Supreme Ventures cut losses in the hospitality segment by a massive $103 million but the segment still lost $47 million leaving more work to be done to remove the losses and put it into a profitable position. The company was not so lucky in the sports betting with increased losses of $12 million or 37.1 percent to $45 million.
The change in these areas coupled with growth in new games helped pushed net profit after tax to $405 million for the three-month period, 20 percent increase, compared to $338 million for the comparative three-month period of 2014. Earnings per stock unit for the quarter amounted to 15.36 cents, compared to 12.82 cents for the corresponding period in 2014.
IC Insider had earlier forecasted profits for 2015 to be in the order of 45 cents per share and have now increased it to 60 cents per share, based on the latest numbers.
The strong profit growth came from a 15 percent growth in total revenues of $11.8 billion or a $1.5 billion increase, over the corresponding period in 2014 and flat expenses during the quarter.
“The Sports Betting segment results show an increase in, which was primarily attributable to higher than designed prize pay-out at 75 percent. The prize liability for the corresponding period in 2014 was 61.29 percent. The Gaming and hospitality segment results show a reduction in losses due to the net effect of the closure of Acropolis Montego Bay, Odyssey and The Castle gaming lounges”, management stated in a release of the quarterly report.
For the December quarter last year, gaming losses amounted to $85 million compared to an average of $126 million in the previous three quarters and sports betting contributed $46 million in losses for the final 2014 quarter. Without the losses in these two areas profit would have been much larger.
At the end of March the company had cash funds of $1.8 billion and should see an annual build-up of around $400 million, even with the increased dividend payments. Equity capital stands at $3.7 billion down from $4 billion in December 2014 and borrowed funds are at only $42 million, leaving the company in a healthy financial position.
The company upped its dividend payment based on these results by 55 percent.
Supreme’s gaming loss cut by $103m
Supreme bumps up dividend again
Supreme Ventures approved the payment of an interim dividend of 14 cents to be made on 27th May 2015 to shareholders on record as at 14th May 2015 representing an increase of 55.6 percent over the amount paid in 2014.
The approved payment translates to 16 percent rate of return per annum. In addition the company will also be paying the final portion of the special dividend they declared on 2nd March 2015.
The company announced in March, a final ordinary dividend for the year ended December 2014 of 8 cents per share, payable on March 21 and a special dividend of 23 cents per share to be paid on March 21 and 4 cents per share payable on May 27.
SVL paid dividends of 3 cents per share on January 8, last year as well as 3 cents in March, 9 cents in May, another 3 in September and 5 cents per stock on December 9, last year. The final regular dividend for 2014 brings the total relating to the 2014 profit to 19 cents per share or 54 percent of profits for the year. The total dividend payment just approved by the company totals 31 cents per share and is just short of the total profit for 2014, of 35.2 cents per share.
The company just reported a 20 percent increase in after tax to $405 million for the three-month period to March. The latest announcement of the results and dividends are likely to push the stocks much higher in the coming week.
J$ rises vs pound & Canadian
The slippage of the Jamaican dollar continued on Friday against the US dollar but it rose against the British and the Canadian currencies, Purchases of all currencies by dealers, amounted to US$34,733,786 equivalent, compared with US$29,464,814, on Thursday and selling of the equivalent of US$32,565,352 versus US$32,319,414, previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$32,036,309 compared to US$25,297,611 on Thursday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 15 cents to $115.21 and US$30,771,394 was sold versus US$30,716,384 on Thursday, the selling rate increased by 9 cents to end at $115.74. The Canadian dollar buying rate dropped $1.59 to $92.82 with dealers buying only C$709,151 and selling C$563,451, at an average rate that fell 67 cents to $95.43. The rate for buying the British Pound fell $1.29 to $173.49 for the purchase of £895,063, while £403,562, was sold, at an average rate that declined by $1.87 to $176.23. At the end of trading it took J$129.59 to purchase the Euro, 76 cents more than on Thursday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$126.99 for a rise of 67 cents on Thursday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$778,324, while the equivalent of US$714,886, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 10 cents to $116.15. The lowest buying rate rose 17 cents to $94.36. The highest selling rate remained at $120.91 with the lowest selling rate rising 6 cents to $96.22. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 80 cents to $95.60. The lowest buying rate declined by 62 cents to $75.53, the highest selling rate dropped 80 cents to $97.37 and the lowest selling rate remaining unchanged $91. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined $1.50 to $177, the lowest buying rate dipped $1.25 to $141.10, the highest selling rate dropped $1.54 to $180.29 with the lowest selling rate rising $2.95 to $170.
