Jamaica Broilers
The financial year to April 2017 was a good one for Jamaica Broilers Group, with attractive revenue and profit growth. For the full year, profit after tax attributed to the company’s shareholders rose 28 percent to $2.23 billion from $1.74 billion in 2016.
Sales revenues grew 15.3 percent to $44.44 billion for the year from $38.52 billion in 2016. The group enjoyed a 17% increase in revenues in the fourth quarter to $12.32 billion up from $10.52 in 2016 but profit but rose from $900 million to $1 billion at a slower pace than the growth in revenue.
A fall in the pace of growth in gross profit was a major factor in the slower growth in the last quarter as direct cost rose limiting gross profit to a rise of 13 percent to $3.57 billion in the quarter from $3.16 billion in 2016.
Segment results showed the Jamaican segment generating revenues of $31.96 billion up from $28.4 billion but segment results fell from $3.6 billion to $2.87 billion. Revenues for the US based operations grew to $10.86 billion from 8.8 billion and generated segment profit of $1.3 billion compared to $1 billion in 2016. Other Caribbean Countries generated revenues from third parties of $1.6 billion up from $1.3 billion in 2016 and contributed $944 million to profit up from $254 million in 2016.
While some Jamaican companies are by passing cheap borrowed funds for expansion purposes, Jamaica Broilers with equity capital of $14.4 billion has $7.7 billion in debt. The group holds $2.76 billion in cash with loan receivable of $2.55 billion of which $500 million is due within 12 months. Cash flow from operations is attractive at approximately $3 billion for 2017. During the past year $749 million was expended on the acquisition of fixed assets compared to $800 million in 2016 and the group paid dividends of $420 million for the 2017 fiscal year, up from $311 million in the prior period.
Forecast for 2018 is for EPS of $2.60, up from $1.85 for 2017. The stock closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday at $18 at 10 times 2017 earnings but 7 times 2018 earnings compared to an average of the main market of 13.7. IC Insider.com rates the stock a buy for growth and income.
Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with the number of stocks rising and falling being almost even. Trading volumes declined while the values increased compared to the prior day but the market indices closed lower. 
The main market ended trading with an average of 77,242 units valued at a mere $2,739,438 for every security traded compared to an average of 88,137 units valued at $2,092,927 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 235,617 units valued at $4,170,226 compared with an average of 243,952 units with an average value of $4,245,530 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
NCB Financial Group closed at $70.99, with a loss of 41 cents after exchanging 56,856 shares, 1834 Investments gained 5 cents to close at $1.50 trading 17,269 shares, PanJam Investment lost 2 cents to close at $34.87, with trades of 14,326 shares. Portland JSX advanced $2 to close at $11, with 62,072 shares changing hands, Pulse Investments closed at $17.99, with an exchange of 4,584 shares, Radio Jamaica gained 10 cents to close at $1.60 trading 17,627 units, Sagicor Group closed at $33.20, with a loss of $1.33, trading 3,921 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 50 cents to close at $11.50, with 3,450 shares changing hands. Scotia Group traded $2.98 lower to close at $42.52 exchanging 734,967 shares, Scotia Investments closed at $36.58 trading 10,100 units while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.45, losing 20 cents with 15,101 shares changing owners. Proven Investments US ordinary shares closed at 23 US cents, with 5,145 units changing hands.
Investors in Proven Investments US ordinary shares a strong message to the management of the group by talking with their money. Last week, the company’s shares were sold at $20 and less in the Jamaican dollars on the main market of the stock exchange when the price in the US dollar market was near J$31. 
