Some companies may surprise the market with the release of profit results or other announcements that could encourage investors to buy into the stock. In some cases, information already in the market could lead to demand growing and supplies falling. ICInsider.com identifies the following for the watch list. It does not mean the stocks should be bought now but watching to see when to pounce if the signal is triggered.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers, Everything Fresh, Express Catering, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Jamaica Broilers, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, NCB Financial, Stationery and Office Supplies and Paramount Trading.
Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers, Express Catering will be major beneficiaries of the strong rebound in tourist arrivals and the supply of General Accident has declined over the past few weeks, but investors may be reluctant to pile into the stock ahead of the hurricane season.
Fosrich is expected to release second quarter results this coming week and it will be interesting to see what effect they will have on demand for the stock.
Stocks to Watch
Volume up, prices fall on JSE USD market
Trading surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Friday, with the volume of stocks rising 965 percent, valued at 1,869 percent more than on Thursday. Market activity led to movement in eight securities, similar to Thursday, with four declining and four ending unchanged.
Overall, 207,350 shares traded for US$110,809 up from 19,463 units at US$5,629 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 25,919 shares at US$13,851 against 2,433 shares at US$704 on Thursday, with an average of 20,114 shares at US$6,744 for the month to date compared to 18,456 units at US$4,713 on the previous day. July ended with an average of 49,665 units for US$3,449.
On a day when there were no winners, the JSE US Denominated Equities Index lost 8.31 points to end at 199.97.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.9. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with higher bids than the last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share remained at 6.96 US cents after trading 2,434 shares, Margaritaville ended at 14.98 US cents with an exchange of two units, 
Productive Business Solutions declined 14 cents to US$1 while exchanging five shares. Proven Investments fell 0.45 of a cent to 22.5 US cents after trading 8,210 stocks, Sterling Investments closed at 2 US cents, with 29,452 stocks changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share shed 0.8 of a cent to 12 US cents with an exchange of 33 shares and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.02 of a cent in closing at 0.93 of a US cent after trading 52,061 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% finished at 93.5 US cents, exchanging 115,153 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Guardian Holdings jumps $144 on Friday
Guardian Holdings jumped 28.5 percent on limited volume after jumping $144 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the supply of the stock available for sale virtually dried up after several months of selling pressure. The overall Main Market volume of stocks traded rose 12 percent, with a value 250 percent greater than on Thursday, leading the market to climb as rising stocks exceeded those declining.
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The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,224.68 points to 423,550.33, the JSE Main Index jumped 3,601.11 to 372,936.80 and the JSE Financial Index popped 1.98 points to close at 89.43.
Trading ended with 51 securities compared to 58 on Thursday, with 21 rising, 16 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
At the close, 18,706,267 shares were exchanged for $161,301,374 versus 16,728,941 units at $46,042,543 on Thursday. Trading averaged 366,790 units at $3,162,772, compared to 288,430 shares at $793,837 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 228,567 units at $1,609,780, compared to 186,606 units at $1,138,336 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
Mayberry Investments led trading with 6.92 million shares for 37 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 6.52 million units for 34.8 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 1.34 million units for 7.2 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.32 million units for 7 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints fell 85 cents to $11 in switching ownership of 4,806 shares, Caribbean Cement rose 70 cents in ending at $61.70 and trading 20,688 stocks, First Rock Real Estate popped 47 cents to end at $12.47 in an exchange of 2,996 units.GraceKennedy dropped $2.60 in closing at $96.30, with 104,922 stock units crossing the exchange, Guardian Holdings gained $144 to close at $650 with an exchange of 1,126 stocks, but the offer for the stock was at $590 at the close, Mayberry Investments climbed 35 cents to $9.20 and closed with 6,918,037 stock units changing hands. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy shed $1 in closing at $84 after trading 110 units, NCB Financial increased $1.58 to $99 while exchanging 75,228 shares, Palace Amusement rallied $122.99 to close at $879 after exchanging two units. 
Proven Investments declined 45 cents to end at $33 after trading 230 stock units, Scotia Group advanced 91 cents to $34.98, with 612,178 stocks crossing the market, and Seprod popped $1.93 to end at $70 with the swapping of 505 shares. Supreme Ventures lost $1.12 in closing at $27.88 after trading 289,299 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 39 cents to close at $13.60 in exchanging 52,252 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1.50 in ending at $11 with 1,089 units clearing the market and Wisynco Group shed 47 cents in ending at $18 with an exchange of 50,696 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market dips on Friday
Trading remained elevated on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, even as the volume of stocks traded declined 45 percent from the big surge on Thursday, valued 42 percent less than the huge trade previously as 37,285,244 shares traded for $127,295,549 compared to 67,565,648 units at $220,496,708 on Thursday.
