The Main Market and USD Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed to start the new year at the close on Tuesday but the Junior Market slipped modestly following b gains on Friday, with trading dropping sharply from the year close on Friday, notwithstanding the gains in the market, trading ended with declining dominating those rising on the first day of the year.
At the close of trading, 21,294,970 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 107,792,193 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $81.4 million, down from $952.3 million on Friday. The JSE USD market closed after 51,389 shares were traded for US$5,071 compared to 367,867 units at US$23,662 on Friday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund was the dominant trade in the Main Market, with 3.15 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.45 million units and Ciboney Group, 1.98 million units. In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 2.46 million shares followed by One Great Studio with 1.59 million units and Future Energy, 665,397 stock units.
At the close of trading, Main Market stocks rallying were Guardian Holdings jumping $49.98 and ended at $399.98, Eppley popping $2.04 to close at $38.04, Scotia Group up $1.10 and ended at $39.50 and Massy Holdings advancing $1 to end at $91.
Declining Main Market stocks included AS Bryden, with a decline of $3.01 and ended at $30.10, Barita Investments falling $3.98 to $73, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $2.10 to $40, JMMB Group skidded $1 to $25, NCB Financial lost $1.99 to $68, followed by Sagicor Group skidding $2.50 to $47, Seprod declining $2.51 to end at $79.99 and Supreme Ventures shedding $2 in closing at $25.
Rising Junior Market stocks include ISP Finance and Access Financial up $2.49 each and Dolphin Cove up $1.27. Falling stocks include Main Event dropping 76 cents, AMG Packaging skidding 62 cents and Spur Tree Spices with a fall of 40 cents.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped 1,935.67 points to close at 341,093.80, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,130.72 points to 368,148.57, the JSE Main Index increased 2,125.48 points to end at 327,825.27. The Junior Market Index lost 6.58 points to end at 3,841.75 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 6.62 points to culminate at 237.81.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share dropped $3 to $19.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.2 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
ICTOP10 bounce as Main Market breaks higher
2023 was not a great year for the Jamaica Stock Market, with all three JSE markets declining moderately and sending powerful messages to investors, with several companies reporting increased profit, enjoying increased prices. Transjamaican Highway delivered an outstanding performance, ending the year up 93 percent and paid a 19 cents dividend for an overall return of 106 percent for the year.
Transjamaican Highway gained 93% for 2023.
Readers of this publication would have gotten a good lead ahead of the first set of results in the year with the stock listed as a Stock to Watch in April, with the price then at $1.77 and gained 53 percent since, plus the dividend.
Other notable gains were recorded by Ciboney at 107 percent, following a change in ownership of the company, Main Event rising 55 percent, Regency Petroleum rallied at 47 percent, Knutsford Express at 45 percent and Dolphin Cove at 39 percent plus paying dividends of $1.85 during the year thus raising the returns to 53 percent.
There were several disappointing performances but one message is the import of proper stock selections and the benefits of portfolio diversification.
The Main Market all Jamaica Composite Index rose 17,082 points or 5 percent and the Junior Market just 2 percent during December, with technical indicators showing the Main Market now in a bullish state, having broken out sharply from a wedge formation, but the Junior Market remains under pressure for the time being, except for a limited number of stocks.
At the close of the market, four Junior Market stocks gained between eight and 26 percent and 5 fell by 7 percent and less, while three Main Market stocks rose between one to 15 percent and two fell by 6 percent each.
The Main Market ICTOP10 ended with, Palace Amusement gaining 15 percent to $1.40, followed by JMMB Group up 4 percent to $26 and Margaritaville 3 percent to $17.58, while 138 Student Living and Key Insurance declined 6 percent each two $3.89 and $2.25 respectively.
The Junior Market ended the week, with Caribbean Cream jumping 26 percent to $4.59, Jamaican Teas popping 21 percent to $2.80, a 52 weeks’ high. AMG Packaging climbed 12 percent to $3.02 and Tropical Battery rose 8 percent to end the week at $1.90. Lasco Manufacturing fell 7 percent to $4.31, Lasco Distributors and Paramount Trading fell by 4 percent each to $3.75 and $1.60 respectively.
Tropical Battery dropped out of the IC Junior Market TOP10, and Access Financial replaced it.
