Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with Republic Bank dropping 72 cents at the end of trading. There was activity in the market, with 11 securities changing hands, of which 4 advanced, 3 declined and 4 traded firm with a total of 638,480 units, valued at $1,740,915.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.80 points to close at 1,145.6 the All T&T Index rose fell by 1.68 points to close at 1,962.76 and the Cross Listed Index increased by 0.01 points to end at 43.04.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Clico Investment Fund gained 4 cents to end at $22.15 while trading 9,366 shares valued at $207,457, Jamaica Money Market Brokers was the volume leader with 518,756 shares changing hands for a value of $233,440 and gained a cent to 45 cents, Scotiabank traded 682 shares at $58.13 up a cent and West Indian Tobacco traded 537 shares at $119.03 for a 1 cent gain.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Grace Kennedy contributed 40,000 shares with a value of $153,600, to close 1 cent down at $3.84 while by Sagicor Financial Corporation with a volume of 57,622 shares traded for $346,893, to end at a new 52 weeks’ low, of $6.01 after falling 4 cents, conversely, Republic Bank suffered a loss 72 cents to close at $120 as 1,285 shares traded.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 1,000 units ended at $12.75, First Citizens Bank had 2,472 units trading at $36.76, Massy Holdings added 6,260 shares valued at $429,123 to close at $68.55 and National Enterprises traded 500 shares at $17.49.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
Republic drops 72 cents on TTSE
Trading broadens with 17 securities
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 17 securities changing hands of which 3 advanced, 4 declined and 10 traded firm with a total of 89,562 units, valued at $2,032,287.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.77 points to close at 1,146.06, the All T&T Index rose 0.18 points to close at 1,964.43 and the Cross Listed Index fell by 0.23 points to end at 42.94. Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, ANSA McAl with 1,495 shares advanced by 2 cents to end at $12.75, Scotiabank contributed 7,666 shares with a value of $445,155, to close $58.07 and Unilever Caribbean increased 3 cents, to end at $64.22 with 4 units traded to close at a new 52 weeks’ high.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Jamaica Money Market Brokers that added 7,476 shares but lost 3 cents, to end at 42 cents, National Commercial Bank with 12,300 shares changing hands, for a value of $12,054 but lost 2 cents, to close at 98 cents, One Caribbean Media lost 2 cents with 721 shares in closing at $25.10 and Republic Bank with 2,273 shares changing hands for a value of $274,419 and closed at $120.73 as the price slipped by 1 cent.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with a volume of 8,552 shares, traded for $109,036 and closed at $12.75, while Clico Investment Fund with 31,215 shares valued at $689,852 remained at $22.10, First Citizens Bank traded 1,319 shares, to close at $36.76, Grace Kennedy traded 765 units at $3.85, Guardian Media 925 shares $19.75, Guardian Holdings 3,184 shares at $13.55, Massy Holdings traded 3,689 shares valued at $252,918 and closed at $68.55, National Flour Mills 2,500 shares ended at $1.10, Sagicor Financial Corporation with 478 shares, closed at $6.05 and Trinidad Cement with 5,000 shares closed at $1.99.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 1 stock with the bid higher than the last selling price and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Guardian Holdings profit up
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.
5 stock gained on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 9 securities changing hands, of which 5 advanced, 1 declined and 3 traded firm, with a total of 64,377 units, valued at $895,542.
At the close, the Composite Index rose 0.13 points to close at 1,146.83, the All T&T Index gained 1.16 points to close at 1,964.25 and the Cross Listed Index fell by 0.12 points to end at 43.17.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 14,903 shares changing hands valued at $190,013 and gained 20 cents to end at $12.75, Point Lisas traded 1,839 shares to close with a gain of 5 cents, to end at $4.05, Republic Bank contributed 80 shares as the price closed up 74 cents, at $120.74, Scotiabank with 214 shares ended with a gain of 4 cents at $58.05 and West Indian Tobacco rose 2 cents to $119.02, while trading 80 units.
Declines| The only stock declining at the end of trading is, Sagicor Financial Corporation in trading 18,472 shares valued at $111,756, as the price fell 14 cents, to end at $6.05.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged, at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund with 14,560 shares valued at $321,776 at $22.10, First Citizens Bank traded 1,695 shares to close at $36.75 and Guardian Holdings contributed 12,526 shares with a value of $169,697, to end at $13.55.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 2 stocks with offers that were lower.
NCB wage award adds J$430M to cost
National Commercial Bank (NCBJ)has provided an update to the two Stock Exchange that its shares are listed on.