The main market ended trading with an average of 88,137 units valued at $2,092,927 for every security traded compared to an average of 74,329 units valued at $1,781,396 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 243,952 units with an average value of $4,245,530 compared with an average of 252,609 units with an average value of $4,365,119 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
Pulse Investments closed at $17.99, losing 1 cent with an exchange of 500 shares, Sagicor Group closed at $34.53, gaining 43 cents trading 48,115 shares and Sagicor Real Estate fund lost 60 cents to close at $11, with 146,392 shares changing hands. Scotia Group closed at $45.50, with gains of $2.99 exchanging 324,221 shares, Scotia Investments closed at $36.58, with a loss of 42 cents trading 194 units, Seprod traded $2 lower to close at $28, with an exchange of 6,700 shares while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.65, gaining 24 cents with 86,000 shares changing owners. Proven Investments US ordinary shares closed at 23 US cents, losing 0.01 US cent with trades of 1,828,601 units, JMMB 7.5% preference share lost 5 cents to close at $1.85 exchanging 75,500 shares, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.13 trading 329 units and Proven Investments 8.25% preference share traded 119,300 units at $5.17.
Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Monday with a number of stocks declining out pacing those rising. The volume and value of stocks trading declined compared to that on Friday and the market indices trended lower. 
The main market ended trading with an average of 74,329 units valued at a mere $1,781,396 for every security traded compared to an average of 77,182 units valued at a mere $5,040,005 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 252,609 units with an average value of $4,365,119 compared with an average of 263,096 units with an average value of $4,517,103 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
Kingston Properties closed at $9.95 losing 5 cents exchanging 2,000 shares, Kingston Wharves jumped $4 higher to close at $30 trading 3,402 shares. Mayberry Investments closed at $5, losing 19 cents with 2,000 shares traded, NCB Financial Group closed at $70, with a loss of $1.50 after exchanging 34,098 shares and falling to $68 in early morning trading. 1834 Investments closed at $1.45, losing 5 cents with 33,000 units changing hands, 138 Student Living exchanged 10,600 units at $4.50, PanJam Investment gained 10 cents to close at $34.10, with trades of 6,287 shares. Proven Investments traded $2 higher to close at record high of J$21, in exchanging 48,000 shares in the main market, Pulse Investments closed at $18, with an exchange of 4,048 shares, Radio Jamaica traded 185,000 shares at $1.50, Sagicor Group closed at $34.10, losing 9 cents trading 93,100 shares. Scotia Group dropped $2.19 to close at $42.51, exchanging 336,471 shares while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.41, losing 9 cents with 6,058 shares changing owners. Proven Investments US ordinary shares closed at 24 US cents, with trades of 203,960 units, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed at $1.13, gaining 1 cent with an exchange of 4,471 units and Jamaica Producers traded 425,000 units of corporate bond at $100 each.
Thursday, with attempts to trade at $7.40 on Friday thwarted by the circuit breaker rules. The trade was cancelled after the market closed.
Several stocks are trading below these averages, and have potential for more gains in the months ahead, barring major negative developments.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and US dollar markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 2 with lower offers.
amaica Producers traded $1 higher to $16, with 18,695 units being exchanged. Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7 trading 20,747 shares, 
The main market ended trading with an average of 1,473,651 units valued at $4,820,484 for each security traded compared to an average of 88,100 units valued at $2,799,447 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 97,758 units with an average value of $2,120,059 compared with an average of 194,786 units with an average value of $4,462,018 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
Mayberry Investments closed at $5.19, with a loss of 1 cent trading just 100 shares, NCB Financial Group closed at $71, losing 50 cents after exchanging 12,063 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.52, gaining 2 cents with 146,021 units changing hands, 138 Student Living traded 52,600 units at $4.50, Palace Amusement closed at $390 exchanging 197 units, PanJam Investment gained 50 cents to close at $34.50, with trades of 19,773 shares. Proven Investments traded 10,395 shares at $19.51, well below the approximate $30 the same share traded at in the US dollar market. Pulse Investments added 50 cents to close at $18, with an exchange of 7,500 shares, Radio Jamaica gained 5 cents, closing at $1.65 with 37,357,068 shares trading, Sagicor Group closed at $34.51, gaining 1 cent trading 1,800,807 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 35 cents to close at $11.50, with trades of 13,246 shares. Scotia Group closed at $44, with gains of $1.47 exchanging 250 shares while Supreme Ventures added 34 cents, closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.79, with 10,230 shares changing owners. Proven Investments exchanged 226,255 ordinary shares at 24 US cents, Proven 8.25% preference share lost 20 cents, closing at $5.20, with 136,900 units traded and Jamaica Money Market Brokers 7.5% preference share gained 10 cents to close at $2, with 8,966 units changing hands.
