Scotia Group traded as high as $22.89 before closing at $20.50 and was the main factor in the big jump in the Jamaica Stock Exchange two main indices while the prices of 9 stocks rose and 8 declined as 27 securities traded resulting in 5,724,168 shares trading valued at $32,909,845.
Main Market| The prices of 5 companies in the main market advanced and 6 declined as the indices jumped as the JSE Market Index gained 2,054.10 points to 76,042.79 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index jumped by 2,296.84 points to close at 83,737.81.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 1,290,256 units to close with a 2 cents gain at 44 cents, Carreras traded 3,594 shares to close with a gain of a cent at $33.57, Gleaner gained 5 cents to close at $1.15 with 20,000 units changing hands, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 1,494 units to close at $7.27 up by 5 cents and Supreme Ventures with 79,975 shares to close with a gain of 5 cents at $2.10.
Firm| There were 6 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with Desnoes & Geddes trading 1,064 shares and closed at $4.50, Jamaica Broilers 715,645 units and closed at $4.85, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share, 654,081 units to close at $3.03, Jamaica Producers 96,627 units at $18.26, Mayberry Investments 2,040 shares in closing at $1.70 and Scotia Group 868,539 shares to close at $20.50 but traded as high as $22.98.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Berger Paints with 10,000 units in losing a cent to end at $1.67, Caribbean Cement with 25,899 shares to close at $3.90 by falling by a cent, Hardware & Lumber 36,100 shares to close at $10.50 for a $1.20 fall, National Commercial Bank 57,933 shares to close at $18.10 for a 20 drop, Pan Jamaican Investment 2,400 units to end 23 cents lower at $49.05 and Sagicor Group with 23,157 shares in closing at $9.03 for a 47 cents fall.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 6.86 points to close at 747.40 as 10 stocks traded with 4 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Dolphin Cove that traded 1,000 units to close at $8.23 with a gain of 3 cents, Medical Disposables 391,382 shares to close with a one cent gain at $2.05, Jamaican Teas up 29 cents to end at $3.50 for 49,470 shares and Lasco Manufacturing traded 1,035,268 units to close up a cent at $1.20.
Firm Trades| 4 stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before with Access Financial Services trading 4,044 units at $11.50, Caribbean Producers with 200,000 units to close at $3, Consolidated Bakeries 108,000 to close at $1.10 and Lasco Financial Services 31,200 shares at $1.20.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are General Accident that traded 7,000 units at $1.50 as the price lost 10 cents and Lasco Distributors with 8,000 units, closed 5 cents lower at $1.35.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had only 3 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
JSE Market gains 2,000 points
Advancing stocks top declines
In Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 6 stocks rose and 3 declined as 21 securities traded resulting in 5,426,535 shares changing hands valued at $14,802,328. The IC market sentiment indicator is pointing to continued fluidity in prices with almost an even number of stocks with bids and offers above or below their last traded prices.
Main Market| 5 companies in the main market advanced, only 3 declined as the indices moved down with the JSE Market Index falling by 603.54 points to 73,988.69 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index declining by 674.86 points to close at 81,440.97.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless trading 16,832 shares to close with a gain of one cent at 41 cents, Desnoes & Geddes gained 20 cents to close at $4.50 with 450 units changing hands, National Commercial Bank 1,690 shares to close at $18.30 with a gain of 20 cents, Pan Jamaican Investment with 101,574 shares to close at $49.28, up 23 cents. Radio Jamaica had 4,900,000 units changing hands to close with a 4 cents gain at $1.32.
Firm| There were only 6 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price as Gleaner with 22,980 shares closed at $1.10, Grace Kennedy 810 units helped the price to close at $56.51, Jamaica Broilers traded 113,552 shares to close at $4.85, Mayberry Investments with 1,020 shares closed at $1.70, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 11,930 units to close at $6.50 and Scotia Group with 18,575 units closed at $20.50.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 1,298 shares in losing 2 cents to end at $7.22, Sagicor Group 106,867 shares to close down by 30 cents at $9.50 and Seprod with 1,022 at $10.80 for a 4 cents fall.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index advanced by 2.92 points to close at 754.26 as only 6 stocks traded in that market.
Gains| Lasco Manufacturing was the only stock recording a gain at the end of trading in the junior market as 44,697 shares changed hands to close up by 9 cents at $1.19.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are AMG Packaging with 500 units at $3.50, Blue Power with 19,438 units at $9.01, Derrimon Trading 12,000 units at $2.28, Lasco Distributors 37,300 shares at $1.40 and Lasco Financial Services 14,000 units at $1.20. Access Financial 9% Unsecured Short Term Notes traded 9,000 units at $99.50.