The bank has now stated that the total gross provision required to meet the total sum needed to satisfy the award, for the two year negotiating period, ending September 30th, 2014 is, approximately J$1.7 billion. The total amount to cover the award exceeds by approximately J$430 million, the amount that NCBJ had been providing for increased salaries and benefits, for the negotiating period. The amount is lower than the net sum of approximately $500 million IC insider suggested, would be the charge net of taxation. This shortfall, NCBJ says will be reflected in their income statement, for the year ended September 30th, 2014.
Moderate price changes on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange closed with 15 securities changing hands of which 2 advanced, 3 declined and 10 traded firm, with a total of 222,485 units, valued at $2,436,444 traded.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.07 points to close at 1,146.70, the All T&T Index fell by 0.14 points to close at 1,963.09 and the Cross Listed Index remained at 43.29.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Angostura Holdings that gained 5 cents, to end at $12.55 while 1,724 units were traded and Scotiabank gaining just a cent, to end at $58.01 with 1,371 units changing hands.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Guardian Holdings added 19,230 shares valued at $260,567 and closed 5 cents lower, at $13.55, Massy Holdings traded 1,200 shares to close with a 1 cent loss, at $68.55 and National Enterprises with 1,518 shares traded, to close at $17.50.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAl with only 100 units changing hands, to end at $66.15, Clico Investment Fund with 40,720 shares valued at $899,912, remained at $22.10, First Citizens Bank contributed 21,500 shares with a value of $790,128, to end at $36.75, Guardian Media added only 20 shares to close at $19.75, National Flour Mills with 28,166 shares being traded for $30,983, closed at $1.10, National Commercial Bank traded 4,000 shares and closed at $1, Scotia Investment with 2,000 shares trading, ended at $1.40, One Caribbean Media contributed 846 shares at $25.12, Trinidad Cement with 100,000 shares changing hands for a value of $199,092, closed at $2 and West Indian Tobacco traded 90 units, to close at $119.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
Scotiabank bottoms looking up on TTSE
Scotiabank seems to have hit bottom, with good buying coming into the market on the first trading day of November, pushing the price up by a small amount. IC insider has elevated the stock to BUY RATED status. At the close, there was 18,922 units on the bid to buy at $58 and a small volume to sell, at $59.50.
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 15 securities changing hands, of which 5 advanced, 2 declined and 8 traded firm, ending with a total of 666,624 units, valued at $6,731,903.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 0.73 points to close at 1,146.77, the All T&T Index gained 0.91 points to close at 1,963.23 and the Cross Listed Index fell / increased by 0.07 points to end at 43.29.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Guardian Holdings added 53,950 shares valued at $733,720 to end 9 cents higher at $13.60, Massy Holdings traded 43,706 shares valued at $2,996,483 to close with a gain of 2 cents to end at $68.56, Sagicor Financial Corporation traded 60 shares valued at $6.19 to close with a gain of 14 cents Scotiabank gained 2 cents to $58 while trading 13,544 units valued at $785,552 and seems to have clearly bottomed and West Indian Tobacco gained 23 cents to end the day at $119 while trading 2,425 units.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, One Caribbean Media with 367 shares ended at $25.12 after losing a cent and Trinidad Cement with 144,893 shares traded for $289,858 closed at $2 after dropping 3 cents
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL with 685 shares closed unchanged at $66.17, Clico Investment Fund with 13,280 shares valued at $293,488 remained at $22.10, First Citizens Bank traded 13,331 shares to close at $36.75, Grace Kennedy contributed 128,489 shares with a value of $494,680 to end at $3.85, Jamaica Money Market Brokers traded firm at 45 cents after trading 1,038 units, National Commercial Bank with 200,000 shares changing hands for a value of $200,000 and closed at $1, National Enterprises traded 2,056 shares to close unchanged at $17.50 and Scotia Investments closed at $1.40 with 48,800 units changing hands.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 2 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 1 stock with the offer that was lower.
14 stocks traded on TTSE
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange ended with 14 securities changing hands, of which 3 advanced, 1 declined and 10 traded firm with a total of 496,344 units, valued at $1,150,956. At the close of the market, the Composite Index lost 0.04 points to close at 1,146.52, the All T&T Index fell by 0.07 just points to close at 1,962.08 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 43.38.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Unilever Caribbean with a 4 cents gain to $64.15 after trading 133 units to close at a new 52 week’ high, National Commercial Bank with 450,000 shares changing hands for a value of $450,000 closed 2 cents higher at $1 and West Indian Tobacco put on 5 cents to end at $118.61 while trading 300 shares.
Declines| The only stock declining at the end of trading is, One Caribbean Media added 4,235 shares valued at $106,383, falling 13 cents to end at $25.12.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 8,137 shares valued at $101,713, traded at $12.50, Clico Investment Fund with 2,970 shares valued at $65,637 ended at $22.10, First Citizens Bank had 1,940 shares trading to end at $36.75, Guardian Holdings had 3,000 units trading at $13.50, Massy Holdings traded 2,134 shares at $68.55, National Enterprises 302 shares ended at $17.50, National Flour Mills 1,000 closed at $1.10, followed by Scotiabank traded 1,547 shares at $58 and Scotia Investments with a volume of 20,646 shares being traded at $1.40.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 4 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and only 1 stock with the offer lower.
