Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 91 percent and the value 52 percent lower than on Thursday, with trading in 55 securities compared with 58 on Thursday, which resulted in prices of 18 rising, 23 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,893,836 shares were traded for $112,685,985 compared to 124,688,141 units at $235,501,470 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 198,070 shares at $2,048,836 versus 2,149,796 units at $4,060,370 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 885,759 units at $2,443,369, compared with 1,217,539 units at $2,633,714 on the previous day. July closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 led trading with 4.71 million shares for 43.3 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.16 million units for 19.8 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 548,303 units for 5 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 519.86 points to 361,593.66, the JSE Main Index shed 437.40 points to finish at 326,087.84 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.47 points to 72.65.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.16 to $55.19, with trading in 522,545 shares, Caribbean Producers fell 59 cents to end at $10.50 after a transfer of 79,558 units, Eppley shed $1 in closing at $33 with an exchange of 702 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $1.50 to $40, after 3,996 stock units crossed the market. GraceKennedy climbed $1 to end at $77 while exchanging 117,803 shares, Guardian Holdings increased $39.99 to close at $439.99 with shareholders swapping 167 stocks, JMMB Group gained 55 cents in closing at $28.55 with 7,278 units clearing the market,
Kingston Properties lost 62 cents to end at $6.88 after an exchange of 3,291 units. Kingston Wharves rallied $1.35 to $28.92 in exchanging three stocks, Margaritaville dipped 75 cents and ended at $15.76 in trading 16 units, Massy Holdings lost 99 cents in closing at $100 in switching ownership of 16,956 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy shed $1.99 to end at $80 after 2 stocks passed through the market. Palace Amusement dropped 37 cents to $2, with 36,842 units changing hands, Sagicor Group rose 99 cents and ended at $45 in trading 8,082 shares, Scotia Group fell 40 cents to close at $34.10 as investors exchanged 358,224 stocks, Stanley Motta popped 58 cents and ended at $4.90 in an exchange of 2,019 stock units. 
Supreme Ventures declined 61 cents to end at $28.99 after 215,513 stock units changed hands and Wisynco Group dipped 96 cents in closing at $17.02 stakeholders trading 61,352 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $7.52 to $69 with a transfer of 817 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated
Main and Junior Markets rise
The JSE US dollar Market was the only of the three Jamaica Stock Exchanges that declined at the close on Friday while the volume and value of stocks traded plunged compared to Thursday’s trade which was boosted by trading of 113 million shares valued at $167 million in Transjamaican preference share.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 197.70 points to close at 340,347.08, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 519.86 points to end at 361,593.66, the JSE Main Index declined 437.40 points to settle at 326,087.84, the Junior Market Index gained 22.99 points on top of the 24.51 points picked on Thursday to conclude trading at 3,942.02 and thus recovered all of Wednesday’s loss, while the JSE USD Market Index fell 7.39 points to close at 240.60.
Jamaica Public Service 7% was the only Preference shares that ended with notable price changes, with an advance of $7.52 to $69.
At the close, investors had dealings in 20,248,937 shares, in all three markets, up sharply down from 135,167,230 stocks on Thursday. The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets ended at $133.6 million, down from $261.89 million on Thursday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 745,414 shares for US$22,909, compared with 243,793 units at US$38,581 on Thursday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 18.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.6 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.
Main Market suffers a big loss on Thursday
After two days of gains, Main Market stocks gave back a great deal at the close of trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with a big 784 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, with the value surging 264 percent more than on Wednesday, after trading took place in 58 securities compared with 56 on Wednesday, as prices of 31 stocks declined with 17 rising and 10 ending unchanged.
