GraceKennedy with an exchange of 6.56 million shares with a value of $473 million was the dominant trade on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with the overall market ending with the volume of stocks traded falling moderately below that on Friday with the value climbing solidly higher as the market closed with declines in all the major indices. At the close of trading the prices of 43 shares rose, 50 declined and 25 remained firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index declined 990.86 points to settle at 333,414.49, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,371.52 points to conclude trading at 369,029.51, the JSE Main Index lost 730.18 points to end at 321,281.72, the Junior Market Index lost 40.81 points to close trading at 3,650.96 and the JSE USD Market Index lipped 1.20 points to 227.24.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 32,527,574 shares in all three markets, down from 35,576,411 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets jumping to $702.26 million, well above the $412.87 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 114,780 shares for US$59,785 compared to 99,769 units at just US$4,828 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Supreme Ventures led trading with 7.08 million stocks followed by GraceKennedy with 6.56 million shares and Transjamaican Highway with 2.57 million units.
In Junior Market trading, One Great Studio led with 4.89 million stocks followed by RA Williams with 1.07 million shares and EduFocal with 716,012 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share gained $42 in closing at $297, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dropped $78 to $994, Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% fell $4.50 to finish at $100.50.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.7 based on 2024-25 earnings and 20 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors regularly with 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 earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding 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.