In Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the prices of 10 stocks rose and only 4 declined as 23 securities changed hands, resulting in 3,003,461 units trading valued at $22,598,484.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index rose 641.81 points to end at 70,738.58, last year June, the index stood at 86,853.91points and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moved up by 717.65 points to close at 77,806.78 this compares with 88,043.02 points on the end of June last year. The junior market index was also much higher at the end of last year June than this year.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 1,650 shares to close up 20 cents at $2.50, followed by Carreras with 2,815 units to add 50 cents in closing at $34, Grace Kennedy with 1,600 shares to gain 99 cents to close at $55, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 2,848 shares gained 10 cents to end at $6.80, Jamaica Producers with 2,732 units jumped $1.38 to hit $17, but it closed with a bid of $18.24 for 48012 shares, Mayberry Investments with 3,988 shares gained a cent and ended at $1.46, Pan Jamaican Investment traded 800 shares and was up 44 cents to end at $48.50, Scotia Investments with only 2,776 shares was up 45 cents to $22.10 and Supreme Ventures put in a volume of 232,603 units at 2 cents higher to close at $2.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Jamaica Broilers with 78,178 units to close at $4.60, Sagicor Group with 1,994,932 shares, 1.976 million units of which were crosses by Pan Caribbean Securities with the price closing at $9 and Scotia Group with 34,540 units to close at $19.
Preference share| Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 186,416 units to close at $2 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share lost a cent in closing at $3.02 with 164,004 units changing hands.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Kingston Wharves with 31,596 shares to close down 2 cents at $5, National Commercial Bank saw 5,509 units changing hands with the price slipping a cent to $18 and Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 10 cents to close at $6 while trading 60,191 shares.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 0.70 points to close at 721.00 points compared with 801.30 points at the end of June 2013. Only 6 stocks traded with one advancing with no stock declining.
Gains| Medical Disposables with 43,000 units to close 10 cents higher at $2.05 was the only stock recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market.
Firm Trades| The stocks in the junior market that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 67,400 units to close at $13.50, Caribbean Producers with 8,891 shares traded at $2.70, Dolphin Cove with 256 shares to close at $8.50, Lasco Distributors 69,236 traded to close at $1.30
And Lasco Financial closed with 7,500 shares changing hands at $1.
Declines| There were no stock declining in the junior market at the end of trading.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 6 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 4 stocks with offers that were lower.
Market closes June on the up
Grace, Sagicor & NCB dominate trades
On another day when stock broker Scotia Investment was involved in the sale of large trades in Grace Kennedy valued at $82,709,830, National Commercial Bank with a value of $43,035,978 and Sagicor Group with a value of $41,176,293, the volume continues on a high note. In today’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Mayberry Investments and Scotia Investments hit new 52 weeks lows at $1.45 and $22 respectively, for Mayberry it also it is the lowest price since it was listed on the exchange back in 2005. In trading activities elsewhere the prices of 5 stocks rose and 7 declined with only 16 securities changing hands resulting in 9,181,583 shares trading valued at $172,160,099.
Main Market| The JSE Market Index fell by 277.89 points to 69,662.9 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index lost 310.73 points to close at 76,603.98.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 145,500 units changing hands gained 3 cents to close at 30 cents, Caribbean Cement 3,386 to close with an increase of 15 cents to close at $2.25 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 5,000 shares to gain a cent in closing at $6.61.
Firm| There were only stocks in the main market to close without a change in price as Grace Kennedy saw trading in 1,531,645 shares valued and closed at $54, Jamaica Broilers with only 1,864 units to end at $4.57, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 40,765 units to close at $6.09 and Scotia Group with 132,799 shares valued at $2,543,287, closed at $19.20.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Carreras with 11,958 while losing 44 cents to end at $33.51, Kingston Wharves with 6,802 shares to close 5 cents down at $5, Mayberry Investments with 25,000 units closed with a 5 cents fall at $1.45, National Commercial Bank with 2,487,460 units and closed 5 cents down at $18.50 with the vast majority trading around $17.20, Sagicor Group traded 4,672,227 units to close with a loss of 10 cents at $8.80 and Scotia Investments with 83,647 shares with a $1.10 loss at $22.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index advanced by 7.95 points to close at 718.10 as only 3 stocks traded with2 advancing and 1declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Lasco Financial traded 1,530 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents at $1.15 and Lasco Manufacturing gained 7 cents to close at $1.12 with 30,000 units.
