The stock market continued its upward trajectory in 2017. Year to date, market performance has been significantly stronger than 2016 with the Main Market Index returning 32.94 percent as at August 2017 compared to 6.43 percent for the corresponding period last year.
The Combined, returned 31.2 percent, Junior Market 19.48 percent and All Jamaica Composite Index and 33.6 percent, for the calendar year to August 31, 2017 relative to increases of 8.4 percent, 23.78 percent and 6.6 percent, respectively for the 2016 corresponding period.
Improvement in Jamaica’s macroeconomic fundamentals have boosted business confidence and contributed to a positive outlook for corporate earnings. In addition, increased investor confidence and appetite for riskier assets continue to drive market activity despite the run up in prices.
Stock price appreciation was broad-based with the strongest performers being in the main sectors of manufacturing, financial services and conglomerates. In particular, the manufacturing and financial sectors accounted for six of the top ten advancing stocks during the period. Financials continue to churn out positive earnings on the backdrop of significant growth in private sector credit.
NCB Financial Group profit surged in 2017, helping with other financial stocks to push the JSE higher.
The annual growth in private sector credit at end-February 2017 was 30.7 percent, which was stronger than the expansion of 10 percent in February 2016. Financials have been successful in weathering the low interest rate environment as margins have generally remained stable and fee income growth has been robust. Furthermore, low rates have helped to drive loan portfolio growth while fees and commission income have played a major role in income diversification. The manufacturing sector experienced some expansion buoyed by strong local demand for consumer products and growing export markets in the Food and Beverages segment. Additionally, Jamaican dollar appreciation within the earlier part of Q1 supported the performance of firms with a more concentrated focus on domestic operations. Of note inflation has remained subdued which has also assisted in increasing efficiency and improving margins.
While economic growth outturn was flat during the first quarter of the year, macroeconomic conditions remain stable and augers well for business operating environment. Against this background, the market should see improved activity and an uptick in the number of listed firms aided by the reinstatement of the Junior Market incentives in the last quarter of 2016.
The above is an extract from The NCB Capital Markets’ September 2017 stock market recommendations.