Moderate price changes on TTSE
At the close of the market, the Composite Index rose 1.06 points to close at 1,152.40, the All T&T Index rose 0.76 points to close at 1,966.81 and the Cross Listed Index increased by a 19 points to close at 44.32.
Gains| Stocks increasing in price at the close are, Firstcaribbean International Bank which gained just 1 cent in trading 2,000 units at $5.01. First Citizens Bank traded 3,876 shares closed with a gain of 5 cents, JMMB Group with 483,729 shares changing hands for a value of $241,835 and closed at 50 cents, after gaining 5 cents. Scotiabank gained 16 cents to end at $62.50 while trading 720 shares and West Indian Tobacco traded 432 shares to close with a gain of 2 cents to end at $125.16.
Declines| The stocks declining at the end of trading are, Agostini’s traded 796 units, lost 3 cents to end at $17.25 and ANSA Merchant Bank fell 5 cents to close at $38.90 while trading 200 shares.
Firm Trades| Stocks closing with prices unchanged at the end of trading are, Clico Investment Fund traded 43,160 shares valued at $973,258 and remained at $22.55. Grace Kennedy contributed 5,050 shares at $3.49, Guardian Media added 11,414 shares valued at $225,541 and closed at $19.76while National Flour Mills closed at $1.60 with 300 units traded. National Enterprises traded 119 shares to close at $17.30 followed by One Caribbean Media with 47,320 shares traded at $22.30 for a value of $1,055,236, Republic Bank traded 11,113 shares valued at $1,279,950 to end at $115. Sagicor Financial Corporation contributed 45,142 shares with a value of $266,337.80, while trading at $5.90 and Trinidad Cement with 1,821 shares traded at $2.75.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 6 stocks with the bid higher than their last selling prices and just 1 with the offer that was lower.
Market off to brisk start on Friday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange was off to a spirited start on Friday. By 9.35am, 8 securities traded, pushing the all Jamaica composite Index up 550.88 points to 103,543.13 and the JSE market Index up by 492.72 points to 93,757.15.
By 10 am the indices were up strongly as a number of stocks hit new 52 weeks high. The all Jamaica composite Index is up 935.61 points to 103,927.86 and the JSE market Index up by 836.32 points to 94,101.25, after an hours trading and the number of securities trading is up to 11.
Only one junior market stock has traded so far. Stocks pushing the indices are Carreras up to $47.40 from $47.08, Desnoes & Geddes up to $6.49 from $6.02, Sagicor group trading at $12 up from Thursday’s $11.01.
J$ falls against US & Pound
The slippage of the Jamaican dollar continued on Thursday against two of its main trading currencies as purchases of all currencies by dealers amounted to US$29,464,814 equivalent, compared with US$39,727,764, on Wednesday and selling of the equivalent of US$32,319,414 versus sale of US$38,332,411, previously.
In US dollar trading, dealers bought US$25,297,611 compared to US$34,618,052 on Wednesday. The buying rate for the US dollar rose 4 cents to $115.06 and US$30,716,384 was sold versus US$35,235,410 on Wednesday, the selling rate increased by 11 cents to end at $115.65. The Canadian dollar buying rate rose 37 cents to $94.41 with dealers buying C$1,273,867 and selling C$596,732, at an average rate that fell 9 cents to $96.10. The rate for buying the British Pound rose 16 cents to $174.77 for the purchase of £1,977,760, while £566,872, was sold, at an average rate that was up 70 cents to $178.10. At the end of trading it took J$128.83 to purchase the Euro, $1.97 more than on Wednesday, according to data from Bank of Jamaica, while dealers purchased the European common currency at J$126.32 for a rise of $1.90 on Wednesday’s rate. Other currencies bought, amounted to the equivalent of US$117,743, while the equivalent of US$234,214, was sold.
Highs & Lows| The highest buying rate for the US dollar, rose 17 cents to $116.05. The lowest buying rate remained at $94.19. The highest selling rate rose 21 cents to $120.91 with the lowest selling rate remaining unchanged at $96.16. The highest buying rate for the Canadian dollar fell 15 cents to $96.40. The lowest buying rate jumped $2.15 to $76.15, the highest selling rate dropped 68 cents to $98.17 and the lowest selling rate rose 50 cents to $91. The highest buying rate for the British Pound, declined 25 cents to $178.50, the lowest buying rate climbed $2.20 to $142.35, the highest selling rate climbed 76 cents to $181.83 with the lowest selling rate falling 45 cents to $167.05.