Medical Disposables up 52% exits TOP 5

October 30, 2016 by

Blue Power enters TOP 5 list.

Blue Power enters TOP 5 list.

Medical Disposables exited the IC Insider’s TOP 5 junior market list, with gains of 52 percent since it entered the list on September 9, at the number 1 spot. The stock rose to $5.62 during the past week but ended at $5.39.
Blue Power enters the list for the first time, with the price having fallen in the week to $20.50. Profits after tax increased by 101 percent to $37 million over the previous year. The contribution of Lumber Depot division to the after tax tally was $17 million ($7 million in 2015), while Blue Power division added $20 million ($12 million in 2015). Earnings per stock unit for the quarter doubled from 33 cents to 66 cents. Sales revenues rose 12 percent, from $302 million to $339 million. Gross profit margin climbed to 24.3 percent in the quarter from 21.3 percent in the similar quarter of 2015 and 20.82 percent for the last fiscal year.
Paramount Trading entered at the number 3 spot at $14, gained 71 percent having shot up to $24 and exited in the top list on the week ending September 16, Derrimon Trading entered with the price at $3.10 and hit $5, for a gain of 61 percent, the stock exited the list during the week ending October 14. General Accident entered the list at $2.10 for the week ending September 23 and has gained 43 percent, the company left the list during the week ending October 7.
Watch NCB for the break out that is coming soon.

Watch NCB for the break out that is coming soon.

The TOP 5 main market stocks have seen only one change since the start. JMMB Group entered at $10 and now sits at $13.50, just below the Top 5. During the past week, Caribbean Cement closed at $33 and move to number 2 spot but Barita Investments slipped in price and took over the number 1 spot. The company reported a small loss of $81 million in the September quarter, having suffered a reduction in revenues in the order of $950 million with the year to date results coming in at $973 million or earnings per share of $1.14 versus $1.5 billion or earnings per share of $1.75 in 2015. Based on the latest results, the stock price is unlikely to move higher in the short term and may well pull back but investors ought to be focusing on results in 2017 when the restructuring of the company’s operations are fully reflecting in the results. Berger Paints rose to $6 and dropped to 4.
Just below the TOP 5 junior market stocks are tTech, Dolphin Cove, Medical Disposables, Jamaican Teas and Caribbean Cream.
In the main market stocks below the Top 5 are JMMB Group, followed by Palace Amusement, Sterling Investments, National Commercial Bank (NCB) and Pan Jamaican. Technically, NCB is at a break out point accordingly, investors should keep an eye on this one as the next move could be sharply to the upside with final year results due shortly. In 2015, the full year results were released on November 12, as such the results for 2016 could be out on November 10.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Paramount corrects split error

October 23, 2016 by

Hugh GrahamMentors are supposed to advice and guide junior market companies’ directors in the ways of the securities market as well as other business related issues to help steer them in areas they may not be familiar with. Mentorship was wisely assessed to be needed for the smaller companies, many of whom were not being governed to the more rigorous manner that their main market neighbours are.
Directors should aide and guide management in the right direction. Ideally, management and directors should strive to work together to achieve the objectives desired. Chairmen have a major role to play to ensuring things are navigated properly. When the JSE board approved a stock split and management posted the notice that the board approved the split which was to have been effected without shareholders’ approval, the Chairmen must take a big part of the blame for the error. All the details of such an issue should have been sorted before the board meeting, with Chairman being fully and properly informed and thus ensure that it was done properly. Finally, the board should have determined and agreed when the shareholders meeting was to be held to approve the split. PTL All buidTheir failure of the board to do their work properly cannot be placed solely at the feet of the executives.
This brings up the Paramount Trading stock split. The stock exchange rules require that all listed companies must advise the exchange at least 7 days before a meeting of directors is to be held at which a distribution or change in the share capital of the company is to be considered and shortly after the meeting is held advise of the result of the deliberation. Pan Jam’s board, in agreeing to a stock split earlier this year failed to inform the stock exchange in accordance with the rules, was hauled over the coals by the exchange, for failure to comply. Note is also taken that Palace approved a dividend but there was no notice on the JSE website about the meeting at which the proposal was to be considered.
The Board of Directors of Paramount Trading failed to follow the rules of the exchange regarding their decision to recommend the subdivision of stock units which was an item for shareholders to consider at the Company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) which is due to be held on Saturday, 29 October. IC Insider contacted the company to find out the reason for failing to follow the regulated procedure and was advised that the JSE informed them in writing that they did was in order. Contact with the JSE by IC Insider triggered a response that the matter would be investigated.
On Friday the company posted a release which the error. The release in part states that at the AGM that on the list of resolutions is a proposed sub-division of shares, for consideration by the shareholders.
The proposed resolution is set out in the notice of AGM as follows:“SUB-DIVISION OF SHARE CAPITAL
To sub-divide each ordinary stock unit in the capital of the Company into such number of stock units as may be prescribed by the Board: “THAT each of the issued ordinary stock units in the capital of the Company be sub-divided in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, into such number of stock units as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.”
“In connection with the above resolution, please be advised that the Board of the Company shall hold a meeting on Saturday, 29 October to consider and approve the sub-division pending shareholders’ approval of the said resolution.”

