Seprod, Kingston Wharves big winners on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market


Seprod, Kingston Wharves and Margaritaville were big winners at close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, following activity in 61 securities up from with 54 on Wednesday, with prices of 18 rising, 28 declining and 15 ending unchanged, resulting in the volume of stocks traded declining 15 percent and the value 73 percent lower than on Wednesday, with Transjamaican Highway dominating with 60.9 percent of total volume.

The market closed with 12,257,707 shares trading worth $76,185,624, after sliding from 14,941,475 stocks at $283,960,943 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 200,946 shares at $1,248,945, down from 268,397 stocks valued at $5,255,307 on Wednesday and month to date, and an average of 154,891 stock units at $1,425,034 compared to 148,797 shares at $1,448,335 on the previous day and May with an average of 245,284 stock units at $2,050,773.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 7.47 million shares for 60.9 percent of total volume, followed by Carreras which ended with 1.71 million stocks for 13.9 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Energy with 1.69 million stock units for 13.8 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 809.62 points to close at 361,498.88, the JSE Main Index fell 329.20 points to 312,503.70 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.35 points to conclude trading at 64.75. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, Berger Paints dropped 54 cents to $7.04 as investors exchanged 3,300 shares, Carreras lost 40 cents and ended at $15.30, with 1,709,794 units clearing the market, GraceKennedy skidded $1.88 to end at $72.10 with traders swapping ownership of 8,013 shares. while Guardian Holdings sank $1 in closing at $318 after an exchange of 652 stock units, Jamaica Producers shed $1.30 to close at $22.50 with investors trading 1,113 stocks, Kingston Wharves advanced $2.97 to finish at $32.47 with 17,330 units crossing the market. Margaritaville popped $1.81 to $12.36 after a transfer of 10 stocks, Massy Holdings fell $1.20 in closing at $76.30 with 4,125 shares being traded, NCB Financial increased 65 cents to end at $41.95 with 58,216 stock units crossing the exchange. 138 Student Living climbed 42 cents to close at $3.68 with investors dealing in 1,796 shares, Pan Jamaica sank $1.79 to finish at $50.71 with 180 units changing hands, Proven Investments dipped 65 cents and ended at $17.25 after an exchange of 2,565 stocks. Sagicor Group slipped $1.20 to $41.19 with 4,941 stock units crossing the market, Seprod rose $4.27 and ended at $79.77, but after hitting an intraday 52 week low of $75.10, with investors swapping 6,909 shares and Supreme Ventures declined 85 cents to end at $19.05 in an exchange of 34,746 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% gained $1 in closing at $2,650 with traders dealing in just 3 stocks, JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 shed 53 cents to close at $2.55 after investors exchanged 266,152 stock units and 138 Student Living preference share sank $5.50 to finish at $194.50 after 21 shares were traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Mixed trading on Jamaica Stock Exchange 


The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Thursday with a fall in the value and volume of stocks traded on Wednesday. At the close, the Main Market major indices ended with a mixed outcome, the Junior Market index rose and the JSE USD Market declined, following prices of 35 shares rising, 49 declining and 30 remaining firm.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index declined by 159.01 points to finish trading at 323,385.17, while the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 809.62 points to settle at 361,498.88, the JSE Main Index skidded 329.20 points to 312,503.70, the Junior Market Index gained 21.54 points to settle at 3,429.04 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 1.36 points to 211.26.
At the close of trading, 18,443,708 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 21,879,875 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to just $83.32 million, down from $298.37 million on the previous day. The JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 154,487 shares for US$26,574, well below 1,313,076 units at US$84,040 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 7.47 million shares, followed by Carreras with 1.71 million stocks and Wigton Energy with 1.69 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Kintyre Holdings led with 3.49 million shares, followed by Fosrich with 644,000 stocks and Future Energy with 366,908 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share slipped $5.50 in closing at $195.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.7 based on 2024-25 earnings and 16.1 based on 2024 earnings.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all the ordinary shares that are listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are due to be paid 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.

