Lasco companies out of ICTOP10

April 5, 2024 by

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

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

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

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Transjamaican stock doubles in 2023

October 5, 2023 by

Transjamaican Highway stock closed trading on Wednesday with a gain of 105 percent at a record close of $2.87 on Wednesday and traded at a record $2.95, up 111 percent on Thursday morning, to be one of only two stocks on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange to gain more than 100 percent for the year to date, the other being Ciboney up 139 percent.

New record high for the JSE Junior Market.

Investors in Transjamaican, the operators of Highway 2000 have much more to cheer about as the company raised the dividend to be paid in October by 118 percent to 18.66 cents up from 8.55 cents last year. The dividend adds another 13 percent to their return for 2023 based on the opening price for the year of $1.40. While the 2023 performance is a big reward for investors in the stock, it has been a long wait for early investors who bought in the IPO at $1.41 in February 2020, valued then at a PE ratio of 25 times, when the market was averaging 16 times. Critics of the value at the time indicated the serious overvaluation but supporters hailed it as reasonably priced. Now the stock is trading at less than 10 times 2023 earnings of 30 cents per share and buyers have been less than ecstatic about it, by slowly driving the share price to current levels over several months.

Transjamaican Highway

The stock’s performance is supported by an outstanding jump in profits for the six months to June over the similar period last year, with earnings of 14 cents per share versus just 3 cents for the same period last year, with the profit ballooning 338 percent for the June quarter to US$6 million and 442 percent to US$11 million for the half year. Revenues and profit rose as a result of the acquisition of its new subsidiary, Jamaican Infrastructure Operators which reduced cost considerably as well and the group benefitted from increased revenues from operating the toll road. The stock’s performance was also helped by the declaration of the substantial increase in dividend.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results, Dividends, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , ,

Gains for TTSE but dark clouds are visible

September 15, 2023 by

Winning and losing stocks shared honours at the end of trading on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, but dark clouds are visible with a negative Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading after trading took place with 21 securities, up from 13 on Thursday, with prices of eight rising, eight declining and five remaining unchanged as the volume of stocks traded rose marginally over that on Thursday accompanied by a 66 percent lower value.  
Investors exchanged 516,842 shares for $3,479,185 compared to 514,144 stocks at $10,312,415 on Thursday.
An average of 24,612 shares were traded at $165,675 compared with 39,550 units at $793,263 on Thursday. For the month to date, the average trade was 14,341 shares at $186,512 compared to 13,211 units at 188,806, the previous day. The average trade for August was 14,526 shares at $195,195.
The Composite Index increased 2.82 points to 1,208.04, the All T&T Index rallied 6.25 points to finish at 1,851.53, the SME Index remained at 66.38 and the Cross-Listed Index shed 0.12 points to 72.71.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
In closing, Angostura Holdings rallied 4 cents to $22.99 with a transfer of 20 shares, Ansa McAl advanced $2.95 to $57 with shareholders swapping 529 stocks, Ansa Merchant Bank popped 1 cent to end at $42.21 with investors trading 100 stocks, Calypso Macro Investment Fund closed at $22.50 in trading 1,013 units. First Citizens shed 1 cent to close at $49, in trading 539 shares, FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $7 with 15,800 stocks changing hands, GraceKennedy rose 2 cents to $3.17 with investors trading in 81,000 stock units, Guardian Holdings lost 50 cents to close at $19 after 1,582 shares were traded. JMMB Group skidded 3 cents to close at $1.32 with an exchange of 1,000 stocks, L.J. Williams B share fell 6 cents and ended at $2.49 after the swapping of 10 stock units, Massy Holdings climbed 12 cents and ended at $5 after 308,464 units passed through the market, National Enterprises declined 7 cents to close at $3.58 after 52,961 shares crossed the market. National Flour Mills ended at $1.53 in switching ownership of 2,500 stock units, Point Lisas dipped 5 cents to $3.55 in an exchange of 193 shares, Prestige Holdings rallied 9 cents to end at $7.95 with traders dealing in 10,000 stocks, Republic Financial gained 99 cents in closing at $124.99, with 1,227 units clearing the market. Scotiabank ended at $72 in an exchange of 9,587 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL dipped 15 cents to close at $12.85 after 3,990 units were traded, Trinidad Cement slipped 3 cents to $3.15 while exchanging 10 stock units, Unilever Caribbean rallied 1 cent to $12 as investors traded 10,574 shares and West Indian Tobacco remained at $10.31 in trading 15,743 stocks.