Declines| No stock declined in the junior market at the end of trading on Monday.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 8 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 9 stocks with offers that were lower.
Very moderate market movement
There was very moderate activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange at the close of the trading week as the prices of 10 stocks rose and 8 declined as only 25 securities traded in a very slow market session resulting in 1,571,377 shares trading valued at a mere $8,273,649.
Main Market| Six companies in the main and US dollar markets advanced and 6 declined as the indices moved down moderately with the JSE Market Index inching down by 6.80 points to 74,592.23 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index shedding just 7.60 points to close at 82,115.83.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Kingston Wharves with 9,534 shares to close with a gain of 48 cents at $5.99, National Commercial Bank gained 10 cents to close at $18.10 with 9,100 units changing hands, Proven Investments ordinary share, with 8,570 units to close up 0.02 us cents at 18 US cents, Sagicor Group 18,000 units closing at $9.80 for a 30 cents gain, Salada Foods 5,000 shares to close at $8 as the price gained 50 cents and Scotia Investments with only 700 shares to end at $23.10 for a gain of 10 cents.
Firm| There were only 4 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price as Cable & Wireless with 43,699 shares closed at 40 cents, Carreras with 5,000 units closed at $33.56, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 500,000 and closed at $2 and Proven Investments 8% preference share with 381,800 units closed at $5.07.
Declines| The stocks declining in the main market are Gleaner with 2,500 shares while falling a cent to close at $1.10, Grace Kennedy lost $1.49 to end at $56.51 with 1,600 shares, Jamaica Broilers exchanged 20,538 units to close down a cent at $4.85. Pan Jamaican Investment 10,529 shares to end 55 cents lower at $49.05, Scotia Group had 110,308 units at $20.50 at the close as the price shed 12 cents and Supreme Ventures 3,800 shares to close with a 5 cents decline at $2.05.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 8.14 points to close at 751.34 as 9 stocks traded with 4 advancing and only 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are AMG Packaging that traded 5,560 units to close at $3.50, up by a cent, Access Financial with 72,600 units to close at $11.50 with a gain of $1.50, Caribbean Cream 3,000 units to close at 79 cents with a 4 cents increase and Caribbean Producers with 90,000 units in closing at $3, up 2 cents.
Firm Trades| The 3 stocks in the junior market traded to close at the same price as the day before are Blue Power with 3,400 shares in closing at $9.01, Lasco Financial 3,000 shares while closing at $1.20 and Medical Disposables 94,700 units, closing at $2.04.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are General Accident with 2,000 units a $1.60, down 10 cents and Lasco Manufacturing with 166,439 shares to end down by 10 cents at $1.10.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Market directionless
In Thursday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the market was directionless with advancing stocks numbering just below declining ones and the IC market indicator showing investors in a tussle over the immediate future direction of the market. Prices of 6 stocks rose and 8 declined as 20 securities traded resulting in 3,602,192 shares changing hands valued at $19,621,158 in another lacklustre session.
Main Market| All advancing shares in the market was in the main market and all but one stock that declined was also in this market, but the indices moved up slightly, with the JSE Market Index inching up by just 1.23 points to 74,599.03 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index edging up by only 1.38 points to close at 82,123.43.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Berger Paints trading 89,657 unitss to close with a gain of a cent at $1.68, Caribbean Cement gained 21 cents to close at $3.91 with 20,500 units changing hands, Carreras traded 443 shares to close 6 cents higher at $33.56, Ciboney with 50,000 shares by increasing by a cent to close at 12 cents for a new 52 weeks high, Grace Kennedy 7,439 shares with a gain of $1 to close at $58 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 451,214 ordinary shares to close up by 4 cents at $7.24.
Firm| There were only 5 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price as Gleaner with 228,484 shares closed at $1.10, Hardware & Lumber traded 3,300 units and closed at $11.70, Mayberry Investments with 3,060 units closed at $1.70, Scotia Group had 59,888 units changing hands to close at $20.62 and Seprod traded 685 shares in closing at $10.84.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 1,500,888 units while losing a cent to end at 40 cents, Desnoes & Geddes with 76,472 shares to end at $4.30 as the price lost 30 cents, Jamaica Broilers with 450,872 shares to close at $4.86, down 4 cents, Jamaica Producers that traded 6,600 units to close at $18.26 while losing 4 cents, National Commercial Bank 571,665 shares as the price closed with a 10 cents lost, at $18, Sagicor Group had 50,529 units changing hands to close with a fall of 71 cents to $9.50 and Salada Foods 2,400 shares to close 45 cents lower, to end at $7.50
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.59 points to close at 743.20 as only 2 junior market stocks traded at the end of the trading session.
Gains| No stock gained at the end of trading in the junior market.