Firm Trades| There were no stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Medical Disposables with only 2,000 closed with a 5 cents loss at $1.95, the lowest price since it was listed but still above the IPO price of $1.83.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 7 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 6 stocks with offers that were lower.
Market records more gains
In Thursday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 10 stocks rose, 5 declined as 25 securities traded resulting in only 1,688,152 shares changing hands valued at a mere $4,985,668.
Main Market| 6 companies in the main market recorded gains following yesterday’s moderate recovery, 4 declined with the indices recording moderate gains as the JSE Market Index rose 462 points to 70,857.65 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index recovered 516.61 points to close at 77,939.93.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Cable & Wireless with 230,108 units changing hands with a cent increase to close at 28 cents, Caribbean Cement 14,250 shares to close up by 34 cents at $2.85, Carreras 500 shares to close with a gain of 50 cents to $34, Desnoes & Geddes 100 shares to close at $4.45 with a 15 cents gain, Grace Kennedy with 6,600 units closed at $54.01, just a cent ahead of the previous day’s close and Scotia Investments 17,000 shares to close with an increase of $2.49 to end at $25.49.
Firm| There were only 5 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price with Jamaica Broilers trading 18,000 shares in closing at $4.75, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 25,000 units and closed at $7, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share, traded 50,000 units and closed at $2 and the 8.75% preference share 152,194 units and closed at $3.03 as National Commercial Bank put in 32,397 units and closed at $17.50.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.50% preference share with 10,000 units as the price closed with a loss of a cent to end at $3.50, followed by Mayberry Investments with 428,310 shares as the price closed at $1.65 with a 6 cents decline for a new 52 weeks low, Sagicor Group with 12,555 shares to close at $8.90 for a 10 cents drop and Scotia Group 37,016 units as the price ended at $19 with a fall of 30 cents.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index rose by 2.74 points to close at 723.04 as 10 stocks traded with 4 advancing and one declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Blue Power with 10,202 units to close at $9.10 with an increase of 9 cents, Caribbean Producers with 30,388 units changing hands to close at $2.75 for 10 cents gain, Lasco Financial 5,915 shares as the price rose 2 cents to end at $1.15 and Lasco Manufacturing with 313,059 units to close at $1.10 with a 5 cents gain.
Firm Trades| 5 stocks in the junior market traded to close at the same price as the day before with Cargo Handlers trading 4,227 units to close at$14.01, Derrimon Trading with 20,450 units to finish at $2.28, Dolphin Cove 1,500 shares to close at $8.50, Lasco Distributors exchanging 126,839 shares to close at $1.35 and Medical Disposables closing with 121,542 shares at $2.
Declines| Jamaican Teas with 20,000 shares changing hands while losing 28 cents as the price settled at $3.21 was the only stock declining in the junior market at the end of trading.
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 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Market enjoys small recovery
In today’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 6 stocks rose and 8 declined compared with to 5 advancing to 14 falling on the previous trading day. Overall 26 securities traded resulting in 6,005,633 shares trading valued at $34,810,227.
Main Market| 4 companies in the main market increased and 6 declined as the indices moved up marginally with the JSE Market Index inching up by 118.63 points to 70,395.65 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index advanced by 132.65 points to close at 77,423.32.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Grace Kennedy with 73,961 shares to close with a gain of 50 cents at $54, Kingston Wharves with 500 units changing hands and closed at $5.04 with a 4 cents gain, Sagicor Group with 12,380 shares in closing at $9 for a gain of 25 cents and Scotia Group 229,226 units to close at $19.30, up by 30 cents.
Firm| There were only 8 stocks in the main market to close without a change in price are Desnoes & Geddes 106,929 shares closing at $4.30, Gleaner with 1,000 units in closing at $1.10, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share with 1,294,783 units in closing at $3.03, Kingston Properties 264,965 shares with the price closing at $3.50, Mayberry Investments 62,000 shares while closing at $1.71, Pan Jamaican Investment with 63,526 shares closing at $48.20, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 31,700 units to close at $6.50 and Supreme Ventures 51,000 shares as the price finished at $2.01.
Declines| The number of stocks that declined in the main market are Berger Paints with 117,000 units and closed at $1.66 for a one cent gain, Cable & Wireless 1,185,108 shares to close down 3 cents at 27 cents, Caribbean Cement 4,607 shares as the price dipped 49 cents in closing at $2.51, Jamaica Money Market Brokers with 2,112,342 units to close down 10 cents at $7, National Commercial Bank with 47,985 units to end with a 50 cents decline at $17.50 and Seprod with 72,214 units changing hands at 30 cents lower at $10.50.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index gained by 11.66 points to close at720.30 as 8 stocks traded with 2 advancing and 2 declining.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the junior market are Dolphin Cove with 2,000 at $8.50 with a gain of 40 cents at the end and Lasco Manufacturing that traded 42,000 units to close at $1.05, up by 5 cents.