Junior Market trading climbs


Trading activity climbed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 13 percent and the value climbing 34 percent, compared to Tuesday, following trading of 43 securities up from 41 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 11 advancing, 20 declining and 12 closing unchanged.

The market ended with trading of 6,073,363 shares for $14,579,413, with an increase from 5,378,999 units at $10,914,660 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 141,241 shares at $339,056 compared to 131,195 stock units amounting to $266,211 on Tuesday, with an average for the month to date of 162,762 units at $255,001, compared to 165,910 stock units at $242,708 on the previous day and for May with an average of 419,466 shares worth $701,563.
Jamaican Teas led trading with 2.91 million shares for 48 percent of the total volume, followed by Mailpac Group, with 1.07 million units for 17.6 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 405,943 stocks for 6.7 percent of volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index fell 22.42 points to wrap up trading at 3,407.50. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.3, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging dipped 10 cents to close at $2.33 with trading of 6,363 shares, Atlantic Hardware added 5 cents to end at $1 with an exchange of 171,500 stock units, Blue Power fell 10 cents in closing at $4.90 with only 4 shares changing hands. Cargo Handler shed 24 cents to close at $10 with a transfer of 995 units, Consolidated Bakeries rose 12 cents and ended at $1.44 with 33 stocks crossing the market, Dolphin Cove declined 22 cents to finish at $13.98 after a transfer of 3,299 units. Elite Diagnostic sank 14 cents and ended at $1.25 with investors trading 300,036 shares, Express Catering skidded 12 cents to $2.60 with 1,200 stock units crossing the market, Fontana rallied 25 cents to finish at $9 after an exchange of 121,309 stocks. Image Plus sank 5 cents to close at 95 cents, with 10,000 shares clearing the market. Indies Pharma dropped 5 cents in closing at $3.60 with traders switching ownership of 100,000 units, Iron Rock Insurance lost 20 cents to end at $5 after an exchange of 20 stocks. Jamaican Teas slipped 6 cents in closing at $2.30 after closing with 2,914,496 stock units changing hands, JFP Ltd lost 5 cents to 50 cents as investors exchanged 4,838 shares, KLE Group increased 6 cents to close at 90 cents in trading 1,746 units. Main Event popped 86 cents to end at $9.97 with 8,832 stocks passing through the market, RA Williams climbed 8 cents to finish at 50 cents after trading of 2,687 stock units and Regency Petroleum gained 10 cents and ended at $4.10 in an exchange of 81,830 shares.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

 K-Wharves dominates falling Main Market


Falling stocks edged out those rising on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday following trading in 54 securities compared with 56 on Tuesday, with prices of 20 rising, 23 declining and 11 ending unchanged, pushing the Main Market primary Indices sharply lower. The market closed with the volume of stocks traded rising 98 percent and the value 363 percent more than on Tuesday, with Kingston Wharves controlling just 69 percent of all Main Market trades.

The market closed with 14,493,436 shares trading for $283,786,562, increasing from 7,330,601 stock units at $61,349,989 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 268,397 shares at $5,255,307, up from 130,904 stocks at $1,095,536 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 148,693 units at $1,447,957 rising from 132,811 shares at $942,805 on the previous day and lower than May, with an average of 245,284 stock units at $2,050,773.
Kingston Wharves led trading with 9.96 million shares for 68.7 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway, which ended with 1.33 million stocks for 9.2 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Energy with 1.10 million units for 7.6 percent of the day’s volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 4,796.33 points to 360,689.26, the JSE Main Index fell 3,618.15 points to conclude trading at 312,832.90 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.25 points to close at 65.10. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 20 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, AS Bryden sank 95 cents to $26.05 with an exchange of 301 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property shed $6.39 to close trading at $36.60 with investors exchanging 4,911 stocks, Guardian Holdings lost $29 in closing at $319 as 3,445 shares changed hands. Jamaica Producers rallied $1.62 to close at $23.80, with trading of just 4 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped 68 cents and ended at $12.30 as investors exchanged 1,103 units, JMMB Group rose 94 cents to finish at $20.97 in trading 16,014 stocks. Kingston Properties sank 35 cents and ended at $9.60 after an exchange of 56,699 shares, Kingston Wharves declined 45 cents to $29.50 with investors dealing in 9,962,826 units, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 36 cents to close at $7.11, with 222,413 stock units clearing the market. Massy Holdings popped 50 cents to finish at $77.50 with traders dealing in 14 shares, Mayberry Group fell 35 cents in closing at $7 after a transfer of 956 stocks, NCB Financial dropped 60 cents to end at $41.30 with an exchange of 48,346 units. Sagicor Group gained $2.38 to close at $42.39 with investors trading 65,301 stock units, Seprod shed $6.60 and closed at a 52 week low of $75.50 with an exchange of 8,259 shares, Supreme Ventures advanced 85 cents to end at $19.90 after closed with 9,392 stock units being traded and Wisynco Group skidded 45 cents and ended at $21 after an exchange of 9,165 units.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading rises, JSE Main & Junior Markets fall


