financial stock guide
11 December 2008 10:36:34
Investors appeared to be taking positions in UACN Property Development Company (UPDC) Plc ahead of what many analysts expected to be a major upswing in profitability and returns this year.UPDC beat the odds and led the advancers at the Nigerian stock market last week as a bearish resurgence saw 83 per cent of stocks on the price movement chart on the downside.UPDC rallied N2.30 to close at N26.80 per share, about 7.6 per cent below its highest price of N29 this year, a differential that placed UPDC as one of the most resistant stocks to the sustained bearishness at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).The All Share Index (ASI), the benchmark index of the Nigerian stock market which measures changes in the prices of all companies quoted on the NSE, dropped by 8.5 per cent last week. The year-to-date return of ASI is currently above -40 per cent. With most stocks ahead of the ASI, investors are taking shelter in stocks that have so far resisted the free fall and panic at the NSE.Latest operational report of UPDC, a subsidiary of UAC of Nigeria and the only quoted real estate company, showed that the company has continued to efficiently optimize opportunities created by the shift of attention to the real estate market by panicky investors, who had burnt their fingers in the equity market.With 228 per cent growth in net earnings per share, third quarter report of UPDC for the period ended September 30, 2008, has brightened prospects that the company might double cash payouts to pass down significant growths in sales and profit to shareholders.UPDC has in recent years showed strong tendency towards rewarding shareholders through increase in cash payouts. The company had braced its generally sluggish performance in 2007 to increase cash payouts by 40 per cent, with a dividend per share of 49 kobo. UPDC had also in the previous year increased cash dividends by 40 per cent to 35 kobo per share for the 2006 business year compared with 25 kobo per share paid for 2005 business year.Nine-month operational report of UPDC showed that turnover rose by 124 per cent from N4.1 billion in third quarter 2007 to N11.15 billion by September 2008. Profit before tax also leapfrogged from N1.16 billion in 2007 to N3.82 billion in 2008, indicating an increase of 229.6 per cent. Net earnings stood at N2.6 billion by third quarter of 2008, representing an increase of about 230 per cent on N788.24 million recorded in corresponding period of 2007.The nine-month report underlined appreciable improvement in the underlying profitability of the real estate company, which pre-tax profit margin grew by six percentage points to 34.3 per cent by third quarter 2008 from 28.3 per cent in comparable period of 2007.The third quarter report also strengthened the hands of pundits that see another major increase in cash payouts by the company this year. UPDC’s net earnings per share tripled to N2.36 by September 2008 as against 72 kobo recorded in similar period of 2007.Already, the third quarter report placed the company ahead of its full-year sales forecast while it almost achieved its 12-month profit target in nine months.The board of UPDC recently said UPDC’s gross income was expected to cross double-digit to N11.1 billion by the year end while net earnings could hit N2.9 billion. Market analysts said the current outlook of the company indicates an imminent major break from the slow and rather sluggish performance trend in the previous years. Audited report and accounts of UPDC for the year ended December 31, 2007 showed a pre-tax profit margin of 25 per cent, the same rate recorded in 2006 indicating that the company made N25 profit on every N100 sales in each year. The report however showed marginal growth of 3.7 per cent in actual pre-tax profit to N1.42 billion in 2007 as against N1.37 billion in 2006. Profit after tax meanwhile increased by 11 per cent from N966.11 million in 2006 to N1.07 billion in 2007. Turnover stood at N5.68 billion in 2007, about 3.5 per cent increase on N5.48 billion recorded in 2006.Chevron falls over acquisition bluesBy Friday AtufeChevron Oil Nigeria Plc has continued to contend with excess supply of its shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) because of on-going controversy over the sale of its 60 per cent shareholding to MRS Holdings Limited, Petroci Holdings and Corlay Global SA. It led on the loser’s table last week by N26.03 to close at N240.97 per share. Chevron share price had hit N441.00 in the wake of the sale of the shares to the new core investors.Investors exchanged 132,121 shares valued N32.4 million in 56 deals during the review week.The major opposition to the acquisition is Zenon Petroleum and Gas Limited which hich owns 19 per cent shareholding in the company.A Federal High Court in Lagos recently restrained seven banks that planned to finance the acquisition.The banks are Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, Oceanic Bank International Plc, Platinum Habib Bank Plc, First City Monument Bank Plc, Fidelity Bank Plc and Ecobank Plc. The company began marketing petroleum products in Nigeria in 1913. Though its brand names may have changed over time, Chevron has continued to market quality products through service stations, terminals, kiosks and has ventured into the aviation and bunkering segments as well. Over the years, the company has also become a leading producer of quality lubricants, greases, petroleum jelly and plastic containers.Following the promulgation of the Nigerian Indigenisation Decree of 1978, which was designed to raise the level of Nigerian participation in business, the parent company divested 40 per cent of its shareholdings to the Nigerian public while retaining 60 per cent equity in Chevron Oil Plc.Chevron Oil Nigeria operates a terminal and several manufacturing and storage facilities. The company also owns and operates more than 300 Texaco-branded retail service stations, and 203 third-party-owned outlets to which the company supplies Texaco fuels. Apapa, in Lagos, has become the hub of the company’s operations in Nigeria, with a blending plant capable of producing 250,000 barrels per year, a 74,000 barrel base oil storage facility and a five million kilogram per year grease plant.In 1996, the company built its 103,000-barrel state of the art storage terminal and loading gantry in Apapa. It also has a modern aviation facility at Ikeja International Airport in Lagos, with three million litre capacity and a 700,000 million litre facility in Kano. Print
