Jamaica’s sole cement manufacturing company Caribbean Cement, reported a fall in profit from $621 million in the June quarter of 2015 down to only $221 million and for the six months to June $1.05 billion versus $869 million.
Investors seemed to have focused more on the fall in the quarter than on the details of the results and the clear message sent by them. As a result, the stock was sold down to $19.25 from $23 the prior day, with very few buyers at the close, but investors who sold were making a bad decision. This is a classic case of bad news is indeed good news. For one, revenues climbed 9.6 percent in the quarter and 10.3 percent for the half-year but local sales of cement are up a very strong 27 percent. “Despite a reduction in export cement and clinker volumes by 8 percent and 77 percent respectively, total revenue increased by $777 million. This was mainly due to an increase in domestic cement volumes by 27 percent arising from increased projects and strong retail demand. Improvements in operational efficiencies, effective control of fixed costs, lower financing costs and lower energy costs, contributed to the improvement in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, manpower restructuring costs,” the directors’ report to shareholders stated.
Importantly, the cement company took a charge for manpower restructuring, amounting to $421 million, a huge positive development and augurs well for improved profit margin and increased profits going forward. In addition there is a charge for excess inventory amounting to $400 million, this is one off and therefore unlikely to recur. Stripped of these costs, earnings would be up by 63 percent to $1.16 million before tax compared to $708 million in 2015 that includes one off income of $168 million for the quarter and pretax profit of $2.1 billion versus $996 million in 2015.
Not only will the cost for redundancy not recur for the current set of staff being severed, it should results in savings in a year, in the region of the sum expended.
During the twelve months to June, the company repaid Trinidad Cement, its parent, loans and other debt $1.6 billion leaving only $556 million more to be paid. Cash funds were left at $788 million after more than $600 million was added to fixed assets since June 2015. At the pace profits are coming in the accumulated deficit of $4.6 billion will be wiped out in 2017.
IC Insider’s forecast for full years earning form normal operations is $4.75 which excludes the one off cost leaving the stock strongly in the buy column. The stock is listed on the main market of the Jamaica Stock exchange and closed at $22 on Friday.
Carib Cement bad news say buy
4 TTSE stocks rose on Thursday
The Trinidad and Tobago stock market closed on Thursday with moderate volumes, resulting in the market indices inching forward as 7 securities trading. The market closed with 155,585 shares valued at $2,710,831 changing hands. On a day when there were no declining stocks, 4 stocks gained and 3 remained unchanged.
The Composite Index rose by 1.55 points to close at 1,151.33, the All T&T Index gained 2.46 points to close at 1,815.17 and the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.09 points to 64.88.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Scotia Investments gained 10 cents in trading 22,650 shares, to end at $1.80, the equivalent of Jamaica $33.90 or 28 percent ahead of the price of $26.50, the stock last traded at in Jamaica. Scotiabank contributed 16,750 shares and gained 5 cents to end at $54.02 and 
Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed with 32,217 shares valued at $788,817 changing hands at $24.50 after gaining 96 cents.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments traded 7,520 to close at $22.75, Guardian Holdings traded 60,400 shares changing hands for a value of $767,080 to close at $12.70, National Flour traded 14,633 shares at $2.30 and Trinidad cement closed at $3.36 with 1,415 units trading.
TTSE inched up on Wednesday
The Trinidad and Tobago stock market closed on Wednesday with moderate gains in prices, resulting in the market indices inching forward as 11 securities traded of which 4 stocks gained, 1 declined and 6 remained unchanged.
The market closed with 74,998 shares valued at $877,624 changing hands. The Composite Index rose by 0.18 points to close at 1,149.78, the All T&T Index gained 0.34 points to close at 1,812.71 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 64.79.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Guardian Holdings traded 21,334 shares and gained 6 cents to close at $12.70, Prestige Holdings rose 5 cents with 125 units changing hands to end at $10.95, Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed with 100 shares changing hands at $23.54 after gaining 5 cents and Trinidad cement gained 1 cent to end at $3.36 with 7,820 units trading.
Losses| First Citizens lost 25 cents in trading 744 shares to close at $35.
Firm Trades| Firstcaribbean International Bank traded 696 shares to end at $7.08, Massy Holdings traded 5,101 shares for a value of $289,380 changing hands at $56.73, National Enterprises traded 100 shares at $10.75. Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 15,622 shares changing hands, to end at $7, Scotia Investments traded 25,000 shares to end unchanged at $1.70 and West Indian Tobacco had 856 shares changing hands at $126.28.
5 stocks gained on TTSE – Tuesday
NCB traded at a 52 weeks’ high on TTSE.