Firm Trades| 4 stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before with Access Financial trading 5,000 units at $12, Caribbean Producers with 24,955 units at $2.65
General Accident Insurance 122,372 units at $1.50 and Medical Disposables 3,800 units at $2.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Lasco Distributors with 71,280 shares to close with a 5 cents fall to $1.35 and Lasco Financial with only 3,000 shares as the price closed at $1.13 and was off by 2 cents.
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 5 stocks with offers that were lower.
Main indices up but junior eases
In Tuesday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the prices of 8 stocks rose, 11 declined as 31 securities traded resulting in 7,099,320 shares changing hands valued at $45,025,458.
Main Market| Seven (7) companies in the main market rose, 5 declined as the indices moved up with the JSE Market Index gaining 526.88 points to 73,019.48 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index moving up 589.14 points to close at 80,357.22.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Carreras trading 60,623 shares to close with a gain of 75 cents at $34.75, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 5,000 units to close at $7.40 with a 10 cents gain, Radio Jamaica with 4,462 shares to close with a gain of a cent at $1.29, Sagicor Group with 534,732 units to close with a gain of 20 cents at $9.35, Sagicor Real Estate Fund 119,402 shares to close 20 cents higher at $6.50, Scotia Group 357,781 units to close at $19.70 as the price rose by 19 cents and Scotia Investments 9,780 shares to close with a gain of $1.40 at $24.50.
Firm| 7 main market stocks closed without a change in price as Berger Paints with 7,899 shares closed at $1.67, Cable & Wireless with 1,076,240 units closed at 30 cents, Jamaica Broilers 482,878 shares to close at $4.71, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share 75,000 units and closed at $2, Jamaica Producers 5,201 shares to close at $18.26, Kingston Wharves 8,106 units as the price closed at $5.75 and Mayberry Investments 2,040 shares to close at $1.75.
Declines| The stocks that declined in the main market are Caribbean Cement with 3,036 shares trading while losing 10 cents to end at $3.50, Desnoes & Geddes with 3,002,000 shares in closing at $4.40 for a 9 cents loss, Grace Kennedy 14,320 units to close at $55 with a loss of $1.50, National Commercial Bank 512,600 shares to close at $17.75, down by 35 cents, and Seprod with 40,667 units in closing at $10.75 for a 50 cents decline.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 2.45 points to close at 733.19 as 12 stocks traded with 1 advancing and 6 declining.
Gains| Blue Power traded 200,000 shares to close 9 cents higher at $9.10 as was the only junior market stock to rise.
Firm Trades| Stocks in the junior market stocks that traded to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 24,575 units changing hands to close at $11.50, AMG Packaging with 5,558 units at $3.49, Derrimon Trading with 286,000 shares to close at $2.28, Knutsford Express traded 3,020 units to close at $5.17 and Lasco Distributors 41,000 units in closing at $1.35.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are Cargo Handlers with 220 units at $14.31 with a fall of 4 cents, Caribbean Cream with 12,530 units to close with a fall of 7 cents at 72 cents, Caribbean Producers with 32,900 shares to close at $2.99 with an fall of 11 cents, Dolphin Cove 19,700 units at $8.10 for a 10 cents decline, Lasco Manufacturing 128,850 shares to end with a fall of 14 cents at $1 and Medical Disposables with 23,200 units in closing at $2 for a 4 cents fall.
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 8 stocks with offers that were lower.
Market on rebounds
In Monday’s trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange the market rebounded when measured by the main market indices but the junior market index slipped. At the close, the IC bid-offer Indicator was flashing a strong signal of further rebound in prices. The main market indices recorded gains as the prices of 8 stocks rose and 11 declined with 28 securities traded in both markets resulting in 53,344,226 units changing hands valued at $30,050,258. C2W Music had one trade of 50,895,843 units valued at $21.37 million.
Main Market| AT the end of trading the JSE Market Index rose by 466.57 points to 72,492.60 and the JSE All Jamaican Composite index gained 521.70 points to close at 79,768.08 as all 8 stocks to rise came from this market while 5 declined.