Trading ended Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with the volume of stocks exchanged rising, and the value much higher than on Tuesday, resulting in the Main Market and the Junior Market indices declining and the JSE USD Market inching higher. At the end of trading, the prices of 33 shares rose, 43 declined and 25 remained firm.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index declined 3,618.38 points to 323,544.18, the All Jamaican Composite Index lost 4,796.33 points to settle at 360,689.26, the JSE Main Index declined 3,618.15 points to 312,832.90, the Junior Market Index lost 22.42 points to conclude trading at 3,407.50 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 0.94 points to 212.62.
At the close, 21,879,875 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 13,162,104 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $298.37 million, up from $72.26 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,313,076 shares for US$84,040, well above the 452,504 units at US$44,656 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Kingston Wharves led trading with 9.96 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.33 million stocks and Wigton Energy with 1.10 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Jamaican Teas led with 2.91 million shares, followed by Mailpac Group with 1.07 million stocks and Fosrich with 405,943 units.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.8 based on 2024-25 earnings and 16 based on 2024 historical earnings.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed on Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 actual earnings and 2025  projected earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are due to be paid 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.

Main Market ICTOP10 steady, Juniors volatile


Action in the ICTOP10 was mostly in the Junior Market, except for the Main Market’s Margaritaville, that fell 25 percent to close at $10. ICTOP10 Main Market stocks were relatively stable at the close of the week, but the Junior Market list bounced around.

At the close of the week, Guardian Holdings rose 4 percent to $355. In the Junior Market, Limners & Bards climbed 13 percent to $1.22, MFS Partners rallied 6 percent to 53 cents, Elite Diagnostic fell 13 percent to $1.25 and AMG Packaging lost 11 percent to close at $2.13.
In the All JSE ICTOP10 listings NCB Financial replaced Scotia Group.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 is just 5.9, well below the market average of 13. The Junior Market TOP10 stands at 6, less than half the market’s average of 14.5.
In the Main Market, ICTOP10, 16 stocks with the highest values account for 31 percent of the Main Market, with PE ratios between 15 and 43, with an average of 23 and a PE of 20 for the top half of the market with the highest values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10, 21 stocks or 44 percent of the market have PEs ranging from 15 to 39, with an average of 22 and a PE of 22 for half of the market with the highest PEs.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. The list includes some of the best companies in the market and others that are not blue chip. Sometimes, they include weaker companies that may be oversold and end up on the list. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and remove emotions when selecting stocks for investments.
IC TOP10 stocks that will likely deliver the best returns 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 the receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in the securities commented on in this report.

 

Junior Market ends higher as trading bounces


Trading on Tuesday landed the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange in one of the few positive closes for the month to date, with trading in 41 securities, compared with 42 on Monday, ending with prices of 13 rising, 18 declining and 10 closing firm. Volume of stocks traded rose 158 percent and the value increased 163 percent over Monday.

