Consolidated Bakeries hits new high

September 24, 2022 by

Consolidated Bakeries ended at a fresh multiyear closing high of $2.50 on Friday, with more than a million shares trading. Investors can expect more gains from this one as the company enjoyed strong first half year results that are expected to carry over to the second half and with the pe ratio now at 10 times this year’s earnings.

Consolidated Bakeries (Purity) traded at a 52 weeks’ closing high on Friday.

Key Insurance is added to the watch list with the price down to $3.36. After releasing full year results last week, Express Catering released first quarter results to August. Based on those numbers, ICInsider.com revised earnings per share to 40 Jamaica cents for the current fiscal year, with the PE now at 13.
ICInsider.com watch list comprises Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Consolidated Bakers, Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers, Elite Diagnostic, Everything Fresh, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Jamaica Broilers, Key Insurance, Knutsford Express, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, NCB Financial, Stationery and Office Supplies, Paramount Trading and Scotia Group.
Major factors to consider going forward. The rebound in tourist arrivals only came back to 2019 levels since June. Providing there are no reversals, then companies who are highly dependent on the sector will enjoy a big bounce for the next nine months compared to the lower business generated from last year to April this year. The same applies to the entertainment industry as the sector only opened up after March this year. Banks will make a fortune from increased interest rates.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Knutsford Express – a good stock to watch

September 18, 2022 by

Fresh from the release of positive full year results to May of $87 million or 16 cents per share, Knutsford Express is a new stock to watch. ICInsider.com projects earnings for the new fiscal year at 90 cents per share, with the stock trading at a PE of 8 compared to the Junior Market average of 13. The stock stands a good chance of more than doubling in the next year.

Knutsford Express

Main Event reported incredible third quarter results to July of 41 cents per share, with ICInsider.com projecting earnings for the full year at 45 cents per share and 90 cents for 2023, with the stock trading at a PE of 17 based on the current year’s estimate, but well that based on the year’s numbers.
Express Catering also released full year results that show continued recovery from last year’s fallout, with a profit of US$1.1 million, from a loss of US$1.73 million in 2021. In contrast, in the nine months to February, profit was just US$364,607, with only US$120,248 profit generated in the February quarter. ICInsider.com earnings per share are projected at Jamaica 50 cents resulting in a PE of 11.
Elite Diagnostic is added to the list with projected earnings of 55 cents per share at a PE of 6.5 at a stock price of $3.58 and Consolidated Bakery that had an excellent half year with the promise of a good second half to come.
ICInsider.com identifies the following for the watch list. Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers, Everything Fresh, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Jamaica Broilers, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, NCB Financial, Stationery and Office Supplies, Paramount Trading and Scotia Group.
Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers and Express Catering will be major beneficiaries of the strong rebound in tourist arrivals and the supply of General Accident has declined sharply over the past few weeks, but investors may be reluctant to pile into the stock ahead of the hurricane season.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

138 Student Living jumps 41%, Purity 34%

August 27, 2022 by

Last week’s stock to watch, Everything Fresh, climbed another 12.5 percent on top of the solid 43.5 percent last week to close the week at $1.89, while Consolidated Bakeries, added to the list last week, surged 34 percent to close at $1.99 as investors aggressively sucked 837,932 shares out of the market, leaving just eight lots of stocks amounting to 71,000 units on offer.
New to the list this week is Lumber Depot, that is undervalued with good potential to expand. ONE on ONE Education Services should list soon and will enjoy a significant price hike a few days after listing.
138 Student Living delivered a 41 percent jump in the week and should move even higher in the weeks ahead, while Stationery and Office Supplies picked up a bit as some demand came in for the stock. Expect more gains in the months ahead.
Investors should continue to watch Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Caribbean Producers, Dolphin Cove, Express Catering, Guardian Holdings, Jamaica Broilers, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, NCB Financial and Paramount Trading.
Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers, Express Catering and Everything Fresh will be significant beneficiaries of the strong rebound in tourist arrivals, now back to 2019 levels.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Everything Fresh jumps 44% last week

August 22, 2022 by

Last week’s stock to watch, Everything Fresh, climbed 43.5 percent from $1.17 to close the week at $1.68 and should move higher and Future Energy Source, that reported fabulous results for the first quarter, was one to watch. The stock added to the $5.29 price it closed the previous week at and closed on Friday at $5.63, with a PE ratio of 22.5.