Filed Under: Company News, Dividends Tagged With: , , ,

JSE majors give up 1,200 points – Thursday

September 22, 2016 by

Palace jumps $25 to close at $195 on Thursday.

Palace jumps $25 to close at $195 on Thursday.

Stocks on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange the gave up a near 1,200 points by the close, in the all Jamaica Composite Index to end down 400 points loss at the end after it had gained close to 800 points by midday. At the close advancing stocks still edged out declining stocks.
At the close of the market prices of 14 securities gained out of a total of 38 trading, while 12 declined in the overall market, including 7 stocks rising and 3 falling, in the junior market. Palace Amusement was the star performer with a jump of $25 to a new record high of $195 but with only 500 shares trading. National Commercial Bank dropped $1.94 to close at $40.06 with 595,832 shares changing hands.
At the close, 3,134,827 units valued at $54,491,555 changed hands, compared to the 4,442,113 units valued at $19,544,716 changing hands on Wednesday. The junior market accounted for 1,015,005 units valued at $5,213,760 of the total traded on Thursday.
The market index ended with mild declines, with the JSE Market Index declined 370.31 points to end at 162,745.79. The all Jamaica Composite Index fell 414.14 points to close at 180,841.00 and the ICI JSE sum 22-09-16 JSE combined index slipped 122.56 points, to end at 174,786.97.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading showed 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
In market activity, Barita Investments traded 44,500 shares to close at $4, Berger Paints gained 35 cents to close at $5.05 with 69,980 units changing hands, Cable & Wireless rose 3 cents to close at 98 cents, with 234,552 units changing hands. Caribbean Cement jumped 46 cents, to close at $28 with 72,577 units changing hands, Ciboney closed at 19 cents with 35,200 units trading, Grace Kennedy lost 30 cents, with 40,932 shares changing hands at $42.50, Jamaica Broilers had 20,064 shares changing hands and slipped 6 cents to end at $15. Jamaica Producers ended with a loss of 14 cents to close at $8.36 with 46,452 units trading, ICI JSE sum 22-09-16rJamaica Stock Exchange gained 50 cents to end at $27.50 while trading 147,245 shares, JMMB Group traded 12,100 units and fell 25 cents to $10. Mayberry Investments traded 11,000 shares to close at $3.60, after rising 4 cents, Pan Jamaican Investments fell 1 cent and closed at $23.99 after trading 56,728 shares, Sagicor Group rose 63 cents in trading 17,213 shares to close at $23.65, Salada Foods had 10,525 units changing hands at $7.90. Scotia Group closed at $30.11 with 101,400 shares changing hands, for a loss of 40 cents, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 416,425 units at 19.99 US cents, JMMB Group 7.50% preference share traded 130,000 units at $1.10 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 51,617 units at $2.10.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