A total of 124,688,141 shares were exchanged for $235,501,470 compared with 14,111,309 units at $64,741,889 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 2,149,796 shares at $4,060,370 up from 251,988 units at $1,156,105 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 1,217,539 stocks at $2,633,714, compared with July, that closed with an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482
Transjamaican Highway 8% led trading with 113.10 million shares for 90.7 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.31 million units for 1.9 percent of the day’s trade. Mayberry Investments ended with 2.0 million units for 1.6 percent market share, Pulse Investments came in with 1.84 million units for 1.5 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.63 million units for 1.3 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 4,924.76 points to finish at 361,073.80, the JSE Main Index dropped 2,534.77 points to 326,525.24 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 1.53 points to 72.18.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments declined 50 cents to $76.20 and closed with an exchange of 93,908 shares, Berger Paints dropped 30 cents to close at $7.64, with 2,039 stock units crossing the market, Eppley dipped $1 and ended at $34 with an exchange of 1,000 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund increased $1.50 to end at $41.50 after an exchange of 3 stocks, First Rock Real Estate fell 91 cents in closing at $9.11 with investors transferring 6,000 shares. GraceKennedy shed $1.50 in closing at $76 after exchanging 66,220 stock units, Guardian Holdings lost $38 in ending at $400, with 79 units crossing the market, Jamaica Producers dropped 94 cents to $19.21 as investors exchanged 5,620 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost $1.64 to close at $10.23 in trading 9,646 units. 
Key Insurance declined 41 cents to end at $2.51 with 277 shares clearing the market, Massy Holdings climbed $3.48 to $100.99 with an exchange of 20 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied $3.67 to close at $81.99 with shareholders swapping a mere one stock unit, NCB Financial rose $1.89 ended at $74.99 in an exchange of 100,400 units. 138 Student Living shed 54 cents to end at $4.11 after trading in 2,451 shares, Palace Amusement advanced 37 cents in closing at $2.37 in an exchange of 21,587 stock units, Pan Jamaica fell $1 in closing at $48 in switching ownership of 2,453 stocks, Proven Investments dipped 75 cents to end at $22.50 after 3,933 shares passed through the market. Sagicor Group fell $4.94 to 52 weeks’ low of $44.01 while exchanging 10,647 stock units, Seprod lost $1.30 in ending at $70, with 20,904 units changing hands, Stanley Motta dropped 58 cents to close at $4.32 with a transfer of 2,000 stocks, Supreme Ventures gained $1.60 in closing at $29.60, with 173,372 units crossing the exchange and Sygnus Real Estate Finance popped 80 cents to close at $11 after a transfer of 73 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share shed 61 cents to end at $6 after a transfer of 200 stock units, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $11.48 and ended at $61.48, with 16 stocks changing hands, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $2.50 in closing at $101.50 after an exchange of 49 units, Productive Business 10.50% preference share dropped $55 to $1,100 with investors transferring 223 stocks and Transjamaican Highway 8% dipped 37 cents to $1.48 in an exchange of 113,099,641 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Drop in JSE Main and USD markets
The Main and JSE US dollar markets declined at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday while the Junior Market made a moderate recovery from Wednesday’s loss as the volume and value of stocks traded jumped sharply compared to Wednesday following trading of 113 million shares valued at $167 million in Transjamaican preference share.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 2,140.83 points to end at 340,544.78, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 4,924.76 points to 361,073.80, the JSE Main Index fell 2,534.77 points to close at 326,525.24, while the Junior Market Index climbed 24.51 points to close at 3,919.03 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 5.29 points to finish at 247.99.
Preference shares with notable price changes include Eppley 7.50% preference share shedding 61 cents to end at $6, Jamaica Public Service 7% advancing $11.48 to $61.48, Productive Business 10.50% preference share declining $55 to $1,100 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popping $2.50 in closing at $101.50.
At the close, investors had dealings in 135,167,230 shares in all three markets, up sharply from 20,722,918 stocks on Wednesday. 
The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets ended at $261.89 million, up from $80.9 million on Wednesday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 243,793 shares for US$38,581 compared with 174,417 units at US$27,278 on Wednesday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 18.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.6. times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.
Main Market stocks climb for second day
Stocks mostly climbed for a second day, following the big sell off on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with trading in 56 stocks similar to Monday and ending with prices of 27 rising, 19 declining and ten ending unchanged, with a 37 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands valued 24 percent less than on Monday.
A total of 14,111,309 shares were traded for $64,741,889 compared with 10,267,719 units at $85,148,440 on Monday.
