Profit in the June quarter dipped to $881,000 compared with $4.3 million in 2014 for Consolidated Bakeries. For the six months profit was up to $14.8 million from $8.9 million as revenues climbed just 2 percent to $398 million. For the quarter revenues fell 11 percent to $171 million as there was a shift in sales relating to Easter occurring in first quarter in 2015 versus the second quarter in 2014.
“Furthermore in our efforts to streamline the company we initiated product rationalization this quarter, thus reducing non profitable items thereby contributing to gross profit increases. This initiative slowed sales growth, which we intend to grow in the coming months,” management stated in a report to shareholders accompanying the interim Financials.
“During the second quarter gross profit increased to $68 million compared to $61 million for the same period in 2014. It should also be noted that increased expenses impacted profit from operations. The majority of these expenses can be attributed to our increased marketing activities. We deliberately planned these activities to aggressively reposition our brands against other major players in the market. Our merchandising and promotional 
teams were expanded to support this new thrust. We believe these expenses are worthwhile for the long-term growth of the business”, the management’s report went on to state.
The improvement in gross profit in spite of the decline in sales is a big positive going forward as it will help to boost the bottom-line at a faster pace than before, if sales increase. Administrative cost rose 18 percent, well ahead of the growth in gross profit of 12 percent, to $41.5 million in the quarter and for the half year by 11 percent to $$79.8 million. Selling and distribution expenses rose 21 percent for the quarter to $26.4 million and for the six months grew 24 percent to $50 million.
Earnings per share came in at 7 cents for the half year but only 0.04 cents in the quarter, the full year results seems set to be around 10 cents.
The company added $20 million to fixed assets, had borrowings of $57 million and cash and investments of $122 million.
Consolidated Bakeries profit falters
D&G profit fell in Q4
Profit fell to $815 million for Desnoes & Geddes, the brewers of the famous Red Stripe beer, in the final quarter of the fiscal year to June, versus $1 billion in 2014. Earnings per share came in at 83 cents with $1.12 in 2014. The latter includes gain on sale of investments in Eastern Caribbean breweries, equal to 35 cents per share. IC Insider is forecasting $1.05 per share earnings, for the year to June 2016.
Revenues came in at $4.4 billion for the quarter versus $3.8 billion in 2014, for the full year $16 billion versus $14.3 billion. Sales growth was helped by a combination of increased volume, product mix and price increase, the company stated. Royalties earned amounted to $533 million in the year and $525 million in 2014.
General, selling and administrative expenses were virtually static for the year at $1.26 billion compared to $1.22 billion but marketing cost rose 37 percent to $1.37 billion against an increase of 15.7 percent to $5.46 billion in gross profit.
For 2015, the company paid a dividend of 13 cents in March while a dividend 27 cents was paid in December last year, providing a yield of 12 percent based on the stock price of $4.10 on August 21 last year. Based on the increased profit and past dividend payments, investors can expect to see an increase for the next dividend payment.
The company’s stock last traded at $7 on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange giving it a PE ratio of 8.4 and a 100 percent premium to net asset value.
The stock valuation may be on the high side just now compared with others in the market, there are a few things investors should focus on. These include the likelihood of increased sales that should occur in the period leading up to the next general elections, with the high dividend yield and falling interest rates the stock will become more attractive as an income generator in the not too distant future.
J$ gives up more value on Friday
Purchases by dealers of foreign currencies on Friday, resulted in the Jamaican currency selling rate slipping against the US dollar and the Pound sterling. The market closed with dealers buying the equivalent of US$29,147,230 in contrast to US$28,138,795 on Thursday, while they sold the equivalent of US$33,299,425, previously US$26,796,262.
In US dollar trading , dealers bought US$26,569,760 compared to US$25,757,077 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar fell 2 cents to $116.92 and US$31,467,220 was sold versus US$25,025,994 on Thursday, the selling rate increased 8 cents to $117.61. The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 23 cents to $87.46 with dealers buying C$1,114,831 and selling C$870,717, at an average rate that fell 20 cents to $89.75. 
The rate for buying the British Pound climbed 32 cents to $181.50 for the purchase of £1,007,156, while £653,331 was sold, at an average rate that climbed 31cents to $183.07. At the end of trading, it took J$131.62 to purchase the Euro, with a rise of $1.70 from Thursday’s rate, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$129 for a gain of $1.76 on Thursday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$180,045, while the equivalent of US$145,261 was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, the lowest buying, the highest and the lowest selling rates were unchanged at $117.80, $96.19, $123.26 and $96.19 respectively. 
The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar rose $1.30 to $91, the lowest buying and highest selling rates were unchanged at $71.63 and $92.34 respectively. The lowest selling rate gained $1.30 to end at $86.80. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, rose 50 cents to $184.60, the lowest buying and the highest selling rates remained at $148.07 and $190.89 respectively. The lowest selling rate inched up 60 cents to $179.