Indications of where stock prices could be by May 2024 can be seen from stocks with the highest values in the Main and Junior Markets.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 14 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.3, just over half of the market, with an average of 14.1.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 286 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 184 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 26 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market, there are 16 stocks, or 33 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 55, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 20, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
The JSE Main Market bounces to close out 2023
Trading activity remained buoyant on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market to close out the year on Friday, with 49,282,609 shares traded for $809,014,389 compared with 54,718,064 units at $832,512,122 on Thursday after trading resulted in 61 securities changing hands compared with 58 on Thursday, and ended with prices of 31 stocks rising, 10 declining and 20 ending unchanged.
Trading averaged 807,912 shares at $13,262,531 compared with 943,415 units at $14,353,657 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 264,266 units at $3,755,94 compared with 230,599 units at $3,167,213 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 25.03 million shares for 50.8 percent of total volume followed by NCB Financial with 8.03 million units for 16.3 percent of the day’s trade, Radio Jamaica ended with 7.49 million shares for 15.2 percent of market share, Sagicor Group with 1.64 million units for 3.3 percent of trading. Barita Investments closed with 1.34 million shares for 2.7 percent of market activity and Transjamaican Highway, 1.30 million units for 2.6 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 6,563.17 points to close at 367,017.85, the JSE Main Index popped 4,228.16 points to end the year at 325,699.79 as the market lost 9 percent for the year and the JSE Financial Index gained 1.26 points to end at 70.65.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden increased $3.01 to end at a recording closing high of $33.11 as investors exchanged 100 stock units, Barita Investments popped $5.98 to end at $76.98 in trading 1,337,808 shares, Caribbean Cement rallied $3.04 to $60 and closed with an exchange of 107,713 units. Eppley lost $2.10 in closing at $36 while exchanging 770 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $3.10 and ended at $42.10 with traders dealing in 1,148 shares, Guardian Holdings declined $23 to $350 in an exchange of 3,024 stocks. Jamaica Broilers advanced 52 cents and ended at $34.70, with 134,386 units changing hands, JMMB Group climbed 60 cents in closing at $26 with a transfer of 189,168 stock units, Kingston Wharves gained $1 to close at $27 after an exchange of 104,286 shares. 
Margaritaville rose 58 cents to end at $17.58 with 592 stocks clearing the market, Mayberry Group climbed 62 cents in closing at $9.50 with an exchange of 20,568 units, NCB Financial increased $2.49 to $69.99, with 8,031,610 stock units crossing the market. 138 Student Living popped 38 cents to close at $3.89 in an exchange of 10,161 shares, Pan Jamaica sank 80 cents to end at $50.70 after trading 174,963 stock units, Sagicor Group gained $3.52 and ended at $49.50 after an exchange of 1,638,388 stocks. Salada Foods advanced 26 cents to $3.98 with investors transferring 124,752 units, Scotia Group rallied 40 cents to end at $38.40 in switching ownership of 65,342 stocks, Seprod popped $2.01 in closing at $82.50 after 59,998 units passed through the market. Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 50 cents and ended at $11.40 after a transfer of 102,722 shares and Wisynco Group increased 51 cents to close at $22, with 344,392 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rose $3 to $22 with investors trading 100 shares and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $33.10 in closing at $130, with 115 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks surged in closing out 2023
All three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose on Friday following b gains on Thursday with trading exceeding Thursday’s levels as rising prices overwhelmed those declining on the final day of the year but that was powerful enough to erase declines in the market for the year.
At the close of trading 107,792,193 shares, were traded in all three markets, up from 65,137,916 units on Wednesday.
The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets totalled $952.3 million, up from $857.26 billion on Thursday. The JSE USD market closed after 367,867 shares were traded, for US$23,662 compared to 31,154 units at US$662 on Thursday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with 25.03 million shares being exchanged by investors, followed by NCB Financial with 8.03 million units, Radio Jamaica contributed 7.49 million units, Sagicor Group with 1.64 million shares, Barita Investments closed with 1.34 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.30 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Tropical Battery led trading with 21.15 million shares, followed by Future Energywith 10.21 million units, Regency Petroleum with 4.69 million shares, EduFocal 2.96 million units , Image Plus traded 2.89 million shares and Fosrich with 2.25 million units.
At the close of the market, Main Market stocks rallying were Barita Investments climbing $5.98, Sagicor Group up $3.52, Eppley Caribbean Property rising $3.10, Caribbean Cement with a gain of $3.04, AS Bryden rising $3.01, NCB Financial up $2.49 and Seprod climbing $2.01.