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

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stocks to Watch

August 21, 2023 by

There is currently low interest in buying Main Market stocks, even when the companies perform well and deliver positive results. One exception is Transjamaican Highway which has gained 86 percent for the year to date with more gains on the cards.

Dolphin Cove gained 31% for 2023 to date but should go higher.

The action is in the Junior Market, but even there, the interest is glacier-like, with a few stocks moving higher as buying demand is now overwhelming sellers.
A look behind the stock order book shows that a few merit watching over the next few weeks.
The list includes Carreras, Dolphin Cove, Fontana, Lasco Distributers, Lasco Manufacturing, ISP Finance, Mayberry Investments as well as Transjamaican Highway.
Carreras is enjoying consolidation of demand around the $8 level following a jump in earnings in the June quarter from rising sales. However, that is unlikely to change it from primarily one for high dividend yield rather than capital appreciation.
Dolphin Cove’s stock is up 31 percent for the year to date, but profit for the six months to June is up 48 percent over the year to June 2022. Investors may want to note the latest report on the court judgement on the sale of Mystic Mountain. There were indications that Dolphin Cove was an interested buyer and they may well be amongst the preferred bidders. If they succeed, expect the stock with limited offers posted on the JSE platform to jump.
Lasco Distributors‘ trend line shows an upward slopping momentum for the stock supported by earnings that increased 38 percent in the first quarter to June, following a 33 percent rise in full year profits to March this year. Buying interest is solid in the $4 and over region that is overwhelming supply on offer between $4.49 and $5 after that; there are currently less than 70,000 units on offer.

Lasco

Lasco Manufacturing‘s profit for the 2023 fiscal year jumped 37 percent after tax, followed by 27 percent for the June quarter. Still, the market was slow in responding positively to both sets of results, even as the price was less than ten times 2023 earnings of 50 cents per share. The stock in the past week jumped into the $5 region for the for time in months and closed the week at $5.35, with solid buying at that level and just below but with very limited selling with few stocks on offer from just nine offers for 180,000 shares.
Investors may not be ready to pounce on Fontana just yet. Still, there is limited selling in the stock ahead of the release of full year results that could come in around 80 cents per share, but with increased earnings in the current fiscal year, that will benefit from the opening of the Portmore store in a few months.
ISP Finance is an odd candidate, but there has been above average interest in this stock in recent months, with few offers in the stock currently. There are two critical factors to consider. One is that the majority shareholder must be close to retirement as such new owners cannot be far off. The recent addition of two new directors who operate in the financial market and have collaborated closely with them has increased speculation that a takeover of the majority shares will be forthcoming sooner than later. The other factor is the sharp jump in the loan portfolio to almost $1 billion after the credit loss provision. The near $200 million increase in loans over December last year and March this year is expected to swell revenues and profits in the future. The shares have to be high on the list for a split at the current price.

Fontana Waterloo Square Branch just after it was opened in October 2019.

Mayberry Investments may not have a lot of buying currently, but selling seems to be at a low level that could ignite a jump in price at any time that buying interest jumps.
Transjamaican Highway stock has almost doubled this year, encouraged by profit ballooning 338 percent for the June quarter to US$6 million and 442 percent to US$11 million for the six months to June. Supply has diminished on the sell side and could be overwhelmed by buyers. Investors have not bought into the sharp change in fortune for this stock and where it could head to. In addition, they should declare a considerable dividend payment in a few months.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Solid gains for ICTOP10 stocks

July 31, 2023 by

Junior Market stocks put in an outstanding performance ranging from 13 to 38 percent, with declines being far lower, with the top losers suffering a ten percent fall after five stocks slipped on the ICOP10 and three stocks recorded strong gains. The Main Market TOP10 was far less robust, with gainers hitting 13 percent at the top and losers 6 percent and less.

Margaritaville Turks could land big gains.

