KUALA LUMPUR: Nine out of the 10 stocks picked by Insider Asia for 2015 gained in morning trades yesterday, with OKA Corp Bhd leading the rise. 

One counter was traded unchanged. Trading volumes were rather thin.

Shares of OKA Corp ended the day up 5.5 sen or 7.91% to 75 sen yesterday, with 1.62 million units changing hands.

According to Insider Asia, the largest precast concrete manufacturer in Malaysia stood out for its consistent earnings, low valuations, and higher-than-market average yields. OKA Corp supplies infrastructure projects including the East Coast Highway, mass rapid transit (MRT) and light rail transit (LRT) projects, and is also well positioned to benefit from future projects such as MRT2, LRT3 and the West Coast Expressway.

Willowglen MSC Bhd closed up two sen or 2.8% to 73.5sen, with 244,800 shares done. The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (Scada) system provider benefited from government infrastructure spending, and is fundamentally sound, said The Edge Research, giving it a fundamental score of 2.55 out of 3. Fundamental scores are based on the strength of a company’s balance sheet and profitability, with 3 being the best score.

Another stock, Complete Logistic Service Bhd was also up 2.07% to 74 sen yesterday, with 14,400 units done.

According to Insider Asia, the logistic service provider would benefit from weak oil prices which would boost its bottom line as fuel is a key cost component for the company. Sole producer of fruit gummies Cocoaland Holdings Bhd rose 4.61% to RM1.59, with 127,100 shares done.The leader in the fruit gummy market, which accounted for 35% of sales, has a resilient business model. 

Asia-Pacific’s largest plastic packaging manufacturer Thong Guan Industries Bhd closed up 3.59% to RM2.02, with 348,100 units changing hands.

The company is expected to benefit from the slump in oil prices, which translates into low resin raw material cost, and a weakening ringgit, as exports accounted for nearly three-quarters of sale in 2013.

SCGM Bhd, manufacturer of disposal plastic trays for the food and beverage, electronic and electrical, and medical sectors, was also up 4.4% to RM1.90 with 51,100 units traded. 

The company is adding a new plastic cup line that will lift capacity and sales by some 10% next year. The Edge Research gave SCGM a high fundamental score of 3 out of 3, and a valuation score of 2.1 out of 3. Valuation score is a composite measure of historical returns and valuations.

The other four counters that closed in a positive position yesterday are Wellcall Holdings Bhd (0.65% to RM1.56), Homeritz Corp Bhd (up 3.85% to 94.5 sen), Pintaras Jaya Bhd (up 1.07% to RM3.77), and Panasonic Manufacturing Malaysia Bhd (up 1.74% to RM18.66).

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on January 6, 2015.