The main market ended trading with an average of 88,100 units valued at a mere $2,799,447 for every security traded compared to an average of 140,556 units valued at $8,877,187 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 194,786 units with an average value of $4,462,018 compared with an average of 202,407 units with an average value of $4,580,773 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
NCB Financial Group closed at $71.50, losing 50 cents after exchanging 167,790 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.50, with 35,444 units changing hands, 138 Student Living gained 2 cents to close at $4.50, with 10,000 units, Palace Amusement jumped $50 and closed at a new all-time high of $390, trading 200 units, PanJam Investment exchanged 58,141 shares to gain 1 cent and end at $34. Pulse Investments traded 50 cents higher to close at $17.50, with an exchange of 4,756 shares, Radio Jamaica exchanged 85,169 shares at $1.60,Sagicor Group closed at $34.50, gaining 30 cents, trading 717,539 shares. Scotia Group closed at $42.53, after losing $1.02 in exchanging 510,077 shares, Scotia Investments closed at $37 with 22,356 units changing hands while Supreme Ventures gained 45 cents and closed at $7.45, with 111,000 shares trading. Proven Investments closed at 24 US cents, with a loss of 0.02 US cents, trading 183,292 ordinary shares, Margaritaville Turks lost 0.01 US cent to close at 34 US cents exchanging 13,900 units, JMMB 7.5% preference share lost 10 cents to close at $1.90, with 7,850 units changing hands and Proven 8.25% preference share gained 20 cents, closing at $5.40, with 5,200 units traded.
Trading in the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Tuesday with stocks rising outnumbering those falling. The market indices fell back at the close the JSE Market Index fell 878.85 points to 235,245.62, with the All Jamaica Composite Index declining 964.58 points to close at 258,195.81 and the JSE US dollar market index closed at 200.45. 
In market activity, Barita Investments traded 250 shares at $7, 
The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recovered all the losses it incurred on Thursday and Friday and more putting it back ahead of the closing level at the end of trading on Monday last week but below the close of the prior trading day. The All Jamaica Composite Index jumped 2,627.40 points to close at 259,160.39, the JSE Market Index climbed 2,393.86 points to 236,124.47 and the JSE US dollar market index gained 12.75 points to 200.45. 
The average volume and value for the month to date ended at 207,165 units with an average value of $4,250,279 compared with an average of 214,963 units with an average value of $4,508,789 on the previous trading day. The average volume and value for May ended at 358,008 units and $9,037,303.
Mayberry Investments gained 30 cents to close at $5.30, trading of 17,037 units, NCB Financial Group traded $1 higher to close at $72, after exchanging 14,563 shares, 1834 Investments closed at $1.50, gaining 15 cents with 12,600 units changing hands, PanJam Investment gained 69 cents, in closing at $33.99 trading 672 shares. Portland JSX closed at $10, with gains of 5 cents, exchanging 20,000 units, Pulse Investments traded 50 cents lower to close at $17, with 1,649 shares changing owners, Sagicor Group closed at $34.20, losing 54 cents while trading 33,954 shares. Salada Foods closed at $10, with an exchange of 1,428 units, Scotia Group gained 55 cents to end at $43.55, trading 69,399 shares, Seprod lost 50 cents to close at $29, with 1,000 units traded while Supreme Ventures closed at $7.50, after gaining 24 cents with 71,331 shares changing hands. Proven Investments closed at 26 US cents, with gains of 0.02 US cents in trading 5,100 ordinary shares, JMMB 7. 5% preference share closed at $2, gaining 10 cents with an exchange of 50,000 units and ISP Finance bond traded 5,000 units at a record of $1.10 to gain 10 cents.