With the healthy price movements, three new additions to the TOP10 lists are added this week. Margaritaville is now topping the Main Market Top 10, with potential gains of 820 percent as the company made a major leap forward in fortunes, following the rebound in tourism traffic in the region and Caribbean Producers fell out of the TOP10 with a 4 percent price rise for the week. Image Plus Consultants and Iron Rock Insurance return to the Junior Market ICTOP10 as Dolla Financial and Elite Diagnostics enjoyed considerable price recoveries and dropped out.
For the week, five Junior Market TOP10 stocks rose and five declined, while the Main Market ended with four rising and only two falling.
In the Junior Market, Dolla Financial was the star performer as it recovered from a 9 percent drop last to $2.08 to post a stunning 38 percent jump to $2.88, following news that Supreme Ventures acquired 15 percent of the company, but before a report that the CEO Kadeen Mairs resigned. Elite Diagnostics jumped 29 percent to $2 after falling the previous week to $1.55 and Dolphin Cove rose 13 percent to $16.88, also rising are iCreate and OneonOne, with gains of 5 percent to $1.05, respectively. Falling stocks include Everything Fresh, down 10 percent to $1.37, Caribbean Cream, followed by shedding 8 percent to $4.15, General Accident, fell 6 percent to $4.70 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers, lost 4 percent to end at $2.99.
In the Main Market, Caribbean Cement climbed 13 percent to $57.60, but that was before the company released six months’ results, with profit ending at $2.87 following a blowout second quarter with earnings of $2.53 per share and now seems on target for $8 for the year. Sygnus Credit Investments rose nine percent to $12.12, but JMMB Group fell six percent to $27.20 and Guardian Holdings slipped 4 percent to $438.
Elsewhere in the market, Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing released first quarter results, with a rise in profits for both. Pretax profit at Lasco Distributors jumped a robust 57 percent to $602 million and post-tax climbed a solid 38 percent to $448 million and resulted in ICInsider.com upgrading earnings for the full year to 65 cents from 55 cents previously. Lasco Manufacturing’s performance was more subdued, with pretax profit rising 28 percent and aftertax 27 percent to $721 million and $526 million, respectively and are in line with ICInsider.com’s full year’s forecast of 70 cents per share. Both companies are just outside the ICTOP10 but are ICBUYRATED with good upside potential.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.3, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 326 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 14 most highly valued Main Market stocks representing 30 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 95, with an average of 30 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, with a PE of 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.8 compared with the market at 11. There are 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 39, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, and projected to rise by 248 percent to May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and gradually reducing the supply of several of them that are attractively priced as the market moves through the summer months, the start of the stock market year when new results will be coming to the market for investors to assess and determine what to do.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but not always. 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, 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.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Transjamaican out of ICTOP10

July 16, 2023 by

With a continually rising price, Transjamacian Highway rose 11 percent during the week to $2.78, up 57 percent since added to the Market Watch list in April and dropped out of the TOP10 this past week, while Everything Fresh closed at $1.60 and dropped out of the Junior Market TOP10.

Transjamaican Highway Gained 57% since the end of April, with more gains to come.

The Main Market continues to struggle and closed at its lowest level since the end of August 2018 based on the All Jamaica Composite Index that is down 10.7 percent for the year to date, to be highly oversold. The Junior Market fell sharply on Friday as the market pulled back from the 4,000 mark level with a modest fall year to date thus reversing last week’s positive outcome.
The Junior Market is still up 10 percent since the low in March and is currently on a big bull run over the coming months, signalled by two indicators. The Main Market is likely bottoming after the traditional sell off in May before settling off in the early summer ahead of a rebound later. The action is now with the Junior Market with more potential for growth.
For the week, 6 stocks declined and only one rose on the Junior Market and the Main Market ended with two rising and seven declining, with Caribbean Cement coming into the Main Market TOP10 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers returning to the Junior Market TOP10.
In the Junior Market, iCreate dropped 12 percent to $1.14, followed by a 10 percent decline in Caribbean Cream to $4.07, before the company released first quarter results showing marked improvements in some critical areas that lead to increased profit. Dolla Financial shed 6 percent to $2.28 after posting improved Q2 results over 2022, with profit almost doubling to $105 million and the half year climbing 92 percent to $227 million. Image Plus fell 5 percent to $2.09 following first quarter results that showed profit falling from $88 million pretax to $64 million as revenues were up 6.8 percent to $300 million. Administrative costs climbed 29 percent to $117 million.
Everything Fresh remained at $1.60, but that was all it needed to drop out of the TOP10 as Caribbean Assurance Brokers slipped from $3.30 to close at $3.09 to return to the TOP10.
While Transjamaican was the highest mover in the Main Market with the most significant change during the week and had much more room to run, Guardian Holdings declined 10 percent to $377, while Caribbean Producers fell 9 percent to $10, with all other price changes being 3 percent or less.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6, well below the market average of 13.2. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 264 percent, by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 14 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 31 and 21 excluding the highest PE stocks, 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.6 compared with the market at 11.4. There are 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 44, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, and projected to rise by 259 percent by May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
In the market generally, Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and, in the process, gradually reducing the supply of several of them that are attractively priced as the market moves through the summer months, the start of the stock market year, when new results will be coming to the market for investors to assess and determine what to do.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. Accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 up to the end of May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, 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.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Kremi tops ICTOP10 Lasco Manufacturing in

