The current year is turning out to be one of the worst-performing years for the JSE Junior Market, after a decline of 12.5 percent in the market index, through the end of July. Jetcon Corporation surged to the top of the market with gains of 129 percent, next is Future Energy, up by 26 percent, following solid 2026 full year results to March.
Jetcon’s profit surged 567 percent in the first quarter to 10 cents per share with increased revenues of $428 million for the second quarter, from $227 million in 2025, with profit in the June quarter hitting $65 million, up from $33 million in 2025, with profit for the half year coming in at $124 million versus just $42 million in the similar period in 2025.
The fall in the market resulted from only nine stocks rising and 38 declining. The biggest losers include Kintyre Holdings with a fall of 76 percent, followed by Iron Rock Insurance, down 48 percent while Caribbean Flavours lost 41 percent and Main Event 40 percent.
The year-to-date performance should not be taken as a foregone conclusion that the year will end as badly as it started. First quarter results of Junior Market companies show that more than half of the have increased profits, a sign that prices of these stocks should be rising in the months ahead if the positive profit trend continues. Since then, some early results for the second quarter are showing continuation of the positive earnings trend.
Jetcon Corporation surged to the top of the market with gains of 129 percent, next is Future Energy, up by a solid 26 percent, following 2026 full year results to March. Jetcon’s profit surged 567 percent in the first quarter to 10 cents per share and seems on track for 45 cents for the full year.
The year to date performance should not be taken as a foregone conclusion that the year will end as badly as it started. First quarter results of the Junior Market companies show more than half of them recording increased profits, a sign that prices of these stocks should rise in the months ahead if the positive profit trend continues for the majority of listed Junior Market stocks.
Grace delivered Interest and Other income along with its share of results of associates and joint ventures amounting to $2.17 billion, up 21 percent over the $1.79 billion in the second quarter in 2025. For the six months to June, the Group delivered an increase of 6.6 percent to $3.8 billion from $3.567 billion in 2025.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index surged 8,783.32 points to finish trading on Friday at 360,744.16, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 10,632.40 points to close the week at a near 4-year high of 419,073.54, the highest since August 15, 2022. The JSE Main Index rallied 8,646.78 points to 354,542.95, the Junior Market Index rose 71.88 points to 3,030.66 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 1.56 points to end at 240.87.
In the preference share segment, Eppley 7.25% preferred share rose by $2.88 in closing at $19, followed by 138 Student Living preference share that dropped by $25 to $175, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preferred stock popped $42 and ended at $1,200 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rose $1.99 to close at $106.
The group reports that, based on the unanimous recommendation of a committee of independent directors of the board of directors of SGJL, it has entered into a definitive arrangement agreement with its majority shareholder, Scotiabank Caribbean Holdings Limited to take SGJL private whereby, among other things, all of the issued and outstanding shares of SGJL that SCHL does not currently own will be repurchased for $61.50 in cash per share, subject to court approval as well as the approval of SGJL’s minority shareholders.
Inflows climbed of 4.1 per cent to US$856 million or an increase of $33.5 million for January to March period this year, over the corresponding period of 2025 that enjoyed inflows of US$822.5 million.
The April numbers represent an improvement over the 25.7 percent fall in March, this year, as well as for the year to date, with a decline for the three months to March of 31 percent. The numbers represent incoming and outgoing passengers and locally based Jamaicans, although not the actual number of tourist traffic, the data provides an accurate proxy for the sector’s performance. Data collated by the Jamaica Tourist Board on the industry are unfortunately only released to the public several months in arrears.
Management indicated that “increased commuter traffic across the network was one area that contributed to the growth in revenues.