Declining Main Market stocks were Guardian Holdings down $23 and Eppley with a fall of $2.10.
Rising Junior Market stocks include Knutsford Express up $1.25 and Dolphin Cove up $1.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped 4,534.94 points to close at 339,158.12, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 6,563.17 points higher to 367,017.85, the JSE Main Index popped 4,228.16 points to 325,699
The Junior Market Index surged 65.03 points to 3,848.33, off by 3.5 percent for the year and the JSE USD Market Index rose 6.84 points to 231.19.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rose $3 to $22 and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $33.10 in closing at $130.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.6 on 2022-23 earnings and 15 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Aggressive trading pushes Main Market to 5 months high
Aggressive trading on Thursday with prices of 27 stocks jumping, 15 declining and 16 ending unchanged following trading in 58 securities compared with 59 on Wednesday and closed after the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recorded a 64 percent surge in the volume of stocks traded at a marginally higher value than on Wednesday as investors pushed the market to the highest level since the first week in August.
At the close of the market, 54,718,064 shares were traded for $832,512,122 up from 33,345,989 units at $814,176,218 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 943,415 shares at $14,353,657 up from 565,186 stocks at $13,799,597 on Wednesday, Trading for the month to date, averages of 230,599 units at $3,167,213 up from 186,000 units at $2,467,306 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
Carreras led trading with 24.28 million shares for 44.4 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.82 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade, Wisynco Group ended with 4.36 million shares for 8 percent market share, Radio Jamaica closed with 3.71 million units for 6.8 percent of Main Market trading, NCB Financial contributed 3.06 million units for 5.6 percent of market activity and Scotia Group with 2.42 million units for 4.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 6,057.90 points to end at 360,454.68, the JSE Main Index railed 3,911.29 points to end the day at 321,471.63 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.74 points to 69.39.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose 65 cents to close at $71 in switching ownership of 23,528 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced $3.22 to end at $56.96, with 2,207,611 units clearing the market, Eppley popped $3.10 to close at $38.10 after a transfer of 100 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed $1 and ended at $39 with investors swapping 25 stock units, First Rock Real Estate gained $1.48 to end at $7.50, with 29,496 shares changing hands, Guardian Holdings declined $29 in closing at $373 after 520 stocks passed through the market. 
Jamaica Broilers fell 52 cents to $34.18 after an exchange of only 4,286 units, JMMB Group gained 40 cents to close at $25.40 after a transfer of 59,164 stocks, Kingston Wharves skidded 65 cents and ended at $26 as investors exchanged 2,009,244 shares. Mayberry Group climbed 48 cents to $8.88 after investors ended trading 25,701 stock units, NCB Financial rallied $2.40 to $67.50 after an exchange of 3,062,584 stocks, 138 Student Living lost 62 cents to at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.51, with 23,000 units crossing the market. Pan Jamaica popped $1.05 to end at $51.50 with traders dealing in 52,176 shares, Radio Jamaica rallied 35 cents to close at $1.70 while exchanging 3,708,301 stock units, Sagicor Group rose $4.48 and ended at $45.98 with investors dealing in 207,662 units. Salada Foods gained 52 cents to close $3.72 in an exchange of 114,055 stocks, Scotia Group dipped 38 cents to close at $38 with investors trading 2,423,400 shares, Seprod increased $3 to end at $80.49 in an exchange of 95,081 stocks. 
Supreme Ventures climbed $1.05 in closing at $27, with 1,016,463 units crossing the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $1.25 and ended at $10.25 in trading 10,104 stock units and Wisynco Group popped 49 cents to $21.49 after exchanging 4,360,933 shares.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share sank $17.10 in closing at $96.90 with investors transferring 50 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks prices surged on the Jamaican Stock Exchange
All three markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose on Thursday following the sharp jump on Wednesday as trading on the Main Market exceeded Wednesday levels as investors traded 54.7 million shares in that market for $833 million on Thursday. Trading fell off in the Junior Market but the index surged as did the all Jamaica Composite index as investors pushed the top 10 stocks up by more than $1 and as high as $4.48, while declining stock price changes were subdued.
A total of 65,137,916 shares, were traded in all three markets, from 132,966,020 units on Wednesday.
The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets totalled $857.26 million, down from $1.06 billion on Wednesday. The JSE USD market closed after 31,154 shares were traded for US$662 compared to 127,343 units at US$6,740 on Wednesday.