Gains| Stocks recording gains at the end of trading in the main market are Caribbean Cement, trading 54,218 shares to close with a gain of 10 cents at $3.60, Carreras gained 35 cents to close at $34 with 1,000 units changing hands, Grace Kennedy traded 2,306 units to close at $56.50 with 50 cents gain, National Commercial Bank closed with 26,424 shares changing hands as the price close at $18.10 with a 10 cents gain but it traded as low as $17.16 before recovering towards the end of trading. Sagicor Group exchanged 62,900 units in closing 15 cents higher at $9.15, Sagicor Real Estate Fund traded 42,500 units at 30 cents higher in closing at $6.30, Scotia Group put in only 14,288 shares to end a cent higher at $19.51 and Seprod gained 70 cents with 5,000 units to close at $11.25 after the company reported increased profit in the quarter to March with a 50 percent increase to $473 million or 77 cents per share from operating revenue increase, of only 4 percent.
Firm| The stocks in the main market to close without change in price are Jamaica Money Market Brokers 8.75% preference share with 160,000 units to close at $3.03, Mayberry Investments with 18,858 shares while closing at $1.71, Pan Jamaican Investment with 10,800 shares while closing at $48.06, Proven Investments 67,200 units to close at 18US cents and Proven Investments 8% preference share 1,850 units to close at $5.09.
Declines| The stocks that declined in the main market are Desnoes & Geddes with 35,559 units while losing a cent to end at $4.49, Jamaica Broilers 62,900 units in closing at $4.71, down 9 cents, Jamaica Money Market Brokers 13,113 shares to close at $7.30 with a cent off, Jamaica Stock Exchange 925 units in closing at $1.95 as the price eased 5 cents and Kingston Wharves 8,300 shares to close 24 cents lower at $5.75.
Junior Market| The JSE Junior Market Index declined by 10.60 points to close at 735.64 as 10 stocks traded with none recording a price gain and 6 declining.
Firm Trades| The stocks trading in the junior market to close at the same price as the day before are Access Financial with 121,400 units to close at $11.50, Caribbean Cream with 1,250 units to close at 79 cents, Consolidated Bakeries with 3,000 shares in closing at $1.10 and Lasco Distributors with 1,357,149 shares to close at $1.35.
Declines| Stocks declining in the junior market at the end of trading are AMG Packaging trading 1,000 units at $3.49 as the price slipped a cent, C2W Music with 50,895,843 shares as the price lost 3 cents to end at 42 cents, KLE Group with 138,703 as the price eased by a cent for a new 52 weeks low of 93 cents, Lasco Financial 69,751 shares at 12 cents lower to end at $1.08, Lasco Manufacturing 102,884 shares as it closed at $1.14 for a 6 cents decline and Medical Disposables with 65,105 units to close with a cent off at $2.04.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 12 stocks with the bid higher than the last selling price and 7 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.
New products for Medical Disposables
Medical Disposables & Supplies has advised the Jamaica Stock Exchange that they have entered into a distribution agreement with Denk Pharma.
The company indicates that Denk Pharma is a premium Pharmaceutical manufacturer since 1948 with headquarters in Munchen, Germany. Denk has maintained a presence in Jamaica for 16 years and has appointed the company as a co-distributor for its entire product range islandwide.
Medical Disposables & Supplies was listed on the Junior Market in December last year after a successful IPO.
Related posts | Medical Disposables, OK not great
Image courtesy of DreamDesigns/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
JSE ticker tape
Medical Disposables IPO closed | Medical Disposables IPO closed this morning just after 9:00am and shortly after the official opening, IC Insider have been informed. The company placed 63.157 million shares on offer at $1.83 to raise $115 million.
Guardian leaves us | Guardian Holdings will no longer be available to trade on the Jamaica Stock Exchange as the company has applied for the shares to be delisted effective end of December. The stock is still available for trading on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange where the company is mainly listed. The delisting means less listing fees for the JSE come 2014.
Sagicor Group list by year end | Sagicor Life is expected to be delisted from the JSE by year end. IC Insider gathers that the JSE gave approval for Sagicor Group the direct parent company for Sagicor Life and Sagicor Investments to be listed and Sagicor Life to be delisted. Existing shareholders of Sagicor Life will receive shares equal to their existing holdings in the new company.
Related posts | Medical Disposables, OK not great
Medical Disposables, OK not great
Companies are beating a hasty push to get listed ahead of the change in tax regime for junior market companies. The latest to do so is Medical Disposables & Supply Limited that hits the road with the opening of its IPO on December 13.