Trading closed with an average of 867,099 shares at $2,960,362 in contrast to 1,468,818 shares at $4,793,407 on Thursday with month to date, averaging 719,335 units at $2,386,208 compared to 671,200 units at $2,199,173 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 512,709 units at $2,574,304.
SSL Venture led trading for a second day, with 31.44 million shares for 84.3 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 1.54 million units for 4.1 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 1.45 million units for 3.9 percent market share.
Market activity led to 43 securities trading versus 46 on Thursday and ended with 17 rising, 12 falling and 14 closing unchanged. At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 24.99 points to close at 4,149.55. The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell $2.54 to $20.01 with the swapping of 5,389 shares, AMG Packaging advanced 10 cents to $3.85 with an exchange of 6,291 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 14 cents to end at $2.50, with 118,864 units crossing the market. Caribbean Cream declined 18 cents to $4.02 after trading 19,292 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries gained 10 cents in closing at $1.40 in exchanging 2,449 stock units, Dolla Financial lost 11 cents in ending at $2.84, with 1,538,020 units changing hands. Fontana climbed 22 cents to close at $10.20 in trading 82,022 shares, General Accident shed 40 cents in closing at $5.50 while exchanging 16,515 stocks, Lasco Financialrallied 27 cents to $2.97, with 1,000 units crossing the exchange. Limners and Bards dropped 14 cents to end at $2.74 after trading 15,500 stock units, 
Medical Disposables rose $1 to $7.20 in exchanging 1,000 stocks, SSL Venture increased 76 cents to close at $4.35, with 31,440,239 shares changing hands. Stationery and Office Supplies declined 10 cents in closing at $18.40 after exchanging 22,360 stocks and tTech rose 17 cents to $3.50 in switching ownership of one share.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share popped 11 cents to end at $1.16 with 672 units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Guardian Holdings shot up $144 to $650
The Jamaican stock exchange main market bounced for a second day on Friday with Guardian Holdings surging $144 to close at $650 and the Junior Market and the JSE USD market index closed lower. The JSE Combined Index a measure of the overall market, rose 3,142.27 points to 386,014.00, with the volume and value of stocks traded rising sharply over Wednesday.
Guardian Holdings jumps $144 to $650 on Friday.
Trading ended with 56,198,861 shares changing hands with a value of $288.6 million up from $266.5 million, versus 84,314,052 shares trading in the overall market on the prior day. The JSE USD market ended with the value of stocks traded at US$110,809.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,681.01 points to 423,550.33, the JSE Main Index jumped 3,601.11 points to close at 372,936.80, the Junior Market Index fell 24.99 points to close at 4,149.55 and the JSE USD market Index dropped 8.31 points to 199.97.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 23.2 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.5 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many investment options in the local 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational investment decisions by investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and put in 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 ICInsider.com PE Ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that show the closing volume for the bids and offers.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
Trading climbs on TTSE to end the week
Market activity ended on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, with a 32 percent greater volume of stocks traded valued 80 percent more than on Thursday, from 14 securities compared to 16 on Thursday, with two rising, eight declining and four remaining unchanged.
The Composite Index rallied 1.81 points to 1,381.52, the All T&T Index increased 3.51 points to 2,041.48 and the Cross-Listed Index remained at 94.54.
A total of 689,247 shares were exchanged for $4,551,630 compared to 522,491 units at $2,535,172 on Thursday. An average of 49,232 units traded at $325,116 compared to 32,656 shares at $158,448 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 57,407 units at $300,164 versus 59,696 units at $293,177 on the previous trading day. The average trade for July amounts to 28,304 units at $283,023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s declined 15 cents in closing at $45.60 in an exchange of 71 shares, Angostura Holdings shed $1.99 to close at $25 with 13,000 stock units changing hands, Clico Investment Fund dropped 1 cent to $28.89 after exchanging 1,138 stocks. 
