Profits for the nine months to September 2014 attributable to equity shareholders of Guardian Holdings grew 45 percent to TT$286 million or $88 million or over the comparable period last year. The 2014 results to date translate Earnings per share (EPS) of $1.23 compared to $0.85 for the same period last year.
For the September quarter, profit for Guardian shareholders was TT$103 million, an increase of 11.2 percent, from $91.38 million in 2013. The profit position flowed from a 29 percent increase in insurance underwriting activities, in the quarter and 15 percent year to date, but lower investment income for the latest quarter, pulled the grow of profit down.
The 2013 result was negatively impacted by an extra-ordinary loss of $31 million, resulting from the Government of Jamaica restructuring their debt. The 2013 results, when this loss is excluded, would end up with an increase of profits year-on-year of $58 million, or 25 percent.
”Investment opportunities continue to be a challenge and as a result, our investment income fell from $666 million to $602 million, a decline of $63 million. This decline was offset by a favourable movement in Fair Value gains of $100 million inclusive of the Jamaican NDX,” Management stated in their release accompanying the results.
Operating Expenses increased by $34 million or 5 percent, of which $19 million is related to the Pointe Simon project. In 2013, Pointe Simon expenses were capitalised as the project was in the construction stage. The Pointe Simon project consists of an office tower building, condominiums and a hotel. From 2014, in keeping with accounting regulation the expenses relating to the project is booked through the income statement since the project has entered the commercialisation phase. Without this change in treatment, our operating expenses would have increased 3 percent year on year.
Management stated that they “expect to conclude transactions for the disposal of the majority of our condominiums by year end. Demand continues to be good for retail space at Pointe Simon and we have begun the process of signing leases for this space. The sale of the hotel will be concluded by year-end and we look forward to its opening in the latter half of next year. We continue to close a number of small leases in our office tower and are in the process of negotiating two large leases.” The sales of this real estate project will inject funds into the group and provide income and increased profits in the last quarter of 2014 and beyond.
Guardian is listed on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange and is primarily involved in life underwriting, general insurance and investments management.
Guardian Holdings stocks remains IC Insider BUY RATED.