Stationery & Office Supplies shares that were listed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday traded as high as $5.80 but closed at a record closing high of $5.08 to record a rise of 154 percent at the close.
Trading in the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday with a number of stocks advancing out pacing those declining 2 to 1. The volume and value of stocks traded rose sharply compared to that on Thursday as Express Catering traded 12.4 million shares and the market index closed higher by 16.57 points to close at 3,149.79 points to close at 3,133.22.
The Market index traded 15,732,911 shares valued at $100,160,789.54 compared with 554,002 shares valued at $2,805,282 on the previous day. A total of 25 securities traded compared 18 on Thursday with 9 stocks advancing 5 declining and 11 traded firm.
Trading ended with an average of 629,316 units for an average of $4,006,432 in contrast to 30,778 units for an average of $155,849 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 210,256 units valued at $1,210,863 compared to 140,412 units valued at $744,935 previously. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded price are: Access Finance added 50 cents to close at $46.50 with 15,230 shares, AMG Packaging trading 30,000 units at $3.50, Blue Power closed at $41.50 with 12,277 shares, Cargo Handlers closed with a loss of 50 cents at $11 with 6,848 shares, Caribbean Cream closed at $6.80 with 13,080 shares, Caribbean Flavours ended $1.95 higher and closed at $12.95 with 9,503 shares, Caribbean Producers closed at $3.50 with 109,654 shares, Consolidated Bakeries closed at $2.62 with 4,000 shares, Dolphin Cove lost $2.50 and closed at $17.50 with 1,272,104 shares. Express Catering rose 49 cents to $5.50 with 12,431,073 shares, General Accident closed 5 cents higher to $3 with 38,644 shares, Honey Bun dipped 50 cents, to a 52 weeks’ low of $4.50 with 13,400 shares, Jamaican Teas ended 5 cents higher at $4.60 with 3,000 shares, Jetcon Corporation closed 5 cents higher at $5.20 with 124,479 shares, KLE Group closed at $2 with 60,400 shares. Knutsford Express gained 10 cents and closed at $15 with 6,900 shares, Lasco Distributors closed at $6.70 with 202,957 shares, Lasco Financial closed with 22,593 shares trading at $4, Lasco Manufacturing ended at $4.50 with 8,881 shares, Main Event traded at $5 with 14,253 shares, Sweet River closed 3 cents higher at $3.55 with 2,000 shares, tTech dropped $1.45 to $8.05 with 20,513 shares, Eppley 8.25% preference share closed with a loss of 5 cents at $6 with 400 units and Eppley 9.5% preference share closed at $6.60 with 1,000 shares.
Junior stocks eased slightly on Wednesday
Trading in the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with a number of stocks declining, out pacing those rising. The volume and value of stocks trading, declined compared to that on Tuesday and the market index closed slightly lower.
The Market index declined 6.83 points to close at 3,155.07, with 17 securities trading as 6 stocks advanced 5 declined and 6 traded firm. At the close 3,764,636 shares valued at $19,753,434.21 traded, compared with the 7,982,375 units valued at $43,352,441passing through the market on the previous trading day.
Trading ended with an average of 221,449 units for an average of $1,161,967 in contrast to 347,060 units for an average of $1,884,889 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 162,339 units valued at $862,752 compared to 147,562 units valued at $787,949 previously. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, stocks that were active and their last traded price for the day are: Access Finance closing at $46 with 15,230 shares, AMG Packaging losing 5 cents trading 60,000 units at $3.70, Cargo Handlers closing at $13.20 with 300 shares, Caribbean Cream closing 30 cents higher to $6.80 with 22,500 shares, Caribbean Producers ending at $3.50 with 4,900 shares, Eppley gaining 1 cent, closing at $12.39 with 2,100 shares. Express Catering rose 70 cents and closed at $5 with 201,753 shares, General Accident ended with a loss of 10 cents and closed at $2.80 with 75,000 shares, Honey Bun lost 5 cents, to close at $5.50 with 3,488 shares, Jamaican Teas closed at $4.51 with 3,129 shares, Jetcon Corporation fell 50 cents, close at $5.10 with 1,978,580 shares. Knutsford Express closed at $15 trading 4,245 shares, Lasco Distributors closed with a loss of 10 cents at $6.60 with 518,930 shares, Lasco Manufacturing traded 10 cents higher close at $4.50 with 769,919 shares, Main Event rose 15 cents to $5.00 with 44,075 shares, Medical Disposables lost 25 cents, to close at $5.25 with 58,344 shares and Paramount Trading gained 6 cents to close at $2.60 with 17,000 shares.
Junior Market steadies on Friday
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Friday with advancing stocks just edging out declining ones and the market index remained almost steady, slipping just 0.69 points to 3,108.19.
The market ended with 1,948,274 units valued at $10,702,346 changing hands, compared to Thursday with 1,176,216 units valued at $5,557,230.
A total of 19 securities traded, down from 22 on Thursday, with 8 stocks rising and 7 declining. Trading closed with 7 stocks with bids higher than the last traded prices and 4 closing with lower offers.
