NCB Financial advanced $4.95 to a 52 weeks high of $74.95 on Wednesday, with the PE ratio at 10 times this year’s earnings, well above the 7.4 times Scotia Group minority shareholders are being offered for their shares. The Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed on Wednesday, with trading ending with a jump in the volume of stocks changing hands, but at a lower value than on Tuesday. At the close, the major indices of the Main Market rose, the Junior Market index declined and the JSE USD Market rising. At the end of trading, the prices of 40 shares rose, 39 declined and 27 remained firm.
At the close of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index rose by 989.73 points to finish at 366,617.19, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,603.85 points to 429,454.43, the JSE Main Index rose 1,325.04 points to 360,910.26, at the same time the Junior Market Index fell 38.62 points to end trading at 3,000.48 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied by 9.02 points to settle at 256.14.
At the close of trading for the day, 27,594,601 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 18,010,913 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $222.75 million, down from $271.85 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 334,610 shares for US$19,892 compared to 435,339 units at US$184,279 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 7.15 million shares, followed by 138 Student Living with 7.04 million stocks and Carreras with 2.70 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Atlantic Hardware led with 1.75 million shares, followed by Elite Diagnostic with 192,929 stocks and Express Catering with 180,883 units.
In Main Market ordinary share the top winners include Guardian Holdings , gaining $12.01 and ending at $350.00, NCB Financial advanced $4.95 to close at a 52 weeks high of $74.95, Eppley rallied $1.65 to end at $33.15, Caribbean Cement increased $1.04 in closing at $104.05 and Quantas Advantage climbed $1.01 to finish at $19.01.
Among the top losers, Kingston Properties shed $1.07 to finish at $9.89, Seprod fell 90 cents to end at $77.00, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund slipped 90 cents and ended at $44.10, Kingston Wharves lost 74 cents to $35.26 and Caribbean Producers shed 49 cents to finish at $5.00.
In the preferred share segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% skidded $50.17 to end at $2,300 and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% lost $8.56 to $105.
In the Junior Market, Fontana increased 34 cents and ended at $6.49, Honey Bun climbed 29 cents to close at $5.94, Jetcon Corporation rallied 23 cents to close at $3.43, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 23 cents to end at $1.38 and ONE on ONE Educational rose 10 cents to close at 81 cents.
Among the top losers, Cargo Handlers slipped $1.10 to close at $16.90, Jamaican Teas lost 16 cents to $1.95, Main Event dipped 13 cents to finish at $5.15, Future Energy fell 12 cents and ended at $3.45 and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 11 cents in closing at $1.55.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 12.9 and 14.8 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 utilised 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.