June 3, 2023 by

Iron Rock Insurance ended the past week up 14 percent to $2.25 and Lasco Distributors climbed 11 percent to $2.77 after both jumped 34 percent and 21 percent, respectively, earlier in the week, with two new stocks entering the Junior Market ICTOP10. At the same time, the Main Market TOP10 delivered moderate up and down movements. 
The Lasco Distributors  price movement follows release of full year results with earnings of 38.5 cents per share, with ICInsider.com projecting earnings of 55 cents for the fiscal year ending March 2024, leaving much room for solid upside price movement in the months ahead.
Lasco Manufacturing (LasM) and Caribbean Cream (Kremi) released improved full year results over those for 2022. Importantly, ICInsider.com forecast for the 2024 fiscal year is 70 cents per share for LasM and 90 cents for Kremi, with both entering the TOP10 this week, with one at the top and one at the bottom. Iron Rock Insurance and Edufocal fell from the Junior Market TOP10 to make way for the two stocks.

The stock rising in the ICTOP10 Junior Market, apart from those mentioned in the opening paragraph, is Consolidated Bakeries, with an increase of 4 percent to $2.27. At the same time, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, iCreate and One on One dipped 4 percent to $2.40, $1.26 and $1.10 respectively.
The price of Main Market listed Caribbean Producers, popped 5 percent in closing at $10.06, Key Insurance fell 11 percent to $2.80 and 138 Student Living lost 8 percent in value to close at $5.15.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP10 is 5.9, well below the market average of 13.5. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 259 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 28 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks and 18 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.3 compared with the market at 10.5. There are 10 stocks representing 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 24, averaging 19 are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently. Junior Market is projected to rise by 295 percent to May 2024.

Lasco’s ICool drinks.

The differences between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
In the market generally, Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and, in the process, gradually reduce the supply of several stocks that are attractively priced as the market moves toward the summer months, the start of the stock market year.
A look behind the supply chain shows an ever decreasing number of stocks on offer. The list includes Caribbean Assurance Brokers with strong buying interest between $1.88 and $2.40, but limited selling above $2.50, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers (CPJ), Fontana, Dolphin Cove, Honey Bun, Main Event, Massey Holdings, Seprod, Transjamaican and Wisynco have started to look positive. Supplies of some stocks are being quietly sucked out of the market, setting the stage for a sustained rally sometime down the road. ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. Accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 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.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Transjamaican in ICTOP10, CAB jumps 44%

May 13, 2023 by

The release of company results and some sharp price movements shook up the ICTOP10 listing this week, resulting in several changes in the top 10. Caribbean Assurance Brokers (CAB) topped the week, reporting record first quarter profit cheered by investors who pushed the price up by 44 percent to $2.88 and cleared the market of just about all supplies under $3. The stock sits in the number 7 spot, with potential for gains of 250 percent over the next twelve months.
CAB has been at the top of the TOP10 for several weeks going back to mid-March and now sits at the number 6 spot in spite of the substantial price gains, with ICInsider.com raising EPS to 50 cents from 45 cents. Taking over the number one spot is baker Consolidated Bakeries with Image Plus, that is in demand at number 2.
At the same time, ICInsider.com’s projection for Transjamaican Highway puts the stock into the Main Market TOP10 with projected earnings of 31 cents and a targeted price in the $6 region by early 2024 and replaces NCB Financial that got an earnings downgrade following the release of half year results showing earnings falling behind that for 2022, with a sharp fall in foreign exchange trading gains and increase loan loss provision.
Transjamaican headed the Market Watch list on April 29 this year. Then the price was at $1.77, with ICInsider.com indicating projected earnings of 24 cents per share and a short term price target of $2.40 and now the stock price is $1.85. The company released first quarter results on Friday, with profit of US$6 million.

Caribbean Assurance Brokers selling at a PE of just 7 based on historical earnings.

