Palace Amusement, Lasco Financial and Caribbean Flavours are back in the TOP 10 for this week, out goes Salada Foods, ForsRich and Caribbean Producers.
Salada Foods rose to $15 from $13.10 at the close of the previous week, as investors continued to react good half year results. Caribbean Flavours stock price dropped to $10 by the end of the week and that was enough to make its return to the top list. Lasco Financial just reentered the list as the price fell to $.20 by week end. 
IC Insider.com upgraded 2019 earnings for Palace based on sensitivity that the company’s patronage and revenues have to employment data. Economic growth and increasing employment that Jamaica is enjoying bode well for continuation of an elevated level of profitability, even after totally discounting the exceptional increase for the current year that ends in June, based substantially on the success of the Black Panther movie.
Radio Jamaica, stock price fell from $1.35 to $1.02 on Friday with the stock moving back up in the list.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6 compared to an average 
PE for the overall main market of 10, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is 7 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 40 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 46 percent to the market.
Archives for May 2018
Palace & Lasco Financial back in TOP 10
Flat profit for Ansa McAl
Ansa Mcal profit stable after a big fall in 2017.
Trinidad’s conglomerate, Ansa McAl reported flat profits of $216 million before corporate tax for the quarter to March 2018, up marginally from the $214 million in 2017.
Profit after tax attributable to shareholders’ of the group, rose 4 percent to $138 million for the period. The results, although modestly higher than for 2017, marks stability compared to a big decline in the full years results for 2017 when they reported a decline from $691 to $544 million.
Improved profit was achieved from a 7.7 percent rise in revenue to $1.5 billion from $1.4 billion for the March 2017 quarter. Growth in revenues drove profit before finance cost up to $219 million from $216 million as profit margin remained at 15 percent in both periods. Finance cost rose from $9.9 million to $11.4 million, taxation was flat at $59 million in both periods.
Segment results show progress, except for Insurance and Financial Services that reported flat revenues and a 35 percent fall in profit and the Media business where revenues declined 3 percent but had a 33 percent rise in profit. Manufacturing, Packaging and Brewing increased revenues by 16 percent and profit by the same level
Carib Beer brewed in Trinidad by Ansa McAl Group
while Automotive trading and distribution enjoyed a mere 6 percent increase but that was enough to drive profit up by a strong 35 percent.
Earnings per share amounted to 79 cents, giving it a PE ratio around 18. Net book value per share is $39 while the stock trades at 1.5 book with the last price of $59.
Ansa is one of Trinidad’s major conglomerate, owning media houses, Carib Beer brewery, and now Berger Paints and other paint brand out of Trinidad to name a few of the entities it is involved in. At the end of March, shareholders equity stood at $6.86 billion.
Big JSE main market fall – Friday
Media house, RJR traded most shares on friday
The Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped sharply on Friday as declining stocks outpaced advancing ones by a wide margin as just 5 stocks rose, 15 declined and 8 traded firm.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,231.98 points to close at 323,425.19 and the JSE Index dived 2,033.58 points to close at 294,676.90. Market activities resulted in 28 securities trading, compared to 27 on Thursday, in the main and US dollar markets.
The market closed with reduced trading levels, as 7,330,113 units valued at $68,164,850 changed hands, well down from 28,791,979 units valued at $527,232,319 that traded on Thursday. The largest trades were Radio Jamaica with 2,329,526 shares for 31.8 percent of volume traded, 1834 Investments trading 2,253,420 shares accounting for 30.7 percent of the volume traded and Jamaica Broilers with 802,930 units.
Stocks with major price changes are, Grace Kennedy ended trading at $48.50, gaining 75 cents, Jamaica Broilers rose 74 cents to $20, Kingston Wharves fell $1.70 to $47, Sagicor Real Estate Fund settled with a loss of 85 cents at $13.90 and Scotia Group added $1.38 to close at $50.63.
Trading resulted in an average of 281,927 units valued at $2,621,725 compared to 1,107,384 units valued at an average of $20,278,166 for each security traded on Thursday. The average for the month to date is 335,057 shares with a value of $12,075,324, previously 338,126 shares with a value of $12,655,026. In contrast, April closed with an average of 708,206 shares with a value of $6,395,518 for each security traded.
