Stocks ended with increased trading activity on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a rise in both the volume and value of stocks traded compared to Thursday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market and the JSE USD Market rising, while the Junior Market index slipped marginally. At the end of trading, prices of 45 shares rose, 48 declined and 18 remained firm, with Transjamaican Highway trading at a record high.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped by 3,676.91 points to end at 378,973.79, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,370.96 points to finish at 445,549.88, the highest in more than four and a half years, the JSE Main Index climbed 3,889.14 points to close trading at 374,012.30, the highest in more than 4 years, the Junior Market Index dipped 5.81 points to 2,976.70 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 3.35 points to settle at 298.58.
At the close of trading, 66,141,744 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 53,455,526 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $361.12 million, up from $314.86 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,282,333 shares for US$85,862 compared to 1,055,001 units at US$121,704 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Energy led with 20.24 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 7.83 million stocks and Carreras with 3.76 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Derrimon Trading led with 7.97 million shares, followed by Fosrich with 2.83 million stocks and Jamaican Teas with 2.77 million units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, among the top winners, Guardian Holdings rose $10 in closing at $370.00, AS Bryden advanced $3.52 to $27.00, Massy Holdings and ended at, Sagicor Group increased $2.25 to close at $41.00 and General Accident climbed $1.65 to finish at $9.00.
Among the top losers, Eppley dipped $2.80 to end at $30.60, Margaritaville fell by $2.51 to $9.49, Barita Investments fell $1.14 to end trading at $67.30, Jamaica Producers slipped $1 to end at $21.00 and Quantas Advantage declined 69 cents and ended at $16.00.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% dipped by $2.55 to $17 and 138 Student Living preferred share rallied $8.98 to $237.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Knutsford Express gained 99 cents and ended at $7.47, Cargo Handlers popped 75 cents to end at $17.00, Honey Bun rallied 39 cents to finish at $5.90, Lumber Depot advanced 28 cents to close at $2.7 and, ISP Finance rose 25 cents to $7.75.
Among the top losers, Dolphin Cove dropped $2.12 to $10.21, Derrimon Trading fell 12 cents and ended at $1.20, Caribbean Cream skidded 9 cents to finish at $1.90, Omni Industries shed 8 cents in closing at 88 cents and Image Plus declined 7 cents to end at $1.12.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 12.9 and 15.4 based on 2025 historical earnings. Major one-off income or expenses are excluded from earnings where applicable. The PE ratio is one of the most commonly used measures in valuing shares. It is calculated by dividing the stock price by earnings per share. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in the stock market. The chart should be used to help in decision-making, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or 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.