock higher. The Junior Market saw one change with Main Event entering, just edging out Stationery and Office Supplies.
The main market enjoyed the fourth consecutive weekly record close, driving the All Jamaica Composite Index to a record 321,000.17. The market is well clear of resistance around 300,000 points on the all Jamaica Index and continues heading to the next major resistance at the 360,000 points range, on its way to the 500,000 points mark in 2018.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks is at 8.3 and a PE at 8 for the main market TOP 10. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 14.2 and 13.8 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 40 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and 44 percent for the main market.
Market Watch| Investors should keep a keen eye for Caribbean Cement, Cable & Wireless, NCB, Berger Paints, Jamaica Broilers, JMMB Group, Access Financial, General Accident, Paramount Trading and Stationery and Office.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: Access Financial, Barita Investments, Berger Paints, Cable & Wireless, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers, Emerging market, Emerging market stocks, General Accident, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaica Stock Exchange, JMMB Group, junior market, Key Insurance, Lasco Financial, Medical Disposables, NCB Financial, Paramount Trading, Radio Jamaica, Sagicor Group, Stationery and Office

Profit surges 137% at Express Catering

October 27, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Starbucks one of the brands Express Catering will sell at the Montego Bay Airport.

Recent Junior Market listed Express Catering, enjoyed a big surge in profit of 137 percent to US$834,447 for the quarter to August, this year.
With management fees removed and revenues jumping 9.7 percent, in line with increased visitor arrivals to Jamaica, Express Catering, operators of a series of restaurants within the Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport good performance, came from revenues of US$3.8 million for the quarter.
The removal of management fees saw administrative and other expenses falling from US$2 million to US$1.7 million, but gross profit rose by US$157,000 as cost of sales grew faster than the top line, at 21 percent thus reducing profit margin. Management in their commentary on the results states that “they have since raised prices to compensate for increased input cost.” Express reported earnings per share of 0.051 US cents. IC Insider.com places full year’s earnings at 26 Jamaican cents and that for 2019 at 40 Jamaican cents.
“The addition of the Starbucks Coffee to the offerings in the airport is expected to be completed during the third quarter. Work as already commenced on this initiative and will see 3 locations within the Airport,” the directors’ report stated.
The balance sheet shows US$4.56 million due from related party an increase from $3.64 million at the end of May and cash funds at $497,000.
The stock currently trades at a PE ratio of 19 with the price at $4.95 against the market average of 13.6.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Daily Trading, Emerging market stock, Express Catering, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican Stock, junior market, Sangster International Airport, Starbucks Coffee

Junior Market crawls higher – Monday

October 23, 2017 by IC Insider.com

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Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange finished on Monday with 16 securities changing hands, resulting in the prices of 6 advancing, 4 declining and 6 remaining unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 1,335,600 units valued at $7,277,183 compared to 1,515,647 units valued at $7,693,114 on Friday as the Junior Market Index advanced by 11.77 points to close at 3,045.90.
Trading ended with an average of 83,475 units for an average of $454,824 in contrast to 65,898 units for an average of $334,483 on Friday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 78,395 units valued at $358,806 compared 75,762 units valued at $353,074 previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Tuesday’s trading activity as 2 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with lower offers
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging gained 1 cent to $3.50, with 1,000 shares, Caribbean Cream finished trading 9 cents higher at $5.99, with 16,882 shares, Caribbean Flavours traded with a loss of 90 cents closed at $11, with 10,000 units, Caribbean Producers concluded trading 4 cents higher at $3.74, with 8,813 shares. Express Catering finished trading at $5, with 106,874 units, General Accident concluded trading at $3, with 21,581 shares, Honey Bun finished trading at $5, with 20,000 units, Iron Rock closed at $3.15, with 63,640 stock units changing hands, Jetcon Corporation ended with a loss of 14 cents at $4.85, with 20,786 shares trading. Lasco Distributors climbed 19 cents to $6.49, with 604,447 shares, Lasco Financial finished trading at $4.20, with 9,850 units, Lasco Manufacturing closed 20 cents higher at $4.20, with 191,175 shares. Main Event fell 32 cents to $5.25, with 90,976 stock units changing hands, Paramount Trading finished with a loss of 20 cents at $3, with 34,560 shares, Stationery and Office added 10 cents to conclude trading at $5.60, with 132,451 stock units and tTech traded at $7.05, with 2,565 stock units changing hands.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: AMG Packaging, Caribbean Flavours, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, Express Catering, Honey Bun, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican Stock, Jetcon Corporation, junior market, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lasco Manufacturing, Main Event, Stationery and Office, Trading Activity, tTech

