The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 8 percent in value for the year to October, with declining stocks overwhelming the market with losses up to 50 percent. The onslaught came against a scenario of only 14 stocks rising, between one percent and 37 percent, while 33 stocks declined by two percent and more. Main Market performance reflect a similar pattern as the Junior Market, in a year when investors’ preference was not focused on local stocks as a group.
Profit performance played a major role in the movements in stock prices in the year to date, in some cases, the announcement of expansion plans also played a role in moving stock prices this year. After the period, investors reacted to stocks that appear set to benefit or suffer from the damage caused by the recent Hurricane and the reconstruction effort.
The top performing stock to the end of October, this year, is Lasco Financial, followed by Jetcon Corporation, both reporting major improvements in profits for the year to date compared with the similar period in 2024. Regency Petroleum came in at number 3.
The worst performing stock is RA Williams, down a sizable 50 percent, followed by Spur Tree Spices with a big loss of 48 percent and ISP Finance dropping a substantial 45 percent.
Main Market stocks were better performers than Junior Market, stocks, with the main market index declining by 4 percent. Eppley Properties rose a solid 45 percent, followed by Carreras rising 37 percent, following increased profits. AS Bryden gained a 27 percent was the third best performer and Guardian Holdings gained an attractive 23 percent.
Declining stocks delivered some sizable losses ranging from a high of 49 percent to a low of two percent.
The leading losing stocks are Productive Business Solutions, falling 49 percent, followed by Tropical Battery,
the most recent import from the Junior Market, dropping a solid 46 percent, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined by a sizable 41 percent, Jamaica Broilers lost 38 percent, of its value due mainly to the reporting of losses incurred in the US operations going back in time. that were only disclosed earlier this year. Salada Foods declined by 32 percent, with profit being slashed by 26 percent for the year to date but by more than 50 percent for the June quarter.
Market activity ended with trading of 10,169,579 shares worth $16,597,115, well below the 24,114,652 units at $36,360,760 on Thursday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7, based on the last traded price, in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2026.
At the close on a day of increased trades, AMG Packaging popped 17 cents to close at $2.41, with 23,566 shares passing through the exchange, Atlantic Hardware fell 13 cents to close at $1.34 after a transfer of 15,637,738 stocks, with the stock hitting a record high of $1.70. Cargo Handlers sank 6 cents in closing at $13.28 after an exchange of 65 shares. Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 20 cents and ended at $1.90 in an exchange of 110 units, Caribbean Flavours rose 10 cents to end at $1.60 with just 2 stock units clearing the market, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 50 cents to finish at $1.79 with traders dealing in 17,070 shares. Dolphin Cove rallied 88 cents to $11.99 in switching ownership of 61,114 units, Elite Diagnostic sank 17 cents to close at $1.50, with 58,545 stocks changing hands, Express Catering increased 30 cents and ended at $3.05 in trading 45,933 stock units. Fontana shed 25 cents in closing at $8.85, with 79,248 shares crossing the market, Fosrich lost 11 cents to end at $2.17 with investors swapping 218,239 stock units,
The market closed with trading of 6,643,942 shares for $10,874,824 compared with 5,317,670 units at $8,323,400 on Tuesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on last traded price, in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2026.
The market closed with a 45 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with 41 percent lower value than Monday, with trading of 5,317,670 shares worth $8,323,400, down from 9,594,7 ended with an averaged 132,942 shares at $208,085 compared to 213,218 stocks at $313,238 on Monday, with the month to date, averaging 175,441 stock units at $263,754 compared with 213,218 shares at an average of $313,238 on the previous day and October with an average of 191,865 shares at $349,252.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $2.28 and ended at $19.49 with investors dealing in 886 shares, AMG Packaging increased 25 cents to $2.41 after an exchange of 8,117 stocks, Atlantic Hardware climbed 15 cents to finish at a record closing high of $1.30, with 3,202,497 shares changing hands. Blue Power sank 37 cents to close at $3.36 after a transfer of 1,056 stock units, Cargo Handlers rose $1.83 to end at $12.96 as investors exchanged a mere 29 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 25 cents in closing at a 52 weeks low of $1.65 with a transfer of 1,241 shares. Caribbean Flavours gained 11 cents to $1.63, after clearing the market of 1,578 units, Consolidated Bakeries popped 19 cents to end at $2.09 with investors trading 4,465 stocks, Dolphin Cove sank 20 cents in closing at $12.80 in an exchange of 3,384 stock units. Everything Fresh declined 5 cents to finish at $2.10 with traders dealing in 93,144 shares, Express Catering fell 15 cents and ended at $2.85 in an exchange of 58,009 stock units, Fontana advanced 10 cents to close at $9.10 with investors trading 19,023 stocks.