In the US dollar market, JMMB Group, 5.75% US preference share finished trading with a loss of 6 cents to US$2, with 1,000 units. The JSE USD Equities Index fell 0.98 points to close at 172.24.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 2 closing with lower offers.
For more details of market activities see – More normality for JSE main market – Friday.
More normality for JSE main market – Friday
The JSE main market activity returned to more normal levels on Friday with 7,330,113 units valued at $68,164,850 changed hands, down from 28,791,979 units valued at $527,232,319 trading on Thursday.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,231.98 points to close at 323,425.19 and the JSE Index dived 2,033.58 points to close at 294,676.90 as 26 securities changed hands, resulting in 5 advancing, 14 declining and 7 remaining firm.
In market activity Barita Investments fell 11 cents and closed at $12.09, with 207,825 shares, changing hands, Berger Paints shed 50 cents and ended at $20, with 3,015 stock units, Carreras lost 5 cents and concluded trading at $10.55, with 177,994 units, Caribbean Cement finished 50 cents higher at $38, with 18,005 shares, Grace Kennedy climbed 75 cents to $48.50 with 18,357 shares changing hands. Jamaica Broilers rose 74 cents to end at $20 trading 802,930 stock units, Jamaica Producers added 14 cents and finished trading at $16.70, with 105,932 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange closed at $7.50, with 45,050 shares traded, JMMB Group lost 50 cents to end at $27, with 68,700 shares changing hands. Kingston Properties concluded trading at $6.64, with 2,172 shares, Kingston Wharves fell $1.70 and finished at $47, with 3,250 stock units, Mayberry Investments settled 1 cents down at $6, with 104,485 units trading, NCB Financial Group ended trading 1 cents lower at $94.99, with 157,533 shares. 1834 Investments traded at $1.08, with 2,253,420 shares, PanJam Investment closed at $44.50, with a loss of 70 cents trading 79,749 stock units, Pulse Investments concluded trading at $1.78, with 27,348 shares, Radio Jamaica fell 31 cents to $1, with 2,329,526 shares.
Sagicor Group settled with a fall of 35 cents at $36.15, with 68,110 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 85 cents to end at $13.90, exchanging 27,665 shares, Scotia Group added $1.38 to close at $50.63, in trading 197,361 units, Seprod finished trading at $35, with 3,348 shares, Supreme Ventures ended at $12.60, with 119,389 shares. Victoria Mutual Investments shed by 5 cents and concluded trading at $4.05, with 281,461 stock units traded Wisynco Group finished 10 cents lower at $9.70, with 227,149 units changing hands.
In the main market preference segment, Jamaica Money Market 7.5% traded at $2, with 139 stock units, JMMB Group 7% finished trading at $2, with 1,000 units and JMMB Group 7.25% closed at $2, after 200 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Big JSE main market fall – Friday.”
Junior Market slips back – Friday
Trading levels on the Junior Market were in line with Thursday as 6,308,783 units valued at $25,012,631 traded on Friday compared to 7,377,691 units valued at $23,298,507 changing hands on Thursday.
A total of 22 securities traded, down from 25 on Thursday, with market Index falling 25.47 points to close at 2,914.61 as the prices of 5 securities advanced, 12 declined and 5 remained unchanged.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Market activity ended with an average of 286,763 units for an average of $1,136,938 in contrast to 295,108 units for an average of $931,940 on Thursday. 