Carreras was one of a number of stocks dominating trading Thursday, with an exchange of 24.28 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.82 million units, Wisynco Group ended with 4.36 million units, Radio Jamaica, chipped in with 3.71 million stock units, NCB Financial closed with an exchange of 3.06 million shares and Scotia Group with 2.42 million units and in the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices ended with an exchange of 3.09 million shares.
At the close of trading on Thursday, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped 4,106.46 points to 334,623.18, the All Jamaican Composite Index surged 6,057.90 points to 360,454.68, the JSE Main Index rallied 3,911.29 points to end trading at 321,471.63. The Junior Market Index surged 50.05 points to end at 3,783.30 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 1.89 points to wrap-up trading at 224.35.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share sank $17.10 in closing at $96.90.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.6 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading jumps on JSE Main Market as prices rise
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 37 percent and the value surging 189 percent over trading on Friday, with 59 securities trading similar to trading on Friday and ended with prices of 24 stocks rising, 17 declining and 18 ending unchanged as JMMB Group traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $24.80.
Trading ended with an exchange of 33,345,989 shares for $814,176,218 compared with 24,406,102 units at $281,890,487 on Friday.
Trading averaged 565,186 shares at $13,799,597 up sharply from 413,663 units at $4,777,805 on Friday and month to date, an average of 186,000 stock units at $2,467,306 compared to 160,226 units at $1,697,024 that were previously traded. November ended with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.51 million shares for 22.5 percent of total volume followed by Sygnus Credit Investments with 5.88 million units for 17.6 percent of the day’s trade, Wisynco Group closed trading with 4.37 million units for 13.1 percent of the day’s volume, NCB Financial ended with 3.11 million units for 9.3 percent market share, Jamaica Producers closed with 2.84 million stock units for 8.5 percent trading and Caribbean Cement with 2.15 million units for 6.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 858.00 points to 354,396.78, the JSE Main Index increased 761.89 points to conclude trading at 317,560.34 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.13 points to settle at 68.65.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Eppley increased 49 cents to $35 with investors trading 1,415 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $2.10 in closing at $40, with 820 units clearing the market, 
First Rock Real Estate fell $1.47 and ended at $6.02 with investors transferring 6,142 shares. Guardian Holdings popped $2.01 to close at $402, with 1,071 stock units crossing the market, Kingston Properties advanced 48 cents to $7.80 after investors traded 259,775 shares, Kingston Wharves skidded 35 cents to $26.65 after an exchange of 5,928 units. NCB Financial sank 90 cents to close at $65.10 with investors trading 3,108,015 stocks, Pan Jamaica rose $1.45 to end at $50.45 after 1,552,450 stock units passed through the market, Sagicor Group shed 30 cents in closing at $41.50 while exchanging 5,478 shares. Seprod climbed $2.49 and ended at $77.49, with investors trading 30,268 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 50 cents to $9 in an exchange of 10,000 units and Wisynco Group rallied 50 cents in closing at $21 with traders dealing in 4,366,417 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Mostly price gains for ICTOP10
The Main Market of the JSE rose around two percent and Junior Market just under one percent for the week and led the top 10 mostly higher, with 7 Main Market and 4 Junior Market stocks rising with declining stocks recording losses of 4 percent or less, at the same time one stock moved out of the TOP10.
The Main Market ICTOP10 ended with, General Accident declined 11 percent to $4.50. Buying interest picked up during the week for Scotia Group pushing the stock to several 52 weeks’ highs and a rose of 7 percent for the week to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $38.40. This stock has much more juice left that should take it into the $40 range by early 2024. Caribbean Producers rallied 6 percent to $9, while Margaritaville also rose 6 percent and closed at $17 and Pulse Investments rose 5 percent to $2.09 and Key Insurance slipped 4 percent to $2.40.
The Junior Market ended the week, with AMG Packaging climbing 17 percent to $2.70, buying is not aggressive currently while supplies up to $3.15 is limited, with none on offer until $10. Investors should expect a big bounce in the first quarter profits due by mid-January. The company states that they are exploring the possibility of new equipment and expanded facilities that could shape a future expansion of momentous proportions. Caribbean Cream rose 10 percent to $3.64 and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 9 percent and dropped out of the TOP10 and is replaced by Tropical Battery. There were no notable declines at the end of the week.
There was no new addition to the IC Main Market TOP10.