First Citizens Group ended unchanged at $49.99 in trading 1,060 units, Guardian Holdings lost 76 cents to end at $26.50 after swapping 26,000 units,JMMB Group finished at $2.31 in switching ownership of 1,460 stocks. Massy Holdings fell 2 cents to $4.93 in trading 7,059 shares, National Enterprises rose 4 cents to $3.24 after 539,022 stock units crossed the market, National Flour Mills declined 10 cents to $1.55 while exchanging 43 stock units. NCB Financial Group remained at $5.30 trading 43,124 units, Republic Financial Holdings fell 14 cents to end at $141 after finishing trading 474 shares, Scotiabank shed 31 cents to $76.69, with 782 stocks changing hands. Trinidad Cement finished at $3.81 after 900 stock units crossed the market and West Indian Tobacco gained 6 cents in ending at $23.45 with the swapping of 55,114 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading nosedives on JSE USD market
Trading on Thursday ended, with the volume of stocks traded declining 92 percent after the value dropped 94 percent from Wednesday, at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, resulting in eight securities traded, compared to nine on Wednesday with four rising, one declining and three ending unchanged.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index gained 2.01 points to end at 208.28.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 9.1. The PE ratio incorporates ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
Overall, 19,463 shares were traded for US$5,629 versus 253,464 units at US$93,203 on Wednesday. Trading averaged 2,433 units at US$704 against 28,163 shares at US$10,356 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 18,456 shares at US$4,713 versus 24,865 units at US$6,317 on the previous day. July ended with an average of 49,665 units for US$3,449.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two ended with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share popped 0.46 of a cent to end at 6.96 US cents, after 58 shares crossed the market, Margaritaville finished at 14.98 US cents after trading seven stock units, Proven Investments gained 0.2 of a cent to close at 22.95 US cents, with a trader of 7,247 stocks. 
Sterling Investments ended at 2 US cents in trading 234 units Sygnus Credit Investments USD share rose 0.82 of one cent to end at 12.8 US cents after an exchange of 6,423 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share fell 0.13 of one cent to 10.5 US cents after exchanging 322 stock units and Transjamaican Highway rallied 0.05 of a cent to end at 0.95 of one US cent in exchanging 1,799 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% ended unchanged at 93.5 US cents after closing, with 3,373 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading value plunges on JSE main market
The majority of rose on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with 58 securities compared to 53 on Wednesday, with 32 rising, 12 declining and 14 ending unchanged and trading ended, with the volume of stocks traded rising 171 percent with a 43 percent lower value than Wednesday as a mere $46 million passed through the market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 543.67 points to 420,869.32, the JSE Main Index climbed 480.00 points to 369,335.69 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.40 points to close at 87.45.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
Overall, 16,728,941 shares were traded for $46,042,543 compared to 6,172,524 units at $81,213,738 on Wednesday. Trading ended with an average of 288,430 units at $793,837, versus 116,463 shares at $1,532,335 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 186,606 units at $1,138,336, compared to 132,918 units at $1,319,982 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.10 million shares for 54.4 percent of total volume followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 3.99 million units for 23.8 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.27 million units for 7.6 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose 85 cents to $11.85 and closed with 89 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement shed $1.45 in ending at $61 with 7,376 stock units clearing the market, Guardian Holdings advanced $1 to $506 after exchanging 105 units. Jamaica Broilers rallied 51 cents in closing at $29.37 in transferring 18,223 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell $1 to $17 after 6,864 stock units changed hands, Mayberry Investments fell $1.63 in closing at $8.85 after exchanging 26,148 shares. Mayberry Jamaican Equities declined 50 cents to $14 in an exchange of 106,063 units, NCB Financial popped $7.42 to end at $97.42, with 9,641 stocks crossing the market, 138 Student Living dropped 75 cents in ending at $4.30 in switching ownership of 2,895 stocks. Palace Amusement gained $1.01 to close at $756.01 after trading 50 units, PanJam Investment increased $1.40 to end at $59.60, with hinge shares crossing the exchange, Portland JSX gained 99 cents in closing at $9.50 in trading 1,524 stock units. Proven Investments popped 95 cents to close at $33.45, trading 563 stocks, 
Scotia Group lost 92 cents after ending at $34.07, with 12,502 stock units changing hands, Stanley Motta advanced 62 cents to $5.60 while exchanging 980 units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance increased 50 cents to $12.50 with the swapping of 364 shares.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share jumped $5.16 to a record high of $56.90 with an exchange of 218 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading dips TTSE market falls
Market activity ended on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded diving 38 percent and the value dropping 34 percent from Wednesday, as the number of securities traded remained at 16, similar to Wednesday, with trading ended with six stocks rising, four declining and six ending unchanged.
The Composite Index fell 4.30 points to 1,379.71, the All T&T Index shed 12.60 points to 2,037.97 and the Cross-Listed Index rallied 0.64 points to settle at 94.54.
