Declining sales and rising cost in the February quarter over the November quarter were the noticeable features for Paramount Trading. The result, lower profit only $26.4 million versus $49.2 million.
Profit nevertheless jumped 121 percent to $109 million for the nine months to February this year with the February quarter rising 82 percent over that of 2014.
The slippage in performance in the latest quarter came from a drop in sales to $209 million from $228 million in the November quarter and a fall in gross profit margin from 37 percent to 32 percent as cost of sales remained at roughly $146 million in both quarters. Total administrative and other expenses also rose in the last quarter over that of November by close to $6 million or 13 percent but they were lower than in the 2014 quarter as finance cost fell sharply from $8 million to only $2 million.
Total revenues rose 18 percent in the February quarter and 25 percent for the nine month period to hit $213 million and $651 million respectively.
The company reported earnings of 17 cents per share for the quarter and 71 for the nine months and is on its way to reporting profit of $1.10 per share for the current year ending in May and $1.50 for the following year.
Finances| Paramount has seen a slight improvement in receivables with a reduction in the number of weeks amounts are due for falling from around 10 weeks in February 2014 down to 9 weeks in 2015 even as the amount increased from $139 million to $151 million. Inventories rose to $275 million from $216 million in 2014 and cash funds rose to $79 million. Amounts due to suppliers is steady at $127 million with the 2014 year-end figures and down from the amounts due at February 2014.
The company deals mainly in chemicals and is listed on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the last price is $3.55, giving it a PE of 3.2 thus maintaining its BUY RATED status.
Paramount’s Q3 sales fell cost rose
Knutsford riding high
Junior market Knutsford Express, enjoyed a very profitable 2014 with a 92 percent increase in pretax profit for the February quarter of $19 million and 45 percent increase for the nine months to $48.5 million.
Contributing to the big jump in profits is a 46.9 percent climb in revenues to $334 million for the nine months and $126.5 million for the quarter, for a 39.6 percent gain. Administrative and other cost rose 33.7 percent in the quarter and 46 percent for the nine months. The earnings translate to 19 cents per share for the quarter and 49 cents for the nine months.
Borrowed funds amount to $23 million with cash funds of $55 million. The company added to its fixed assets which moved from $126 million as of May last year, to $173 million as it expands the fleet of buses on the road and now covers Jamaica with land transportation from north to south and east to west.
The company’s stock traded at $5.60 with a gain of 40 cents after the results were released. the stock remains IC Insider Buy Rated, but it is not expected that there will be much more gains in the short term with a current PE of 8 times 2015 earnings.
Is this Honey worth buying?
Honey is a sweet product savoured by many, but is this Honey likely to attract many to buy into it? Junior Market listed Honey Bun is reporting first quarter results to December, which is not so sweet, but the results to come could get sweeter as the year unfolds based on many factors.
The company enjoyed increased sales of 11.6 percent, hitting $206 million and resulting in gross profit growing by 11.3 percent compared with the corresponding period last year. As gross profit margin fell slightly to 45.4 percent compared with 45.54 in 2013 and administrative and distribution costs rose by 17.4 percent, profit also declined, falling 17 percent for the quarter to $16.5 million or 17 cents per share. “This reduction was mainly due to increased distribution cost resulting from the takeover of a large contract distributor to maintain our customer service and the lease of vehicles due to accidents of two of our main distribution vehicles. Improvements in this area will be seen in the next quarter. Further, one time cost was incurred during this period as the building on the property acquired was demolished,” management reported, in a statement accompanying the financials.
In the last fiscal year to September, profit fell from $35 million in 2013 to only $23 million partly. The decline was due to added costs associated with the distribution of the products that rose by 20 percent when revenues grew by only 5.7 percent, gross profit margin slipped marginally in the last fiscal year, from 42 percent to 41 percent. But Honey Bun is set to benefit from a fall in the price of fuel used in the transport area and reduced energy cost based on a reduction in rates charged by Jamaica Public Service Company.
The bulk of profit is made in the first six months of the year, with the Easter period significant for sales. The September period is usually a period of losses. The company should be looking at earnings in the 50-55 cents region for the current year with reduced cost in some areas and continuation of growth in sales.
“Exports continue to rise and increased year over year corresponding period by over 150 percent. This was mainly due to the export of its Buccaneer Jamaica brand of fruitcakes to the UK market, where Honey Bun displayed their cakes in ASDA for the first time. We have also seen increased demand in the local market.” the company’s management reported.
At the end of the period, equity stood at $325 million in contrast to borrowed funds of only $64 million and cash funds of $33 million. The current asset ratio was 1.64 to 1.
The company’s stock last traded on the junior market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange at $1.91 and should enjoy some gains if the company hits the projected profit or comes close to it. The stock closed on Thursday with a bid to buy 20,994 units at $1.91, followed by a bid for 99,900 units at $1.80 but offers start at $2.90 to sell 11,000 units.
Only 4 junior stocks trade on Tuesday
Activity on the Junior Market closed on Tuesday with only 4 securities trading and ending with 296,975 units changing hands valued at $355,613. The JSE Junior Market Index gained 0.75 points to close at 706.16, with the price of 2 stocks advancing and none declining.
