More money entered the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, but investors walked away with fewer shares than they did on Tuesday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market falling, the Junior Market index rising and the JSE USD Market inching just higher. At the end of trading the prices of 41 shares rose, 42 declined and 27 remained firm.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index lost 668.40 points to 373,790.42, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 917.58 points to end at 439,227.16, the JSE Main Index declined 831.68 points to 369,026.38, as the Junior Market Index increased 17.66 points to end at 2,918.71 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 0.63 points to conclude trading at 309.71.
At the close of the market, 27,254,846 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 31,481,788 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $327.48 million, up from $234.8 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 248,902 shares for US$17,256 compared to 1,795,092 units at US$332,328 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 9.33 million shares, followed by Jamaica Stock Exchange with 2.35 million stocks and Lasco Manufacturing with 2.17 million units.
In Junior Market trading, One Great Studio led with 1.65 million shares, followed by JFP with 1.35 million stocks and Atlantic Hardware with 600,376 units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, among the top winners, Proven Investments gained $1.12 and ended at $9.88, Quantas Advantage rose 90 cents to $15.50, Sagicor Group advanced 55 cents in closing at $41.65, Mayberry Group popped 55 cents to finish at $5.75 and GraceKennedy increased 50 cents to close at $77.00.
Among the top losers, Caribbean Cement dipped by $6 to close at $103.00, Pan Jamaica fell $1.90 to end at $43.28, Barita Investments declined by $1 in closing at $64.00, Carreras dropped by $1 to $33.00 and Scotia Group lost 70 cents to finish at $57.30.
In the preference share segment, JPSCo 9.5% jumped by $300 to end at $2,200 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% and climbed $5.45 in closing at $106.50.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Access Financial increased $1.95 to end at $16.95, Consolidated Bakeries climbed 19 cents to close at $1.40, Regency Petroleum gained 12 cents to finish at $4.50, Medical Disposables rallied 10 cents and ended at $1.20 and Lumber Depot gained 9 cents to end at $2.55.
Among the top losers, Knutsford Express slipped 70 cents in closing at $7.30, Blue Power fell 35 cents to $3.15, Jetcon Corporation shed 30 cents to finish at $3.61, Everything Fresh declined 19 cents and ended at $1.95 and Honey Bun dropped 19 cents to end at $6.48.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings is 11.6 and 16.1 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 frequently 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 to assess 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.