More records fall on JSE – Thursday

May 26, 2016 by

More records fell in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the early morning session on Thursday with very low volumes passing through the market as Grace Kennedy hit $95 with a rise of $3 following strong first quarterly results and Palace Amusement jumped $55 to $150 while trading 1,950 units.
ICI int sht 26-05-16Elsewhere, Caribbean Cream rose 53 cents in trading 200,000 shares at $5, with the stock being offered just below 150,000 units to sell. Lasco Manufacturing fell to $4 with 41,100 shares traded and Honey Bun dropped $3.95 to $18 with 10,000 shares.
Trading resulted in activity in 31 securities, accounting for a small volume of 561,740 units as 10 stocks gained and 9 declined. The average number of shares traded is just 18,121 units compared to an average of a mere 21,557 units on Wednesday.
After 75 minutes of trading in the early morning session, on Thursday, the all Jamaica Composite Index rose 1,075.15 points to 171,357.47, the JSE Market Index rose 961.36 points to 154,265.97, the JSE combined index gained 410.07 points, to 164,423.18 and the junior market index dropped 46.97 points to 2,078.93.

Filed Under: JSE Combined, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Over 3,000 points off JSE for week

August 21, 2015 by

NCB helped pull the JSE down by more than 3,000 points in closing at $28.02 on Friday.

NCB helped pull the JSE down by more than 3,000 points in closing at $28.02 on Friday.

The Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday closed with main market indices recording another day of losses, adding to the losses of the previous two days. The market closed with a fairly high participation rate of 33 securities changing hands resulting in 5,295,463 units trading, valued at $53,837,873 with 9 stocks rising, 10 declining including 1 stock closing at 52 weeks high and 1 at a 52 weeks’ low, in all market segments.
At the close, the JSE Market Index fell 680.29 points to 97,761.47, for the week the index lost 3,047.20 points. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index dived 760.37 points on Friday and 3,405.92 for the week to close at 108,210.06 and the JSE combined index dropped 731.14 points for the day and 3,285.21 points for the week, to end at 101,078.60.
JSE sum- 21-08-15 IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that reflects continuation of declining stocks having the upper hand over advancing ones with 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Caribbean Cement had 87,642 units changing hands at $8, Carreras traded 163,263 shares at $50, Desnoes & Geddes traded 1,732,428 shares at $7, Gleaner closed with 18,416 shares and rose 12 cents to $1.92. Jamaica Broilers traded at $5.62 with 203,100 shares changing hands for a loss of 23 cents, JMMB Group traded 254,309 shares for a fall of 45 cents to $7.50,JSE fn Qts-21-08-15 Kingston Wharves ended with 6,000 shares changing hands to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.20 for a gain of 4 cents. National Commercial Bank traded 390,891 shares to end lower by 98 cents to $28.02, Palace Amusement traded 6,300 shares at $88 to add $13, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 320,000 units at 20.55 US cents, up 1.05 cents. Sagicor Group with 134,976 shares changing hands, closed 5 cents higher at $13, Scotia Group traded 166,559 units to close at $24, up 25 cents. Supreme Ventures ended at $3.30 with 15,253 units to be down by 5 cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 486,000 units at $2.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

JSE drops sharply on Wednesday

August 19, 2015 by

JSE sgn shrtpng The Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday closed with main market indices recording big losses, cancelling out the gains made in yesterday’s trading. The market closed with a fairly high participation rate of 33 securities changing hands accounting for 3,862,624 units trading, valued at $45,895,747 with 9 stocks rising, 16 declining with 1 stock closing at 52 weeks high, in all market segments.
At the close, the JSE Market Index fell 2,316.03 points to 99,099.31, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index dived 2,588.67 points to close at 109,705.40 and the JSE combined index dropped 2,164.74 points to end at 102,674.88.
The eve of and the actual Treasury bill auction days, historically have not been good for the local stock market. Stockbrokers main focus is on the outcome of the auction and interest rates out turn as well as how successful their bidding was. Wednesday’s sluggishness and pull back in prices could be related to this development with today being the day when Treasury bill bids are opened. At the close of trading on Tuesday the signals were for a weaker market on Wednesday as such today’s declines should come as no great surprise.
JSE sum- 19-08-15r IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that is better than Tuesday’s reading, with only of 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower. Today’s reading is 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with offers that were lower, a reading that still carries some negative undertone.
In trading, Cable and Wireless had 306,499 shares changing hands with a loss of 3 cents, to end at 40 cents, Caribbean Cement had 19,000 units changing hands at $8, Gleaner closed with 23,326 shares and fell 17 cents to $2. Grace Kennedy traded firm at $64 with 54,439 shares, Jamaica Broilers traded at $6.05 with 42,876 shares changing hands, Jamaica Producers traded at $18.25 with 4,000 shares changing ownership with a loss of 25 cents. JMMB Group traded 5,909 shares at $7.95 to add 22 cents, with the company reporting strong increase in profit for the first quarter. Jamaica Stock Exchange lost altitude and traded with a decline of $1.50 to $7.50 with only 7,100 shares changing hands.JSE fn Qts-19-08-15 Mayberry Investments had 242,254 shares trading down 26 cents to $3.14, National Commercial Bank traded 421,180 shares to end at $30, Palace Amusement gained $10 in trading 2,500 shares to end at $75, Pan Jamaican Investment closed at $60.70 after trading 1,539 shares with a loss of $1.30. Sagicor Group with 1,077,602 shares changing hands, closed 50 cents up, at $13.50, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 95 cents to close at $8.75 while trading 10,095 units, Scotia Group traded 471,710 units to close at $23.70, down 80 cents, Supreme Ventures ended at $3.50 with 56,004 units to be down by $1 and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 150,200 units at $2.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