The Composite Index advanced by 1.64 points or to close at 1,143.95, the All T&T Index declined by 1.20 points to close at 1,795.47 and the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.61 at 65.57 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Firstcaribbean International Bank gained 9 cents in trading 8,330 shares at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.73 of $7.10, Grace Kennedy traded 470 shares at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.73 by adding 3 cents, National
Commercial Bank traded 36,550 shares and rose 4 cents, to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.70. National Flour Mills traded 1,688 shares and gained 3 cents to end at $2.33 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed with 37,407 shares valued at $848,358 changing hands at $22.75 after gaining 21 cents.Losses| National Enterprises traded 4,633 units at $10.75 with a loss of 13 cents and Prestige Holdings had 12,314 units changing hands with a loss of 1 cent to end at $10.89.
Firm Trades| Angostura Holdings traded 200 shares at $13, Ansa Mcal traded just 61 shares at $62.35,
Grace Kennedy hits 52 weeks’ high on TTSE.
Rising stocks dominate TTSE – Friday
Massy Holdings jumped TT$2.77 to close at TT$58 on Friday.
The Composite Index rose 3.94 points or to close at 1,142.32, the All T&T Index gained 4.83 points to close at 1,796.39 and the Cross Listed Index is up 0.41 at 65 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 9 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund closed with 52,643 shares valued at $1,197,628 changing hands to end at $22.75, for a 5 cents gain, First Citizens gained 50 cents in trading 15,528 shares valued at $540,411, to close at $35, Massy Holdings jumped $2.77 to close at $58 with 11,460 units valued at $650,127 changing hands. National Commercial Bank traded 52,800 units and rose 6 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.66, National Enterprises gained 45 cents to close with 3,367 shares changing hands at $11.20, Republic Financial Holdings ended with 24,087 shares with a value of $2,581,229 to close at $107.30 with a rise of 15 cents. Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed with 7,397 shares changing hands at $22.51 after gaining 1 cent and Scotiabank contributed 1,500 shares to close with a rise of 7 cents at $53.07.
Losses| Calypso Macro Index Fund traded 478 units at a 52 weeks’ low of $24.49 after shedding 1 cent, Guardian Holdings traded 1,380 shares and declined 4 cent to a 52 weeks’ low of $12.70 and Trinidad Cement trade 500,000 units valued at $1,675,000 to close with a loss of 15 cents at $3.35Firm Trades| JMMB Group closed with 3,060 shares changing hands, to end at 60 cents, One Caribbean Media closed at $21 with 310 shares changing hands. Prestige Holdings with 1,000 units changing hands ended at $10.90 and Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 670 shares changing hands, to end at $7.25.
TTSE slips with modest trading – Thursday
Trading on the Trinidad and Tobago stock market ended on Thursday after Wednesday’s holiday, with two indices falling. Trading was characterized with modest volumes as only 8 securities traded accounting for only 374,975 shares valued at just $1,493,875 changing hands. The market closed with 1 stock rising, 5 declining and 2 remaining unchanged as two stocks traded at 52 weeks’ lows.
The Composite Index fell 1.34 points or to close at 1,138.38, the All T&T Index fell by 2.67 points to close at 1,791.56 and the Cross Listed Index was unchanged at 64.59 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed with 35,670 shares valued at $802,5757,210 changing hands at $22.5, after gaining 14 cents.
Losses| First Citizens fell 1 cent in trading 4,465 shares, to close at $34.50, Guardian Holdings traded 360 shares and declined 1 cent to a 52 weeks’ low of $12.74, One Caribbean Media lost 24 cents to close at $21 with 100 shares changing hands.
Republic Financial Holdings ended with 115 shares to close at $107.15 with a loss of 1 cent to a 52 weeks’ low and Scotiabank contributed 5,900 shares with a value of $313,096 to close with a loss of 73 cents at $53.
Firm Trades| National Flour ended with 4,780 shares changing hands to close at $2.30 and JMMB Group closed with 323,585 shares changing hands, to end at 60 cents.
TTSE record modest gains – Monday
Trading on the Trinidad and Tobago stock market ended on the first trading day of July with all three indices rising with 11 securities trading. Trading accounted for 48,324 shares valued at $389,650 changing hands. The market closed with 4 stocks rising, 3 declining and 4 remaining unchanged.one stock traded at a 52 weeks’ high and one at a low.
The Composite Index gained 0.44 points or to close at 1,139.55, the All T&T Index climbed by 0.87 points to close at 1,794.20 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 64.54 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund gained 4 cents in trading 4,662 units at $22.70, First Citizens traded 10 shares, to close at $34.51 after rising by 1 cent, Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed with 3,040 shares changing hands at $22.36 after rising 4 cents and Trinidad Cement gained 8 cents with 2,815 units changing hands, to close at $3.50.
Losses| Guardian Holdings traded 5,770 shares but fell 5 cents to close at $12.75, Massy Holdings lost 1 cent to close at $55.24 with 177 shares changing hands and Republic Financial Holdings ended with 91 shares to close at $107.17 with a loss of 1 cent to a 52 weeks’ low.