ICInsider.com has since adjusted earnings to 0.02 US cents per share or 31 Jamaican cents.
While the ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks had solid gains at the end of the week, the Main Market suffered several losses, with seven stocks declining.
Iron Rock Insurance jumped 22 percent to $2.29, Jamaican Teas rebounded from the previous week’s low by climbing 11 percent to $2.19 and dropped out of the TOP10 along with Everything Fresh having posted robust gains in revenues and profit for the March quarter, with investors welcoming the positive development by driving the stock up 14 percent to $1.89, with more to come. The company reported a profit of $35 million compared to just $7 million for the 2022 March quarter. IC Insider.com has since revised EPS for 2023, down to 25 cents from 30 cents previously, the combination of both of the above moves resulted in the stock moving out of the TOP10, but it still has more room for gains ahead. Lasco Distributors, one of the most undervalued stocks on the market, rose 4 percent to $2.68 but is trading at less than 6.4 times 2023 earnings of 42 cents per share and much lower based on earnings of 70 cents for fiscal 2024 has already started. After the March 2023 results are out, the EPS will switch over to the figure for 2024 and that would result in the stock holding the number 1 spot with likely gains above 400 percent. Image Plus rallied 4 percent to $2.20 and holds the number 3 spot on the TOP10.

Tropical Battery is the third stock to move out of the TOP10 with an earnings downgrade to 20 cents per share, following the release of half year results, showing a profit of $50 million, up from $30 million in the March quarter and from $87 million to $94 million for the half year. Dolla Financial, Edufocal and Dolphin Cove are this week’s new entrants to the Junior Market IC TOP10. Dolphin sits at the number 2 spot, with projected earnings of $3, following the 2022 full year results of 0.76 US cents or J$1.17 and will benefit from a sharp rebound in cruise ship arrivals, with the first 10 months last year being a fraction of what it was 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. This is in addition to increased stopover arrivals that will be greater than last year for a large part of the year.
The price of Main Market listed Key Insurance rose 8 percent to $3.40 to be the only stock of notable gains while Caribbean Producers dropped 8 percent in closing at $9.71, following release of nine months’ results that suggest that full year earnings from ongoing operations should end up around J$1.30 per share. Jamaica Broilers slipped 5 percent to $33.95 and Berger Paints fell 4 percent to $8.
Stocks are being prepped to rally, with signals that interest rates will be declining across the board sooner. Interest rates fell below eight percent on BOJ CDs and Treasury bills this past week, paving the way for a cut in the Bank of Jamaica overnight rate. That will provide more invigoration for the Jamaica stock market, with the Junior Market posting gains for a third consecutive week, even as the Main Market suffered another week of a mild decline.
The Junior Market’s long history of rising around a month before the release of quarterly results and declining shortly after results are released seems to be starting with a rise of 108 points in the market index in the previous week with more this past week, with the supply of some stocks continuing to fall sharply.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.8, well below the market average of 13.5. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 259 percent, by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 highest valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 27 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks and 19 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.8 compared with the market at 10.8. There are nine stocks, or 19 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 26, averaging 19 are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, suggesting that this may currently be the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks. Junior Market is projected to rise by 248 percent to May 2024.
The differences between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but not always. 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 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.

 

 

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ICTOP10 Image Plus price jump 9%

May 7, 2023 by

With interest rates softening, some life has entered the Jamaica stock market, with the Junior Market posting gains for a second consecutive week, but the Main Market suffered a mild retreat following notable increases in the last week of April as several ICTOP10 stocks posted solid gains, including Image Plus that posted impressive full year results at the end of the previous week.

Dr. Karlene McDonnough – Chairman of Image Consultants Ltd.