JSE up but looks weak at close

August 18, 2015 by

Jamaica Stock Exchange Traded at a new high of $9 on Tuesday.

Jamaica Stock Exchange Traded at a new high of $9 on Tuesday.

The Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday closed with main market indices recording strong gains but with high levels of stocks rising and falling. The market closed with a high participation rate of 39 securities changing hands accounting for 2,172,400 units trading, valued at $19,484,355 with 15 stocks rising, 14 declining with 3 stocks closing at 52 weeks high, in all market segments.
At the close, the JSE Market Index jumped 687.52 points to 101,415.34, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index rose 768.46 points to close at 112,294.07 and the JSE combined index gained 530.40 points to end at 104,839.62.
JSE sum- 18-08-15r IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that was very negative with only of 3 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless with 154,750 shares changing hands with a loss of 1 cent to end at 43 cents, Caribbean Cement had 50,227 units changing hands with a gain of 50 cents at $8, Carreras traded at $50 with 8,706 shares changing hands, Gleaner closed with 63,082 shares and fell 56 cents at $2.17. Grace Kennedy traded at $64 down $1 with 79,842 shares, Hardware & Lumber ended up at $17, after adding $1 with just 500 units changing hands. Jamaica Broilers traded at $6.05 with 8,300 shares changing ownership and lost 94 cents, Jamaica Producers traded at $18.40 with 4,198 shares changing ownership with a loss of 60 cents. JMMB Group traded 20,084 shares at $7.73 to lose 26 cents, with the company reporting strong increase in profit for the first quarter, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 70 cents up at a new high of $9 with only 9,990 shares changing hands. Mayberry Investments had 50,000 shares trading at $3.40, National Commercial Bank traded 62,888 shares at $30, JSE fn Qts-18-08-15Palace Amusement gained $5 in trading 566 shares to end at $65, encouraged by the company reporting earnings of $26.56 per share for the year ended June. Pan Jamaican Investment closed at $62 after trading 27,303 shares to gain $1. Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 30 cents to close at $7.80 while trading 140,000 units, Salada Foods ended with 2,750 units trading at $8.50 with a loss of $1.90. Scotia Group traded 25,980 units to close at $24.50, up 50 cents, Supreme Ventures ended at $4.50, with 20,000 units to be up 50 cents but the bid at the end of the day was at $4 to sell 300,000 units and Proven Investments ordinary share traded 137,105 units at 19 US cents, up from 18.5 US cents.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

JSE drops then jumps Tuesday morning

August 18, 2015 by

The Jamaica Stock market suffered large losses in the morning seconds before 11 am, in the process the All Jamaica Index trades at 110,787.47 to fall by 738.14 points, JSE Market Index declined 660.40 points to 100,067.42. The JSE Intra 18- 08-15 combined index fell 667.04 points to be at 103,642.18 and the junior market index 1,025.87, down 4.90 points.
A trade in Scotia Group that pushed the price back to $26 swung things around, with the all Jamaica Index jumping 934.41 points to 112,460.02, JSE Market Index gained 836 points to 101,563.82. The combined index was up 735.14 points to be at 105,044.36. The junior market index was at 1,024.90
Dolphin Cove fell 85 cents to $12.15, Gleaner Company traded at 63,082 shares and fell 56 cents to $2.17, Jamaica Broilers fell 89 cents to $6.10, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded at a new high of $8.50 with only 2,000 shares and Palace Amusement gained $5 to $65.
A total of 26 securities with a volume of only 766,233 units have traded with 8 stocks declining versus 7 that rose.

