Caribbean Investment IQ December 2013 | Page 30

Dividend payout signals company performance… 10-MONTH RECAP Investors continue to seek short-term gains and chase high dividend yielding stock in the seemingly perpetual current low interest environment. Dividend yields of the cross-listed stocks continue to lead and rise as Jamaican stock prices fall. Jamaican Money Market Brokers (JMMB) has announced a JMD0.16 dividend payment, payable on 18 December, reflecting a 23.1% increase from the prior period 2012. This increase in dividend payment echoes the improved performance by JMMB. The JMMB group posted a net profit of JMD1.60 billion, decreasing by 37% when compared to the same period September 2012. A closer look though reveals that net profits in 2012 were higher due to gains from acquisition of The Capital & Credit Financial Group (CCFG) of JMD1.61 billion. The Group’s operating earnings excluding this one off gain reflected a positive increase of 71.8% or JMD669.5 million. Guardian Holdings Limited. (GHL) Conversely, National Commercial Bank of Jamaica (NCBJ) reported net profits of JMD8.5 billion, a decrease of 14.9%, or JMD1.5 billion. Earnings per share fell from JMD4.08 to JMD3.47. Operating expenses increased by JMD5.5 billion or 24.4% in the year ended 30 September, 2013 mainly as a result of increases of 158.3% or JMD2.3 billion, in policy holders and annuitants benefits and reserves, related to the acquisition of Advantage General Insurance Company Limited (AGIC) on 19 February, 2013. The latest declared dividend was JMD0.16, a significant drop from last year payment of JMD0.64 for the same period 2012. NCBJ’s pay-out ratio currently stands at 18%, significantly below last year’s pay-out ratio of 34%. The implementation of dividend payout is in stark contrast to JMMB and reflects both company performances. Figure 12 Highest Yielding Stocks as at 11 November 2013 3.50% 4.50% 5.50% 6.50% 7.50% 8.50% 8.42% NFM 5.75% NCBJ SIJL 5.42% CIF 4.09% NEL 4.06% Source: TTSE, First Citizens Research & Analytics 9.50% Trailing P/E: 13.58 Trailing Dividend: TTD0.52 Trailing EPS: TTD1.10 Dividend Yield: 3.48% 52-Week High: TTD19.98 52-Week Low: TTD14.00 Nine Months Ending 30 September 2013 • Gross Premiums Written (GPW) rose by TTD129 million or 13.57% to TTD1.08 billion, compared to third quarter ended 2012 due to strong life insurance sales and new acquisitions. • Profit after tax for the nine month period amounted to TTD197.7 million, a 35% decline from the corresponding period 2012, which recorded profits of TTD301.8 million. This decline was attributed mainly to challenges in investment activities. The first quarter was adversely affected by the Jamaican Debt Exchange and fair value movements in the second quarter, that amounted to a loss of TTD73 million. • Total assets remain strong increasing by TTD492 million or 2.2% to TTD22.9 billion due to a 28.6% growth in reinsurance assets. • Dividends per share for the nine months ending September 2013 amounted to TTD0.52 representing a payout ratio of 47%, marginally more than the 40% paid out in the same period 2012 as earnings per share decreased to TTD1.10 in 2013. • GHL’s share price is down 19.24% year-to-date as at 19 Nov 2013, trading at a 52-week high of TTD19.98 with a total of 3.1 million shares trading to date. The main reporting segments of the Guardian Holdings Limited include Life, health and pension business, Property and casualty business, Asset management and Other companies. The Life, health and pension business/Property and casualty business are the largest segments, accounting for 26.7% and 29.5% of total operating profits respectively. For the year to date June 2013, Life, health and pension business has generated TTD101 million in operating profits, a decrease of 45.5% compared to the same period last year. Scotiabank Trinidad and Tobago Limited (SBTT): Trailing P/E: 23.3 Trailing EPS: TTD3.09 52-Week High: TTD72.05 Trailing Dividend: TTD1.80 Dividend Yield: 2.50% 52-Week Low: TTD65.00 Three Months Ending 31 July 2013 • HЕܛ