Everything Fresh traded at $1.68 on Friday to gain 43.5% for the week.

This week, Consolidated Bakeries is added to the list, following excellent half year results, with prospects of more gains ahead, but General Accident is out following a bump in claims in the second quarter that squeezed profit. Also added to the list is ONE on ONE Education Services, which should list this month and enjoy a significant price hike.
138 Student Living reported strong June results but hardly moved in a week that the markets suffered declines. Meanwhile, Stationery and Office Supplies pulled back a bit as demand weakened following good half year results.
This week’s other ICInsider.com watch listings are Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Caribbean Producers, Dolphin Cove, Express Catering, Guardian Holdings, Jamaica Broilers, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, NCB Financial and Paramount Trading.
Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers, Express Catering and Everything Fresh will be major beneficiaries of the strong rebound in tourist arrivals, now back to 2019 levels.
Refunds should start returning to investors from ONE on ONE Education Services this week now that allocations in the recent IPO are determined. That could make a big difference to the market as investors deploy those funds in the market.

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Moderate changes to JSE markets

August 15, 2022 by

Investors pushed Future Energy Sources up to $5.85 on heavy volume in response to outstanding June quarter results, while Access Financial traded up to $30.74 but closed at $27.34 at the close.
The JSE Combined Index a measure of the overall market gained 69.77 points to end at 380,782.61. The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 897.37 points to 419,448.06, the JSE Main Index added 188.92 points to close at 367,524.60, the Junior Market Index slipped 11.88 points to 4,130.54 and the JSE USD Market Index jumped 18 points to 212.22.
Trading ended, with 35,017,933 shares changing hands with a value of $115.7 million, from $123.9 million with 21,812,469 shares traded in the overall market on the prior trading day. The JSE USD market ended with the value of stocks traded at US$22,959 from US$145,667 on the previous day of trading.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 23.5 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.7 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many investment options in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational investment decisions by investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and put in on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The ICInsider.com PE Ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that show the closing volume for the bids and offers.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.

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

SOS dividend consideration sends stock price flying

July 19, 2022 by

Stationery & Office Supplies announced that the board of directors will consider the payment of a dividend at a meeting to be held on August 9, 2022 and with the stock price closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $15 and seems to be heading higher.
The company last paid a dividend of 16 cents per share on December 7 last year. The early announcement caught the market by surprise as investors bought 303,359 shares up to a 52 weeks’ high of $15, with the stock closing with the bid at $15.84 and the offer at $17.90 and gaining 135 percent for the year to date.
The likely early payment is signalling that the company could be switching to twice a year payout as well as the fact that the good results evident in the first quarter is continuing into the rest of the year.
Some observers are of the view that the dividend announcement by itself was unlikely to move the stock price by the amount in today’s trading and think investors are sensing a stock split.

SOS to make early dividend payout

With the stock price having risen and seems set to go higher the price is clearly entering into a split territory, considering that there are just 250 million shares issued with the top 10 holdings accounting for 90 percent and leaving only about 25 million units that are likely to trade short term. The possibility of a stock split coming up for discussion at the meeting considering a dividend seems probable but such an action if it were to occur would have to be communicated to the Jamaica Stock Exchange ahead of any meeting at which it was to be approved.
The March quarter profit rose 90 percent to $105 million over that for 2021 and ICinsider.com forecast earnings of $1.70 for the current year.