Filed Under: JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , ,

Palaces’ $22M profit swing

May 18, 2015 by

Profit before tax for Palace Amusement Company had a major swing around of $22 million for the nine months to March this year to $6.8 million compared with a loss of $15.6 million and for the quarter a profit of $1.6 million was made, up from a loss of $9 million.

Patrons lined up at Palace's Multiplex in Montego Bay

Patrons lined up at Palace’s Multiplex in Montego Bay

Revenues grew by 9 percent for the nine months to $650 million helped by strong growth in the March 2015 quarter that saw revenues increasing 12.7 percent year over year and 19.4 percent when the numbers for the Odeon Mandeville cinema that was closed late 2014 revenues are excluded. In the quarter revenues came in at $209 million from what is said to be more appealing movies than in 2014. There was minimal increase in administrative expenses while direct expenses rose less than revenues at 5.5 percent for the year to date and 10.8 percent for the quarter.
IC Insider is forecasting earnings of $24 per shares on much higher revenues in the June quarter than in the March quarter, with around 50 percent of the increase flowing to the bottom line as administrative cost should be held close to what obtained in the March quarter and losses that were incurred I the Mandeville operations removed.
Palace ended with cash funds at $66 million and has borrowed loan of only $25 million and equity of $280 million. The stock which is listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange hardly trades with only 1.4 million units issued and closed last at $80.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With:

Odeon closure to boost Palace’s profit

February 16, 2015 by

Carib cinema, the largest money generator for Palace

Carib cinema, the largest money generator for Palace

Palace Amusement Company reported a profit of $2 million in the December quarter, compared to a $9 million loss in the previous year and $5.3 million in the half year to the end of 2014, up from a loss of a $6.5 million in the previous year.
The improved profit out turn comes from flat revenues in the quarter but down from 7 percent for the six months. But profit should get a big boost with the close of the Odeon Cinema in Mandeville. The Mandeville cinema had revenues of nearly $23 million in the six months to December 2013 and $10.7 million in the first quarter of 2014, there was no income in the December quarter. Odeon also contributed over $4.6 million to losses in the half year versus $5.7 million in the 2013 period. In 2013 fiscal year the company lost $17 million or nearly $12 per share in the Mandeville operation. Some assets at that cinema was sold off, resulting in gain on sale of fixed assets of $2.3 million reflected in other income.
The segment results suggest that box office, the main revenue generator is a loss leader, as profit is coming only as result of advertising income of $23 million and other income of $5 million for the half year. This situation is unlikely to change even with higher gate receipts in the second half of the year. The segment numbers also indicate that the revenues from this area is contributing more in 2014 as percentage of box office sales than in 2013 and 2012. In 2014 the two Kingston cinemas raked in 43 percent from confectionary sales, up from 41 and 42 percent respectfully, while Montego Bay moved from 37 percent to 38 percent. For the financial year ending June 2012, the ratios were 40 percent, 43 percent and 39 percent respectively.
Pal 12-14Going forward Palace is likely to benefit from increase in ticket prices implemented at the end of 2014 and lower utilities cost, with a fall in the price of oil and by extension electricity cost. In 2013 fiscal year utilities cost $65 million, but that would include water light and telephones, regardless there should be a few million dollars shaved off cost.
Gross profit margin jumped by 35 percent in the December quarter, from 17 percent to 23 percent, partially helped by the closure of the Mandeville cinema, and improved by 12 percent, for the year to December, as the margin moved to 23 percent, from 24 percent in 2013. Administrative expenses were flat for the last quarter and up slightly for the year to date.
Interest bearing debt is down to $27 million, cash is at $70 million but working capital is only $12 million.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: ,