Firm Trades| Lasco Manufacturing was the only stock in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the previous trading day with 27,096 units to end at $1.20.
Declines| Caribbean Producers was the only stock declining in the junior market at the end of trading as the price fell 9 cents to close at $2.91 as it traded a mere 1,000 units.
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 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Lasco Financial’s marketing investment
The latest quarterly report to December 2013, shows that Lasco Finance Services pumped in funds to nearly double its promotional cost to push for a greater share of the remittance business, resulting in heightened marketing and selling cost from $111 in 2012 million to $204 million in 2013.
In the December quarter the cost was pushed to $87 million compared to just $36 million in 2012. The increase spend in this area kept profits down to $46 million versus $55 million in the December 2012 quarter and for the nine months period $136 million or 20.6 percent above the 2012 results for the similar period. Administrative cost rose by a strong 26 percent for the year to September but by the end of 2013, the rate of increase fell to 22 percent as the December quarter increased by only 15 percent to reach $47.5 million and for the nine months $144 million versus $118 million.
With the reduced spend on promotion that should flow with the completion of the World Cup promo, profit should end the year around $220 million and that would be up from $164 million in 2013 or earnings of 18 cents per share.
“In pursuit of our strategic objective to increase our market share in the remittance industry, towards the end of the 2nd Quarter, we launched our Brazil 2014 promotion which lasted until December 31, 2013. This investment contributed to the more than 100% increase in selling and promotional expenses. We anticipate that the resulting rise in transactions from this awareness campaign will continue into the future periods,” management stated in release accompanying the results.
As the promotion ended, the March quarter figures should reflect much lower cost in this area and with that increased profit. Trading income in the quarter rose by a strong 42 percent to reach $176 million and for the nine months period the growth was 42.6 percent taking it to $469 million.
The financials remain strong with equity of $610 million, liabilities of only $95 million and cash of $302 million.
Lasco Financial is an IC Insider Buy Rated Stock. To view the full list, click here.
Related posts | Buy Rated stocks coming in | Lasco Financial profit rise
Salada Foods switch distributors
Salada Foods has changed its distributors to Lasco Distributors effective from the beginning of January this year. The company has not been happy with the happy in recent times with the manner in which the former distributors were executing task of distributing the company’s products.
Salada advised the Jamaica Stock Exchange that the distribution agreement between SAL and T. Geddes Grant (Distributors) Limited representing the Musson Group ended on December 31, 2013 and that on January 2nd, Lasco Distributors Limited was appointed Exclusive Distributors to distribute all the Salada branded products island-wide.
Salada manufactures and sell Mountain Peak Coffee, Jello and other hot beverage mixes and recently started the production and sales of the Roberts line of products.
Related posts | Profit drops on falling sales at Salada | Profit blast at LASCO Distributors
Access moved to Market Watch
Friday, 20th December 2013 | IC Insider has moved Access Financial to the Market Watch list with a hold placed on the stock for the time being as the recent price movement has moved the stock close to full valuation based on estimated 2013 earnings. The Junior Market stock should be held as supply is very low and the price should move up further.
IC Insider projects $1.70 per share earnings for 2014, which means that there is still room for growth, but the potential for price appreciation lags the majority of stocks in the market currently and, therefore, it no longer deserves a Buy Rating accolade. Access Financial has gained 36 percent since being tagged as Buy Rated on the 15th of July. Access also paid a dividend of 31 cents per share on August 15, bringing the total gross gains to 40 percent.
Elsewhere, the list remains as it was although the prices of some of the selections have moved up in the last week. There are strong signs that the prices of many of the selections, particularly those in Jamaica, will move up prior to the year end. This week, the Jamaica stock market closed with 12 stocks having bids above their last selling prices.
Lasco Manufacturing remains on the list not because of 2014 earnings which are unlikely to be very price positive, but based on the implications for revenues and profit with the start-up of operations of the new and expanded factory. This should be positive for the 2015 fiscal year ending in March.
Related posts | Access growth continues | LASCO manufactures more profits
Profit blast at LASCO Distributors
Lasco Distributors (LasD) posted profit of $139 million for the quarter to September this year compared to $54 million or an increase of 159 percent over the same period in 2012.
In the six months to September, profit of $303 million was up a strong 60 percent over September 2012, when $189 million was reported. The results flowed from revenues of $4.63 billion, an increase of 13 percent over the $4.1 billion generated in 2012. The quarterly revenue grew by 10 percent to $2.3 billion. The growth is likely to pick up as Lasco Manufacturing, its sister company, starts the role out of new products in November, which will be distributed by LasD.