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

8 Junior Market stocks that should split

June 12, 2022 by

Stock splits and bonuses are two tools companies have in their tool kit to deliver value to their shareholders if used appropriately. Interestingly while the Scotia Group has used these tools repeatedly for the past several decades, Directors at NCB Group have frowned on the practice seeing no value to the group.
The critical point is that directors run a company for the benefit of shareholders not solely for the benefit of the company. Shareholders are kings and queens of the companies they own shares in and directors should not lose sight of that factor.
Some companies have split their stocks and investors love the results of these splits as they see where the values have mostly gone up, before and after the split. Some companies like the Lasco group have handled the split badly by overdoing it and creating too much liquidity that kills the value of the stock for years. The split is also an indication that a company’s profit is likely to grow short term which would cause the stock to struggle as the price gets more expensive without the split.
A look at the Junior Market shows 27 of the 45 companies listed trading below four dollars, with seven priced at more than twice $4. The price differential between the two groups suggests that a stock split is warranted if management is serious about the minority shareholders as well as creating the liquidity in the stock to maximize publicity from listing.
The seven companies are Access Financial, with only 270 million issued shares, with a stock split well overdue that will result in improved liquidity and build interest in it. Cargo Handlers at $11.50 has limited liquidity and needs a split to build back excitement into trading it. Dolphin Cove is the third one with the price at $15.25 and recently much higher, but the majority owner may not be so inclined to go the route of a split, but one never knows as local shareholders could well prevail on them to do so. Fosrich now trading around $27, is proposing a 10 to 1 stock split at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) this month. Honey Bun trading at $8.50 has the potential to move up to the $20 region later this year or early in 2023 and warrants a second split, having done one a few years ago.

Fosrich to vote on a 10 to 1 stock split at the coming AGM this month.

Back in 2020, management of ISP Finance had indicated that a split was on the cards, but even with the stock at more than $22 and highly illiquid with less than 3 percent of shares freely available for regular trading action to split the stock is nowhere in sight. Main Event is just at the borderline at $8.20 so a split may be in the future when it has fully recovered from the loss in business, with the advent of the covid-19 pandemic. There are 300 million shares issued with the top 10 holdings accounting for 93.5 percent. Stationery and Offer Supplies hinted at a past AGM that they had looked at it but felt the time was not right. The time may well be very close with the price trading recently around the $12 region with record profits expected this year a split could well happen with the AGM coming up later this year. The company has only 250 million shares issued of which 90 percent are held by the Top10 shareholders. Medical Disposables trades at $7-8 region, with the price not yelling for a split just yet but if management is smart they would split the stock with only 263 million shares issued, a two for one basis as rising profit this fiscal year will probably put the price to around $5 after such a split when all is said and done.

Filed Under: Company News, General Business News, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

SOS buys printing press, set for record profits

June 8, 2022 by

Stationery & Office Supplies announced the acquisition of assets of D&K’s Printing and Office Supplies including 10 additional book manufacturing machines effective, Monday, June 6, 2022.

Stationery & Office Supplies is back in the TOP 10 but could fall in prive this week before moving higher.

The purchase will diversify the product range and increase the manufacturing capacity of the range of products produced by SEEK. Seek which was acquired in April 2018 produces exercise and hardcover books steno books and binder refills. The acquisition will allow them to print books with working in them such as receipts books, invoice books, graph paper and notebooks. In short, it expands the range of products that it can now print, some of which it currently sells which will improve profit margins.
The acquisition which is expected to contribute some 20-25 percent to Seek’s revenues, ICInsder.com gleaned and continues the process of acquiring strategic assets or businesses to accelerate business growth and will add 12 employees to the printing operation.
In 2021 revenues from the book manufacturing were $48 million and in 2019, some $62 million which is expected to hit around $80 million in 2022 and should reach into the $100 million range in 2023.
Revenues seem to be back to normal with January 2019 generating revenues of $344 million that were overtaken this year and June 2019 being $295 million which seems set to be exceeded in the June quarter as well. Based on the acquisition which will add to revenues and profit and the expected continuation of the robust first quarter revenue growth of 36 percent. Revenues for the rest of the year could accelerate, with the economy opening up since the first quarter.
The company gave a glimpse of what the rest of the year could be like, with SOS setting a new record for monthly sales, of $140 million in February, with sales reaching $173 million in March, 25 percent higher than February. If the trend continues into the second quarter, revenues could reach $480 million and may well continue the acceleration to the end of the year.
ICIinsider.com has upgraded earnings to $1.70 excluding the $23 million gain on the sale of property in the first quarter and that would put the stock at a PE well under 10 times this year’s earnings, assuming no major negative developments that could impair revenues and profits.