The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 195,232 units with an average value of $922,724 and previously 190,095 units with an average value of $910,702. April closed with an average of 121,622 units at $506,803, for each security traded.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended at $2, with 94,500 stock units trading, Blue Power concluded trading at $37, with 3,423 units, Caribbean Cream ended trading with a loss of 21 cents at $4.80, with 16,500 shares, Caribbean Producers finished trading with a loss of 9 cents at $5.16, with 53,000 units, Derrimon Trading ended with a loss of 15 cents at $9, exchanging 100,378 shares. Elite Diagnostic settled 5 cents higher at $3.20, with 88,702 units, Express Catering rose 5 cents to $5.95, trading 83,903 shares, FosRich Group finished trading with a loss of 9 cents at $2.40, with 9,844 shares changing hands, 
GWest Corporation ended at $2.10, with 954,958 units. Honey Bun concluded trading with a loss of 2 cents at $4.61, with 77,739 shares, Iron Rock finished with a loss of 2 cents at $3.05, with 21,000 shares, ISP Finance drifted $1 lower to $17, with 500 shares, Jamaican Teas ended trading 6 cents higher at $4.40, with 30,563 stock units. Jetcon Corporation traded 10 cents higher at $4.10, with 4,198,551 units, Knutsford Express ended at $12, with 29,985 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 11 cents at $4.04, with 8,600 stock units, Lasco Financial finished at $5.20, trading 11,263 units. Lasco Manufacturing settled 20 cents higher at $4.20, with 382,421 shares, Main Event ended trading at $7, with 38,000 shares, Paramount Trading finished trading with a loss of 24 cents at $2.76, with just 1,000 stock units changing hands, Stationery and Office closed with a loss of 30 cents at $8.50, with 36,389 units and tTech concluded trading with a loss of 50 cents to $6, after 67,564 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Scotiabank gives back 75 cents on TTSE – Friday
Scotia gave back the 75 cents it gained on Thursday.
Trading levels picked up on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday in the exchange of 671,355 shares at a value of $5,503,531 compared to 668,999 shares valued $13,061,809 exchanged on the prior trading session.
Market activity, ended with 13 securities changing hands against 15 on Thursday leading to 1 advancing, 4 declining and 8 remaining unchanged. The Composite Index the Composite Index fell 2.62 points on Friday to 1,244.36, the All T&T Index lost 4.02 points to 1,728.15, while the Cross Listed Index declined 0.16 points to close at 102.28.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows the market continuing to be weak as it closed with 5 stocks ending with higher bids than the last selling prices and 6 with lower offers.
Gains| Sagicor Financial closed with an increase of 2 cents at $8, with 46,051 units changing hands.
Losses| Ansa Mcal concluded trading with a loss of 95 cents and ended at $59, with 7 units, Clico Investments fell 5 cents to $20.15, with 52,977 units, 
First Caribbean International Bank shares shed 5 cents and completed trading at $8.85, after exchanging 121,586 shares and Scotiabank closed with a loss of 75 cents to end trading at $64.25, after exchanging 2,905 shares.
Firm Traded| Angostura Holdings concluded trading at $15.75, with 7,130 stock units changing hands, First Citizens settled at $35, after exchanging 2,409 shares, Grace Kennedy ended at $3.05, with 1,010 units, Massy Holdings closed trading at $47.50, with 2,987 stock units changing hands, NCB Financial Group settled at $5.50, after exchanging 431,248 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $29.01, with 2,895 units, Unilever Caribbean settled at $29.50, after exchanging 100 shares and West Indian Tobacco concluded the day’s activity at $88.50, with 50 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Broilers pushes JSE volume again – Thursday
Jamaica Broilers traded the most shares for second day running on Thursday.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange was dominated by the trading for the second running in Jamaica Broilers shares which accounted for 79 percent of the volume traded to end with 22.76 million units up from 11.53 million on Tuesday.
The market again closed with a high level of trading, as 28,791,979 units valued at $527,232,319 changed hands up from 13,526,719 shares valued at $293,683,413 that traded on Tuesday. The other larger trades were Supreme Ventures with 3,202,706 units accounting for 11.12 percent of the volume traded and JMMB Group 7.50% preference shares with 724,379 units.
At the end of market activities, 28 securities traded, compared to 31 on Monday, in the main and US dollar markets as 15 stocks rose, 4 declined and 12 traded firm. At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 78.81 points to 325,657.17. and the JSE Index declined 71.81 points to close at 296,710.48.
Stocks with major price changes are, Jamaica Broilers down $2.34 to close at $19.26, Sagicor Group losing $1.50 to end at $36.50, 
Salada Foods gaining 10 cents to closed at an all-time high of $15, Scotia Group dropping $1.38 to $49.25 and Seprod falling $1 to end at $35.