RJR Gleaner pre-emptive move
TVJ one of RJR’s subsidaries
The statement avoided naming entities but there are only two telecom companies in the island. Digicel started online media start-up LOOP, acquired cable company TELSTAR and regional cable channel SportsMax within the year. While LIME (C&W) regionally acquired Colombus Communications which trades as FLOW locally. Additionally the IC Insider understands from impeccable sources that talks broke down between LIME and an online media entity set for acquisition.
These moves however came within the context of what the media entities described as an already “challenging local climate”, according to an acquisition statement on a dedicated page on the Gleaner’s website.
“Further, recent moves by the large foreign owned telecom players have introduced a new dynamic where they themselves are increasingly offering media services, competing for local advertising dollars with the traditional players. Our two entities have sought to counter these developments by consolidating to shore up our financial bases in preparation for the heightened competition,” according to the statement on the dedicated merger question and answer website.
The developments in media and telecommunications so far this year could put many Jamaican media companies into the red, facing massive cut back in resources and even closure. This transaction is therefore necessary for financial sustainability of the two businesses. Jamaica needs a strong locally-owned media entity to maintain and expand our offerings globally, added the statement.
Over 3,000 points off JSE for week
NCB helped pull the JSE down by more than 3,000 points in closing at $28.02 on Friday.
At the close, the JSE Market Index fell 680.29 points to 97,761.47, for the week the index lost 3,047.20 points. The JSE All Jamaican Composite index dived 760.37 points on Friday and 3,405.92 for the week to close at 108,210.06 and the JSE combined index dropped 731.14 points for the day and 3,285.21 points for the week, to end at 101,078.60.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that reflects continuation of declining stocks having the upper hand over advancing ones with 8 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 8 with offers that were lower.In trading, Caribbean Cement had 87,642 units changing hands at $8, Carreras traded 163,263 shares at $50, Desnoes & Geddes traded 1,732,428 shares at $7, Gleaner closed with 18,416 shares and rose 12 cents to $1.92. Jamaica Broilers traded at $5.62 with 203,100 shares changing hands for a loss of 23 cents, JMMB Group traded 254,309 shares for a fall of 45 cents to $7.50,
Kingston Wharves ended with 6,000 shares changing hands to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.20 for a gain of 4 cents. National Commercial Bank traded 390,891 shares to end lower by 98 cents to $28.02, Palace Amusement traded 6,300 shares at $88 to add $13, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 320,000 units at 20.55 US cents, up 1.05 cents. Sagicor Group with 134,976 shares changing hands, closed 5 cents higher at $13, Scotia Group traded 166,559 units to close at $24, up 25 cents. Supreme Ventures ended at $3.30 with 15,253 units to be down by 5 cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 486,000 units at $2.
7 stocks fell on junior market
The JSE junior market fell on Friday while 7 stocks declined and only 1 advanced out of 12 securities that traded, resulting in 1,272,996 units, valued at $2,909,186 changing hands. The market lost 24.71 points to close at 982.87.
At the close 4 securities ended with no bids to buy, while 4 had no stocks being offered for sale and 3 stocks closed with bids higher than the last traded prices and 2 with the offers being lower.
Stocks trading are, Access Financial Services traded 367 shares to close at $13, with a fall of $2.51, AMG Packaging closed at $3.65 with only 733 units changing hands, Blue Power closed with 3,568 units changing hands at $12.28, Caribbean Cream traded 215,075 units to close 30 cents lower at $1.99. Caribbean Flavours traded 459,138 units with the price dropping 5 cents to $2.75. Caribbean Producers traded just 2,000 units for an 8 cents fall to $2.72, General Accident Insurance traded 46,569 units with the price closing 5 
cents lower, to a 52 weeks’ low of $1.25, the bid was at $1.45 to buy 220,000 shares and offered at $1.50 for sale of 273,438 units. Honey Bun with 11,526 shares changing hands and closed with a loss of 5 cents at $3.65, Lasco Distributors closed with 14,650 units trading, 16 cents lower at $1.79, Lasco Financial ended with 290,485 shares changing hands at $1.66 for a fall of 14 cents, at the close the bid was at $1.70 to buy 30,000 shares. Lasco Manufacturing with 175,657 units changing hands, closed at $1.84 and Medical Disposables traded 45,653 shares to close at $2.50.
Only 2 price changes on TTSE
In overall trading Friday on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange, 6 securities changed hands, the price of 1 rose, 1 declined and 4 traded with prices unchanged as a total of 106,169 shares traded, valued at $949,980.
At the close, the Composite Index rose 0.17 points to 1,145.78, the All T&T Index was unchanged at 1,954.54 and the Cross Listed Index gained 0.04 points to close at 44.19.
