Buy Rated

Robust gains for several ICTOP10 stocks

April 20, 2024 by IC Insider.com

During the just-concluded trading week, the Main Market slipped from the previous week’s close, while the Junior Market closed with a marginal loss, with many notable price changes primarily in the Junior Market ICTOP10, but there was just one Main Market price change of note and one change to the TOP10 listing.
In market activity during the week, the only price movement of note in the Main Market is Margaritaville, up 10 percent to $15.53. On the other hand, the Junior Market ICTOP10 has 5 stocks with price changes of note. Iron Rock Insurance topped the list with a gain of 15 percent to $2.52 followed by AMG Packaging up 12 percent to $3.59. Caribbean Cream climbed 9 percent to $4.24, while Consolidated Bakeries popped 8 percent to $2.18 and Access Financial gained 6 percent to $21.12. Two declining Junior Market stocks suffered losses of 3 and 2 percent.
The price of Scotia Group closed the week at $44.88, with the stock returning to the Main Market TOP10 and pushed Jamaica Broilers out, with the price rising a mere one percent to $33.13.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.5, well below the market average of 13.2 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.4 over half of the market, with an average of 12.6.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 271 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 178 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 105, with an average of 31 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 10 stocks, or 22 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 44, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories Tagged With: 138 Student Living, AMG Packaging, Caribbean Cream, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Elite Diagnostic, Emerging markets, Express Catering, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Iron Rock Insurance, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, JMMB Group, junior market, Key Insurance, Margaritaville, Palace, Scotia Group, Stocks to Watch, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity, tTech

Profit bolts 79% at AMG

April 18, 2024 by IC Insider.com

Profit continued to surge at AMG Packaging in the February quarter, up 79 percent to $32 million from $18 million in 2023, the performance is better than the 72 percent rise in the first quarter. For the six months to February, profit was also up 79 percent to $84 million from $47 million in 2023.
Sale revenues rose by just one percent for the quarter, to $250 million from $247 million and popped 4 percent for the year to date, to $522 million from $501 million in 2023.
Two main features are at play resulting in improved performance. The company installed new multi-coloured machinery in early 2023 that measures and determine the cut for boxes which has helped in cutting operating costs as it is far more efficient than the original ones. Secondly, the price of paper declined in 2023 from 2022 and has carried over into the current year, the result is that raw material costs declined to 41 percent of revenues in the second quarter from 53 percent in 2023.
Historically, profit was stuck for years between $37 million and $62 million from 2017 to 2021 . In 2022 profit jumped to $105 million following a revenues surge of 41 percent over 2021 but fell back to $89 million in 2023 with some one-off cost, helping in pushing the profit down, otherwise it would have exceeded that of 2022. ICInsider.com projects profit to come in around $225 million for this fiscal year ending in August.
Manufacturing costs declined by 12 percent in the February quarter to $154 million from $175 million and by 9 percent year to date, to $325 million from $356 million. Gross profit margin rose a significant 36 percent in the quarter to $96 million from $72 million and climbed even more for the half year to 39 percent to $197 million from $145 million in 2024.
Administrative expenses rose 18 percent to $33 million in the quarter and increased 19 percent in the six months to $66 million. Depreciation charges increased by 26 percent to $13.5 million in the quarter, and the half year to $26 million. Finance cost declined in the quarter, to $1.8 million from $2 million in 2024 and from $4.2 million to $3.6 million for the six months.
The operations generated $130 million in Gross cash flow, after paying dividends of $51 million and increased working capital needs, net flows were negative and pulled down the cash on hand from of $297 million in 2023 to $252 million.
Current assets ended the period at $651 million and include trade and other receivables of $143 million, up from $123 million in 2023, and cash and bank balances of $252 million, representing an increase over $144 million in 2023. Inventories rose a bit from $240 million to $255 million. Current liabilities at the half way marker amount to $152 million. Net current assets ended the period at $500 million.
At the end of February, shareholders’ equity amounts to $1.29 billion with long term borrowings of just at $66 million and short term at $19 million.
Earnings per share for the quarter amounts to 6 cents and 14 cents for the half year. IC Insider.com computation projects earnings around 45 cents per share for the current fiscal year, with a PE of 8 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $3.59 the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market. Net asset value ended the period at $2.53 with the stock selling at a premium of 41 percent to book value.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results Tagged With: AMG, Emerging market stock, Emerging markets, Jamaica Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, junior market, Trading Activity

