Fontana is quietly making significant headways in a Jamaican economy that suffered over the last twelve months to June with various dislocations resulting from measures implemented to control the spread of the Covid19 virus. In the financial year to June 2022, revenues climbed a respectable 23 percent to $6.34 billion, from $5.15 billion in 2021 and delivered a 19 percent rise in profit to $606 million.

Artist impression of the 20,000 sqft Portmore store set for opening in early summer 2023.

Sales rose a robust 31 percent in the fourth quarter, well ahead of the nine months’ inflows of 21 percent, but the cost of sales grew even faster at 41 percent, resulting in gross profit rising 16 percent, similar to the increase in the nine months. Profit margin fell and remained in the region of 35.8 percent for the June Quarter and for the year to March but is well down on the 40.5 percent achieved in the June quarter last year.
In an interview with the company’s chairman, Kevin O’Brien Chang suggests that sales would have been affected by specials in the period and the inability to recover increased costs associated with logistical dislocation of sourcing and receiving goods.
“We are very pleased with the trend in sales currently”, Chang informed ICInsider.com in response to whether they could maintain the 31 percent fourth quarter revenue growth in the future for the current fiscal year.
Profit in the fourth quarter rose a substantial 32 percent to $192 million from $146 million, while the full year results increased 18 percent to $606 million from $512 million in 2021.
Administrative and other expenses rose 20 percent in the fourth quarter to $380 million and 15 percent for the fiscal year, to $1.4 billion. Marketing and sales expenses slipped 7 percent in the final quarter and rose 14 percent to $64 million for the year. Finance costs climbed 12 percent in the quarter to $204 million from $182 million in 2021 and rose 17 percent from $648 million to $761 million for the year.
The company continues to be in a financially healthy position. Gross cash flow brought in $840 million, up from $713 million in 2021. Working capital needs and acquisition of fixed assets utilised $204 million. Dividend payment used up $250 million. Loans and lease payments consumed $320 million, but the proceeds of a $492 million bond resulted in an increase of $632 million in cash.
Shareholders’ equity rose to $2.16 billion from $1.8 billion at the end of June 2021. Long term borrowings ended at $1.5 billion and short term borrowings at $143 million at the end of June this year.  Current assets ended the period at $2.7 billion, including inventories of $992 million compared to $836 million in 2021, trade and other receivables of $195 million and cash and bank balances of $1.5 million. Current liabilities ended the period at $830 million. Net current assets ended at $1.86 billion.
The Portmore store is estimated to be around 20,000 square feet, with an opening around the end of the June 2023 quarter, Chang advised ICInsider.com. The store will be leased as is the case of most stores the company operates.
Earnings per share came out at 49 cents for the 2022 fiscal year. ICInsider.com forecasts 80 cents per share for the fiscal year ending June 2023, with a PE of 11 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $9.06 the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market. Net asset value is $1.49, with the stock selling at six times book value.
Fontana owns and operates a chain of pharmacies in Kingston, Montego Bay, Mandeville and Och Rios. Fontana is one of the 10 Junior Market ICInsider.com stocks to hold for 10 years.