The latest company to get the computation of earnings per share wrong is the last to list on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, but it is not the only one that has accountants and auditors that cannot compute earnings per share properly. The other most recent listing got it terribly wrong, not only did this happen for the interim accounts, most likely produced internally but the audited report had the wrong computation as well.
Dr. Karlene McDonnough – Chairman of Image Consultants Ltd.
The correct computation of earnings per share is so critical, with investors using it to value shares of companies. A wrong calculation can result in distorted valuation by investors placed on a stock and it only needs to be in the marketplace for a few days for enormous potential damage to be done.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange in publishing reports with woefully inaccurate earnings per share figures should place a bold note with the release of the results that there is an error in the EPS so that all investors can be aware of it upfront. This approach is recommended rather than waiting for the company to re-compute it as the release of profits is also of much import to the market. this will require a different approach by the JSE than the current practice.
Image Plus Consultants which was listed just over a week ago reported a strong increase in revenues and profits but spoilt it by reporting excessively overstated earnings per share as they used the incorrect number of shares in the computation. Rather than 29 cents per share for the quarter and $1.84, it reported the computation is 2.3 cents and 15 cents for the nine months. One on One Education did the same thing for both their audited accounts and the first quarter results, both of which were corrected this past week after it was in the public domain for several days before the revision. This publication has been critical of the boards of both companies. The latest error shows the lack of experience on behalf of the board members as well as their accountant and the stock exchange must share the blame as well.
Ricardo Allen CEO of One to One
It is one thing for a company to get the computation wrong, it is an entirely different issue for auditors to do the same. The problem is that on too many occasions this error is cropping up and the situation seems to get worse as the Junior Market listings grow.
Stock splits or stock bonuses do not result in averaging shares issued. All that is needed in such cases is to use the new number of shares in computing EPS and all past periods are to be adjusted likewise. Only when new shares are issued for a consideration of value that the time weighted average number of shares would be used.
We have written on more than one occasion that investors in Jamaica are not properly protected, the above errors are just some of the matters that need to be addressed, but like the Stocks and Securities issue and others similar, those in authority fail to move with alacrity in correcting the fault.
All other movements in the Junior Market TOP10 were 3 percent or less. The Main Market Berger Paints popped 12 percent to $10.60, followed by a 9 percent rise for 
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
Overall, 221,731 shares were traded for US$7,760 compared with 417,724 units at US$36,261 on Thursday.
Proven Investments ended at 20 US cents after 1,539 units were traded, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share remained at 9.5 US cents in swapping of 2,125 stocks and Transjamaican Highway advanced 0.06 of a cent to 0.97 of one US cent after a transfer of 212,897 stock units.
A total of 10,834,252 shares were traded for $176,431,924 versus 16,679,571 units at $253,751,659 on Thursday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Jamaica Broilers popped $1.50 to close at $31.50 in exchange for 178,129 shares, Jamaica Producers rallied 99 cents to $20.99 with 168 units changing hands, JMMB Group lost 50 cents to close at $35 following trading of 206,544 stocks. Kingston Wharves advanced $5.45 to $35.70 with a transfer of 319 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained $1.10 while ending at $13.10 with 5,497 stock units changing hands, Palace Amusement dropped a hefty $647 to end at $2,603 following investors exchanging 2,483 shares and pushing the stock to an intraday record high of $3,300. PanJam Investment rose $2.20 to $57.20 after trading 2,238,835 units, Proven Investments popped 80 cents to close at $31.80 with the swapping of 38,842 stock units, Scotia Group rallied $1 in closing at $34.90 in trading 3,504 shares. 
Seprod shed $1.89 to end at $66.01 with an exchange of 6,860 stocks, Stanley Motta advanced 99 cents to $5.24 with investors transferring 1,778,058 stock units and Supreme Ventures popped 85 cents in closing at $27 after 132,915 units crossing the market.