Gains| JMMB Group traded 12,000 shares to close 1 cent higher at 42 cents.
Losses| Sagicor Financial Corporation closed with a fall of 50 cents with 42,135 shares changing hands at $5.50, for a value of $252,743.
Firm Trades|, Clico Investment Fund traded 18,370 shares valued at $413,509 and closed at $22.51.
Guardian Holdings added 20,000 shares to close at $12.90, National Commercial Bank traded 5,664 shares at $1.52 and Scotia Investments had 8,000 shares changing hands at $1.51 at the close.
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 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
JSE down on Friday morning
The Jamaica Stock market suffered large losses in the morning session up to 10 am, in the process the All Jamaica Index trades at 108,368.40 down by 602.03 points, 
JSE Market Index declined 538.63 points to 97,903.13. The combined index fell 723.97 points to be at 101,219.77 and the junior market index 983.71, down 23.87 points.
Access Financial traded at $13 for a fall of $2.51 on small volume, Caribbean Cream traded back at $2 with 200,000 shares, General Accident Insurance traded at a 52 weeks with low volume at $1.25, Lasco Financial traded 270,000 at $2 with a 20 cents gain. Jamaica Broilers traded 203,100 with a loss of 23 cents to $5.62, National Commercial Bank traded 377,238 shares $1 lower at $28. Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 486,000 units at $2.
A total of 22 securities with a volume of only 1,768,650 units have traded with 7 stocks declining versus 7 that rose.
JSE decline continues on Thursday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday closed with main market indices recording tripe digit losses, adding to the big losses on Wednesday. The market closed with a fairly high participation rate of 30 securities changing hands but with low activity resulting in just 2,344,156 units trading, valued at only $14,789,149 with 9 stocks rising, 10 declining with 2 stocks closing at 52 weeks high and 1 at a 52 weeks’ low, in all market segments.
At the close, the JSE Market Index fell 657.55 points to 98,441.76, the JSE All Jamaican Composite index dived 734.97 points to close at 108,970.43 and the JSE combined index dropped 731.14 points to end at 101,943.74.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had a reading that reflects continuation of declining stocks having the upper hand over advancing one with 6 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 9 with offers that were lower.
In trading, Cable and Wireless had 214,092 shares changing hands to end at 40 cents, Caribbean Cement had 112,969 units changing hands at $8.01, Desnoes & Geddes traded 212,380 shares at $7 for a gain of 21 cents, Gleaner closed with 17,000 shares and fell 20 cents to $1.80. 
Jamaica Broilers traded at $5.85 with 8,550 shares changing hands for a loss of 20 cents, JMMB Group traded 383,750 shares at $7.95, National Commercial Bank traded 26,130 shares to end lower by $1 to $29, Proven Investments ordinary share traded 225,030 units at 19.5 US cents, up 0.50 cents. Sagicor Group with 17,030 shares changing hands, closed 51 cents down at $12.95, Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 25 cents to close at $8.50 while trading a mere 865 units, Scotia Group traded 11,272 units to close at $23.75, up 5 cents. Supreme Ventures ended at $3.35 with 92,500 units to be down by 15 cents and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.50% preference share traded 75,000 units at $2.
No end to TTSE fall
In overall trading Thursday on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange,15 securities changed hands, the price of 1 rose, 4 declined including 2 closing at a 52 weeks’ low and 10 traded with prices unchanged as a total of 174,395 shares traded, valued at $2,472,069.
At the close of the market, the Composite Index slid 2.06 points to 1,145.61, the All T&T Index fell 2.75 points to 1,954.54 and the Cross Listed Index fell 0.18 points to close at 44.15.
Gains| Clico Investment Fund traded 58,680 shares valued at $1,320,867 and closed 1 cent higher at $22.51.
Losses| ANSA McAL contributed 636 shares in trading, to close at $67.25 with the loss of a cent, JMMB Group traded 2,000 shares to close 4 cents down at 41 cents. National Enterprises with 827 shares changing hands, and lost 9 cents, to close at a 52 weeks’ low at $17 and Republic Bank suffered a loss of 1 cent to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $113.99 with 6,423 shares changing hands, at a value of $732,158.
Firm Trades| Angostura Holdings with 40 shares changing hands, closed at $14, Ansa Merchant Bank traded 446 units at $38.95, Grace Kennedy had 240 units changing hands at $3.50, Guardian Holdings added 2,000 shares to close at $12.90, Guardian Media 
traded 300 shares with the price remaining at $19.76. Massy Holdings traded 73 shares to close at $67.02, National Flour Mills with 51,250 shares traded and closed at $2.20, One Caribbean Media traded 100 shares with the price closing at $22.31, had 712 shares changing hands at $62.32 at the close and Trinidad Cement traded 50,668 at $2.90.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator had 5 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and 3 stocks with offers that were lower.
