Guardian plunges & MFS big trade

Guardian Holdings plunged $49 to close at $309 in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with declines in the Main and Junior markets and the JSE USD market closing marginally higher as trading ended with the volume of stocks changing hands jumping following trading of 84 million shares traded in MFS Partners, with the value of stocks traded falling below the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 49 shares declining and 32 rising.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,279.50 points to 316,555.34, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 2,742.57 points to 348,691.57 and the JSE Main Index shed 2,066.75 points to end at 304,316.87. The Junior Market Index dropped 42.48 points to 3,562.15 and the JSE USD Market Index popped by just 0.14 points to 219.70.
At the close of trading, 101,328,104 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 58,981,003 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $90.29 million, well below the $132.36 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 86,270 shares for US$8,297 compared to 207,924 units at US$7,317 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.82 million shares followed by Radio Jamaica with 1.61 million stock units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.08 million units.
In Junior Market trading, MFS Capital Partners led trading with 84.82 million shares followed by EduFocal with 4.52 million stock units and Omni Industries with 1.53 million units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rose $1 to $2,700 and 138 Student Living preference share skidded $31.50 to end at $178.50.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 19.3 on 2023-24 earnings and 13 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 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.