As far back as 2013, IC insider rated Caribbean Cream stock Buy Rated, but it was far too cool for the market who was not buying, they may well change the tune sooner than later as the company is reporting blowout first quarter numbers with profit up 79 percent for the quarter that ends in May.
That is only the start, as IC insider is forecasting earnings to climb to 40 cents for the fiscal year and to rise to 70 cents in 2016. For the year to February this year earnings came out at 11 cents per shares, which was up from 5 cents before. The stock last traded at 70 cents each. As the name suggest the company is in the business of production and sale of ice cream and is listed on the junior stock exchange market.
The improved profit comes against the background of at 19.5 percent revenue increase that was pushed to $252 million, from $211 million in 2013. But it was the performance in gross profit margin that made the huge difference, with a jump of 61 percent to $69 million and was more than adequate to overcome a 58.6 percent jump in administrative, selling and marketing expense that climbed to $47 million, with selling and marketing expense more than doubled. Management indicates that cost associated with the JMA Expo and development cost for the new Kremi advertising campaign, launched at the end of June, helped push cost in this area. The new packaging for the retail products was launched in May, the company reported.
Gross profit margin jumped to 37.8 percent in the quarter from only 25.6 percent in the 2013 period. The improved margin, is a continuation of gains made in the November quarter last year when it climbed to 37 percent. In the November quarter in 2012, the margin was only 24.7 percent and 29.6 percent year to date for the nine months period in 2013. For the year ended February, gross margin was 31 percent, reflecting continued gains in the February quarter.
Growth in sales has slowed and is well down on the growth rate for the February and April quarters, of 48 percent each and 27 percent for the July quarter. Improvement in the plant and new packaging, should help in moving sales to a higher level, than the slower pace over the last three quarters. If this happens then profits should jump even more than the latest figures have.
Capital Spend| During the year to May, capital expenditure amounted to $160 million and was primarily geared to improving efficiency in the factory. The expenditure included commissioning of a new cold room to facilitate holding four times more inventory than before. The next phase will provide for new and larger factory floor and the installation of a new blast freeze equipment that is expected to cut operating cost and spoilage going forward.
Cool increased profits at Caribbean Cream
Scotia Group dominates with $83M on JSE
In Thursday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 3 stocks rose and 8 declined as 27 securities changed hands resulting in 8,283,873 shares trading valued at $115,640,825.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index inched up by 10.40 points to 70,492.27 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved up 11.64 points to close at 77,531.37, after being up by 1,658 points to 79,177.73 at 10.12 AM, in early trading, with Scotia Group traded as high as $21.70.
Gains| Only one stock gained at the end of trading, in the main market with National Commercial Bank trading 61,078 units to close with an increase of 40 cents at $18.
Firm| Stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Berger Paints with 5,000 units to close at $1.65, Cable & Wireless 16,000 units to close at 29 cents, Caribbean Cement 6,820 shares to close at $2.20, Gleaner 163,282 units to close at$1.10, Jamaica Broilers with 23,170 shares in closing at $4.57, Kingston Wharves 650 units to close at $5.20, Pan Jamaican Investment 100,000 shares to close at $49, Proven Investments 280 units to close at 18 US cents, Radio Jamaica 2,814 units to close at $1.29 and Scotia Group with 4,310,653 units valued at $82,811,277 to close at $19. The bulk of the trades were conducted by stockbroker, Scotia Investments.
Preference| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 1,297 units to close at $2, and the Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share, 431,000 units to close at $3.02.
Declines| The stocks that declined in the main market are Carreras with 200,000 units while losing 75 cents to end at $34.50, Grace Kennedy with 100 shares, declined by $3.75 to $54.05, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 1,002,596 ordinary shares traded but the price declined 12 cents to $6.88, Jamaica Producers had 13,114 shares changing hands, the price declined by a cent to $18.24, Sagicor Group had 1,030,623 units changing hands to close 10 cents lower at $8.90, Scotia Investments with 7,800 units close 40 cents down to a new 52 weeks low of $21.10.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 8.32 points to close at 708.27 points as 8 stocks traded with 2 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are General Accident Insurance with 147,000 units, closing with a gain of 3 cents at $1.40 and Lasco Manufacturing with 14,500 shares to close a cent higher at $1.06.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial Services with 1,925 units to close at $13.50, Blue Power with 100,000 shares to close at $9.01, Consolidated Bakeries with 458,761 units to end at 80 cents and Lasco Financial 10,000 shares to close at $1.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Lasco Distributors 169,410 shares, declined by 12 cents to $1.18 and Medical Disposables with 6,000 shares changing hands declined by 5 cents $2.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bids higher than the last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Jamaica stocks fall again
In Friday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange there were more prices declining than rising as 24 securities traded, 6 stocks rose and 10 declined resulting from 3,903,650 shares trading valued at $25,770,886.
Main Market| 5 companies in the main market advanced and 8 declined as the indices lost altitude with the JSE Market Index erasing 599.73 points to close at 70,257.92 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index falling 670.61 points to close at 77,269.32.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Carreras in exchanging 326,379 shares to close with a gain of 20 cents at $$34.20, Mayberry Investments with 4,280 shares changing hands, gained 5 cents to close at $1.70, Sagicor Group with 78,268 units changing hands, rose by 5 cents to end at $8.95, Sagicor Real Estate Fund had just 710 units changing hands at $6.70 for a 20 cents gain and Scotia Group with 102,134 shares closed at $19.60 with a 60 cents gain, minutes before trading ended.
Firm| There were only 5 stocks in the main market to close without a price change as Cable & Wireless with 122,189 shares changing hands closed at 28 cents, Gleaner traded 50,000 units and closed at $1.10, Jamaica Money Market Brokers traded only 2,700 shares in closing at $7, followed by Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share with 154,000 units to end at $2 and the Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share traded 141,925 shares to close at $3.03.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Barita Investments with 5,000 shares to close at $2.25 while losing 5 cents, Desnoes & Geddes 28,300 units to close at $4.25 with the price slipping by 20 cents, Grace Kennedy traded 69,030 to close a cent lower at $54, Jamaica Broilers 24,927 shares to close at $4.70 while losing 5 cents, Jamaica Producers traded only 2,700 units in closing at $18.25 with a fall of a cent, National Commercial Bank 159,772 shares to close at $17.45, down 5 cents, Scotia Investments had 44,161 shares changing hands to close at $23 falling back by the same amount it gained the previous day of $2.49 and Supreme Ventures 60,000 units in closing at $2 but fell by a cent.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 1.33 points to close at 721.71 as only 6 stocks traded with one advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Lasco Manufacturing traded 2,429,994 shares to close at $1.12 and gained 2 cents as the only stock to record a gain in the junior market.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day are Consolidated Bakeries which traded just 1,000 units to close at 80 cents, Jamaican Teas 15,839 shares as the price closed at $3.21 and Lasco Financial put through 14,400 units at $1.15.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Blue Power with 50,942 shares to close at $9.01 with 9 cents decline and Caribbean Producers 15,000 units to close down 10 cents at $2.65.
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 4 stocks with offers that were lower.