At the close of the market, there were 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 1 stock with a lower offer. The junior market ended with 5 securities closing with no bids to buy and 7 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, AMG Packaging had 18,363 units at $2.49 for a 24 cents increase, Caribbean Cream with only 4,000 shares at 75 cents, with a 1 cent gain, Lasco Financial Services trading 90,000 units at $1.05 and Lasco Manufacturing with 184,612 units at $1.15.
2 stocks trade on junior market
< Activity on the Junior Market closed with only 2 securities traded ending with 56,600 units changing hands valued at $93,830. The JSE Junior Market Index gained 0.47 points to close at 705.41, with the price of 1 stock advancing and 1 trading unchanged.
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At the close, the number of stocks that appear set to rise were more than the numbers trading and more than the ones that appear set to decline, in the end there were 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 2 with offers that were lower. The junior market ended with 4 securities closing with no bids to buy and there were7 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Caribbean Flavours & Fragrances gaining 6 cents to end at $1.91 as 40,000 shares changed hands and Lasco Financial Services with 16,000 shares ending unchanged at $1.05.
Lasco Manufacturing trades 5.2m
Activity on the Junior Market closed with only 2 securities traded, ending with 5,209,400 units changing hands valued at $5,996,887. The JSE Junior Market Index declined 3.18 points to close at 716.65, with the price of 1 stocks advancing and none declining.
At the close of the market, there were 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with offers that were lower. The junior market ended with 3 securities closing with no bids to buy and 7 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Consolidated Bakeries concluding trading with just 800 shares at 90 cents and Lasco Manufacturing closed with 5,208,600 shares trading, the price rose 2 cents to $1.18.
3 junior market stocks trade Monday
On a slow trading day on the Jamaica Stock Exchange activity on the Junior Market closed with only 3 securities traded ending with 130,614 units changing hands valued at $841,521. The JSE Junior Market Index advanced 3.62 points to close at 710.54, with the price of 1 stock advancing and1 declining.
At the close of the market, there were 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with offers that were lower. The junior market ended with 3 securities closing with no bids to buy and 8 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Dolphin Cove closed at $9 after gaining 49 cents with 87,714 shares trading Lasco Distributors closed at $1.52 after losing 2 cents and trading 15,000 shares. The stock closed with no volume on offer and the bid at $1.52. Lasco Financial Services traded 27,900 units at $1.05.
Eppley’s Profit up 31%, Q4 flat
Eppley is reporting a miniscule increase in profit after tax to reach $11.4 million for the December quarter and a 31 percent increase, to $51 million for 2014.
The company that mainly does insurance premium financing, generated a 62 percent increase in revenues for the quarter to reach $43.8 million and a 68 percent increase for the year, landed revenues at $150.7 million.
Expenses were climbing much faster than income, with interest cost climbing 196 percent in the quarter, hitting $16.9 million and 194 percent increase for the year to end at $48.7 million. The increase in interest cost squeezed margins on lending sharply as new funding received in the last quarter was only partially used to generate high yields. Administrative cost climbed 51 percent in the quarter and 50 percent for the year.
At year end, cash funds not fully deployed amounted to $519 million up from $161 million at the end of 2013. Borrowing stood at $1.08 billion and equity at $343 million. A significant part of borrowings is quasi equity, in the form of preference shares, moving borrowings from $395 million at the end of September to what it ended at, in December. Amounts lent out totalled $843 million, up from $595 million in 2013 and $689 million at the end of September.
With the increased funding, Eppley should be able to increase business in 2015 and with that profits, as such earnings could be in the range of $100 per share for 2015. Earnings per share for 2014 ended at $64.19.
The stock is thinly traded and listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange junior market and last traded at $380.
Paramount at new high of $4
Sika one of the brands tcarried by Paramount
At the close of the market, there were 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market ended with 5 securities closing with no bids to buy and there were 5 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Lasco Manufacturing closing with 20,000 shares as the price climbed 8 cents to $1.27,Paramount Trading ended trading with 10,000 shares while gaining 78 cents to close at an all-time high of $4,
Blue Power ended trading with 2,350 shares trading at $6.50, Lasco Financial ending with 14,798 shares changing hands at $1.15, Derrimon Trading had 100 shares trading at $2.04, Eppley 9.5% preference shares closed with 10,000 shares changing hands to close $6 and General Accident ending with 67,522 shares trading at $1.65.
Caribbean Producers tops juniors
Caribbean Producers traded nearly 4.4 million shares and rose in trading on Wednesday. Mayberry Investment was the broker that did all the buying while Stocks & Securities did the bulk of the selling, except for two smaller trades, amounting to 143,000 units.
Activity on the Junior Market closed with 6 securities traded ending with 5,082,755 units changing hands valued at $11,034,581. The JSE Junior Market Index declined 3.54 points to close at 706.43, with the prices of 3 stock advancing and 2 declining. At the close of the market, there were 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 1 stock with an offer that was lower. The junior market ended with 5 securities closing with no bids to buy and 7 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Stocks trading in the junior market are, Caribbean Cream in trading 200 shares closed with a gain of 1 cent to 76 cents, Caribbean Producers finished with 4,393,426 units trading 10 cents higher to $2.30, Lasco Financial closed with 6,472 units and put on 5 cents to $1.10, Lasco Distributors closing with 5,310 shares trading at unchanged at $1.45, General Accident ended trading with 281,669 shares changing hands to close lower by 10 cents to $1.65 and Lasco Manufacturing closing with 395,678 units trading lower by 5 cents to $1.15.
