Crookes Brothers (CKS) is an agricultural and property company which was formed in 1913 and listed on the JSE in 1948. The company produces sugar cane, bananas, macadamia nuts, and deciduous fruit, and has a property division. The company owns Renshaw farm, which consists of 1800 hectares between Scottburgh and Umkomaas. Of this, 266 hectares has been re-zoned for development, of which 52 hectares is the subject of a contested land claim. The company has decided to sell the 28 hectares which is being developed as Renshaw Hills, a 500-unit residential development.
The deciduous fruit operation consists of 5 farms in the Western Cape with 43 hectares of deciduous orchards. The macadamias are grown on a farm in Mozambique on a 99-year lease. The sugarcane operation is on 4 leased farms in Mpumalanga plus other farms in KwaZulu Natal, Swaziland, and Zambia.
In its results for the six months to 30th September 2023, the company reported revenue up 17% and headline earnings per share (HEPS) of 321.2c compared with a loss of 193.7c in the previous period. The company said, "As anticipated, we are starting to experience a welcome reduction in fertiliser and other agricultural input costs, following the runaway cost inflation experienced in the past two years brought about by geo-political events beyond the group’s control. The reduction in the fair value of biological assets from continuing operations was R42.2 million (2022: reduction of R81.2 million)."
In a trading statement for the year to 31st March 2024, the company estimated that HEPS would be 334.5c compared with a loss of 708.8c in the previous year. The company said, "The increase in earnings is mainly attributable to an improvement in prices in the Group's sugar cane and banana operations, as well as a reduction in fertilizer and other agricultural input costs, compared to the previous corresponding period."
A problem with this share is that it is relatively tightly held. The average value of shares changing hands each day is about R102 000, but on many days it does not trade at all. This generally makes it riskier even for private investors.
The deciduous fruit operation consists of 5 farms in the Western Cape with 43 hectares of deciduous orchards. The macadamias are grown on a farm in Mozambique on a 99-year lease. The sugarcane operation is on 4 leased farms in Mpumalanga plus other farms in KwaZulu Natal, Swaziland, and Zambia.
In its results for the six months to 30th September 2023, the company reported revenue up 17% and headline earnings per share (HEPS) of 321.2c compared with a loss of 193.7c in the previous period. The company said, "As anticipated, we are starting to experience a welcome reduction in fertiliser and other agricultural input costs, following the runaway cost inflation experienced in the past two years brought about by geo-political events beyond the group’s control. The reduction in the fair value of biological assets from continuing operations was R42.2 million (2022: reduction of R81.2 million)."
In a trading statement for the year to 31st March 2024, the company estimated that HEPS would be 334.5c compared with a loss of 708.8c in the previous year. The company said, "The increase in earnings is mainly attributable to an improvement in prices in the Group's sugar cane and banana operations, as well as a reduction in fertilizer and other agricultural input costs, compared to the previous corresponding period."
A problem with this share is that it is relatively tightly held. The average value of shares changing hands each day is about R102 000, but on many days it does not trade at all. This generally makes it riskier even for private investors.
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Disclaimer
The information and publications are not meant to be, and do not constitute, financial, investment, trading, or other types of advice or recommendations supplied or endorsed by TradingView. Read more in the Terms of Use.