Keisa Ansine-Samuels

Here are some stocks, which are expected to give returns above 30 per cent over the next year.

The analysis is based on prices as at November 1, 2007, across the stock exchanges in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.

JAMAICA STOCK EXCHANGE

Carreras: Dividend performer, strong profit margins, better efficiencies, excellent first half-year performance, strength of assets, no long-term debt, competitive industry position, and high dividend yield.

GraceKennedy: Earnings momentum to continue into new year, recent acquisitions augur well for profit lines, both divisions performing well, excellent shareholders' equity, relatively attractive price multiples, and consistent dividend payer.

Jamaica Broilers: Strength of assets, excellent industry position, relatively attractive price multiples, consistent dividend payer, business diversification.

JMMB: strength of assets, consistent dividend payer, diversification of business, relatively attractive price multiples, expansion mode.

Life of Jamaica: Diversifi-cation of business lines, excellent profitability, consistent dividend payer, high dividend yield.

NCB: Progressive earnings growth, strength of assets and equity, quarterly dividend payer.

Pan Jamaica: Property-income driven, attractive industry position, adequately diversified, relatively attractive price multiples, quarterly dividend payer.

Seprod: Business adequately diversified, strength of assets, competitive industry position, relatively attractive price multiples, consistent dividend payer

Lascelles: Progressive earnings growth, strength of assets and equity, business diversification, strong cash position, low liability structure.

First Jamaica Investments: Positive contribution from associated company, strength of assets and equity, consistent dividend payer.

Kingston Wharves: Compe-titive industry position, capital expenditure towards better utilisation, moderate asset growth, third and final quarters historical strong profit earners.

T&T, BARBADOS EXCHANGES

Sagicor: Consistent growth in revenue and profit, largest regional insurer by asset size, business diversification across region, business integration, containment of cost, competitive industry position.

Neal and Massy: Strong earnings momentum to persist, growth in revenue diversification already reaping fruit, acquisitions to continue, excellent dividend payer.

Unilever: Dividend performer, strong profit margins for half-year performance, strength of assets, competitive industry position, stronger profit expectation.

Some investors may be familiar with the 'January anomaly', wherein the stock market prices decline historically in that month.

The general rule is to remain calm and frugal and establish value. Identify clearly what the company's prospects are, and why the company has potential, then buy when the price is right.

Most of the companies recommended are still attractive buys. However, Lascelles deMercado has already moved beyond reasonable levels of return at current prices. In fact, Gleaner and Lascelles deMercado and Mo Bay Ice were top performers in terms of capital appreciation for 2007.

The worst performers were Ciboney, Dyoll and Capital and Credit.

Keisa Ansine-Samuels is a senior equity analyst at JMMB. Email: keisa_ansine-samuels@jmmb.com