Stocks mostly declined at the closed of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with a rise in the volume of stocks traded, at a greater value than on Friday. Transjamaican Highway, the volume leader, close with investors reacting negatively to the release of the second interim dividend payment of 16.52 cents per share by selling down the stock. Trading resulted in the major indices of the markets falling. At the end of trading the prices of 38 shares rose, 51 declined and 25 remained firm.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index lost 3,972.14 points to 371,239.43, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 6,978.92 points to end at 435,071.59, the JSE Main Index skidded 3,989.75 points to 366,369.53, in the mean time the Junior Market Index fell by 21.92 points to end trading at 2,917.23 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 12.86 points to 301.04.
At the close of trading, 26,447,288 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 19,102,622 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $235.29 million, up from $95.24 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,387,653 shares for US$107,528 compared to 337,799 units at US$51,834 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 10.55 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 2.56 million stocks and Sagicor Group with 1.47 million units.
In Junior Market trading, RA Williams led with 3.10 million shares, following release of their first quarter results with profits of $48 million or 2.4 cents per share. Woodcats International chipped in with 1.87 million stocks and Jetcon Corporation with 445,296 units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, Massy Holdings rose $5.90 in closing at $79.40, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $1 to $43.00, NCB Financial increased 97 cents to end at $67.98, JMMB Group climbed 66 cents to finish at $17.99 and West Indies Petroleum popped 66 cents and ended at $9.96.
Among the top losers, Guardian Holdings dropped $19.99 in closing at $350.00, Quantas Advantage fell $2.70 to $16.80, Barita Investments slipped $1.56 to end at $65.45, Caribbean Cement fell $1.50 and ended trading at $108.00, Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed $1.36 to close at $7.64.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climbed $6 to close at $2,160 and the preferred share of 138 Student Living fell $19 to $201.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Access Financial advanced $2.54 in closing at $19.36, Main Event gained 52 cents to end at $3.80, Cargo Handlers rose 45 cents in closing at $15.00, Express Catering rallied 15 cents to $1.97 and Jamaican Teas increased 12 cents to end at $2.20. Among the top losers, Everything Fresh dropped 40 cents and ended at $1.58, Blue Power declined 26 cents to close at $3.24, Regency Petroleum skidded 23 cents to finish at $4.15, Honey Bun fell 19 cents and ended at $5.80, AMG Packaging declined 12 cents to $1.73 and Caribbean Flavours shed 12 cents to finish at $1.10.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 13.3 and 16.5 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.