Trading on the Junior Market has not be strong in recent weeks and the results of some of the companies have not been strong enough to drive investors buy these stocks. as such the level of participation has not been great with nearly half the market closing daily without bids.
On Tuesday the market closed trading with 87,295 units valued at $109,786 changing hands as only 2 securities traded, none advanced and one declined. at the close, the JSE Junior Market Index fell 4.31 points to 648.31.
At the end of the trading, there were 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to exhibit weakness with 8 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 5 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Access Financial with 3,295 shares closed at $10.01 and Lasco Manufacturing had 84,000 units trading to close at 91 cents after losing 4 cents.
Only 2 securities trade on junior market
Lasco Manufacturing sole stock to rise
Section of new plant at Lasco Manufacturing at White Marl, St. Catherine
At the close of the market, there were 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and only 1 stock with the offer lower. The junior market continues to exhibit weakness with 10 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 5 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale. The weakness is in keeping with technical indicators, suggesting that the junior market has a while to go, before prices start to recover across the broader market. This is especially so with profits of two of the Lasco companies falling below the results for 2013.
Lasco Manufacturing was the only junior market stock to gain at the end of trading as trading closed with 20,800 shares trading to gain 4 cents at 95 cents and Caribbean Flavours 50,323 units traded to close unchanged, at $2.35.
Lasco Financial with 98,860 shares, ended at 98 cents, Dolphin Cove with 200 units but lost 50 cents to end at $8, General Accident added 6,326 shares but lost 2 cents to close at $1.53 and Medical Disposables put through 20,000 units but lost 4 cents in closing at $1.88.
Sales up margin down at Lasco Distributors
Peter Chin – Lasco Distributors’ Managing Director
Operating cost jumped 15 percent in the quarter, to $377 million and just over 17 percent for the six months to $738 million, pushing profit down 19 percent to $112.5 million for the quarter, from $138.7 million in 2013 and down a much larger, 33 percent, to $203 million for the half year, versus $303 million in the 2013 period.
As disappointing as the second quarter numbers are, they represent a major improvement over the first quarter with a revenue increase of 4 percent, and a fall in profits of 45 percent compared to the 2013 June quarter.
Finances|The company has quite a bit of funds tied up in inventories $1.3 billion and receivables $1.7 billion, that are in excess of normal trading levels, cash funds on the other hand is up to $850 million and will be handy in helping to finance the 110,000 square foot warehousing facility, that they will be embarking on shortly, to meet what management says, is increasing demand flowing from new products to be distributed by the company.
The expected payment from their successful law suit against Pfizer is not yet booked and the amount not yet made public but should exceed $1 billion.
Lasco Manufacturing new “I Cool” drinks
Flat sales higher cost hit Lasco Manufacturing
Lasco Manufacturing new “I Cool” drinks
Earnings per share fell to 3 cents for the quarter and 7 cents for the six months. Year to date revenue was $2.08 billion compared to $1.88 billion for the same period last year, an increase of 11 percent. “This growth was driven mainly by increased volume in our export markets. Our International Division reported a growth of 40 percent during the quarter” management stated in their release with the financials.
Gross profit for the six months rose 14 percent to $602 million from $526 million and in the September quarter it grew to $287 million from $276, bettering gross profit margin moderately. Net profit for the six months declined 15 percent to $268 million against the comparative period last year. “The net profit performance was in line with the expectations of management and the board, this was due to temporary increase in manufacturing cost resulting from the effect of changes in staff complement, overhead costs associated with the new manufacturing plant, and increased finance cost,” the company’s management stated.
Operating expenses climbed 54 percent to $151 million in the latest quarter, and 41 percent, for the six months period. While there is no breakdown for the operating cost, other than the increased staff cost mentioned above, increased depreciation charge on the liquid factory would also be one of the factors pushing cost. With the other factory to be opened after the quarter’s end, the depreciation charge will rise again. Finance cost jumped to $25 million in the quarter from just $2 million in the 2013 quarter and for the half year to $57 million from $2.3 million. Prior to the completion of the factory, the finance cost associated with building and equipping the factories was capitalised as part of the factory cost. With the completion of the facilities, the cost will be a direct charge against income.
Heating of raw material to make bottles for Lasco’s new drinks
“The company is on target with its long-term plan to invest in innovation across all facets of the business – from new product development to powering a pipeline of new products, drive financial performance and fuel continued consumer passion for the LASCO brand,” management stated.
Finances| At the end September, borrowed funds was at $1.49 billion with $187 million to be paid within the next twelve months, while cash funds were at $153 million. $2.1 billion is in work in progress to be transferred to fixed assets and will push total fixed assets to $3 billion when effected. The company is also in the process of constructing a new warehouse of 30,000 square foot. Up to the end of the September the company was operating from two factories one at the White Mall facilities as well as at Red Hills Road, thus resulting in duplicated cost. The liquid plant is to be up graded further by $3 million to reduce raw material cost and expanded for other products, including production for some foreign partner.