Trading resulted in an average of 1,107,384 units valued at an average of $20,278,166 compared to 500,990 units valued at an average of $10,877,163 for each security traded on Tuesday. The average for the month to date is 276,670 shares with a value of $12,655,026, previously 290,955 shares with a value of $12,157,032. In contrast, April closed with an average of 708,206 shares with a value of $6,395,518 for each security traded.
In the US dollar market, JMMB Group 5.75% US preference share finished trading at US$2.06, with 21,300 units. The JSE USD Equities Index closed unchanged at 173.22.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and just 1 closing with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – JSE main market index slips again – Thursday.
JSE main market index slips again – Thursday
The JSE main market slipped slightly at the close of trading on Tuesday with advancing stocks being outnumbered by a wide margin with declining prices, for the second day.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 78.81 points to 325,657.17 and the JSE Index declined 71.81 points to close at 296,710.48. as 26 securities changed hands, resulting in 6 advancing, 13 declining and 7 remaining firm. Salada Foods closed trading at a new high of $15.
Market activity resulted in 28,791,979 units valued at $527,232,319 versus 13,526,719 units valued at $293,683,413 trading on Tuesday.
In market activity, Carreras rose 7 cents and finished at $10.60, with 202,080 shares, Caribbean Cement settled at $37.50, with 23,652 shares, Ciboney Group lost 1 cent and ended trading at 12 cents, with 425,941 shares, Grace Kennedy declined 75 cents to $47.75, with 32,133 stock units trading, Jamaica Broilers finished trading at $19.26, with 22,755,531 units changing hands but dropped $2.34 in the process. Jamaica Producers gave up 14 cents in closing at $16.56, with 4,000 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange inched up by 1 cent and ended at $7.50, with 25,570 shares, JMMB Group concluded trading at $27.50 after inching down 10 cents as 959 stock units changed hands, Kingston Wharves settled at $48.70, with 3,570 units. Mayberry Investments ended trading at $6.01, falling 9 cents with 95,320 shares, NCB Financial Group traded at $95, with 342,566 shares, 1834 Investments finished trading at $1.08, with 116,281 units trading, 138 Student Living ended trading at $5.10, with 10,000 shares, PanJam Investment ended at $45.20, with 35,105 units. 
Pulse Investments rose 18 cents and finished at $1.78, with 50,000 shares trading, Radio Jamaica rose 1 cents and settled at $1.31, with 150,000 shares, Sagicor Group dropped $1.50 and ended trading at $36.50, with 81,902 stock units and Sagicor Real Estate Fund finished trading 25 cents higher at $14.75, with 25,793 stock units. Salada Foods traded 10 cents higher to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $15, with 13,000 units. Scotia Group fell $138 to close at $49.25, trading only 763 shares, Seprod concluded trading with a loss of $1 to end at $35, with 7,688 stock units, Supreme Ventures settled for a 40 cents loss to close at $12.60, with 3,202,706 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments fell 7 cents, ending trading at $4.10, with 77,137 shares and Wisynco Group traded at $9.80, after falling by 20 cents with 360,903 shares. In the main market preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% ended at $2, with 25,000 shares and JMMB Group 7.5% finished with a loss of 5 cents to end at $1, as 724,379 stock units changed hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place. For more details of market activities, see “Broilers pushes JSE volume again – Thursday.”
Key Insurance dominates Junior Market – Thursday
Trading on the Junior Market closed on Thursday with 7,377,691 units valued at $23,298,507, down sharply from 17,217,639 units trading on Tuesday valued at $87,073,568 changing hands.
Key Insurance was the dominant traded with 5,228,000 units leading to a fall in the price to a new 52 weeks’ low and Caribbean Flavours closed trading at a 52 weeks’ low as well.
A total of 25 securities traded, similar to that on Tuesday, with the market Index rising 20.44 points to close at 2,940.08. At the close of market activities, the prices of 5 securities advanced, 9 declined and 11 remained unchanged.