Gross profit was $457 million compared to $362 million and gross profit margin was 24.5 percent, an improvement over the 20.7 percent in the similar quarter last year. For the six month’s period, gross profit margin was 24.8 percent compared to 23 percent in 2012. “There was an overall improvement in the company’s performance and recovery from the one off adjustment to cost of sales which occurred in the comparative period of 2012.” Management stated in their recent report to shareholders.
“The revenue and profit performance was due to increased volumes, aggressive marketing and trade activities and improvements in efficiencies” management further stated.
Operating cost rose just 5.2 percent for the half year, even less for the quarter at 3.4 percent, and was one reason for the jump in profit.
Outlook | IC Insider is forecasting earnings of 22 cents per share for the current year ending in March and 35 cents for the following year to March 2015. This puts the current PE around 7 times and just over 4 times for 2015. The forecast takes into consideration increased revenues as a result of new products to flow from the manufacturing company. Around 60 percent of the listed companies are valued lower than Lasco Distributors and only 4 junior market companies are valued higher, with 3 of them valued between 8 and 9.5 times this year’s earnings. As such the stock is one for accumulation than for rapid acquisition at this stage.
Asset size | Total assets grew by 29 percent to $3.29 billion in September compared to $2.55 billion in September 2012. The contributory factors were cash funds and investments which increased from $435 million in September 2012 to $1,029 million, Trade and Other Receivables increased from $1.23 billion in the prior year to $1.4 billion in September.
Trade and other payables increased from the prior year by $161 million to $1.49 billion this September. Shareholders’ equity amounted to $2.29 billion and borrowed funds amounted to only $15 million.
Lasco Distributors (LasD) is an IC Insider Buy Rated Stock.
Related posts | Lasco Distributors, more room to profit | Carib Cement & AMG now Buy Rated
Lasco Financial profit rise
Profit at Lasco Financial climbed faster in the September quarter than in the June quarter reaching $50 million, well ahead of the $31 million earned in 2012 by 64 percent and the $39 million earned in the first quarter of this fiscal year. For the year to date, profit is up to $90 million from $57 million in 2012 by 57 percent. The strong improvement in the bottom line flows from revenues that increased by 46 percent to $303 million for the six months to September over 2012, and 43 percent in the September quarter to $159 million.
The company keeps on totting up the quarterly profits as volume of business keeps on growing with some help from the slippage in value of the Jamaican dollar. Robust growth in profit was recorded in the last fiscal year to March of $164 million compared to $102 million, a 60 percent increase. The strong gain in profit achieved in 2012, up by 244 percent, was helped partially by a revaluation surplus on investment property that was booked in 2011.
Growth in 2013 is helped by the acquisition of cambio and money transfer business from Supreme Ventures. As the company grows in size, the growth rate has slowed but the results to date indicate are that the level seen last fiscal year should continue for the current fiscal year.
Expenses up | Expenses have grown steeply with selling and marketing ahead of revenues with a 55 percent increase for the quarter and 57 percent for the six months. Administrative costs are up, well below revenue growth with the September quarter up 19 percent and year to date 26 percent.
The company is now in the major period for earnings when remittances rise ahead of the Christmas season, which is expected to push profit well above what has been earned in any of the two quarters so far.
“The increase in income is a result of the growth in the remittance business due to additions of key partners and ongoing promotions,” management stated in their release to shareholders.
IC Insiders forecast is for earnings to be around $250 million or 20 cents per share for the full year.
Marketing | Management indicated when they released the June quarter figures “that Lasco Financial has commenced significant investments in marketing activities, which are expected to capture even more substantial market share for our remittance division; the outcome of which will also yield growth opportunities in the Currency Trading division. This is noticeable in our selling and promotion expenses which saw a 58 percent increase, up from $36.3 Million in the previous period to $57.6M. Administrative and other expenses rose in the quarter to $47.6 million up 33.7 percent over the same period of 2012.”
The company’s subsidiary Lasco Financial Services (Barbados) Limited and its agent Unicomer Barbados Limited (Courts) began trading in May 2013. Lasco indicates that this business is now at a breakeven level.
Growth | Total assets amounted to just $47 million in 2010 but has enjoyed rapid growth and is at $661 million at the end of September this year, still a small financial company in the local market with room to grow. Loans advanced was nil at the end of 2011 and is now close to $100 million at the end of March this year and is expected to grow at about 30 percent for the year. Loans and receivables rose to $335 million at the end of June up from $237 million at the end of June last year, is down to $261 million at September. Cash also increased and is now at $282 million compared to $136 million at the same period in 2012. Equity stood at $564 million and is expected to increase as profits roll in.
Lasco Financial is an IC Insider Buy Rated stock.
Related posts | LASCO Financial small but tallawah | Buy Rated bargains