Indications of where stock prices could be by May 2024 can be seen from stocks with the highest values in the Main and Junior Markets.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 288 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings and now provides better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 195 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP10, 15 of the most highly valued stocks, 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 29 and 18 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7, just over half of the market, with an average of 13.2. There are 14 stocks, or 29 percent of the market, with PEsfrom 15 to 49, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Big trading day for JSE Main Market
Trading jumped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded jumping 230 percent and the value 540 percent more than on Thursday, with 59 securities trading compared with 54 on Thursday, with 28 rising, 15 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
Overall, 24,406,102 shares were traded for $281,890,487 up from 7,395,292 units at $44,075,720 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 413,663 shares at $4,777,805 compared to 136,950 units at $816,217 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 160,226 units at $1,697,024 compared to 141,743 units at $1,472,344 on the previous day, down from November with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
JMMB Group 7.5% led trading with 10.0 million shares for 41 percent of the total volume followed by Sygnus Credit Investments with 5.84 million units for 23.9 percent of the day’s trade, Jamaica Producers chipped in with 2.87 million units for 11.8 percent market share, Pan Jamaica ended with 1.50 million units for 6.1 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.07 million units for 4.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,555.49 points to 353,538.78, the JSE Main Index climbed 812.63 points to end at 316,798.45 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.14 points to conclude trading at 68.78.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Carreras advanced 34 cents to $8.49 with traders dealing in 294,083 shares, Eppley skidded $4.48 and ended at $34.51 while exchanging 605 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose $2.60 in closing at $42.10 with a transfer of 5,795 units. GraceKennedy rallied $3.59 to close at $79.99 after exchanging 88,239 stock units, Jamaica Producers lost $1.47 to end at $22.25 after 2,872,038 shares passed through the market, Key Insurance increased 30 cents in closing at $2.40 with an exchange of 2 units. Kingston Properties climbed 39 cents to $7.32 after investors traded 6,242 stocks, 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped 88 cents and ended at $89.89 after an exchange of 6 stock units, NCB Financial gained 60 cents to close at $66 with investors trading 12,768 shares. Sagicor Group rose 30 cents to end at $41.80, with 1,104 units crossing the market, Scotia Group gained 90 cents to end at $38.40 with investors trading 37,378 stocks, Seprod popped $1 to close at $75, with 313,626 units crossing the market and Wisynco Group climbed 50 cents in closing at $20.50 after a transfer of 15,192 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% increased $4 to end at $45 with 7,103 stock units clearing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share advanced $4.50 and ended at $120 in switching ownership of 5 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for JSE Main Market
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday with an 85 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, with the value slipping moderately lower than on Wednesday, with trading in 54 securities compared with 56 on Wednesday, with prices of 11 stocks rising, 18 declining and 25 ending unchanged and leading the market indices higher at the close.
A total of 7,395,292 shares were traded for $44,075,720 compared to 3,998,798 units at $44,873,267 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 136,950 shares at $816,217 compared to 71,407 units at $801,308 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 141,743 units at $1,472,344, compared with 142,086 units at $1,519,272 on the previous day and well below November with an average of 275,587 units at $2,488,949.
JMMB Group 7.5% led trading with 2.06 million shares for 27.9 percent of the total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.73 million units for 23.4 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 739,401 units for 10 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 571.53 points to close at 351,983.29, the JSE Main Index advanced 723.66 points to 315,985.82 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.11 points to finish at 68.64.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped 90 cents to $70.05 crossing the market 6,662 units, GraceKennedy fell $2.17 to close at $76.40, with investors exchanging 5,277 stocks, Jamaica Broilers climbed $1.49 to end at $34.50 in trading 36,006 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 38 cents in closing at $9.98 after 26,161 stock units passed through the market, 
Kingston Properties skidded 39 cents and ended at $6.93 with traders dealing in 2,012 shares, NCB Financial sank 40 cents to $65.40 with 30,214 units crossing the market. Pan Jamaica dipped 40 cents to close at $49.10 as investors exchanged 2,230 stocks, Sagicor Group advanced $1 in closing at $41.50 after an exchange of 87,851 stock units, Scotia Group popped 38 cents to end at $37.50 with investors dealing in 89,402 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 29 cents and ended at $10.99 with a transfer of 4,558 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rallied $1 to $41, with 51 units changing hands and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share lost $30 to end at $1,060 with investors trading 110 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.