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

Former ICTOP10 stock jumps 130%

April 24, 2022 by

The star performer for the week was iCreate, up 132 percent and Supreme Ventures, with a 30 percent price movement in the market during the week, but several ICTOP10 stocks had some noted moves as well.

iCreate hits a low of 80 cents on Thursday.

iCreate, more than doubled, surging from the previous week’s $1.36 close to $3.16. The move coincides primarily with two acquisition announcements with little or no information given as to the cost and funding, leading to wild speculation in the stock. Supreme Ventures (SVL) stock jumped to a 52 weeks’ high of $33.41 from $24.49 at the end of the previous week. The SVL was more solidly based as the company reported solid increased profits for the March quarter as investors pushed the price sharply higher in response.
There are two changes to this week’s ICTOP10 listing. Lasco Distributors returns to the Junior Market TOP10 as Stationery and Office Supplies slipped out.  The latter rose 15 percent to close the week at $9.11. The expectations are that the company will have blowout first quarter results, helped by school opening and following a strong 2021 fourth quarter. The Main Market welcomed back Jamaica Stock Exchange share that will benefit from an upsurge in trading activity in the first quarter as Scotia Group fell out, still looking attractively priced at $35.20, with Bank of Jamaica increasing interest rates is positively impacting the results.
The Junior Market ended with three stocks rising from 8 to 15 percent. Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 10 percent for the week while Jetcon Corporation rose 8 percent to close at $1.40. Declining were Lasco Financial, down 8 percent and Access Financial and AMG Packaging, down 5 percent, as buying eased markedly following improved results released at the close of the market ahead of the Easter weekend. Investors seem not to be factoring in cost savings and increased efficiency that the newly installed machine brings to the business following the close of the recent quarter. With a 5 percent rise, Guardian Holdings was the biggest mover in the Main Market.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 ends the week at 6.2, well below the market average of 14.8, while the Junior Market PE for the Top 10 sits at 6 versus the market at 13.8. The Junior Market TOP10 is projected to gain an average of 249 percent by May 2023 and the Main Market 200 percent.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners; accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023. They are ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New ICTOP10 2022-3 is here

April 6, 2022 by

Earnings season is almost at an end except for a few companies with March year end that are to release results for the full year by the end of May that will impact the price of some ICTOP 10 stocks. Riches are abundant in several Main and Junior Markets stocks, but some patience may be warranted to get the most from them.
The ICTOP10 shows the benefit of ranking stocks based on their potential to grow and emphasizing those. Investors do not have to chase overpriced stocks based on some wish list of abundance fortunes is near. Sticking with undervalued stocks is the best formula for wealth creation.
The focus shifts to 2022/23 earnings as the reporting season ends. At the close of the past week, seven stocks from the previous Junior Market ICTOP10 carry over to the 2022/23 list and five for the Main Market. Dropping out of the Junior Market list are Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing and Iron Rock Insurance. Dropping from the Main Market for the coming period are Jamaica Broilers, 138 Student Living, Proven Investments, Pan Jamaica Investment and SygnusUS dollar share.
Heading the new list are Productivity Business Solutions, Guardian Holdings, Sygnus Credit Investments, Jamaica Stock Exchange and JMMB Group in the Main Market. At the same time, the Junior Market’s top five are Elite Diagnostic, Medical Disposables, Jetcon Corporation, Caribbean Cream and Access Financial Services. Most of the Junior Market companies suffered from fallout in the economy in 2020 and beyond due to the Covid19 and are recovering. Some of these could deliver above average gains.
The average PE for 2022-3 fiscal year is 13.1 for the Junior Market, down from 22.8 for the 2021/22 fiscal year and 13.5 for the Main and USD Markets compared to 16.6.
There were no changes to the ICTOP10 stocks in the Main and Junior Market in the past week based on 2021 and early 2022 earnings, but there were some notable performances. Lasco Manufacturing rose 14 percent to close the week at $5.70, AMG Packaging popped 13 percent to $3.15, while Caribbean Assurance Brokers put in a 9 percent rise to close the week at $2.40. Iron Rock Insurance and Tropical Battery added 6 percent to close at $3.60 and $2.62, respectively. In the Main Market, JMMB Group rose 7 percent to $45.95 and Jamaica Broilers lost 7 percent to end at $27.25.
Both markets continue to offer attractive gains for the TOP10 based on recent full year earnings up to March.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.3, well below the market average of 13.5, while the Junior Market PE for the Top 10 is at 6.3 versus the market at 13.1.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023. They are ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,