IC bid-offer Indicator|At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 8 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Market activity ended with an average of 295,108 units for an average of $931,940 in contrast to 688,706 units for an average of $3,482,943 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 177,711 units with an average value of $910,702 and previously 182,941 units with an average value of $909,255. April closed with an average of 121,622 units at $506,803, for each security traded.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging ended at $2, with 34,651 stock units, Blue Power concluded trading $7 higher at $37, with 3,000 units, CAC 2000 jumped 99 cents to $8.99, with 16,783 shares, Caribbean Flavours fell $1.30 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.70, with 1,000 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Producers finished trading at $5.25, with 3,100 units. Consolidated Bakeries closed at $1.80, with 37,274 shares, Derrimon Trading concluded trading at $9.15, with 8,000 shares, Dolphin Cove finished at $17.50, with 2,100 stock units, Elite Diagnostic settled 5 cents higher at $3.15, with 331,841 units. 
Eppley ended trading at $10.18, with 155 shares, Express Catering traded with a loss of 13 cents at $5.90, with 38,434 shares, FosRich Group finished trading at $2.49, with 126,937 shares, General Accident closed 5 cents higher at $3.45, with 10,000 stock units. GWest Corporation ended at $2.10, with 80,400 units, Honey Bun concluded trading with a loss of 2 cents at $4.63, with 1,500 shares, Iron Rock finished with a rise of 2 cents at $3.07, trading 30,000 shares, Jetcon Corporation traded with a loss of 10 cents at $4, with 1,018,125 units. Key Insurance finished trading with a loss of 50 cents at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.75, with 5,228,000 shares, Knutsford Express ended at $12, with 5,109 shares, Lasco Distributors concluded trading with a loss of 5 cents at $4.15, with 239,600 stock units, Lasco Financial lost 16 cents to finish at $5.20, with 18,100 units. Lasco Manufacturing settled at $4, with 83,488 shares, Main Event ended trading at $7, with 6,021 shares, Paramount Trading closed with a loss of 10 cents at $3, exchanging 45,846 stock units and Stationery and Office closed down 15 cents at $8.80, after 8,227 units changed hands.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
Scotiabank hits new high on TTSE – Thursday
Scotiabank hits new high in T&T on Thursday.
Trading levels picked up on the Trinidad & Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday in the exchange of 668,999 shares valued $13,061,809, compared to 449,674 units valued at just $3,940,185 previously traded.
Market activity, ended with 15 securities changing hands against 9 on Wednesday leading to 5 advancing, 3 declining and 7 remaining unchanged, with Scotiabank trading at a new high of $65. The Composite Index the Composite Index rose 0.20 points on Thursday to 1,246.98, the All T&T Index gained 2.75 points to 1,732.17, while the Cross Listed Index declined 0.33 points to close at 102.44.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows the market continuing to be weak as it closed with 2 stocks ending with higher bids than the last selling prices and 5 with lower offers.
Gains| Ansa Mcal climbed 95 cents and ended at $59.95, with 30,282 units, First Caribbean International Bank closed with an increase of 2 cents at $8.90, after exchanging 40,960 shares, National Flour ended trading with a rise of 5 cents at $1.80, after exchanging 700 shares, Scotiabank jumped 75 cents higher to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $65, after exchanging 475 shares and Trinidad & Tobago NGL rose 1 cent, concluding trading at $29.01, with a mere 300 units changing hands.
Losses|Grace Kennedy closed with a loss of 3 cents to end at $3.05, with 251,894 units, Sagicor Financial shed 1 cent and concluded trading at $7.98, with 124,277 units and Unilever Caribbean dropped $2.50 to close at $29.50, after exchanging 52,944 shares.
Firm Traded| Ansa Merchant ended at $40, after exchanging 1,010 shares, Calypso Macro Fund closed at $18 trading 28 units, First Citizens completed trading at $35, after exchanging 265 shares, Massy Holdings settled at $47.50, with 150,000 stock units changing hands, NCB Financial Group completed trading at $5.50, after exchanging 10,500 shares, Republic Financial Holdings settled at $102.63, with 2,884 stock units changing hands and Trinidad Cement ended at $3, after exchanging 2,483 shares.
Prices of securities trading for the day are those at which the last trade took place.