Slight gain for juniors
The Junior Market closed trading with 768,343 units valued at $761,700. The JSE Junior Market Index gained 0.54 points to close at 660.02, only 5 securities traded, 2 advanced and 2 declined.
At the close of the market, there were 2 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to be weak with 10 securities closing with no bids to buy. There were 4 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Caribbean Producers put through 50,000 units with a gain of 10 cents to end at $2.30 and Lasco Manufacturing had 187,742 units trading, to close at 95 cents, after gaining 4 cents.
AMG Packaging traded 300 shares and lost 1 cent, to end at $2.24, a new 52 weeks low and Consolidated Bakeries traded 271,241 shares, lost 3 cents at 82 cents and Lasco Financial with 259,060 units trading, closed at 96 cents.
Lasco Finance up 15 cents
The Junior Market closed trading with 124,625 units valued at only $158,408. The JSE Junior Market Index increased 2.04 points to close at 661.40 with only 3 securities traded, 1 advanced and none declined.
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 continues to exhibit weakness with 11 stocks closing with no bids to buy. There were 5 securities that had no stocks being offered for sale.
At the close of trading the active stocks are, Caribbean Producers trading 24,625 shares to end at $2.38, Lasco Financial Services gained 15 cent with 80,000 units, to close at $1 and Lasco Manufacturing had 20,000 units trading, to close at 98 cents.
4 securities trade but bidding improves
The Junior Market closed trading with 767,730 units valued at $1,243,917 and Blue Power hitting a 52 weeks’ low. Tthe JSE Junior Market Index fell 2.86 points to close at 663.54 as only 4 securities traded with 1 advancing and 1 declining.
At the close of the market there was 6 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to exhibit weakness with 9 stocks closing no bids to buy against 5 that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Medical Disposables with 51,500 units gained 2 cents to end at $1.90, Blue Power dropped $1.05 while there was dealing in 4,070 shares to end at $8, new 52 weeks’ low. Eppley 9.5% preference share closed with 75,130 units changing hands at $6.10 and Lasco Manufacturing ended at $1.04 while 637,030 units were active.
4 stocks trade on junior market
The Junior Market closed trading with only moderate interest and only 153,055 units valued at $196,918 changed hands. The JSE Junior Market Index increased 2.07 points to close at 666.40 as only 4 securities traded with 1 advancing and 1 declining.
At the close of the market there were 3 stocks with bids higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to exhibit weakness with 9 stocks closing with no bids to buy, against 5 that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Lasco Manufacturing with 29,802 units, closed 2 cents higher at $1.04, Paramount Trading had 18,511 units trading, falling 2 cents to $2.50, Lasco Distributors traded 100,000 shares at $1.15 and Lasco Financial traded only 4,742 units at $1.
Low trading in junior market
The Junior Market had trading in only 404,855 units valued at $754,027. The JSE Junior Market Index fell 3.57 points to close at 664.33 as 6 stocks traded including one from the Preference section, with 2 advancing and 2 declining.
At the close of the market there were 4 stocks with the bids higher than the last selling price and 5 stocks with offers that were lower. The junior market continues to exhibit weakness with 10 stocks closing no bids to buy against 6 that had no stocks being offered for sale.
Lasco Financial traded 50,000 shares at $1 by gaining 5 cents followed by Lasco Manufacturing with 60,000 units to gain 2 cents to end at $1.02, Dolphin Cove traded 20,000 units at $8, Caribbean Producers traded 71,805 shares with the loss of 15 cents to end at $2.45 and General Accident traded 202,600 shares at $1.50, in losing 12 cents. Eppley 9.5% preference share traded 450 units at $6.10.
JSE Junior Market taking a breather
There was trading in only 376,001 units on Friday, valued at just $326,900 as investors continue to shun this segment of the market, in recent months. The JSE Junior Market Index fell by 1.02 points, to close at 656.22 as just 3 securities traded, with 1 advancing and 1 declining. The main trade is Consolidated Bakeries.
The market closed with 9 securities having no bids to buy and 7 securities without any stock being offered for sale. But the number of stocks with bids that are higher than the last traded price, numbered 4, while there was only one stock, with an offer below the last price.
Gains| Consolidated Bakeries had 358,301 shares changing hands, 1 cent higher, to end at 81 cents and was the only stock gaining at the end of trading, in the junior market.
Firm Trades| The stock in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before, is Caribbean Producers trading 12,000 shares at $2.60.
Declines| The sole stock declining in the junior market, at the end of trading, is Lasco Manufacturing with 5,700 shares changing hands. The price lost 1 cent to close at 96 cents.