By the close, the market ended with a 75 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with 83 percent lower value than Friday, following trading in 45 securities compared with 42 on Friday and ending with prices of 10 rising, 22 falling and 13 closing unchanged.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $2.27 to end at $17.21 with trading of a mere 105 shares, AMG Packaging sank 24 cents to $2.16 in an exchange of 3,736 stocks, Atlantic Hardware climbed 19 cents to a record high of $1.15 after investors grabbed 3,128,475 shares. Cargo Handlers, one of the companies that could benefit from increased demand for goods for reconstruction, declined $1.85 and ended at $11.13, with 838 units crossing the market, Caribbean Flavours sank 8 cents to finish at $1.52 with a transfer of 899 stocks, Derrimon Trading slipped 8 cents to close at $1.85, with 427,175 units crossing the exchange. Dolla Financial fell 8 cents to $2.56 with investors trading 113,100 stocks, Dolphin Cove increased 50 cents to end at $13 after an exchange of 7,371 shares, Express Catering popped 10 cents in closing at $3, with 49,703 stock units changing hands after investors cut the price from $3.65 before the hurricane, last week, in expectation of a slippage in business as tourist traffic could decline for a few months. Future Energy dropped 6 cents and ended at $3.05 after an exchange of 178,074 shares,
Trading closed with a sharp jump in the number of shares changing hands to 38,833,920, valued at $84,315,909, which is well above the 8,369,275 stock units worth $15,674,660 on Thursday.
At the close of trading, Access Financial popped $2.27 to finish at $19.48 with investors trading just 476 shares, AMG Packaging gained 3 cents to close at $2.40 in an exchange of 16,249,970 stock units, Atlantic Hardware rose by 10 cents to 96 cents with trading of 222,839 shares. Caribbean Cream dropped 8 cents to close at $2.01 after a transfer of 4,500 stocks, Dolla Financial climbed 6 cents and ended at $2.64 in trading 1,396,377 units, Dolphin Cove sank $1.33 to end at $12.50 with 1,910 stocks crossing the market. Express Catering lost 40 cents to end at $2.90 with an exchange of 161,310 shares, Fosrich slipped 13 cents and ended at $2.20 with 3,676,468 stock units changing hands, Honey Bun fell 19 cents in closing at $7.30 with a transfer of 10,361 stock units. Indies Pharma skidded 15 cents to finish at $2.84 as investors exchanged 21,500 shares, Iron Rock Insurance sank 8 cents to end at $3.40 with 39 units crossing the market, ISP Finance increased 46 cents to close at $12.96 with traders dealing in 1,502 stocks. Jamaican Teas advanced 10 cents to $2.50 with 2,068,386 stock units crossing the exchange, JFP dipped 8 cents in closing at 60 cents after trading of 15,701 shares, KLE Group declined 15 cents and ended at 75 cents as traders exchanged 16,241 stock units.
The market closed with trading of 8,369,275 shares for $15,674,660, sliding from 13,876,969 units at $25,659,844 on Friday.
At the close of the market, Access Financial slipped 79 cents to $17.21 with a transfer of a mere 104 shares, AMG Packaging rose 13 cents to $2.37 with 3,021 stocks passing through the market, Atlantic Hardware lost 3 cents to end at 86 cents after trading of 81,040 shares. Cargo Handlers rallied 18 cents to $12.98 with 204 stocks crossing the market, Consolidated Bakeries popped 20 cents in closing at $1.90 with 10,214 stock units switching ownership, Derrimon Trading gained 6 cents to end at $1.91 with 2,574,178 shares clearing the market. Dolla Financial increased 3 cents in closing at $2.58 after a transfer of 162,020 stocks, Dolphin Cove sank 10 cents to $13.83 with 24,835 units crossing the exchange, Express Catering fell 35 cents to close at $3.30 in trading 10,642 stock units. Fontana dipped 9 cents to end at $9 as 21,462 shares changed hands, Fosrich climbed 3 cents to finish at $2.33 with traders dealing in 1,735,577 units, GWest Corporation sank 7 cents and ended at 70 cents after an exchange of 58 stocks.
The Junior Market ICTOP10, Elite Diagnostic jumped 41 percent to $1.91, Consolidated Bakeries and Express Catering delivered gains of 36 percent to end at $1.70 and $3,65, respectively. Kintyre Holdings popped 30 percent to 30 cents, and Medical Disposables rallied 15 percent to end at $1.72.
The market closed with the trading of 13,876,969 shares at $25,659,844, much more than the 4,079,653 units that traded at $5,854,583 on Thursday.
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 financial years ending around August 2026.