Supermax's 4Q earnings surge nearly 30 times to RM44m

KUALA LUMPUR: Supermax Corp Bhd reported a strong set of earnings in its fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2009, with net profit surging nearly 30 times to RM44.11 million from only RM1.48 million a year ago as it benefitted from higher margins for its rubber gloves and contributions from its associates.

It said on Friday, Feb 19 that revenue rose 7.4% to RM196.42 million from RM182.82 million a year ago. Earnings per share were 16.55 sen versus 0.56 sen. It proposed a tax exempt final dividend of 8% per share of 50 sen for FY09 and special tax exempt dividend of 9%.

Supermax said revenue benefited from strong global demand, increased output from refurbished lines and higher prices commanded for rubber gloves sold.

Challenging times for condominium segment

A must read article for those contemplating property investment.

By THEAN LEE CHENG leecheng@thestar.com.my

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/13/business/5662557&sec=business

DiGi to pay 138% of net profit as dividend

SHAH ALAM: DiGi.Com Bhd said it will pay out 138% of its 2009 net profit as dividends after posting a full-year earnings that were in line with analysts’ expectations but which showed the effects of last year’s economic slowdown.
The full-year dividend payout, at RM1.78 per share and totalling RM1.38bil, is DiGi.Com’s largest in terms of proportion to its net profits and gives its shares a dividend yield of 8% based on yesterday’s closing price of RM21.10 per share.

DiGi used its strong cashflows and raised a little more debt to pay out its dividends. It is likely to maintain, if not increase, its dividend payments in 2010.
Johan Dennelind, chief executive officer of DiGi, explained: “It is no secret. We are gearing up to pay more dividends. We hope to reach the optimal use of our balance sheet and debt to equity level this year to maintain our yield story. We are not there yet.”

DiGi also enjoyed an increase its operational cashflows – essentially derived from its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) minus capital expenditures and which provides a good indication of cash available for dividend payments – to RM1.4bil for 2009 compared with RM1.27bil previously.

Quotable Quote

The speculator George Soros, when making a financial bet, keeps looking for instances that would prove his initial theory wrong. This, perhaps, is true self-confidence: the ability to look at the world without the need to find signs that stroke one's ego.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb, The Black Swan

Steel stocks reverses gain. Rubber counters still declining

Sold Kinsteel (Q eps 2.1 sen) and Axiata in the last few days. Will buy Kinsteel when it dips below RM1.00

Looking at Lion Ind (Q eps 9.7 sen), Lion Div, Masteel (Q eps 6.8 sen), Southern Steel (recent Q eps 14 sen), Leader (Q eps 3.2 sen).

Supermax declines to RM5.12, very close to its fair value of RM5.07 ( with a pe of 10)

Rubber declines, Steel reverses gain. Property Stocks

This is a rotten day for rubber stocks. There was heavy selling pressure since yesterday on news that most of the stocks were overpriced ahead of their 2010 earnings and overbought above RSI 90. I sold all my holdings of Adventa since yesterday.

Steel stocks reverse their recent gains.
Kinsteel ralied from RM1.01 to closed at RM1.08 yesterday, reached a year high of RM1.16 today but reverses back to close at RM1.08
Kinsteel has advanced 20% since I bought it at RM0.96
Both Ann Joo and S. Steel both in the negative range today.
Look to add S. Steel when it retraces. Similarly for Leader. Both have impressive earnings.

Sunway has ran ahead of its 2010 earnings ( last Q eps 3.3 sen so my fair value RM1.32)
Looking at IJM (my preference)and Gamuda potential job awards in 2010.
HunzaPty ( Q eps 8.8 sen ) share price has surged to RM1.80 since I picked it at RM1.60 last week
BRDB (Q eps 8.6 sen) hasn't move yet.

