GraceKennedy dominates trading on JSE markets

GraceKennedy lead trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped sharply on Thursday, accounting for just over $249 million of the total value of stocks traded, resulting in fewer shares being traded in all markets. The market closed with more stock prices declining than rising, resulting in a sharp decline in the Junior Market index and a drop in the Main Market major indices. The JSE USD market closed marginally lower as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, with the value of stocks traded jumping sharply over the previous day, resulting in prices of 26 shares rising and 40 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 1,306.76 points to close at 325,487.20, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 1,215.46 points to finish at 352,863.62. The JSE Main Index sank by 860.58 points to close at 312,753.36. The Junior Market Index dropped 68.15 points to close at 3,682.92 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 0.03 points to conclude trading at 227.05.
At the close of trading, with just 10,033,070 shares being exchanged in all three markets, down from 33,083,446 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $281.88 million, well over the $178.27 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 243,125 shares for US$8,678 down from 514,418 units at US$11,601 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, GraceKennedy led trading with 3.45 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.10 million units for 15.5 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 990,119 units.
In Junior Market trading, Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 824,225 shares followed by Fosrich with 328,942 stocks and Dolla Financial with 316,992 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share gained $2.79 and ended at $19.80, Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $5.34 in closing at $42 and 138 Student Living preference share lost $12.64 to end at $127.36.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 20.1 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.7 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported. Investors can use this measure as a guide to easily assess the value of stocks. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.