The Barbadian based Sagicor Group is reporting net profit of US$23.4 million for the first three months of 2017, compared to the prior year of US$22.3 million. Profit flowed from revenues for the quarter of US$282.5 million, compared to US $264.4 million for the corresponding period in 2016, an increase of US$18.1 million.
Profit attributable to shareholders’ of the group ended at US$13.3 million, compared to US$13.9 million for the 2016 period. Earnings per common share was 4.4 US cents, compared to the prior year of 4.6 US cents.
Net premium revenue rose t0 US$167.7 million, exceeding the prior year amount of US$157.3 million. Net investment income and other income rose to US$114.8 million compared to the prior year’s US$107 million.
Operating expenses rose to US$115 million from US$101.4 million for the same period in 2016. “Higher administration costs were incurred as a result of the expansion of cards and payments business in our Jamaica segment, along with the incurrence of some non-recurring costs also relating to our Jamaica segment”, Stephen McNamara, Chairman, stated in his report to shareholders. Policy holders’ benefits inched to US$137.2 million from US$134 million for the previous year.
Sagicor Group Jamaica a subsidiary of the Barbadian compnay.
Total comprehensive income grew to US$28.6 million, compared to US$19.9 million for the same period last year. Included in comprehensive income were net gains on financial assets of US$7.9 million. “Retranslation losses Sagicor Group Jamaica, a subsidiary of the Barbados company.[/caption] amounted to US $0.7 million, compared to US $6.4 million reported in the prior year, and resulted from declines in the Jamaica and Trinidad currency against the United States dollar”, the Chairman stated.
Total assets amount to US $6.6 billion, with liabilities of US$5.8 billion and shareholders’ equity of US$818 million. The Group’s debt, which is included in other liabilities, was US$405.3 million.
The group’s stocks traded on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange atTT$8.99 and in Barbados at BD$2.45, (around US$1.30 per share. The price puts the PE ratio around 7 times 2017 earnings. The problem is that Barbados where the company is head quartered is in the midst of major economic problems that could make investing in the stock riskier than normal.