The market closed with trading of 5,378,999 shares for $10,914,660, well above the 2,081,282 units at $4,155,813 on Monday.
Trading averaged 131,195 shares at $266,211, up from just 49,554 stocks at $98,948 on Monday, Trading for the month to date, ended with an average of 165,910 units at $242,708 compared with 171,536 stock units at $238,899 on the previous day and May with an average of 419,466 shares worth $701,563.
Lumber Depot led trading with 1.60 million shares for 29.8 percent of total volume, followed by Mailpac Group which ended with 1.11 million stocks for 20.6 percent of the day’s trade and Kintyre Holdings with 1.02 million units for 18.9 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed 16.17 points to 3,429.92. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close of trading, Access Financial increased by $2.44 to close at $16.79 in trading 527 shares, AMG Packaging popped 10 cents to $2.43, in trading 6,200 units, Caribbean Assurance rose 31 cents to end at $2.14 with a mere one stock unit crossing the exchange. Caribbean Flavours shed 9 cents in closing at $1.32 with trading in 1,016 shares, Derrimon Trading rose 16 cents to finish at $1.96 with 3,561 stock units passing through the market, Dolla Financial sank 12 cents and ended at $2.26 with investors trading 285,522 shares. Dolphin Cove gained 52 cents to $14.20 with 18,666 stock units clearing the market, Fontana fell 16 cents to end at $8.75 as investors exchanged 14,258 stocks, Future Energy climbed 13 cents in closing at $3.07 with a transfer of 70,859 units. Indies Pharma lost 21 cents to close at $3.65 with investors dealing in 124,972 shares, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 12 cents and ended at $5.20 after 2,109 stock units were traded, JFP Ltd advanced 5 cents to finish at 55 cents with 40,018 stocks crossing the market. Knutsford Express popped 99 cents and ended at $12.99 with investors trading 426 units, Main Event shed 79 cents to close at $9.11 after 12,268 stocks changed hands, Medical Disposables sank 25 cents to end at $1.35 with 876 stock units switching owners. RA Williams dipped 5 cents in closing at a 52 week’s low of 42 cents as traders crossed 296,218 shares in the market, Regency Petroleum increased 5 cents to close at $4 with investors swapping 38,772 stock units and Spur Tree Spices slipped 5 cents to finish at $1.02 with an exchange of 22,030 shares.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Trading rises as JSE Main Market falls


Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday with the volume of stocks traded rising 31 percent and the value 40 percent more than on Monday, following trading in 56 securities compared with 58 on Monday, with prices of 17 rising, 23 declining and 16 ending unchanged with the market indices dropping to close out the day, with Guardian Holdings, AS Bryden and Pan Jamaica among the winning stock for the day.

Lasco Distributors traded at a 52 week low of $3.45 after falling 25 cents and VM Investments closed at a 52 week low of $1.95.
The market closed after 7,330,601 shares were traded at $61,349,989, climbing from 5,602,541 stock units at $43,781,140 on Monday.
Trading averaged 130,904 shares at $1,095,536, rising from 96,596 stocks at $754,847 on Monday and for the month to date, an average of 132,811 units valued at $942,805 compared with 133,115 shares at $918,438 on the previous day and May with an average of 245,284 stock units at $2,050,773.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.38 million shares for 18.8 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Energy, with 1.30 million stocks for 17.8 percent of the day’s trade and Radio Jamaica with 1.09 million units for 14.8 percent of the market’s volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 307.65 points to finish at 365,485.59, the JSE Main Index declined by 639.71 points to 316,451.05 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.27 points to finish at 65.35. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.5. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, AS Bryden increased $1.99 to $27 with investors trading 301 shares, Barita Investments dropped 97 cents to finish at $70.01 with traders pushing 12,966 stocks through the market, Guardian Holdings popped $21.86 and ended at $348 in trading 713 units. Jamaica Producers sank $1.82 in closing at $22.18 with 480 shares crossing the market, Kingston Wharves dropped $3 to end at $29.95, after trading of 166,941 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing sank 37 cents to close at $6.75 as investors exchanged 179,832 shares. Mayberry Jamaican Equities climbed 75 cents to $9.75 with a transfer of 696 stock units, NCB Financial skidded 55 cents to end at $41.90 with 30,625 units crossing the exchange, 138 Student Living fell 48 cents in closing at $3.26 with investors swapping 20,707 stocks. Pan Jamaica rose $1.84 and ended at $52.50 with 120 shares changing hands, Sagicor Group slipped 50 cents to close at $40.01 with traders dealing in 90,371 stock units, Stanley Motta gained 52 cents to finish at $6.80 after an exchange of 7,512 stocks. Sterling Investments lost 60 cents to $2.85 with 32,711 units crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 56 cents to finish at $12.17 in an exchange of 250 stocks.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Stock prices tumble on JSE on Tuesday


