Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Winter season hits Wisynco earnings
MAHFOOD... cold weather tempers consumption.
Business, Caribbean Business Report (CBR)
BY DAVID ROSE Observer business writer davidr@jamaicaobserver.com  
May 15, 2026

Winter season hits Wisynco earnings

Despite the temporary impact of Hurricane Melissa, Wisynco Group Limited is pointing to the cold and wet month of February as the reason for its decline in its third-quarter earnings.

Wisynco Group’s top line or revenue climbed 13 per cent to $15.46 billion. However, the company’s consolidated net profit dipped by a third from $971.36 million to $646.19 million for the period ending March 31.

“Notwithstanding the temporary closure of many of the Hotels and restaurants due to the Melissa impact, the quarter started off meeting expectations in January 2026 however, the unseasonably cold and wet weather in February impacted the quarter negatively and our Q3 Revenue fell below expectations,” Wisynco’s quarterly report stated.

Wisynco’s primary business is the manufacturing of beverages which includes brands like Wata, CranWata, Bigga and Boom. The company recently introduced a new alcohol brand called Legend and malt beverages Mamba and M-Powa.

So, the mention of weather as a major factor affecting revenue came as a surprise for the company which had two-straight quarters of record revenue at $16.19 billion and net profit of $1.48 billion.

“February was exceedingly wet as a month. It rained literally every single day. When that happens, that cold weather tempers consumption,” stated Wisynco Chairman William Mahfood in a call with the Jamaica Observer.

He highlighted that in a normal year, beverage sales in February during winter are 30 per cent less than August sales in summer.

“The big increases that we see typically in the summer are driven particularly because of the heat and climate,” Mahfood stated on the climate as the company gears up for summer.

Apart from the company pointing to revenue falling below expectations, Mahfood pointed to the company absorbing higher fixed costs from its recent expansion activities as business slowly ramps up. That is reflected through higher marketing expenses for its Legend brand, additional staff to support the larger business and an increased depreciation charge for its fixed assets.

Whilst the company reported a 18 per cent dip in operating profit to $892.21 million, the removal of the depreciation charge resulted in the company’s comparative earnings being down just one per cent. Wisynco’s quarterly report even noted that its EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) was up 18 per cent to $6.6 billion for the nine-month period. That contrasts with the 13 per cent rise in operating profit to $4.58 billion.

Wisynco’s nine months revenue was up 12 per cent to $47.83 billion with gross profit up 13 per cent to $16.45 billion. Although finance costs were higher due to more debt, the company’s profit before tax was up four per cent to $4.46 billion. Net profit increased four per cent to $3.61 billion. The trailing twelve months earnings per share was $1.21.

Despite the difficult third quarter, Mahfood is bullish on the summer season and eventual rebuilding efforts across Western Jamaica. He pointed to the company’s robust production capacity to meet market demand and support the export market which was up 35 per cent for the nine months period.

“Our exports are really doing well. We still have a lot more opportunity,” Mahfood noted as the company plans the reformulation on some products after the recent sugar tax implementation.

Wisynco’s total assets were up two per cent over the nine months to $44.70 billion with $5.68 billion in cash and $5.13 billion in investment securities. Total liabilities declined 11 per cent to $14.26 billion with $6.66 billion in total debt and $6.08 billion in payables. Shareholder’s equity was up ten per cent to $30.43 billion.

Wisynco’s stock price closed Wednesday at $20.23 which leaves it up nine per cent in 2026 with a market capitalisation of $76.94 billion. GraceKennedy Pension Fund Custodian Limited bought 15,556,346 ordinary shares to bring their total to 48,478,631 ordinary shares as the fifth largest shareholder. SJIML A/C 3119, a managed account under Scotia Investments Jamaica Limited, purchased 2.04 million ordinary shares to bring its stake to 34.06 million shares.

{"xml":"xml"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Jamaica’s birds are still recovering; conservationists say hunting can wait
Environment, Latest News, News
Jamaica’s birds are still recovering; conservationists say hunting can wait
BY KELSEY THOMAS Online coordinator thomask@jamaicaobserver.com 
May 14, 2026
Experts are cautioning that Jamaica may be moving too quickly to reopen the bird shooting season following Hurricane Melissa, which devastated the isl...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
CISOCA encourages students to prioritise their mental health
Latest News, News
CISOCA encourages students to prioritise their mental health
May 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse (CISOCA) is advising students that “it’s important that you know h...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Diabetes is more than ‘just a little sugar’; UK-based advocate urges Jamaicans to take disease seriously
Latest News, News
Diabetes is more than ‘just a little sugar’; UK-based advocate urges Jamaicans to take disease seriously
May 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Renowned United Kingdom-based diabetes advocate Tony Kelly told Jamaican insurance executives and their guests recently that diabe...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Sagicor Group Jamaica delivers resilient Q1 performance amid global volatility
Business, Latest News
Sagicor Group Jamaica delivers resilient Q1 performance amid global volatility
May 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica – Sagicor Group Jamaica (SGJ) recorded net profit attributable to stockholders of $2.01 billion for the first quarter ended March 20...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Latest News, News
Section of Broadgate main road compromised, extreme caution advised
May 14, 2026
ST MARY, Jamaica (AFP) — The National Works Agency (NWA) is advising that a section of the Broadgate main road, St Mary, is now seriously compromised ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
KC defend Under-16 ISSA cricket title
Latest News, Sports
KC defend Under-16 ISSA cricket title
May 14, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Kingston College (KC) successfully defended its Under-16 ISSA Cricket crown after defeating St Jago by 58 runs at Chedwin Park on ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
At least 78 dead in gang clashes in Haiti since Saturday, says UN
Latest News, Regional
At least 78 dead in gang clashes in Haiti since Saturday, says UN
May 14, 2026
UNITED NATIONS, United States (AFP) — Clashes between gangs in the suburbs of the Haitian capital have left at least 78 dead since Saturday, including...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Photos: Cheers to 130 years of the London School of Economics
Business, Latest News, Lifestyle
Photos: Cheers to 130 years of the London School of Economics
May 14, 2026
Danya’s Coffee Barrel in downtown Kingston was the centre of gravity for culinary and intellectual nourishment on Saturday, as the London School of Ec...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct