Trading pushed the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange sharply down on Monday and gave back most of Friday’s 77 points gains following the last minute bounce to close out May as the market closed with a 68 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, following a 64 percent lower value of funds entering the market than Friday with trading in 45 securities up from 39 on the previous trading day and ending with prices of 12 rising, 22 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 71.22 points to finish at 3,765.28.
The market ended trading of 4,783,133 shares for $11,166,537 down from 14,832,174 units at $31,162,735 on Friday.
Trading averaged 106,292 shares at $248,145 compared with 380,312 units at $799,044 on Friday down from May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Limners and Bards led trading with 1.06 million shares for 22.2 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 867,867 units for 18.1 percent of the day’s trade and Caribbean Assurance Brokers with 494,204 units for 10.3 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.8, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined $1.25 and ended at $19.75 as investors exchanged 1,274 stocks, Blue Power fell 40 cents to $3.05 with a transfer of 30,675 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 10 cents in closing at $3.73 after investors ended trading 494,204 shares. Caribbean Cream increased 35 cents to close at $4.35 in an exchange of 80,145 stock units, Dolphin Cove lost 85 cents to finish at $24 with 18,663 shares clearing the market, Express Catering dipped 19 cents to $3.81 in switching ownership of 229,621 stocks. Fontana popped 17 cents in closing at $8.10 after a transfer of 43,107 units, Fosrich sank 15 cents to $2.15 with 74,339 stock units crossing the exchange, Future Energy dropped 14 cents to close at $3.35, with investors dealing in 90,010 shares following the release of full year results, with 2024 profit coming out lower than the prior year. GWest Corporation rallied 10 cents to finish at 95 cents and closed with an exchange of 21,374 stocks, Honey Bun shed 10 cents and ended at $7.80 with 12,422 units changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance rose 8 cents to end at $2.18 after 12 stock units passed through the market. 
ISP Finance climbed $1.99 in closing at $26 with investors swapping a mere 3 shares, JFP Ltd slipped 13 cents to $1.15 in an exchange of 275,993 stock units, Lasco Financial fell 17 cents to finish at $1.51, with 158,748 units changing hands. Limners and Bards gained 12 cents and ended at $1.50 with investors trading 1,063,181 stocks, Main Event dipped 40 cents to end at $12.60, with 26,210 shares crossing the market, Regency Petroleum sank 27 cents to close at $2.11 with traders dealing in 10,483 stocks. Spur Tree Spices advanced 9 cents to $2.36, with 282,420 units crossing the market, Stationery and Office Supplies skidded 7 cents in closing at $1.65 after an exchange of 6,974 stock units, Tropical Battery lost 11 cents and ended at $2.09 with investors transferring 59,741 shares and tTech slipped 35 cents to close at $2.14 after exchanging 3,334 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
All JSE markets fall to start the month
All three markets pulled back at the start of June on a negative note following a big jump to close out May on the Jamaica Stock Exchange that declined at the close of trading on Monday and ended with the number of stocks and the value changing hands falling well below trading on the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 30 shares rising and 44 declining.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index declined 1,439.06 points to 334,355.64, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 859.63 points to end at 360,164.37, the JSE Main Index lost 983.38 points to end at 321,414.32. The Junior Market Index dived 71.22 points to finish at 3,765.28 and the JSE USD Market Index declined 8.50 points to cease trading at 230.85.
At the close of trading, 17,841,602 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 39,310,528 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $83.02 million, well below the $175.75 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 110,971 shares for US$24,393 compared to 267,704 units at US$11,973 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 4.72 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.36 million stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 1.92 million units and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.18 million units.
In the Junior Market, Limners and Bards led trading with 1.06 million shares followed by Dolla Financial with 867,867 units and Caribbean Assurance Brokers with 494,204 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share popped $1.50 to $20, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $7.20 to close at $40.79 and 138 Student Living preference share climbed $5 and ended at $190.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.4 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.5 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Carib Assurance jumps 32% in ICTOP10
Caribbean Assurance Brokers is this week’s star performer, jumping 32 percent to $3.83, following the announcement of a 428 percent hike in dividend to 14.11 cents from just 2.67 cents last year, with the company reporting earnings of 47 cents per share for 2023, including a $17 million charge for doubtful debt, amounting to 6.5 cents per share which was reversed in the first quarter to March this year, but that did not prevent the first quarter results from falling compared with 2023.
Other stocks with notable price movements are tTech with a 13 percent rise to $2.45 followed by AMG Packaging, which climbed 6 percent to $3.25, while Access Financial and Edufocal rose 5 percent to $21 and 84 cents respectively.
In the Main Market, Berger Paints popped 6 percent to close at $8.50, JMMB Group rose 4 percent to $25.50, Palace Amusement fell 7 percent to close at $1 and Key Insurance slipped 4 percent to $230.
Dropping from the ICTOP10 is AMG Packaging which Dolla Financial replaces in the Junior Market. There are no changes to the Main Market list.
The Junior Market ICTOP10, , followed by Access Financial, with an 11 percent rise to $20. Edufocal dropped 11 percent to 80 cents, while Caribbean Assurance Brokers is down 9 percent to close at $2.90 and Caribbean Cream fell 7 percent to $3.90.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 14.2 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.8, just over half of the market, with an average of 13.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 296 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 207 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 96, with an average of 30 and 20 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 17 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 12 stocks, or 26 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 53, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The average PE in the top half of the market is 18, possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks.
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, resulting 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.
Month end rally for Main Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 76 percent and the value 9 percent more than on Thursday, with trading in 58 securities compared with 61 on Thursday, with prices of winning and losing stocks sharing 18 units each with22 ending unchanged.
The market closed after 24,210,650 shares were traded for $144,587,745 compared with 13,748,626 units at $132,263,247 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 417,425 shares at $2,492,892 compared to 225,387 units at $2,168,250 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110 compared with 333,219 units at $2,162,481 on the previous day and well below April with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 11.63 million shares for 48.1 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 2.88 million stocks for 11.9 percent of the day’s trade, Lasco Distributors ended with 1.82 million units for 7.5 percent of the trading, Carreras with 1.32 million units for 5.5 percent market share, Mayberry Group chipped in with 1.15 million shares for 4.7 percent of the market and General Accident with 1.06 million units for 4.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 4,067.85 points to close at 361,024.00, the JSE Main Index gained 2,430.29 points to wrap up trading at 322,397.70 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.98 points to culminate at 69.10.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden fell $5.40 to close at $31.55, with an exchange of 7,064 stock units, Caribbean Producers sank 39 cents to $8.50 after investors ended trading 52,134 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund increased 40 cents in closing at $39.40 with investors transferring 50 units. Jamaica Broilers climbed $2 to end at $33.50, with 252,605 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Producers rose 45 cents and ended at $23 as investors exchanged 920 units, Kingston Wharves gained $1 to finish at $27 in trading 5,254 shares. Lasco Manufacturing popped 33 cents and ended at $5.49 after closing with an exchange of 60,166 stocks, Mayberry Group advanced 35 cents to $8.10 with 1,145,498 stock units changing hands, 
Portland JSX rallied $1.17 in closing at $9.60 after 6,415 shares passed through the market. Proven Investments skidded 80 cents to close at $20.50 with investors trading 7,891 units, Sagicor Group popped $1.48 to finish at $41.98 in switching ownership of 109,544 stocks, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rallied 35 cents to end at $8 with 2,878,446 stock units changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost 50 cents in closing at $10.50 with investors dealing in 3,700 shares.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share shed $32 to close at $185 in an exchange of 27 units and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share declined $90 and ended at $1110, with 100 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Sharp jump for Junior Market
Stocks mostly rose on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, pushing the market higher at the close of the month, following a 14 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with 11 percent more value than on Thursday with trading in 39 securities down from 43 on Thursday and ending with prices of 17 rising, eight declining and 14 closing unchanged.
Trading ended with 14,832,174 shares for $31,162,735 up from 13,020,959 units at $28,069,231 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 380,312 shares at $799,044 compared to 302,813 units at $652,773 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averages 451,257 stocks at $953,021 compared with 454,355 stocks at $959,745 on the previous day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 3.44 million shares for 23.2 percent of total volume followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 2.46 million units for 16.6 percent of the day’s trade, ONE on ONE Educational with 2.19 million stock for 14.7 percent market share and JFP Ltd with 1.68 million stock units for 11.3 percent of total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index increased 77.06 points to lock up trading at 3,836.50, ending with a minor loss of just 0.03 percent and marginally lower than the close for May.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $1.50 to $21 with traders dealing in 14,849 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 68 cents and ended at $3.83 in an exchange of 204,277 shares, following the announcement that the company is hiking the dividend by 428 percent over the payment of 2.67 cents in 2023 to 14.11 cents. Express Catering rose 10 cents to finish at $4, with 650,219 units changing hands following an announcement that the board of directors will meet on June 7, to consider a dividend payment. Future Energy advanced 19 cents in closing at $3.49 with 446,613 stocks passing through the market, GWest Corporation dipped 13 cents to end at 85 cents with investors transferring 46,493 units, Indies Pharma increased 24 cents to close at $2.74 with 355,212 stocks clearing the market. 
Iron Rock Insurance fell 8 cents to $2.10 with an exchange of 1,536 shares, JFP Ltd climbed 9 cents to close at $1.28 with 1,680,756 stocks crossing the market, Limners and Bards dipped 20 cents to $1.38 with investors dealing in 1,000 shares. Main Event rallied 50 cents to end at $13 with just 705 stock units crossing the market, Medical Disposables gained 22 cents in closing at $2.20 after an exchange of 452 stocks, Regency Petroleum rose 20 cents to finish at $2.38 and closed with an exchange of 3,444,639 units. Spur Tree Spices sank 18 cents and ended at $2.27 in trading 518,539 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies rose 7 cents to $1.72 after a transfer of 2,455,914 stock units and tTech rallied 23 cents in closing at $2.49 with investors swapping 4,210 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big month end rally for Main & Junior market
With the closing of the month, stocks jumped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange as is the traditional practice at month end with trading ending on Friday, with the Main and Junior Market jumping sharply while the JSE USD market closed moderately lower as trading ended with the number of and value of stocks changing hands rising from the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 35 stocks rising and 24 declining.
The market indices were pushed much higher in the last two minutes of trading above attractive gains posted well ahead of the close with trading which ended with 23,455,159 shares valued at $85,644,579 in the last 13 minutes of market activity.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 2,866.78 points to 335,794.70, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 4,067.85 points to 361,024.00, the JSE Main Index popped 2,430.29 points to cease trading at 322,397.70. The Junior Market Index surged 77.06 points to conclude trading at 3,836.50 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 2.18 points to end at 239.35.
At the close of trading, 39,310,528 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 26,873,386 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $175.75 million, well below the $160.33 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 267,704 shares for US$11,973 compared to 110,239 units at US$24,984 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 11.63 million shares followed by Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 2.88 million stocks, Lasco Distributors ended with 1.82 million units, Carreras closed with 1.32 million stock units, Mayberry Group with 1.15 million shares and General Accident with 1.06 million units.
In the Junior Market, Regency Petroleum led trading with 3.44 million shares followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 2.46 million stocks, ONE on ONE Educational with 2.19 million units and JFP Ltd with 1.68 million stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share dropped $32 to close at $185 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dived $90 to end at $1,110.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.5 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.6 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
JSE Main Market trading jumps
Investors pumped more money into stocks on Thursday in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, resulting in the volume of stocks traded rising 79 percent and the value 146 percent more than on Wednesday, with trading in 61 securities compared with 63 on Wednesday, with prices of 23 stocks rising, 20 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 13,748,626 shares trading for $132,263,247 up from 7,679,552 units at $53,712,877 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 225,387 shares at $2,168,250 up from 121,898 units at $852,585 on Wednesday and for the month to date, an average of 333,219 units at $2,162,481 compared with 338,742 stock units at $2,162,186 on the previous day and April with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
Lasco Manufacturing was the leading trade with 2.35 million shares for 17.1 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.34 million stocks for 17.1 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway ended with 1.82 million units for 13.3 percent of market share and Carreras with 1.15 million shares for 8.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 126.07 points to finish at 356,956.15, the JSE Main Index rose 207.13 points to conclude trading at 319,967.41 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 0.23 points to end at 68.12.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.5. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints gained 30 cents to end at $8.50 with traders dealing in 84,264 shares, Caribbean Cement sank $1.79 in closing at $63.01, with 71,798 units crossing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost 40 cents to close at $39 in an exchange of 546 shares. General Accident declined 57 cents to finish at $6.50, with 34,132 stock units changing hands, GraceKennedy shed 75 cents and ended at $73.30 after a transfer of 64,791 shares, Jamaica Broilers dropped 50 cents to close at $31.50 in switching ownership of 639,566 stock units. 
Jamaica Producers rose 66 cents to $22.55 after an exchange of 507,395 units, JMMB Group climbed 76 cents to $25.50 with investors trading 513,686 stocks, Mayberry Group fell 33 cents to close at $7.75 with an exchange of 77,798 shares. Mayberry Jamaican Equities slipped 90 cents and ended at $9.52 after trading 23,606 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy increased $2.99 in closing at $94.99 after an exchange of 1,075 units, NCB Financial popped $1.11 to end at $63 after closing with an exchange of 204,702 stock units. Pan Jamaica rallied $4.43 in closing at $50.50, with 71,480 shares crossing the exchange, Sagicor Group advanced 50 cents to $40.50 with investors dealing in 3,438 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 59 cents to close at $7.65 in an exchange of 154,200 units. Scotia Group gained $2.17 to end at $43.93, with 159,305 stocks crossing the market, Supreme Ventures dipped $1.40 and ended at $23 as investors exchanged 85,912 shares and Wisynco Group popped $1.15 to finish at $21.46 in trading 42,355 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 5% advanced 35 cents and ended at 82 cents as 25 stocks passed through the market, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share skidded $11.10 to $102.40 with investors trading 1,000 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rallied 50 cents to end at $110 with 3,000 shares clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading bounces for Junior Market
Stocks delivered increased activity in trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with a 117 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a 154 percent increase in value over trading on Wednesday and resulting in an exchange of 43 securities down from 45 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 20 rising, 12 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 13,020,959 shares for $28,069,231 up from 5,995,192 units at $11,052,592 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 302,813 shares at $652,773 up from 133,226 units at $245,613 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averages 454,355 units at $959,745 but below 462,022 stock units at $975,275 on the previous day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
Tropical Battery led trading with 3.48 million shares for 26.7 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 2.21 million units for 17 percent of the day’s trade and Derrimon Trading with 1.76 million stocks for 13.5 percent.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed 11.30 points to cease trading at 3,759.44.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows none ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial advanced $1.19 to finish at $19.50 with investors transferring 35,984 shares, AMG Packaging popped 56 cents and ended at $3.48 after investors ended trading 17,967 stocks, Cargo Handlers climbed $1.84 to $14.14 with a transfer of 352 shares. Caribbean Cream declined 20 cents in closing at $4 after 39,321 stock units passed through the market, Fontana increased 56 cents to end at $7.92 with traders dealing in 667,003 shares, Fosrich rallied 14 cents to close at $2.30 in an exchange of 632,275 units. 
Honey Bun rose 20 cents to $7.90, with 36,374 stocks crossing the market, Indies Pharma lost 20 cents to finish at $2.50 with an exchange of 37,141 stock units, ISP Finance shed $1.99 and ended at $24.01 after 377 shares were traded. Main Event fell 55 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $12.50 after an exchange of 32,794 stock units, Medical Disposables skidded 22 cents in closing at $1.98, with 1,523 stocks crossing the market, MFS Capital Partners sank 21 cents to close at $1.16 in switching ownership of 179,599 units. ONE on ONE Educational gained 12 cents to $1.05 after 2,210,775 shares crossed the exchange and tTech popped 10 cents in closing at $2.26 with investors dealing in 225 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Jump in trading of Jamaican stocks
Stocks delivered more robust activity in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday as trading jumped sharply over the previous trading day and ended with the number of stocks changing hands, nearly doubling the volume yesterday valued twice that on Wednesday, resulting in the Main and the Junior markets rising and the JSE USD market closed marginally lower, resulting in prices of 39 shares rising and 31 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 277.35 points to 332,927.92, the All Jamaican Composite Index gained 126.07 points to wrap up trading at 356,956.15, the JSE Main Index rose 207.13 points to end at 319,967.41. The Junior Market Index rallied 11.30 points to end at 3,759.44 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.57 points to conclude trading at 241.53.
At the close of trading, 26,873,386 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 13,732,924 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $160.33 million, well above the $64.77 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 110,239 shares for US$24,984 compared to 61,810 units at US$42,431 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Lasco Manufacturing led trading with 2.35 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.34 million stock units, Transjamaican Highway with 1.82 million stocks and Carreras with 1.15 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Tropical Battery led trading with 3.48 million shares followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 2.21 million stocks and Derrimon Trading with 1.76 million units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share skidded $11.10 to $102.40.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.5 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Stocks dipped on the Main Market on Wednesday
Stocks pulled back on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 54 percent and valued 40 percent less than on Tuesday, trading in 63 securities compared with 60 on Tuesday, with prices of 22 rising, 18 declining and 23 ending unchanged.
The market closed on Wednesday with trading of 7,679,552 shares for $53,712,877 down from 16,809,919 units changing hands at $89,019,950 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 121,898 shares at $852,585 below the 280,165 units at $1,483,666 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 338,742 units at $2,162,186 compared with 350,853 units at $2,235,329 on the previous day and April with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.02 million shares for 26.3 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.38 million units for 17.9 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.18 million units for 15.4 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,331.50 points to 356,830.08, the JSE Main Index dipped 39.50 points to wrap up trading at 319,760.28 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.30 points to 67.89.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden rose $2.57 in closing at $36.88 as investors exchanged one share, Barita Investments rallied 49 cents to end at $71.99 with 151 units clearing the market, Caribbean Cement gained 30 cents to close at $64.80 with investors trading 116,431 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $2.40 to finish at $39.40 after exchanging 2,325 stock units, First Rock Real Estate gained 90 cents and ended at $10.10 with investors transferring 3,278 shares, GraceKennedy climbed 55 cents to end at $74.05, with 146,545 stocks crossing the market. Guardian Holdings advanced $9.90 to $369.90 with an exchange of one unit, Jamaica Broilers rose 50 cents to finish at $32, with 134,634 stock units crossing the market, NCB Financial fell $1.11 and ended at $61.89 in trading 41,149 shares.
Pan Jamaica sank $4.93 to end at $46.07 after a transfer of 7,360 stocks, Portland JSX rallied 78 cents in closing at $8.59 in switching ownership of 6 units, Sagicor Group shed $1.18 to close at $40 with traders dealing in 1,644 stock units. Sagicor Real Estate Fund declined 58 cents to $7.06 in an exchange of 4,200 shares, Seprod lost $2.02 to close at $79.98 to close with an exchange of 7,539 stock units, Stanley Motta increased $1.43 to end at $7.49 in an exchange of 1,446 units and Wisynco Group slipped $1.48 in closing at $20.31 after trading 19,491 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share climbed $1.24 to finish at $20 after one share passed through the market and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% dipped 50 cents and ended at $109.50 after an exchange of 1,000 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.