Trading closed Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a rise in the volume and value of stocks exchanged, compared to Monday, resulting in prices of 33 shares rising, 41 declining and 28 remaining firm and ending with the Main Market primary indices declining, the Junior Market and the JSE USD market Index rising.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 493.17 points to settle at 327,162.56, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 307.65 points to 365,485.59, the JSE Main Index declined by 639.71 points to 316,451.05, the Junior Market Index rose 16.17 points to finish at 3,429.92 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 0.53 points to settle at 211.68.
At the close of trading on Tuesday, 13,162,104 stock units were exchanged in all three markets, up from 7,997,488 units on Monday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $72.26 million, up from a mere $47.94 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 452,504 shares for US$44,656, up from 313,665 units at US$18,561 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 1.38 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 1.30 million stocks and Radio Jamaica with 1.09 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Lumber Depot led with 1.60 million shares, followed by Mailpac Group with 1.11 million stocks and Kintyre Holdings with 1.02 million units.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.7 based on 2024-25 earnings and 16.1 based on 2024-25 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other, more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are due to be paid 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.

Profit inches up at Scotia Group


Profit declined 7.3 percent to S5 billion at Scotia Group for the April 2025 quarter, compared to $5.4 billion in the similar period last year, as total operating revenues rose by a billion dollars to $15.6 billion from $14.6 billion in the comparable quarter in 2024.

Profit grew 7.8 percent to $9.2 billion after tax for the six months to April, over the previous year. A drop in loan loss provisions to $651 million in the latest quarter from $1 billion in the 2024 second quarter and $1 billion for the half year, down from $1.25 billion in 2024, helped to boost the group’s profit performance.

Operating expenses grew faster than revenues, climbing 23 percent, with an increase of $1.5 billion to $8.3 billion, wiping out the increase in operating income in the second quarter. Corporation taxes amounted to $2.3 billion in the quarter, compared to $2.4 billion in the prior year.

Total operating revenues for the six months ended April 2025, net of expected credit losses, grew by 9.5 percent, or $2.9 billion, to $33.4 billion from $30.5 billion in 2024. This was primarily driven by the growth in loans, which led to an increase in net interest income of $1.9 billion, or 8.5 percent, and an increase in other revenue of 13 percent.

The Group’s asset base grew by $87 billion or 12.9 percent to $764 billion as at April 2025, with loans increasing 14.7 percent to $324 billion. Since the October close of the 2024 fiscal year, loans only grew in the second quarter, at 15 percent per annum, much slower than the 16.3 percent increase in the 2024 fiscal year.

According to the Group, “loan book continues to perform well with mortgages increasing year over year by 24 percent, consumer loans by 14 percent, credit cards by 8 percent and commercial loans by 7 percent.” Deposits, an important fuel for funding loans and investments, increased 10 percent to $514 billion from $467 billion a year ago.

Scotia Group declared a dividend of 45 cents to be paid on July 17, bringing the half-year payment to 90 cents, up from 80 cents for the similar 2024 period.
Earnings per share for the April quarter amount to $1.61 and $2.96 for the half year. ICInsider.com projects earnings of $8.20 for the year ending October 2025.
The stock is ICInsider.com BUY RATED. At the last traded price of $54.91, the stock trades at an attractive PE of 6.7, well below the market average of more than 13. Most importantly, the critical aspect of the business is lending, and the ability to generate reasonable yearly increases in amounts lent out, thus driving revenue growth.

The present state of the Jamaican economy, including lower debt-to-GDP, which allows for greater fiscal space that will facilitate continued lower interest rates, should result in growth in earnings for years to come. With that, investors can look forward to increased dividend payments and stock price appreciation.