The week ended with several sizable winners in the ICTOP10 and one big loser. Lasco Distributors rose 13 percent to lead the winning stocks, followed by Everything Fresh with a strong 11 percent climb to $1.66, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 percent to $2.39, Image Plus rallied 9 percent and iCreate rose by 5 percent to $1.47 and fell out of the ICTOP10 and is replaced by Jamaican Teas. Iron Rock Insurance fell 18 percent to close at $1.88 and General Accident slipped 6 percent to $5.08, being the only two losers of significance.
The price of Main Market listed Berger Paints rose 10 percent to $8.30, Caribbean Producers gained 8 percent in closing at $10.56, with the stocks seemingly poised to get back to the $12 region sooner than later as the supply of stocks being sold below $13 has virtually dried up. 138 Student Living popped 6 percent to $5.35, JMMB Group fell 6 percent to $29.60, and Jamaica Broilers slipped 4 percent to $35.70.
Stocks are being prepped to rally, with signals that interest rates will be declining across the board sooner. This stems from the continued slide of BOJ CDs rates since March, which saw the rate falling by 25 percent to 8 percent this past week. Lower interest rates are around the corner, which will be positive for stocks and the signs are already showing.
At the previous week’s close, Image Plus released solid full year results showing profit after tax that jumped 125.6 percent to $213 million or 21 cents per share. Based on those numbers, ICInsider.com revised earnings for the current fiscal year to 35 cents from 30 cents previously. On Monday, the company reported revised results, with the profit being even higher at $252 million, with a reduction in the amount previously booked as professional fees. Based on the revision, projected earnings were raised by the publication to 40 cents per share for the current fiscal year. The stock sits at the number three spot in the ICTOP10. The revision raises some serious questions about how such matters escaped the directors, auditors and the financial controller before the audited financial statements were released.
Dolla Financial fell out of the TOP10 at the end of the previous week and this past week released impressive first quarter results that excited investors who responded well to them by driving the price to close the week at $2.89, with the price hitting a high of $2.99 on Friday. The company seems poised to deliver ICInsider.com forecasted earnings of 40 cents, provided they obtain loans on a timely basis to on lend.
The Junior Market’s long history of rising around a month before the release of quarterly results and declining shortly after results are released seems to be starting with a rise of 108 points in the market index in the previous week with more this past week, with the supply of some stocks continuing to fall sharply.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.5, well below the market average of 13.5. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 273 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 16 highest valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 28 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks and 20 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.7 compared with the market at 11.5. There are 12 stocks, or 25 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 26, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, suggesting that this may currently be the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks. Junior Market is projected to rise by 258 percent to May 2024.
The differences between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but not always. 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 up to the end of May 2023 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.

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Transjamaican heads Stocks to Watch

April 29, 2023 by

Some positive signs are emerging in the local stock market, with a few stocks in the Main Market making new highs repeatedly. Elsewhere, inflation is down and the fall in BOJ CD rates since early March from 10.54 percent to this week’s 8.11 percent, a 23 percent fall, are signs that interest rates locally have softened and set to fall across the board before long.
The above are positive signals for stocks. Some stocks are worth holding or watching as they possess the assets and earnings potential to deliver above average returns in stock value for patient investors but are not likely to gain as much as those in the ICTOP10 lists.
These stocks are Transjamaican Highway, Access Financial, Dolphin Cove, Honey Bun, Lasco Financial, Lasco Manufacturing, Main Event, Stationery and Office Supplies and Wigton Windfarm.

In the stock market, there is a time to hold, a time to fold and be bold that is the case of investing in Transjamaican Highway. The stock that came to the market in 2020 at $1.41, which many touted as reasonably priced, lagged the IPO price until this year and is worth seriously considering.
Transjamaican Highway has moved away from the zone of the IPO price of $1.41 at the end of March and now sits at $1.77, with the stock trading in high volume. Why would a stock that the company reported a loss of US$7 million? First, acquiring the majority shares in Jamaica Infrastructure Operators resulted in a onetime loss of US$13.7 million, the only reason for the company to report a loss for the year. The transaction will result in future cost savings expected to significantly reduce Operating Expenses by more than 50 percent or US$12 million per annum and increase profitability in the future. ICInsider.com projects earnings per share of 0.016 US cents or J$0.24. A technical indicator is pointing to a short term price around $2.40.

Staff members of Main Event

Main Event has been on a tear following impressive first quarter results of $118 million or 39 cents per share. The stock gained 64 percent for 2023 to date and 227 since the start of 2021. ICInsider.com projects earnings per share of $1.70 for the current year and a stock price hitting $30 by the end of 2023. Interestingly, while revenues for the recent quarter were a record $626 million, marginally up on the $597 million generated in the 2019 first quarter, there is more room for growth as the economy returns to normal levels since the contraction over the past two years. it is noted that the company is involved in the staging of JMEA expo this year and that will bring in added revenues that were not there last year.
Honey Bun just dropped out of the ICInsider.com TOP10 but has room for more upside price movement, with revenues up 23 percent for the first quarter to December last year and profit surging 64 percent to 94 million before taxation. ICInsider.com projects a 25 percent rise in revenues for the current year, with earnings doubling to 90 cents per share over that of 2022. Those numbers should be enough to increase investors’ interest in the stock with an improved gross profit margin that slipped last year, helping boost profit.
With the first quarter results due out over the next three weeks for Access Financial, Dolphin Cove, Stationery and Office Supplies and full year results for Lasco Financial and Lasco Manufacturing, investors will see that these stocks are seriously undervalued.
Wigton Windfarm has been quietly hitting new 52 weeks highs. It could go higher as investors buy up what has become limited supply in recent weeks as the company venture into additional business activities. Technically the stock has broken out of a long consolidation phase and the trend indicates a higher price of around 90 cents before it is stopped.

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

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