Investors spend $15.7m on Republic’s shares
Trading on the Trinidad Stock Exchange on Monday, closed with Republic Bank accounting for $15.7 million worth of shares traded, but the stock price declined at the close. There were 14 securities changing hands on the first trading day of the week, 3 advanced in price, 5 declined and 6 traded firm, with a total of 665,955 units, valued at $19,599,985.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index declined by 0.47 points to close at 1,147.18, the All T&T Index fell 0.93 points to end at 1,963.40 and the Cross Listed Index remained unchanged at 43.38.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, First Citizens Bank traded 1,665 shares and gained 4 cents to close at $36.80, One Caribbean Media increasing 13 cents to end the day at $25.25, in spite of a slight decline in earnings for the year to September of 3 percent to reach $57.8 million and 17.5 percent reduction in the September quarter to $18.4 million. Conversely, West Indian Tobacco gained 2 cents to land at $118.52, while 70 units traded. Profit before taxation for the nine months ended 30 September, climbed 13 percent to $436 million, over the corresponding period in 2013 and profit after tax for the nine months is $329 million, reflecting an increase of 16 percent over 2013. Profit after tax rose 9 percent in the September quarter over that of 2013 as revenues declined slightly.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Angostura Holdings with 2,210 shares, declined by 2 cents to close at $12.53, National Enterprises contributed 39,978 shares with a value of $699,615, closing down 4 cents at $17.50, a 52 weeks’ low, National Commercial Bank with 401,176 shares changing hands for a value of $401,152 to end down 2 cents to 98 cents, National Flour traded 3,000 shares to close with the loss of 4 cents to $1.10, Republic Bank with 130,000 shares traded for $15,743,000 lost 10 cents to end at $121.10
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, ANSA McAL added 18,349 shares valued at $1,213,786 and closed at $66.15, Clico Investment Fund with 60,618 shares valued at $1,340,545 to end at $22.11, Guardian Holdings traded 3,167 shares to close $13.50, Jamaica Money Market Brokers had 500 shares changing hands at 45 cents, Massy Holdings traded 22 shares to close at $68.55, Trinidad Cement with 3,200 shares ended at $2.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 3 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and only 1 stock with the offer that is lower.
Berger surges to the top
Berger Paints surged to the top of the list of stocks on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange that should return the highest gains to investors, in the months ahead, with the potential to reach 500 percent.
Next in line is Trinidad Cement with 300 percent. Scotiabank has fallen to $58 from a high of $73.12 earlier this year. At the close of trading for the week, Scotiabank’s price seems set to decline further, with selling pressure still overwhelming buying interest, at the current price level. The decline so far has put the stock back in the list of top buys, with potential gain of 40 percent at the last traded price. The bank reported poor results in the first half of the fiscal year, but showed strong gains in the July quarter including good pick up in loans. This suggest that 2015 earnings should move up attractively, subject to continued growth in the loan portfolio. Importantly the PE has fallen in line with Republic Bank at around 16 times earnings and only slightly above the rest. Berger has surged based on the latest results, putting profit for the six months to September at $1.122 million, a big improvement over than the $240,000 earned in the 2013 period and almost ensuring that the full year’s earnings of $2.93 million to March this year, will be bettered by a good degree. 
Berger’s profit improvement is flowing from reduced cost rather than sales growth. Sales fell slightly to $29.8 million for the half year, compared to $30.1 million in the 2013 period. IC Insider is forecasting $1.10 per share, around $6 million after tax for the current year.
Rounding out the top list of the stocks that virtually select themselves are, Sagicor Financial, Point Lisas, Guardian Holdings, National Flour Mills, Massy Holdings, First Citizens Bank, Ansa Merchant Bank, Republic Bank and Scotiabank.
The 2014 financial year for a number of the companies have ended in September, with more results to be released soon. Investors’ minds will start to focus on 2015 when the results for some of the companies will show improvement over 2014, making the stocks cheaper now than they are likely to be a few months from now when the results for 2015 starts to flow.
Trinidad Cement released their nine months results to September which point to earnings from continuing operations being 13 cents for the quarter and annualised at 52 cents per share. The agreement to supply Venezuela with 240,000 tonnes of clinker will help boost the group’s profit, while the contract is being satisfied. While debt is a negative, the present cash flow if continued, will see them out of danger within 3-4 years.
Overall the TTSE market average PE is at 14.4 with 12 stocks above this levels and 10 stocks below.