The Company invites Applications for up to 63,157,895 Shares in the Invitation. All Shares, including the Reserved Shares, are priced at $1.83 per Share. The Invitation will open at 9:00 a.m. on the Opening Date, Friday 13 December 2013 and will close at 4:00 p.m. on the Closing Date, Friday 20 December 2013. There are 18,096,060 Reserved Shares in the Invitation that are initially reserved for Priority Application from Staff and Key Partners 5,464,481 and Mayberry Clients 12,631,579.
Minimum fundraising | The minimum amount which, in the opinion of the Directors, must be received by the Company is $96.5 million. The offer looks interesting as there should be some initial price gains after listing even though not much is known of the company by the wider public.
Profits | The unaudited results for the first 7 months of the Company’s current financial year to October 2013, show an 18 percent increase in revenues over the same period in the prior year, increasing to $508 million. The Profit before tax outturn was $42 million, a 127 percent increase over the same period in 2012. This puts pretax earnings around 35 cents per share with 200 million shares outstanding and a PE of 5.3 times current year’s earnings. Adjusting for tax for the period before going public, the PE ratio is around 7 times but by the following year with all the profit being tax free the PE would drop to around 5 assuming earnings are basically flat that could result in a price appreciation in 2014 around 40-50 percent.
The new shares are likely to create some dilution in per share earnings initially, as the rate of return on equity is likely to be around 37 percent for the year ending March 2014. Paying off loans, which is one of the objectives for the funds being raised, will yield a lower return on the fresh capital.
Profit before tax declined by $11.8 million in financial year 2010. The Directors consider that the Company began to realise the benefits of an expansion that was executed, as well as its new pharmaceutical distribution relationships, in financial years 2011 and 2012 when Profit before tax increased by $23.5 million moving from $7.4 million to $31 million and $19 million to $50 million in 2012.
Revenues | Revenues moved from $289 million in 2010 to $506 million in 2011, a 75 percent increase and to $724 million in financial year 2012 and increase over 2011 of 43 percent. The rate of growth in sales has slowed and profit growth is also likely to slow down. The company needs strong and sustainable growth levels to justify investors picking these shares ahead of others that are better valued currently. From all indications based on the comparative valuation of other listed stocks, investors are likely to have to wait on the market rally to deliver above average growth in the stock price in the medium term.
Finances | High receivables of $186 million, just under 3 months of sales and inventories are spots of bother resulting in high borrowings of $153 million as of March, versus shareholders’ equity of $152 million.
The company | The Company is a distributor of pharmaceutical products and disposable medical supplies. When it began trading, the it specialised in medical and hospital supplies and disposable items, such as surgical masks, gloves, tubes, gauze, and adhesive and other bandages. Over the years it expanded into the distribution of pharmaceuticals and health and personal care items and other consumer goods. The Company is a co-distributor of the GlaxoSmithKline Jamaica, Dr. Reddy’s, and Bunny’s pharmaceutical and healthcare product lines. It also distributes general consumer items inclusive of complementary beauty, personal care and household products. In that regard, the Company is a sub distributor for Cari-Med Limited, Kirk Distributors Limited, Consumer Brands Limited, and Smith Russell and Company Limited, among others.
The Company is centrally located in a commercial complex in the mid-town industrial area of Kingston. It currently services over 1,100 customers across the island, including pharmacies, hospitals, medical practitioners, health centres, radiology units, nursing homes, medical laboratories, clinics, health food stores, bakeries, hotels, commercial institutions, schools, spas, sports teams and walk-in customers.
Directors | The Company was founded by the Boothe family 15 years ago in Kingston. Myrtis Boothe, Managing Director, provides the Company with its strategic direction and has than 20 years of sales and distribution experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
The directorship includes, Winston Boothe (Chairman), Myrtis Boothe (Chief Executive Officer), Kurt Boothe (General Manager), Nikeisha Boothe (Marketing), Dr. The Hon. Vincent M. Lawrence O.J., Dr. Dahlia McDaniel and Sandra Glasgow.
Use of proceeds | The proceeds of the offer is slated for expansion of the company’s existing product ranges, expansion into new product ranges and underserved niche markets, retirement of bank debt and directors’ loans and balances and pay for the expenses of the IPO, estimated not to exceed $9 million.
Short term gains are possible, but longer term growth and increased profits will come from the quality of management’s execution of the strategies and the maintenance of good relations with suppliers and customers. The suppliers, whom they represent, is critical as a loss of any major ones could negatively affect profitability in the short to medium term.
Image courtesy of DreamDesigns/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