loving in silnce
11 December 2008 10:00:01
It is very easy to take advantage of your mate; we all do it, but when you are in a committed relationship, it is important to make an effort to continue to let your mate know (on a regular basis) that you love them. Sadly, saying "I love you" the same old way eventually loses its meaning or impact.I know couples who do the same routine every day -- dress, shower, pack the briefcase and head out the door -- with a "love you" as they give their mate a peck on the cheek. But that gets old and stale. Finding new ways to express that sentiment is key to not only keeping your relationship intact but strengthening your bond in a very deep way. In my book, "Divorce: It's All About Control -- How to Win the Emotional, Psychological and Legal Wars," I talk about loss of love or intimacy. You need intimacy to keep a committed relationship healthy. Without expressing those feelings continuously, intimacy will dissipate and you and/or your partner will begin to look for it elsewhere. A little creativity and going the extra mile in the "I love you" department will pay huge dividends in your relationship A little creativity and going the extra mile in the "I love you" department will pay huge dividends in your relationship, so if you are not already saying "I love you" in different ways, start now.1. Stop off on your way home from work: Pick up your sweetheart's favorite "thing." Maybe it's a special flavor of Haagen-Dazs, the pizza with that wacky assortment of toppings, a new book by his/her favorite author, a CD he/she has mentioned wanting to get, a t-shirt with her/his (or as a couple your) favorite sayings on it. How about the laundry he/she keeps forgetting to pick up. Do not make a big deal of this little "love token" by some grand verbal announcement of it, instead leave it somewhere in the house where he/she will soon find it.2. Throw that secret look: Send a smile or smirk that only the two of you understand. No words need to accompany it. Maybe it is a wink or nod or other signal the two of you have established that means, "I love you." Sending it to your lover when it is most unexpected, gesticulates tremendous warmth and affection. In all its silence, this beacon of love can end an argument, set up a soon-to-be intimate encounter or just remind your partner you are thinking special thoughts about them right in the middle of, well, nothing in particular.3. Slip a supportive note or affirmation in her purse/his jacket pocket: Though it may be days or weeks before he/she finds and sees it. No need to ask, "Did you get my note?" Just let your mate come upon it randomly. Whenar mate does, the impact will be stupendous!4. Demonstrate that you are trying to correct that annoying habit: Make an obvious effort to stop doing it. That could include picking up your dirty socks to cleaning the empty coffee cups off the center console of the car to tossing your gum in the trash when you have the urge to smack it. Do not say, "See, I'm working on that." Your actions will speak for themselves.5. Send one of those "just because" or "it made me think of you" cards or books: Send one that has a message in it that only the two of you would get -- an affectionate or humorous one -- that reminds them you would not want to belong to anyone else. Shhh, do not mention it. By sending it, you have said it all.6. Do a good deed for your partner: One they know you typically avoid taking on and expect them to do instead. This might be taking out the trash, cleaning up after dinner, making the kids' lunches, running to the grocery store, etc. Knowing that you did the chore or task he/she knows you generally dislike can speak volumes of how you feel about him/her.7. Post your anniversary date in a place where your mate will see it: Whether it is on the bathroom mirror, the refrigerator door, inside the checkbook or day planner or on their dashboard. Next to it, write, "Best day of my life." No need to say "I love you," you just did.8. Extend a gentle touch at least once a day: Not as a request for intimacy, but as a gesture of warmth and respect. A slight and tender stroke across his/her shoulder or a few soft fingertips across the cheek can speak loudly and clearly.It's time for you to make your list. When you can, add to it. Be creative. No matter how spectacular you currently believe your relationship to be, notice how much more rich it becomes.Want to read more articles from Hitched? Check out hitchedmag.comMore Dating Tips:Dating 101: Five Break-Up Warning SignsSix Dating Behaviors That Scare Single Men AwayDating Challenge: Overcoming JealousyDating 101: How to Tell if a Guy Is CheatingDebunking the Dating Scarcity MythWhat's Behind the Trend of Women Dating Younger Men?Stacy D. Phillips is a certified family law specialist and author of "Divorce: It's All About Control -- How to Win the Emotional, Psychological and Legal Wars." Phillips represents many celebrities in film, television, music, sports, and politics.Search for Singles Near YouBack to Top « Back to Relationships Dating Articles | Success Stories | Browse By Location | 5-Star Safety | Gift Subscription | Site Map Copyright © 2008 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. | Legal | Jobs | Help
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