Firm Trades| Angostura Holdings ended with 1,350 shares changing hands to close unchanged at $13, shares, National Commercial Bank traded 10,000 shares at $2.60, National Flour ended with 15,953 shares changing hands to close at $2.30 and Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 4,456 shares changing hands, to end at $7.25.
TTSE gains on first trading of July
Grace Kennedy hits 52 weeks’ high on TTSE.
The Composite Index gained 3.50 points or to close at 1,139.11, the All T&T Index climbed by 5.35 points to close at 1,793.33 and the Cross Listed Index rose 0.22 at 64.54 points.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 7 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 5 with offers that were lower.
Gains| First Citizens traded 3,450 shares to close at $34.50 and gained $1.10, Grace Kennedy contributed 2,000 shares, while gaining 21 cents in trading, to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $5.70. Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with 599 shares changing hands, to end with a gain of 3 cents at $7.25 and Trinidad and Tobago NGL traded 92,544 shares changing hands for a value of $2,064,934, to end at $22.32 after rising 7 cents.
Losses| Ansa McAl traded 550 units at a 52 weeks’ low of $62.42 after falling 1 cent and Massy Holdings lost 1 cent to close at $55.25 with 1,071 shares changing hands.Firm Trades| Angostura Holdings ended with 6,000 shares changing hands to close unchanged at $13, shares, JMMB Group closed at 60 cents after trading 10,000 shares, National Enterprises closed with 1,100 shares changing hands at $10.75, Trinidad Cement 5,563 units at $3.42 and West Indian Tobacco traded 5,100 shares with a value of $644,028, to close $126.28.
TTSE ends higher – Tuesday
Trading on the Trinidad and Tobago stock market accounted for 731,354 shares valued at $2,437,546 changing hands. At the close, 14 securities traded with 2 gaining, 2 declining, while 10 remained unchanged.
The Composite Index advanced by 0.16 points or to close at 1,136.07, the All T&T Index fell 0.24 points to close at 1,788.72 and the Cross Listed Index advanced by 0.08 points to 64.35.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 7 with offers that were lower.
Gains| Praetorian Property Mutual Fund contributed 465,450 shares valued at $1,172,780 to end at $2.51 after rising by 1 cent and Sagicor Financial traded 14,300 units to gain 8 cents and ended at $7.25.
Losses| Republic Financial Holdings declined by 5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $107.19 with just 30 shares changing hands and Scotiabank lost 2 cents to close at $53.82 with 442 shares traded.
Firm Trades| Clico Investments ended with 8,820 shares changing hands to end at $22.66, Guardian Holdings closed trading at $12.80, with 5,555 shares changing hands, 
JMMB Group traded 202,344 shares at 60 cents, Massy Holdings closed at $55.25 with 11,920 shares changing hands valued at $658,580. National Commercial Bank traded 18,514 shares to close at $2.60, National Flour Mills had 1,915 shares changing hands at $2.30, One Caribbean Media traded 30 shares to end at $21.24. Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed at $22.25 with 1,000 units changing hands, Trinidad Cement had 1,000 shares changing hands ended at $3.42 and West Indian Tobacco closed trading with 34 shares at $126.28.
Stocks still hitting lows on TTSE
First Citizens. jumped $1.10 on TTSE on Friday
The Composite Index advanced by 1.20 points or to close at 1,128.99, the All T&T Index rose 2.38 points to close at 1,789.13 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 62.36.
IC bid-offer Indicator| The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator ended with 5 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 6 with offers that were lower, suggesting there are more declines in a number of stocks to come.
Gains| First Citizens Bank closed trading with 2,410 shares and gained $1.10 to end at $33.75, Guardian Holdings gained 5 cents to close at $12.80, with 7,700 shares changing hands, Point Lisas traded 5,000 shares and gained 1 cent, to end at $3.70 and West Indian Tobacco gained 1 cent in trading 4,000 shares at $126.29.
Losses| Guardian Media traded 1,064 shares at a 52 weeks’ lows of $19.70 after falling 5 cents. Massy Holdings dropped 50 cents to close at $55.25, with 44,926 shares with a value of $2,482,177 changing hands and Republic Financial Holdings ended with 16,460 shares valued at $1,765,170 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $107.24 with a loss of 1 cent.
Firm Trades| Angostura Holdings ended with 6,689 shares changing hands to end at $12.90, Clico Investments ended with 4,177 shares changing hands to end at $22.68, JMMB Group traded 38,264 shares at 60 cents, National Enterprises closed with 215 shares changing hands at $10.98. National Flour ended with 18,285 shares changing hands to close at $2.30, Sagicor Financial traded 4,066 units at $7.14, Scotiabank closed at $53.85 with 497 shares traded, Trinidad and Tobago NGL closed at $22.25 with 8,689 units changing hands and Trinidad Cement 6,940 units at $3.42.