Trading for the day averaged 251,988 shares at $1,156,105 compared to 183,352 shares at $1,520,508 on Monday compared with July that averaged 283,368 units at $2,135,482.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 6.06 million shares for 42.9 percent of total volume, Wigton Windfarm followed with 2.13 million units for 15.1 percent of trading, Transjamaican Highway chipped in with 1.67 million units for 11.8 percent of market share and Radio Jamaica with 1.13 million units for 8 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 809.52 points to conclude trading at 365,998.56, the JSE Main Index jumped 2,654.62 points to 329,060.01 and the JSE Financial Index climbed 1.51 points to close at 73.71.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.3 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 11 with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied $2.71 to $76.70 in an exchange of 89,905 shares, First Rock Real Estate popped $1.02 to close at $10.02 with a transfer of 3,849 units, Guardian Holdings climbed $42 in closing at $438, with 23 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 42 cents and ended at $11.87 after an exchange of 3,680 stock units. JMMB Group fell 80 cents to $28 in trading 16,961 shares, Kingston Properties shed 30 cents to end at $7.50 after a transfer of 11,714 stock units, Margaritaville advanced $2.46 and ended at $16.51 after exchanging 48,828 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities declined 33 cents to $11.51 as investors traded 6,500 stocks. 
NCB Financial dipped 89 cents to $73.10 as 275,809 stocks were exchanged, Palace Amusement lost 40 cents in closing at $2 with investors exchanging 45,050 units, Portland JSX increased $1.29 in closing at $10.79, with 19 shares clearing the market, Proven Investments rose $1.84 and ended at $23.25, with stakeholders trading 124 stock units. Pulse Investments gained 32 cents to close at $2.50, with 50,000 units crossing the market, Sagicor Group popped $1.95 to end at $48.95 with an exchange of 571 stock units, Seprod dropped $2.70 to close at $71.30 after the exchange of 4,621 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments rose 77 cents in closing at $11.98 with shareholders swapping 1,667 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% declined $2.02 to end at $50 in switching ownership of 988 stock units, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share fell 34 cents to $2.15 while exchanging 206,422 units, 
138 Student Living preference share advanced $1.98 to close at $99.98 in an exchange of 9 stocks, Productive Business 10.50% preference share increased $5 and ended at $1,155, with 100 shares changing hands and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $2.50 to end at $99 after the trading of 191 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market and JSE stocks start August with gains
The Main and JSE US dollar markets gained at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange to start the new month on a positive note on Tuesday, but the Junior Market suffered a tidy fall as the volume and value of stocks traded fell compared to that on Monday.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped 2,060.70 points to 342,685.61, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 809.52 points to 365,998.56, the JSE Main Index rallied 2,654.62 points to 329,060.01, while the Junior Market Index declined 45.48 points to 3,894.52 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 8.29 points to finish at 253.28.
Trading of Preference shares ended with notable price changes for Productive Business 10.50% preference share increasing by $5 to $1,155, Jamaica Public Service 7% declining $2.02 to end at $50, 138 Student Living preference share advancing $1.98 to close at $99.98 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $2.50 to end at $99.
At the close, investors exchanged 20,722,918 shares in all three markets, down from 35,539,078 stocks on Monday. The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets ended at $80.9 million, down from $139.59 million on Monday. 
Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors trading 174,417 shares for US$27,278, compared with 953,823 units at US$22,262 on Monday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 18.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.6.
times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.
JSE Market indices climb on Monday
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded marginally higher than Friday, but with a 29 percent lower value and ended with trading in 56 securities compared with 54 on Friday, with 24 rising, 22 declining and ten ending unchanged.
A total of 10,267,719 shares were exchanged at $85,148,440 versus 10,233,836 units at $120,089,926 on Friday.