Junior Market quietly surging forward

October 20, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Stationery & Office Supplies climbed to $5.50 on Friday

Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange settled on Friday with 23 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 1,515,647 units valued at $7,693,114 compared to 2,015,630 units valued at $11,835,081 on Thursday.
The market Index surged by 48.58 points to close at 3,034.13, stemming from the prices of 13 securities advancing, 3 declining and 6 remaining with prices unchanged.
Trading ended with an average of 65,898 units for an average of $334,483 in contrast to 125,977 units for an average of $739,693 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 75,762 units valued at $353,074 and 79,378 units with an average value of $354,819 previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Monday’s trading activity as 2 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers
At the close of the market, Access Financial closed 80 cents higher at $42, with 15,853 shares changing hands, AMG Packaging added 9 cents to end at $3.49, with 135,101 units trading, Cargo Handlers finished $1 higher at $11, with 415 units, Caribbean Producers traded 5 cents higher at $3.70, with 182,833 units. Eppley closed with a loss of $1 to end at $11, with 5,000 shares changing hands, Express Catering ended trading with a loss of 10 cents at $5, with 433,774 units trading, General Accident traded at $3, with 172,114 stock units, Honey Bun jumped 60 cents higher to $5, with 11,449 shares, Iron Rock ended trading at $3.15, with 5,000 shares. ISP Finance ended 50 cents higher at $18.50, with 2,500 units, Jamaican Teas ended at $4.10, with 60,447 units trading, Jetcon Corporation concluded trading 9 cents higher at $4.99, with 115,923 stock units having been exchanged, KLE Group rose 30 cents higher to $2.80, with 40,000 shares, Knutsford Express finished with a loss of 1 cent at $14.99, after 20,350 units were exchanged. Lasco Distributors traded 5 cents higher at $6.30, with 162,000 shares, Lasco Financial traded 6,955 units at $4.20, Lasco Manufacturing traded at $4, with 42,484 units, Main Event ended trading 21 cents higher at $5.57, after just 3,190 units changed hands, Medical Disposables settled 76 cents higher at $5.50, with 8,800 shares. Paramount Trading rose 40 cents to $3.20, with 2,825 units, Stationery and Office climbed 50 cents to $5.50, with 62,599 shares, tTech ended trading at $7.05, with 18,000 stock units changing hands and in the junior market preference segment, Eppley finished at $6, with 8,035 stock units trading.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Access Financial, AMG Packaging, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, Express Catering, Honey Bun, Jamaican Stock, Jamaican Teas, Jetcon Corporation, junior market, Knutsford Express, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lasco Manufacturing, Main Event, Medical Disposables, Stationery and Office, Trading Activity, tTech

Steady trading for Junior Market

October 12, 2017 by IC Insider.com

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange settled on Thursday with 20 securities changing hands, resulting in an exchange of 969,013 units valued at $4,496,741 compared to 827,619 units valued at $4,771,002 on Wednesday.
At the close of market activities, the prices of 7 securities advanced, 5 declined and 8 remained unchanged leading to the Junior Market Index losing 2.43 points to close at 2,909.26. Trading ended with an average of 48,451 units for an average of $224,837 in contrast to 33,105 units for an average of $190,840 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 69,963 units 252,557 valued at $317,553 and 71,783 shares at an average value of $319,802, previously. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded.
Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Friday’s trading activity with 1 stock ending with the bid higher than their last selling price and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, volumes are those traded for the day and the closing prices are those at which the last trade took place, accordingly, Access Financial closed at $38, with 4,080 units trading, AMG Packaging ended 14 cents higher at $3.49, with 8,200 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading at $44, with just 1,100 shares, Caribbean Cream traded with a loss of 70 cents at $6, after trading 46,737 shares, Caribbean Producers closed 2 cents higher at $3.72, with 392,821 units, Derrimon Trading ended trading with a loss of 99 cents at $7, with 78,700 shares. Express Catering settled with a loss of 5 cents at $4.55, with 66,900 stock units changing hands, General Accident traded 30 cents higher at $3, with 2,125 units, Honey Bun finished trading with a loss of 20 cents at $4, with 15,101 units, Jamaican Teas ended trading 9 cents higher at $4.10, with 31,362 stock units, Jetcon Corporation concluded trading at $5, with 12,000 shares changing hands, KLE Group settled 10 cents higher at $2.50, with 2,730 stock units. Knutsford Express traded at $14.89, with 6,138 shares, Lasco Distributors traded 50,544 units at $6, Lasco Financial closed at $4.50, with 62,557 shares, Lasco Manufacturing ended with a loss of 5 cents at $3.75, after exchanging 114,774 stock units, Main Event ended at $5.15, trading 4,594 stock units. Medical Disposables concluded trading at $5.30, with 41,260 shares and Stationery and Office settled 1 cent higher at $4.71, after 2,500 units traded. In the junior market preference segment, Derrimon Trading closed with a loss of 5 cents at $1.95, with 24,790 units traded.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Access Financial, AMG Packaging, Blue Power, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Derrimon Trading, Emerging markets, Express Catering, Honey Bun, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican Stock, Jamaican Teas, Jetcon Corporation, junior market, Knutsford Express, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lasco Manufacturing, Main Event, Medical Disposables, Stationery and Office, Trading Activity

