Quantas Advantage led trading with 9.10 million shares as the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed with a surge in the value of stocks traded on Friday, with a fall in the volume of stocks traded, compared with Thursday. Trading ended in the major indices of the Main Market and the Junior Market rising, while the JSE USD Market fell. At the close of the market, prices of 40 shares rose, 31 declined and 31 remained firm.
At the end of trading activity, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied by 3,230.35 points to close trading at 375,211.57, while the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 4,609.92 points to end trading at 442,050.51, the JSE Main Index rose 3,205.38 points to finish at 370,359.28, the Junior Market Index climbed 23.06 points to 2,939.15 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped by 1.76 points to end at 313.90.
At the close, 28,529,612 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 32,450,709 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $269.55 million, up from $197.08 million on Thursday. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 337,799 shares for US$51,834, down sharply from 1,237,260 units at US$93,191 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Quantas Advantage led with 9.10 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 4.99 million stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 3.41 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Woodcats International led with 2.87 million shares, followed by Omni Industries with 2.06 million stocks and Iron Rock Insurance with 817,229 units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, Guardian Holdings advanced $15.97 to end at $369.99, Sagicor Group advanced $3.45 and ended at $43.50, Kingston Properties rose $1.33 to $11.84, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained $1.26 to end at $9.69 and Pan Jamaica increased $1.25 in closing at $44.25.
Among the top losers, Caribbean Cement shed $2.40 to $109.50, Caribbean Producers slipped 29 cents to finish at $8.50, Jamaica Producers declined by 28 cents to close at $18.85, 138 Student Living lost 24 cents to finish at $2.61 and JMMB Group slipped 17 cents and ended at $17.33.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share shed $10 and ended at $220.
In the Junior Market, Cargo Handlers rallied 37 cents to end at $14.55, Regency Petroleum climbed 33 cents to close at $4.38, Caribbean Cream rallied 33 cents to $2.63, Honey Bun rallied 19 cents to $5.99 and Fontana rose 16 cents to finish at $6.40. Among the top losers, Main Event dropped 51 cents to close at $3.28, Dolphin Cove shed 46 cents to end at $9.50, Express Catering dipped 15 cents and ended at $1.82, GWest Corporation lost 15 cents to 55 cents and Jamaican Teas slipped 15 cents and ended at $2.08.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 13.4 and 16.4 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 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.