Scotia & Express Catering depart ICTOP10

April 13, 2024 by IC Insider.com

In a week of the market ups and downs with Scotia Group and Express Catering dropping out of the ICTOP10 listing. Price movements in the TOP10 have been notable, with Express Catering at long last making a move higher in adding 10 percent, to close at $4.45, but the potential of the stock is held back by the company’s poor corporate governance practices highlighted by the fact that loan funding is used to on-lend to related group companies, with no benefit to the company’s to the company, with the company giving up more than US$1 million per year.
In a review of the ICTOP10, the earnings for the current year were confirmed at 45 cents for AMG Packaging, following the release of six months’ results on Friday, showing profit up 78 percent for the latest quarter and the half year while tTech earnings were projected for the current year at 30 cents per share pushing the stock in the TOP10.
In market activity during the week, Caribbean Cream climbed 9 percent to $3.90, but Iron Rock Insurance fell 12 percent to $2.20 followed by Edufocal, down 10 percent to an all time low of 93 cents while Consolidated Bakeries slipped 8 percent to $2.01. In the Main Market, Key Insurance rose 12 percent to $2.48 and 138 Student Living rose 6 percent to $4.18 while Margaritaville dropped 12 percent to $14.10.
tTech is a new addition to the Junior Market ICTOP10 with the increase in projected earnings for 2024, replacing Express Catering and in Main Market TOP10, Jamaica Broilers returns, edging out the undervalued Scotia Group. Jamaica Broilers another severely undervalued stock with good long term growth prospects returns to the TOP10.
It is worth noting that Honey Bun that was last in the TOP10 in the week ending March 8 and hit a 52 weeks’ high of $7.92 this week to be up 18 percent since it was added to the listing in mid-February at $6.69. The price should continue to increase throughout 2024.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.5, well below the market average of 13.2 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.4 over half of the market, with an average of 12.6.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 273 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 191 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 107, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 44, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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.
ICTOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories Tagged With: 138 Student Living, AMG Packaging, Caribbean Cream, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, Express Catering, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Iron Rock Insurance, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, JMMB Group, junior market, Key Insurance, Margaritaville, Palace, Scotia Group, Stocks to Watch, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity, tTech

CPJ enters ICTOP10 Broilers out

April 7, 2024 by IC Insider.com

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With what has become the norm, the markets pulled back to start April from the pump-up end of month prices in March, resulting in varied outcomes for the ICTOP10 and ending with Jamaica Broilers falling from the Main Market TOP10 and Caribbean Producers entering at the number 9 spot.

There were no changes to the list of companies in the Junior Market TOP10 this past week.
Caribbean Producers is the primary supplier of foods and beverages to the growing tourist industry on the north coast of Jamaica and St Lucia, the company is also expanding its meat processing arm as well as retail areas in both countries. ICInsider.com’s projected EPS is $1.35 for the fiscal year to June 2024. With plans for long term growth in the local tourism sector, the company has a B base for growth for many years to come.
Jamaica Broilers although out of the TOP10, is undervalued and possesses good long term growth prospects as they constantly spend resources to expand or modernise the operation.
In Main Market activity this past week, General Accident jumped 16 percent to $6.15, a 52 weeks’ high, with buying interest in recent weeks, being very high and active supply in the market low, a recipe for higher prices ahead and Key Insurance lost 14 percent to end at $2.22.
The Junior Market closed the week with a 17 percent jump for Iron Rock Insurance to $2.51 while Consolidated Bakeries gained 8 percent to $2.19 but Jamaican Teas dropped 13 percent to $2.40 and Caribbean Cream lost 8 percent to land at $3.58 while Express Catering and Access Financial fell by 7 percent to $3.70 and $19.86 respectively.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.5, well below the market average of 13.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 12.5.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 274 percent by May 2025, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 183 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 30 and 27 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 21 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: 138 Student Living, AMG Packaging, Caribbean Cream, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Emerging markets, Express Catering, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Iron Rock Insurance, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, JMMB Group, junior market, Key Insurance, Margaritaville, Palace, Scotia Group, Stocks to Watch, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity

Lasco companies out of ICTOP10

April 5, 2024 by IC Insider.com

Shake up took place in the ICTOP10 with Lasco Manufacturing that closed up by 10 percent to $6.08 at the end of last week and Lasco Distributors that fell 7 percent to $4.25 and dropping out of the TOP10 following migration from the Junior to the Main Market last week Wednesday.
With the 2024 financial year ending in March, the two companies will see a bump in earnings for 2025 and likely put them in the ICTOP10 again. Since the switch in listing, the number of stocks offered for sale has declined sharply and so have the bids to buy.
Coming into the Junior Market listing are Consolidated Bakeries, while AMG Packaging returns after a weeks’ absence, with the price falling to $3.12 from $3.27, EPS for the Consolidated Bakeries is projected at 30 cents for 2024, pushing it into position 2. The company promised much with a good brand but has delivered inadequate returns since being listed in 2013, but the operations have been undergoing changes with more focus on higher margin products and less on the regular breads, that faces greater competition in the market. A review of the 2023 audited statements shows that cost jumped but this was mostly for big wage increases which should moderate in 2025. Investing in the company is not without risk but it should benefit from continued growth and improved employment in the local economy going forward that should result in revenues growing faster than cost.

There were no new listing in the Main Market, but 138 Student Living rose 10 percent to $4.19 and JMMB Group gained 6 percent to close trading last week at $26.50, while Palace Amusements shed 9 percent to $1.04 and General Accident fell 6 percent to $5.30.
The Junior Market closed last week in positive territory as Stationery & Office Supplies climbed 13 percent to $1.70 while, Jamaican Teas, ISP Finance and Lasco Manufacturing all gained 10 percent, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 15 percent to $2.14 and Lasco Distributors fell 7 percent to $4.25.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Main Market TOP10 this past week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.4 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 13.3.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 270 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 178 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 23, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: 138 Student Living, AMG Packaging, Caribbean Cream, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Elite Diagnostic, Emerging markets, Express Catering, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Honey Bun, Iron Rock Insurance, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, JMMB Group, junior market, Key Insurance, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, Margaritaville, Palace, Scotia Group, Stocks to Watch, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity

Edufocal now an ICTOP10 stock

March 25, 2024 by IC Insider.com

Edufocal suffered a major drop in price in the past week to $1.05 from $1.13 at the start and landed in an ICTOP10 Junior Market, in position number 7, at the same time, AMG Packaging gained just 5 percent to close at $3.44 and dropped out of the top tier to sit at the twelfth position.
In a week of more moderate price movements, the Junior Market ICTOP10 ended, with a 6 percent jump in the price of Lasco Manufacturing to $5.53 with Access Financial falling 9 percent to $20 and ISP Finance slipping 8 percent to $28.10, while in the Main Market, Key Insurance surged 12 percent to $2.57 and JMMB Group fell 8 percent to $25.
Investors may question why Caribbean Cream is in the ICTOP10. A closer look at earnings for the nine months to November shows the full cost of interest being expensed, most if not all should be a part of the cost of building out the cold room and the cogeneration plant. If interest is capitalized, earnings for the full year would be in the 55 cents per share region rather than 25 cents, with the full interest cost being expensed. More importantly with the 2025 fiscal year having commenced, earnings for the new fiscal year should be around 95 cents, which is the real reason for owning the stock at this time.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Main Market TOP10 this past week.
For the full list of weekly percentage changes for the ICTOP10 stocks, check the attached charts for the weekly percentage price movements.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.4 over half of the market, with an average of 13.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 270 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 175 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 37 and 25 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 29 for the top half and 21 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 23 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 44, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories Tagged With: 138 Student Living, AMG Packaging, Caribbean Cream, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Edufocal, Emerging markets, Express Catering, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Honey Bun, Iron Rock Insurance, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, JMMB Group, junior market, Key Insurance, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, Margaritaville, Palace, Scotia Group, Stocks to Watch, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity

Solid gains for some ICTOP10 stocks

March 17, 2024 by IC Insider.com

The main and Junior Markets are up nearly 10 percent and 5 percent since the lows reached in September and December respectively and they are expected to continue to rally in the weeks and months ahead, with the Junior Market now showing bullish signals that are B indicators of a solid bull market ahead.
The ICTOP10 ended the past weeks, with a 9 percent jump in the price of ISP Finance to $30.55 and an 8 percent fall in Stationery & Office Supplies to $1.56.
In the Main Market, 138 Student Living surged 24 percent to $3.75 followed by a 12 percent rise for Margaritaville to $15.99, as General Accident Insurance popped by 8 percent to $5.61 as demand rises for the stock but Kay declined 14 percent to $2.30.
On the surface, ISP Finance appears highly overpriced based on 2024 earnings of 57 cents per share, but the December quarter earnings were 25.2 cents per share or just over $1 per annum. With more profit to be generated in 2024 as profit grows, earnings should exceed that of 2024 by what is expected to be a wide margin and most likely justify the current price.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the TOP10 this past week.
For the full list of weekly percentage changes for the ICTOP10 stocks, check the attached charts for the weekly percentage price movements.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.4 over half of the market, with an average of 13.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 269 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 173 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 36 and 25 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 29 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 23 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 43, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories Tagged With: 138 Student Living, Access Financial, AMG Packaging, Caribbean Cream, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Elite Diagnostic, Emerging markets, Express Catering, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Honey Bun, Iron Rock Insurance, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, JMMB Group, junior market, Key Insurance, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, Margaritaville, Palace, Scotia Group, Stocks to Watch, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity

Honey Bun jumps ICTOP10 SOS returns

March 11, 2024 by IC Insider.com

There has been quite a high level of volatility in the ICTOP10 over the past two weeks, with a 19 percent jump in the price of Iron Rock Insurance to $2.51, with an 11 percent fall in ISP Finance to $28.10 and a drop of 10 percent in AMG Packaging to $3.18 as The Junior Market closed with Stationery & Office Supplies returning to the TOP10 based on projected earnings for 2024 but Honey Bun rose to $7.30 and dropped out of the TOP10.

Stationery & Office Supplies hit a record high on Friday.

Stationary & Office Supplies – Montego Bay office.

In the Main Market, 138 Student Living plunged 28 percent to $3.03 followed by a 16 percent fall for Margaritaville to $14.25, while Pulse Investments rose 13 percent to $2.14 and Kay Insurance rallied 12 percent to $2.67.
For the full list of weekly percentage changes for the ICTOP10 stocks, check the attached charts for the weekly percentage price movements.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.5, well below the market average of 13.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.4 over half of the market, with an average of 13.1.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 284 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 174 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 35 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 28 and 20 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 23 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 46, averaging 21.5, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories Tagged With: 138 Student Living, AMG Packaging, Caribbean Cream, Caribbean Producers, Daily Trading, Elite Diagnostic, Emerging markets, Express Catering, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Honey Bun, Iron Rock Insurance, Jamaica Broilers, Jamaican Stock Exchange, Jamaican stocks, JMMB Group, junior market, Key Insurance, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, Margaritaville, Palace, Scotia Group, Stationery & Office Supplies, Stocks to Watch, TOP 10 stocks, Trading Activity

60% hike in Scotia Group dividend

March 7, 2024 by IC Insider.com

Scotia Group Falmouth branch

Scotia Group reports a net profit of $3.13 billion for the quarter ending January 2024, down 7 percent from $3.37 billion in January 2023, as credit loss provisions more than doubled to more than $1 billion from $510 million in 2023, with the loan portfolio increasing by 17.4 percent, with a $41 billion addition over the last twelve months to $278 billion and up from $269 billion at the end of October 2023.
According to Management, “Our core loan book continues to perform well with mortgages increasing year over year by 24 percent, consumer loans by 12 percent, credit cards by 12 percent and commercial loans by 17 percent”.
Earnings per share for the quarter ended at $1 and resulted in the dividend payment returning to the bottom of the payout range of 40 to 50 percent, with the Scotia Group’s Board of Directors approving a 60 percent increase in the dividend to 40 cents per stock unit in respect of the first quarter, to be paid on April 17, to stockholders on record as at March 26, up from 25 cents in 2023.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Company News, Company Results, Dividends

ISP Finance & AMG tops ICTOP10

February 24, 2024 by IC Insider.com

The Junior Market slipped by a few points at the end of the week but the Main Market declined around one percent, with Carreras and Wigton Windfarm hitting new 52 weeks’ highs.

AMG Packaging in ICTOP10

The Junior Market closed the week with ISP Finance jumping 26 percent to close at $31.50, a pretty high price based on the earnings of 57 cents per share in 2023, with 25 cents in the final quarter, with income jumping a solid 39.6 percent, that augurs very well for revenues and earnings for 2024. A close examination of the 2023 fiscal results reveals significant potential for revenues and profit ahead that should start in 2024. Watch for the first quarter numbers for this one.
There was an 18 percent jump in the price of AMG Packaging to close at $3.55, following the holding at the company’s AGM, Lasco Distributors rose 9 percent to $4.55. Lasco Manufacturing closed 4 percent higher at $5.09 after the price reached $6.14 on Friday, with the supply of the stock being sold drying up. Iron Rock Insurance dropped back 16 percent to $2.11 and in the Main Market TOP10, Palace Amusement shed 14 percent to close at $1.07.
For the full list of weekly percentage changes for the ICTOP10 stocks, check the attached charts for the weekly percentage price movements.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 13.7 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.5 just over half of the market, with an average of 13.4.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 281 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 170 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 14 of the most highly valued stocks representing 29 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 31 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 12 stocks, or 25 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 45, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.