Trading ended trading with an average of 102,541 units for an average of $563,281 in contrast to 53,464 units for an average of $252,601 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 81,062 units valued at $422,302 compared to 70,323 units valued at $351,812 previously. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded prices are: AMG Packaging rose by 22 cents to close at $3.75 with 64,907 units changing hands, CAC 2000 climbed 60 cents higher close at $7.10 with a 18,600 shares, Caribbean Cream with a loss of 35 cents, closed at $6.50 with a 17,300 shares, Caribbean Flavours suffered a loss of $1, to close at $11 with a 250,000 shares, Caribbean Producers closed at $3.45 with a 48,500 shares. Consolidated Bakeries ended with a loss of 33 cents, to $2.62 with a 23,617 shares, Derrimon Trading traded 25 cents higher to $7.75 with a 100,000 shares, Dolphin Cove rose 50 cents to close at $18 with a 700 shares, Express Catering closed 60 cents higher at $5.30 with a 1,158,203 shares, after trading at a low of $3.90 for the day and ended with an offer at $4.50 to sell 13,736 units. General Accident with a loss of 5 cents, closed at $2.85 with a 2,642 shares, ISP Finance fell $1.16 cents, to close at $17.26 with 120 shares, Jamaican Teas gained 24 cents to $4.75 with a 39,147 shares, Jetcon Corporation close at $5.30 with a 28,500 shares, KLE Group closed at $2 with a 2,390 shares, Knutsford Express fell 1 cent to $15 with a 2,000 shares, Lasco Distributors with a loss of 10 cents, to close at $6.60 with 61,046 shares, Lasco Financial closed at $4 with a 121,709 shares, Main Event lost 49 cents, and closed at $4.90 with a 8,000 shares and Paramount Trading jumped 69 cents higher to close at $2.54 with a 893 shares.
Junior Market drops 40 points
Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Thursday with declining stocks dominating rising ones, 2 to 1 and the market index falling 40.32 points to 3,108.88.
The market ended with 1,176,216 units valued at $5,557,230 changing hands, with the index falling 6.26 points to close at 3,149.20. On Wednesday trading closed with 2,266,721 units valued at $11,726,592.
A total of 22 securities traded, versus 26 on Wednesday, with 6 stocks rising and 12 declining. Trading closed with 10 stocks having bids higher than the last traded prices and 1 closing with a lower offer.
Trading ended trading with an average of 53,464 units for an average of $252,601 in contrast to 87,182 units for an average of $451,023 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 70,323 units valued at $351,812. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded prices are: AMG Packaging lost 12 cents to close at $3.53 with 6,000 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream rose 35 cents to $6.85 with a 4,000 shares, Caribbean Producers close at $3.45 with a 50,009 shares, Consolidated Bakeries closed with a rise of 32 cents at $2.95 with a 980 shares, Derrimon Trading ended with a lost of 30 cents, to close at $7.50 with a 7,259 shares, Express Catering lost 30 cents to close at $4.70 with a 648,533 shares, General Accident closed at $2.90 with a 103,000 shares, Honey Bun closed at $5.50 with a 1,792 units, ISP Finance traded 5,900 shares and rose 42 cents to $18.42. Jamaican Teas with a lost of 1 cent, closed at $4.51 with a 170 shares, Jetcon Corporation ended 20 cents higher to $5.30 with a 132,075 shares, KLE Group closed at $2 with a 5,100 shares, Key Insurance closed at $3.05 with a 1,068 stock units, Knutsford Express closed at $14.90 with a 3,650 shares, Lasco Distributors fell 18 cents, to $6.70 with a 25,000 shares, Lasco Financial traded at $4.00 with a 66,575 shares after a loss of 4 cents, Lasco Manufacturing ended with a loss of 4 cents, to close at $4.33 with a 44,820 shares, Main Event eased 8 cents in closing at $5.39 with a 7,970 shares, Medical Disposables close at $5.50 with a 32,215 shares, tTech lost 50 cents and closed at $8 with a 26,000 shares, Derrimon Trading preference share fell 40 cents and closed at $2.10 with a 4,000 shares and Eppley 10% preference share close with a rise of 1 cent at $6.61 with a 100 shares.
Record $170M profit for Knutsford
Profit after tax grew 40 percent at Knutsford Express for the year to May 2017 to $170.3 million but pretax profit was up a lower 28 percent to end at $164.4 million from revenues that rose 28.7 percent to $752.4 million.
Operating and administrative cost was up 29.6 percent to $580.6 million over the year ago period.
During the year, $107.6 million was expended on new fixed assets which pushed depreciation up sharply from $37 million in 2016, to $56 million in 2017. The financial statements reflect $49 million deposited to purchase vehicles, Managing Director, Oliver Townsend confirmed that they are adding “ a couple of buses to expand the fleet, some have already arrived with additional ones to come”.
Big expense items that grew sharply during the year are, Salaries up from $168 million to $194 million up 15.7 percent, toll charges rose from $11.4 million to $29 million, Fuel climbed from $64.7 million to $91 million and would be from a combination of higher prices and more bus trips. Parts cost $43 million fro0m $26 in 2016 while Insurance rose from $18.5 million to $27.2 million. Unfortunately, the company continues to present the financial information without breaking separation direct from indirect cost so that investors can determine more accurately the potential profitability.
Knutsford’s balance sheet presents a picture of strength with current assets of $231 million including cash funds of $156 million, up from $88 million in 2016. Shareholders’ equity stands at $483 million. Liabilities stand at $105 million including deferred tax of $12 million.
We will definitely open the transport centre at the Sangster International Airport later this month Townsend informed IC Insider.com. The centre is expected to capture a bigger slice of passengers disembarking from aircrafts as it become more convenient for them.
Subsequent to the year-end an interim dividend of 6.8 cents per share was declared as the final dividend for the year ended May 2017. The payment will be will be on September 15. The payment amounts to $34 million and is up 41.7 percent over the $24 million paid in 2016. The stock last traded on the Junior Market of the Jamaican Stock Exchange at $14.95. IC Insider.com is forecasting earning per share for 2018 at 53 cents, putting the PE for the stock at rich 30 times earnings, at this level the stock is likely to underperform the Junior Market movement for the next twelve months.