Junior Market trading doubles Monday’s

October 10, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Trading on the Junior Market closed on Tuesday with 22 securities changing hands, resulting in a more than doubling of trading levels over Monday with an exchange of 2,217,305 units valued at $9,814,861 compared to 904,019 units valued at $4,463,382 on Monday.
The Junior Market Index declined by 3.62 points to close at 2,902.38 as market activity resulted in the prices of 5 securities advancing, 6 declining and 9 remaining unchanged.
Trading ended with an average of 100,787 units for an average of $446,130 in contrast to 43,049 units for an average of $212,542 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 78,790 units valued at $343,165, previously 74,618 units valued at an average of $323,637. In contrast, September closed with average of 116,176 units valued at $538,652 for each security traded. Trading ended with the market sentiments looking mixed for Wednesday, as 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
In market activity, volumes are those traded for the day and the closing prices are those at which the last trade took place. Trading ended with Access Financial plunged $4 to close at $38, with a mere 100 stock units changing hands, AMG Packaging closed 5 cents higher at $3.35, with 50,395 shares, Caribbean Cream rose by 10 cents to $6.10, with 170,000 units, Caribbean Producers ended 4 cents higher at $3.74, with 15,240 shares traded, Consolidated Bakeries settled at $2.02, with 26,000 units. Dolphin Cove closed at $17.50, with 7,438 stock units, Eppley concluded trading at $12, with 1,500 shares changing hands, Express Catering traded 10 cents higher at $4.50, with 192,607 shares, General Accident fell 3 cents at to $2.70, with 837,115 stock units traded, Honey Bun traded with a loss of 1 cent at $4.09, with 3,420 stock units. Iron Rock traded at $2.80, with 6,245 units, Jamaican Teas settled at $4.10, with 23,280 stock units, Jetcon Corporation closed with a loss of 50 cents at $4.50, with 13,419 stock units, Knutsford Express concluded trading at $14.89, with 4,188 stock shares. Lasco Distributors traded 619,619 units at $6, Lasco Financial settled at $4.25, with 52,621 shares, Lasco Manufacturing ended 25 cents higher at $3.75, trading 3,100 stock units, Main Event finished with a loss of 3 cents at $5.15, exchanging 61,685 shares, Medical Disposables lost 15 cents at $5.15, trading 1,899 shares and Stationery and Office closed at $4.70, trading 81,373 stock units. In the junior market preference segment, Eppley settled with a loss of 5 cents at $6.50, with 45,961 units changing hands.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: Access Financial, AMG Packaging, Caribbean Producers, Consolidated Bakeries, Daily Trading, Dolphin Cove, Emerging markets, Eppley, Express Catering, Honey Bun, Jamaica Stock Exchnage, Jamaican Stock, Jamaican Teas, Jetcon Corporation, junior market, Knutsford Express, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lasco Manufacturing, Main Event, Medical Disposables, Stationery and Office, Trading Activity