Investors traded 10,955,295 shares for $27,089,084 compared with 12,623,385 units at $31,723,485 on Thursday.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks use ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Future Energy Source lost 14 cents to end at $4.64 after 640,143 shares passed through the market, General Accident popped 89 cents in closing at $4.99, trading 313 units, Honey Bun gained 19 cents to settle at $7.69 in switching ownership of 6,915 stocks. Indies Pharma shed 30 cents to close at $2.30 with the swapping of 299,425 units, KLE Group fell 19 cents to close at $1.71 in exchanging 1,900 stock units, Knutsford Express advanced $2.34 to $12.44 after 2,804 shares crossed the exchange. Medical Disposables rose 40 cents to $5, trading 31,703 shares, 
MFS Capital Partners lost 13 cents in closing at $2.83 as investors exchanged 289,128 stock units and Tropical Battery gained 9 cents to end at $2.39 in switching ownership of 207,578 units.
Trading ended, with an exchange of 21,991,278 shares compared with 29,715,470 units on Thursday, with a value of $203.3 million down from $285.4 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging US$7,760 versus US$36,261 on Thursday.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Dividends payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that show the closing volume for the bids and offers.
Investors traded 324,227 shares for $1,944,573 compared to 368,174 stock units at $4,467,202 on Thursday.
Massy Holdings remained at $4.49 in trading 35,129 stocks, National Enterprises slipped 1 cent in closing at $3.69 with an exchange of 74,750 shares, National Flour Mills declined 5 cents to $1.50 and closed with 30,000 stock units passing through the exchange. NCB Financial remained at $4.30 with investors trading 33,398 stock units, One Caribbean Media dropped 1 cent to close at $3.10 after a transfer of 25,290 shares, Republic Financial fell 75 cents to end at $137.25 in trading 211 stocks Scotiabank ended at $77.95 after an exchange of 1,249 units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL dropped 8 cents in ending at $21.30 after switching ownership of 2,115 stocks, Trinidad Cement remained at $3.60 with the swapping of 993 units and West Indian Tobacco advanced 10 cents to $21.95 in finishing trading of 4,523 stock units.
A total of 16,679,571 shares were traded for $253,751,659 compared to 32,907,198 units at $46,037,711 on Wednesday.
Mayberry Investments fell 81 cents to $8 after investors traded 25,212 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed $1 to settle at $12 after exchanging 303,361 stocks, Palace Amusement jumped $350 to end at a record high of $3,250 with 817 shares crossing the market, PanJam Investment dropped $2.20 to $55 after 2,528 stocks cleared the market. Proven Investments dipped 50 cents to $31 with the swapping of 1,705 stock units, Scotia Group fell 97 cents to end at $33.90 in trading 238,458 shares, Supreme Ventures fell $1.85 to $26.15 after a transfer of 66,596 units. Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 50 cents in closing at $13 in switching ownership of 25,136 stocks and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 47 cents ending at $3.53 with a transfer of 112,178 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 shed 40 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.51 with investors transferring 50,000 shares and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $3.99 to $68.99 in an exchange of 253 units.
A total of 12,623,385 shares were traded for $31,723,485 compared to 11,166,116 units at $25,766,396 on Wednesday.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.6. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks uses ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial year ending that fall between November 2022 and August 2023.
Fontana gained 30 cents to close at $9.20 with 39,581 shares changing hands. Fosrich shed 26 cents to close at $3.01 in exchanging 3,113,891 stocks, General Accident declined $1.20 to $4.10 in switching 34,018 stock units, Image Plus Consultants gained 9 cents in ending at $1.95 after 1,408,841 stocks were traded. Indies Pharma lost 16 cents to close at $2.60 with investors transferring 209,616 units, KLE Group gained 19 cents to end at $1.90 with one stock unit crossing the market, Limners and Bards dipped 20 cents to $2.20 with the swapping of 1,025,029 shares. Main Event fell 89 cents to $9.11 after investors transferred 3,202 units, Medical Disposables popped 9 cents to end at $4.60 trading 59,036 shares and 
Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 25 cents to $14.50 after a transfer of 49,516 stock units.
Overall, 417,724 shares were traded for US$36,261 compared with 114,022 units at US$3,947 on Wednesday.
Sygnus Credit Investments J$ share ended at 12 US cents, with 180 units crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share ended at 9.5 US cents after trading 59 shares and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.04 of a cent to end at 0.91 of one US cents as 76 units changed hands.