Trading averaged 183,352 shares at $1,520,508 compared to 189,515 units at $2,223,888 on Friday and month to date, an average of 283,368 units at $2,135,482, compared with 288,414 shares at $2,166,508 on the previous day. June closed with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581, including trading in bonds.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.11 million shares for 20.5 percent of total volume, Wigton Windfarm followed with 1.75 million units for 17.1 percent of the day’s trade, JMMB Group 7.35% due 2028 with 1.67 million units for 16.3 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.50 million units for 14.6 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 5,102.37 points to close at 365,189.04, the JSE Main Index rose 1,135.31 points to end at 326,405.39 and the JSE Financial Index climbed 0.62 points to 72.20.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments declined 56 cents in closing at $73.99 after an exchange of 31,852 shares, Berger Paints rose 34 cents to $7.94, with 1,100 stock units crossing the market, First Rock Real Estate fell $1.04 to $9 in trading 68 units, GraceKennedy lost 50 cents to close at $77.50 in switching ownership of 46,418 stocks, Guardian Holdings shed $42 to end at $396 with shareholders swapping 249 stock units, Jamaica Producers advanced $1.09 to $20.19 with an exchange of 1,950 units, Jamaica Stock Exchang rallied $1.15 in closing at $11.45 after an exchange of 85,356 shares, JMMB Group popped $1.60 to end at $28.80, with 59,905 stocks crossing the exchange, 
Kingston Properties rose 33 cents to close at $7.80 as 158,341 stocks passed through the market, Massy Holdings dipped $3.49 to $97.51 with investors transferring 5,021 units, Mayberry Investments gained 63 cents to end at $8.69 in an exchange of 1,338 shares, NCB Financial climbed 54 cents in closing at $73.99 with 84,828 stock units crossing the market, Proven Investments dropped $1.84 to close at $21.41 after a transfer of 41,611 shares, Sagicor Group advanced $3 to $47 with stakeholders exchanging 756,240 stock units, Scotia Group popped 48 cents to $34.50 after exchanging 36,861 units, Seprod gained $3 to close at $74, with 63,006 stocks clearing the market, Stanley Motta rose 38 cents to end at $4.89 after an exchange of 34,276 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments shed 91 cents to end at $11.21 as investors exchanged 131,154 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share dropped $100 to $1,150 in trading 5 stocks, Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $9.18 and ended at $52.02 while exchanging 2,119 units, JMMB Group 7% preference share dipped 34 cents to close at $1.94, with 20,756 units changing hands and 138 Student Living preference share dropped $2 to $98 with a transfer of 50 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks closed out July with gains on JSE Markets
All three markets recorded gains at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange to close out July on a positive note on Monday, with an increase in the volume of stocks traded but with a lower value than Friday.
At the end of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,304.64 points to close at 340,624.91, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 5,102.37 points to end at 365,189.04, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,135.31 points to 326,405.39, while the Junior Market Index added 30.73 points to 3,940.00 and the JSE USD Market Index added 0.94 points to end at 244.99.
Trading of Preference shares with notable price changes are Productive Business 10.50% preference share with a fall of $100 in closing at $1150, Jamaica Public Service 7% losing $9.18 and ending at $52.02 and 138 Student Living preference share dropping $2 to $9.
At the close, investors exchanged 35,539,078 shares in all three markets, up sharply from 22,196,180 stocks on Friday. The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main Markets ended at $139.59 million, down from $151.67 million on Friday. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors exchanging 953,823 shares for US$22,262, up from 394,211 units at US$7,160 on Friday.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks ended at 18.6 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.6.
times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.
Solid gains for ICTOP10 stocks
Junior Market stocks put in an outstanding performance ranging from 13 to 38 percent, with declines being far lower, with the top losers suffering a ten percent fall after five stocks slipped on the ICOP10 and three stocks recorded strong gains. The Main Market TOP10 was far less robust, with gainers hitting 13 percent at the top and losers 6 percent and less.
Margaritaville Turks could land big gains.
With the healthy price movements, three new additions to the TOP10 lists are added this week. Margaritaville is now topping the Main Market Top 10, with potential gains of 820 percent as the company made a major leap forward in fortunes, following the rebound in tourism traffic in the region and Caribbean Producers fell out of the TOP10 with a 4 percent price rise for the week. Image Plus Consultants and Iron Rock Insurance return to the Junior Market ICTOP10 as Dolla Financial and Elite Diagnostics enjoyed considerable price recoveries and dropped out.
For the week, five Junior Market TOP10 stocks rose and five declined, while the Main Market ended with four rising and only two falling.
