Stocks to watch: Mudajaya, Fitters, Maybank, Supermax

KUALA LUMPUR: The markets may see some tentative recovery on Tuesday, Aug 23 after the selling on Monday, as investors scout for fundamentally strong companies despite the current uncertainties globally.

The fresh batch of results in the quarter ended June 30 should provide the data investors need to make their decisions, for instance companies like QL RESOURCES BHD [] and smaller cap stock like FITTERS DIVERSIFIED BHD [] which are beginning to reaping the benefits of their palm oil and renewable energy ventures.

MALAYAN BANKING BHD [] did not disappoint as its earnings rose 26.5% to RM1.15 billion in the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2011 from RM912.47 million a year ago.

However, glove maker Supermax Corp Bhd reported a decline in earnings due to continuously high volatility in latex prices and unfavourable exchange rates.

Stocks to watch are Mudajaya Corp Bhd, Fitters, Maybank and Supermax. Other companies with fresh corporate news are Prestariang Bhd, KNM GROUP BHD [] and Guocoland Bhd while JCY International continued to disappoint investors.

Mudajaya clinched a RM720 million contract for the design and civil works for part of the Manjung power plant.

Its unit had signed a subcontract with CMC Machipex Sdn Bhd for the detailed design and CONSTRUCTION [] of all civil works associated with the balance of plant component of Manjung No. 4 power plant project.

Fitters’s earnings were given a boost by its renewable energy and palm oil business in the second quarter ended June 30, with net profit at RM4.58 million, up 100.8% from RM2.28 million a year ago.

Its revenue surged 233.7% to RM116.70 million from RM34.96 million a year ago while earnings per share were 2.12 sen compared with 1.13 sen.

QL Resources Bhd’s earnings edged up 3.7% to RM27.79 million in the first quarter ended June 30, 2011 from RM26.79 million a year ago.

Its revenue increased 18.2% to RM454.56 million from RM384.51 million. Earnings per share were 3.34 sen compared with 3.43 sen.

It said the higher revenue was due to the marine product manufacturing at RM104.66 million, palm oil activities RM114.85 million and integrated livestock farming RM235.05 million.

Maybank's earnings rose 26.5% to RM1.15 billion in the fourth quarter ended June 30, 2011 from RM912.47 million a year ago.

It said the financial performance was boosted by income from its Islamic banking and also its insurance business also also lower allowance for losses on loans, advances and financing

Maybank’s revenue increased by 20.9% to RM5.72 billion from RM4.73 billion. Earnings per share were 15.54 sen versus 12.89 sen a year ago. Its board of directors proposed dividend of 32 sen per share compared with 44 sen a year ago.

Prestariang secured a RM28 million contract from the Ministry of Higher Education to implement the 1Citizen Certification provide “IC Citizen” training and certification in all public and selected private higher learning institutions.

The programme was expected to run for 24 months from its official start date and would cater to 80,000 students from 20 identified public institutes of higher learning including universities, polytechnics and community colleges in Malaysia, as well as selected private institutes of higher learning.

Supermax saw its earnings slip 50.6% to RM22.64 million in the second quarter ended June 30 from RM45.85 million a year ago as profit margins were eroded owing to continuously high volatility in latex prices and unfavourable exchange rates

Revenue dipped 1.3% to RM237.92 million from RM234.82 million while earnings per share were 6.66 sen compared with 13.51 sen. It did not declare any dividends unlike a year ago when it paid out 2.5 sen a share.

For the first half, its net profit slumped 51.7% to RM46.96 million from RM97.33 million in the previous corresponding period but its revenue was 5.2% higher at RM479.29 million compared with RM455.47 million.

KNM’s net profit for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011 fell 23.2% to RM10.86 million from RM14.14 million a year earlier, due to slower improvement in capacity utilisation in certain operating units. Revenue for the quarter rose to RM544.30 million from RM383.21 million in 2010 due to higher revenue recognition. Earnings per share was 1.11 sen while net assets per share was RM1.83.

For the six months ended June 30, KNM’s net profit fell 45.1% to RM29.87 million from RM54.48 million in 2010, on the back of revenue RM957.30 million.

Guocoland’s fourth quarter earnings rose 94.6% to RM22.34 million from RM11.47 million, boosted by higher share of results from associates and improved profit from its property development division.

Revenue increased by nearly 95% to RM58.48 million from RM30.02 million while earnings per share were 3.33 sen versus 1.71 sen. It proposed dividend payment of 2.0 sen a share.

For the financial year ended June 30, 2011, its net profit rose 42.9% to RM19.96 million from RM13.96 million while revenue declined 11% to RM142.77 million from RM160.52 million.

Hard-disk drive manufacturer JCY posted net loss RM31.86 million in the third quarter ended June 30, 2011 compared to net profit RM55.59 million a year earlier due mainly to higher raw material prices, inventory provision from depreciating US dollar and slow moving stocks.

Revenue for the quarter fell 17.8% to RM395.17 million from RM480.79 million a year ago. Loss per share was 1.56 sen compared with earnings per share of 2.72 sen.

For the six months ended June 30, JCY posted net loss RM11.89 million compared with net profit of RM198.94 million in 2010. Its revenue was RM1.23 billion compared with RM1.56 billion a year ago.