Property stocks with fair value range of RM 1.50 to RM1.60 range, in my opinion:
Mah Sing ( Q eps 3.73 sen ), IJM Land ( Q eps 3.8 sen )
In the fair value range of RM1.30 to RM1.40 - > Glomac ( Q eps 3.26 sen ), Sunway ( Q eps 3.3 sen ), IGB ( Q eps 3.45 ) YNH Prop ( Q eps 3.56 sen )
In the fair value range of RM1.20 -> DNP ( Q eps 3.16 sen )
In the fair range of below RM1.00 -> E & O ( Q eps 1.62 sen )

MyEG. Efficen

Comparison:
My E.G. Services @ RM0.52 today.
( na= RM0.12, quaterly eps = o.7 sen )
Assigning a PER of 10, fair value = 0.7 x 4 x 10 = 30.8 sen

Efficient E Solutions @ RM0.22 at today.
( na = RM0.12, quarterly eps = 0.66 sen)
Assigning a PER of 10, fair value = 0.66 x 4 x 10 = 26.6 sen
A firm buy at RM0.20 with 30 % upside...

I like both stocks but Efficient has better value for now..

Integrated Rubber Corp trading at PE 82.16 times, highest in sector

KUALA LUMPUR: Integrated Rubber Corp Bhd (IRCB), whose share price surged to RM1.74 at the midday break on Thursday, Jan 14, is trading at a price-to-earnings of 82.16 times, which is the highest in the sector.
Data obtained from Bloomberg showed the average PE for the sector in the healthcare equipment and services was 23.94 times.

ADVENTA BHD whose share price was at RM4.22 at midday, was trading at a PE of 35.9 times; LATEXX PARTNERS BHD RM4.84 (22.67 times), KOSSAN RUBBER INDUSTRIES BHD RM6.93 (19.19 times) and Supermax Corp Bhd RM6.09 (18.47 times).

Top Glove Bhd, the world's largest glove maker, which closed at RM11.74 at midday, is only trading at a PE of 17.27 times and HARTALEGA HOLDINGS BHD RM7.34 (15.85 times).
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/157528-integrated-rubber-corp-trading-at-pe-8216-times-highest-in-sector.html

Top Glove raises selling prices as production cost increases

KUALA LUMPUR: The world’s largest glove maker Top Glove Corp Bhd is increasing its selling prices in tandem with the rising cost of production, in particular higher latex price, said its chairman Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai.

There has been a steady increase in the cost of production, in particular the price of latex, which has jumped by 110% in a little more than a year to RM6.30 per kg on Jan 7 this year from the low of RM3 per kg in December 2008. “For every 10% increase in the price of latex for example, (it) will increase our total cost of production by at least 5%, so we have to adjust the selling price accordingly. “In the last three months, we have revised upwards our selling prices three to four times to cope with the cost increase, and we’re now reviewing the price every month,” Lim said in a briefing to the press, analysts and fund managers here yesterday.

“Demand for medical gloves remains resilient, and we are confident of maintaining our annual cumulative annual growth rate 37% achieved in the last 19 years,” Lim said.
Link from http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/in-the-financial-daily/157395-top-glove-raises-selling-prices-as-production-cost-increases.html

Kossan to ramp up glove output by 20pc

Malaysian glove maker Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd will ramp up production by 20 per cent to 10.8 billion pieces to meet strong demand this year, a top executive said today.

Managing director Lee Kuang Sia said the company has received orders to last the first half of this year as countries with rapidly growing populations boost healthcare expenditure to guard against the H1N1 flu pandemic. “We want to grow and meet that extra demand but it has to be done in a sustainable manner. Usually we will spend RM60 million (US$17.90 million) yearly to boost production but this time there will be a focus on automating the process,” he said at the company headquarters near Malaysia’s largest port, an hour away by car from Kuala Lumpur.

Kossan will report higher net profit for 2009 compared to the previous year, despite suffering foreign exchange losses and fires damaging a few production lines. Lim said the firm has locked-in US dollar receipts for 3-4 months to safeguard against currency volatility. -- Reuters