TOP 10 – SOS & Barita back in

September 28, 2017 by IC Insider.com

The recently listed Stationery and Office Supplies is back in the Junior Market Top 10 stocks along with CAC 2000 with the price falling to $6.50 while Barita Investments with a fall in price to $8 is back in the Main market list.
Barita Investments has come in for increased selling and limited buying as investors await details of offer from Cornerstone for the majority of the company’ shares.
Investors should keep an eye on Berger Paints this week, as investors could push this one higher as they sense the continuation of listing for the stock and a bounce when offer by Ansa Coatings closes early in October. JMMB Group is itching to rise with limited supply and guarded buying.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.7 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 6.8. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.1 and 13.4 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 43 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and it remains at 48 percent for the main market.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: Barita Investments, Berger Paints, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers, Emerging market, Emerging market stocks, General Accident, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican Stock, JMMB Group, junior market, Key Insurance, Lasco Financial, Medical Disposables, Radio Jamaica, Sagicor Group

Profit jumps 69% at Main Event

September 21, 2017 by IC Insider.com

Main Event should earn 50 cents per sahre for 2017.

Revenues at Main Event, rose 14.8 percent in the July quarter, to $290 million, compared to only 10 percent for the year to date to reach $942 million.
The strong growth in revenues coupled with reduction in cost in some areas resulted in a loss of $4.7 million in the 2016 quarter, transformed to a profit of $26 million in this year’s third quarter and $101 million for the nine months, versus $60 million in 2016, for a strong increase of 69 percent.
Revenues in the quarter to April was flat, at $319 million compared to the 2016 period, but contributed $25 million more profit than the July quarter. Direct operating cost as reported were $147 million in both quarters in 2017, as a result, gross profit margin in the July period was less than in April. In the July quarter, administrative cost ended at $92 million, the same as in the April quarter but depreciation rose to $22 million, from $16 million, as the company acquired more equipment for its own use rather than hiring them.
Assuming the growth level in revenues for the third quarter continues, the company seems heading for profit of 50 cents per share for the 2017 fiscal year to October and 70 cents for 2018, providing room for the stock to deliver a good return for investors who get in at the right price.

Three directors of Main Event, including the mentor who is respossible to ensure compliance with the JSE rules.

“We remain very confident in our strategies and the company’s prospects for further growth and new business opportunities,” the company’s Chairman, Ian Blair and CEO, Solomon Sharpe stated in their comments on the nine months results.
The balance sheet shows fixed assets growing to $420 million from $342 million at July 2016 and improved working capital of more than $100 million versus just $12 million in 2016, while borrowings have declined from $156 million to $122 million. With increasing profit, the finances should be looking better by year end and into 2018.
The stock is BUY RATED but closer to the $5 level currently and for a limited time, as it may not trade back down there.

The stock is listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock exchange and is trading at $5.60, just over a PE of 11 compared to 13.7 for the junior market.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: Jamaica Stock Exchange, junior market, Main Event Entertainment

Watch SOS this week

September 10, 2017 by IC Insider.com

In the Junior Market activity last week, Stationery & Office Supplies moved back to $5 after the company released impressive results for the year to June. Buying also came in for Barita Investments and Berger Paints while during the week and Scotia Group raced to a record high.
For the coming week investors should continue to keep eyes on NCB Financial Group, Berger Paints, that is priced currently at a PE of 6 times 2018 earnings, Caribbean Producers and Stationery & Office Supplies that IC Insider.com upgraded earnings to 50 cents per share from 40 cents previously, with the initial public offer helping to drive more business subsequent to the June quarter, with reports of sales rising faster than the 25 percent levels experienced in the second quarter.
Caribbean Producers with improved 2017 results over 2016 with profit doubling, moved up to $4 during the week, before closing at $3.11 on Friday, after a big trade and should head back to the $4 range in the coming week.
Last week Insider.com stated, “with cut in BOJ benchmark interest rate by 25 basis and a fall in the August Treasury bill rates, the entire main market is on IC Insider.com’s watch list as the All Jamaica Composite Index could move to the 300,000 points mark before long.”
IC Insider.com also stated, “the most noted move in the Jamaica Stock Exchange last week was Scotia Group racing to a record high of $52 but ending the week without any stock being offered for sale. This stock has to head the stocks to watch list this week.”
The All Jamaica Composite Index rose to 296,779.53 points during the past week and by the end of the week closed at a 291,332.10 up from 289,247.13 at the end of the previous week and Scotia Group ended at a record high of $60.