In the Junior Market, Dolla Financial was the star performer as it recovered from a 9 percent drop last to $2.08 to post a stunning 38 percent jump to $2.88, following news that Supreme Ventures acquired 15 percent of the company, but before a report that the CEO Kadeen Mairs resigned. Elite Diagnostics jumped 29 percent to $2 after falling the previous week to $1.55 and Dolphin Cove rose 13 percent to $16.88, also rising are iCreate and OneonOne, with gains of 5 percent to $1.05, respectively. Falling stocks include Everything Fresh, down 10 percent to $1.37, Caribbean Cream, followed by shedding 8 percent to $4.15, General Accident, fell 6 percent to $4.70 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers, lost 4 percent to end at $2.99.
In the Main Market, Caribbean Cement climbed 13 percent to $57.60, but that was before the company released six months’ results, with profit ending at $2.87 following a blowout second quarter with earnings of $2.53 per share and now seems on target for $8 for the year. Sygnus Credit Investments rose nine percent to $12.12, but JMMB Group fell six percent to $27.20 and Guardian Holdings slipped 4 percent to $438.
Elsewhere in the market, Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing released first quarter results, with a rise in profits for both. Pretax profit at Lasco Distributors jumped a robust 57 percent to $602 million and post-tax climbed a solid 38 percent to $448 million and resulted in ICInsider.com upgrading earnings for the full year to 65 cents from 55 cents previously. Lasco Manufacturing’s performance was more subdued, with pretax profit rising 28 percent and aftertax 27 percent to $721 million and $526 million, respectively and are in line with ICInsider.com’s full year’s forecast of 70 cents per share. Both companies are just outside the ICTOP10 but are ICBUYRATED with good upside potential.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.3, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 326 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 14 most highly valued Main Market stocks representing 30 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 95, with an average of 30 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, with a PE of 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.8 compared with the market at 11. There are 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 39, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, and projected to rise by 248 percent to May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and gradually reducing the supply of several of them that are attractively priced as the market moves through the summer months, the start of the stock market year when new results will be coming to the market for investors to assess and determine what to do.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but not always. 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of 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, resulting 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.
JSE Main Market drops thousands of points
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered big losses in the market indices on Friday, following trading in 54securities compared with 57 on Thursday, with prices of 15 rising, 17 falling and 22 ending unchanged following a 37 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with the value dropping 13 percent below trading on Thursday.
Trading ended with 10,233,836 shares being exchanged for $120,089,926 compared with 16,120,424 units at $137,525,796 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 189,515 shares at $2,223,888 versus 282,814 units at $2,412,733 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averages 288,414 units at $2,166,508, compared with 293,471 units at $2,163,573 on the previous day. Trading in June closed with an average of 366,795 units at $6,952,581, that includes trading in bonds.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.19 million shares for 31.2 percent of total volume, followed by Kingston Wharves with 2.81 million units for 27.5 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.45 million units for 14.2 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 5,604.07 points to end at 360,086.67, the JSE Main Index declined 3,607.52 points to 325,270.08, and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.56 points to finish at 71.58.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Producers added 78 cents in closing at $11.18 with investors swapping 28,762 shares, First Rock Real Estate climbed 54 cents to end at $10.04 with 3,205 stock units crossing the market, JMMB Group fell 80 cents to $27.20, with 167,745 units changing hands, Kingston Properties rallied 70 cents to close at $7.47 after 19,770 stocks were traded. Kingston Wharves declined $2.45 and ended at $27.55 with a transfer of 2,809,594 units, Margaritaville shed 90 cents to close at $13.90 with 2,802 stock units clearing the market, Mayberry Investments dipped 74 cents to end at $8.06 with stakeholders exchanging 7,661 shares,
NCB Financial dropped $1.54 to $73.45 in an exchange of 168,783 stocks. Palace Amusement gained 30 cents in closing at $2.35 in trading 28,924 stock units, Pulse Investments lost 50 cents and ended at $2.15 in switching ownership of 366,046 stocks, Supreme Ventures dipped $1.27 in closing at $27.83 after 42,691 shares passed through the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost $1.90 in ending at $10.10 while exchanging 10,825 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% jumped $9 to end at $61.20 with an exchange of 20 units, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% popped $200 to $3,100 and closed after an exchange of 13 stocks, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share shed 44 cents to close at $2.49 after investors exchanged 599 stock units, 
138 Student Living preference share rose $22 to $100 as investors traded one share and Transjamaican Highway 8% declined 40 cents in closing at $2 with a transfer of 78,265 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.