A total of 522,491 shares were traded for $2,535,172 compared to 838,975 units at $3,850,203 on Wednesday. An average of 32,656 units traded at $158,448 compared to 52,436 shares at $240,638 on Wednesday, with trading month to date averaging 59,696 units at $293,229 versus 72,420 units at $356,660 on the previous trading day. The average trade for July ended with 28,304 units at $283,023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with a bid higher than their last selling prices and three stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Ansa McAl declined $3 in closing at $57 with 3,471 shares trading, CinemaOne finished at $5.98 in an exchange of one stock unit, First Citizens Group advanced 15 cents to end at $49.99 after exchanging 1,400 units. FirstCaribbean International Bank popped 14 cents to close at $5.20 trading 50 stocks, GraceKennedy fell 1 cent to $5.35 in switching ownership of 39,338 units, Guardian Holdings ended unchanged at $27.26 in trading 1,257 stocks. 
JMMB Group remained at $2.31 with the swapping of 222,856 shares, L.J. Williams B share climbed 14 cents to end at $cents after exchanging 200 stock units, Massy Holdings increased 20 cents to $4.95 while exchanging 103,094 units. National Enterprises rallied 1 cent to close at $3.20, with 130,920 stocks clearing the market, Prestige Holdings rose 1 cent to $6.72, with 3,000 stock units crossing the exchange, Republic Financial Holdings ended unchanged at $141.14 in exchanging 815 shares. Scotiabank ended at $77 after 3,086 units changed hands, Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed 1 cent to end at $21.99, with 5,878 shares crossing the market, Unilever Caribbean finished at $13.89 after trading 6,865 stocks and West Indian Tobacco lost 1 cent in ending at $23.39 with an exchange of 260 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading surges on junior Market
The most prominent trade on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday was SSL Venture Capital accounting for nearly 92 percent of the day’s volume and pushing the volume of stocks traded up 560 percent more than on Wednesday, with the value surging 547 percent and leading to 46 securities trading versus 44 on the previous day, with 15 rising, 24 declining and seven closing unchanged.
The Junior Market Index rose 19.64 points to end at 4,174.54. The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Overall, 67,565,648 shares were traded for $220,496,708 compared to 10,233,350 units at $34,092,043 on Wednesday. Trading averaged 1,468,818 shares at $4,793,407 versus 232,576 shares at $774,819 on Wednesday, with month to date, averaging 671,200 units at $2,199,173 compared to 244,567 units at $811,560 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 512,709 units at $2,574,304.
SSL Venture led trading with 61.87 million shares for 91.6 percent of total volume, followed by Dolla Financial with 1.58 million units for 2.3 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 1.08 million units for 1.6 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows none ending with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, CAC 2000 dropped $1 to $7.50 with an exchange of 1,847 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 14 cents to end at $2.36, with 38,566 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Cream increased 16 cents in closing at $4.20 after 237 units crossed the exchange. Consolidated Bakeries fell 10 cents to $1.30, with 31,244 stock units changing hands, Dolphin Cove declined $1 to close at $14.60 in exchanging 11,774 stocks, Elite Diagnostic lost 14 cents to end at $3.45 in trading 64,485 stock units. Everything Fresh gained 10 cents in closing at $1.38 after exchanging 16,872 units, General Accident climbed 40 cents to $5.90 after trading 11 shares and iCreate rallied 10 cents to $4.50 in an exchange of 469,507 stocks. Indies Pharma popped 33 cents to close at $3.18, with 15,875 stock units changing hands, Iron Rock Insurance declined 31 cents to end at $2.96, with 6,186 units crossing the market, Jamaican Teas slipped 14 cents to $2.52 in switching ownership of 126,700 shares. Lasco Financial dropped 10 cents in closing at $2.70 after exchanging 163,334 shares, Limners and Bards rose 14 cents to $2.88 after trading 18 stock units, Lumber Depot shed 32 cents to close at $2.86 with an exchange of 33,808 stocks. 
Mailpac Group advanced 13 cents to end at $2.46 with the swapping of 166,835 units, Main Event fell 33 cents to close at $7.17 while exchanging 6,030 stock units, Medical Disposables fell $1.10 in closing at $6.20 while exchanging 14,318 shares. SSL Venture rose 71 cents to $3.59 in trading 61,865,246 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies declined $1.35 after ending at $18.50 with the swapping of 12,918 units and tTech popped 30 cents to $3.33, with 570 stocks changing hands.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share dropped 14 cents to close at $1.05 in exchanging 271 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
