The Jamaica stock market continues to consolidate, awaiting a dynamic development to push it decisively in one direction or another as the Bank of Jamaica quietly tightened the money supply further in January, drying up buying power in the short run. The first big likely move is unlikely to be a reduction of interest rates which is seemingly set to occur in the second quarter, but the reporting of substantially increased profits to flow from some companies.
Tropical Battery returns to the ICTOP10 list for this week with projected earnings of 30 cents for the current year, up from 15 cents last fiscal year and replaces Lasco Manufacturing which dropped out with a rise in price during the week as the supply of the stock has drooped sharply recently, with just 11 offers to sell now in the system.
Image Plus Consultants reported nine months results with revenues rising 27 percent in the November quarter to $248 million and 43 percent in the nine months to $803 million, while profit rose moderately to $24 million from $22 million in 2021 and for the nine months profits nearly tripled that of 2021 to reach $148 million. The company reported incorrect earnings per share for the periods, using the incorrect number of shares. As a result, rather than 29 cents per share for the quarter and $1.84, it is 2.3 cents and 15 cents for the nine months. Regardless, the stock is cheap based on these earnings and those to come.
Honey Bun rose 10 percent to $7.69, with the December quarter results due any time now, Lasco Financial gained 9 percent to $2.84 and Lasco Manufacturing gained 5 percent to $4.79. General Accident rallied 6 percent to $4.99. Image Plus Consultants entered the ICTOP10 after just one day of trading and fell to a low of $1.86 during the past week before rebounding to close this past week with a fall of 12 percent to $1.93, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 6 percent of its value to close at $2 and Paramount Trading fell 5 percent to $2.10.
All other movements in the Junior Market TOP10 were 3 percent or less. The Main Market Berger Paints popped 12 percent to $10.60, followed by a 9 percent rise for Jamaica Broilers to close at $31.50 and Guardian Holdings with a gain of 4 percent to $535. There were no notable losses.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 15, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.5 versus the market at 12.6, critical indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks currently. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 211 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 274 percent to May this year. The primary concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before the full interest of investor start to show.
The Junior Market has 15 stocks representing 31 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 29, averaging 21 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, with prices of Fosrich and Future Energy adjusting downwards closer to the average of the TOP15. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 116, with an average of 27 and 20 excluding the highest valued stocks and 27 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
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 will likely deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 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.
A total of 10,834,252 shares were traded for $176,431,924 versus 16,679,571 units at $253,751,659 on Thursday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Jamaica Broilers popped $1.50 to close at $31.50 in exchange for 178,129 shares, Jamaica Producers rallied 99 cents to $20.99 with 168 units changing hands, JMMB Group lost 50 cents to close at $35 following trading of 206,544 stocks. Kingston Wharves advanced $5.45 to $35.70 with a transfer of 319 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained $1.10 while ending at $13.10 with 5,497 stock units changing hands, Palace Amusement dropped a hefty $647 to end at $2,603 following investors exchanging 2,483 shares and pushing the stock to an intraday record high of $3,300. PanJam Investment rose $2.20 to $57.20 after trading 2,238,835 units, Proven Investments popped 80 cents to close at $31.80 with the swapping of 38,842 stock units, Scotia Group rallied $1 in closing at $34.90 in trading 3,504 shares. 
Seprod shed $1.89 to end at $66.01 with an exchange of 6,860 stocks, Stanley Motta advanced 99 cents to $5.24 with investors transferring 1,778,058 stock units and Supreme Ventures popped 85 cents in closing at $27 after 132,915 units crossing the market.
A total of 16,679,571 shares were traded for $253,751,659 compared to 32,907,198 units at $46,037,711 on Wednesday.
Mayberry Investments fell 81 cents to $8 after investors traded 25,212 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed $1 to settle at $12 after exchanging 303,361 stocks, Palace Amusement jumped $350 to end at a record high of $3,250 with 817 shares crossing the market, PanJam Investment dropped $2.20 to $55 after 2,528 stocks cleared the market. Proven Investments dipped 50 cents to $31 with the swapping of 1,705 stock units, Scotia Group fell 97 cents to end at $33.90 in trading 238,458 shares, Supreme Ventures fell $1.85 to $26.15 after a transfer of 66,596 units. Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 50 cents in closing at $13 in switching ownership of 25,136 stocks and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 47 cents ending at $3.53 with a transfer of 112,178 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 shed 40 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.51 with investors transferring 50,000 shares and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $3.99 to $68.99 in an exchange of 253 units.
A total of 32,907,198 shares were traded for $46,037,711 compared to 23,052,827 units at $45,065,813 on Tuesday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15.1 on the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 76 cents to $13.72 after a transfer of 16,369 shares. Mayberry Investments advanced 74 cents to $8.81 in switching ownership of 504 units, NCB Financial rallied 99 cents to $79 in swapping 8,469 stock units, 138 Student Living gained 59 cents to finish at $4.90 trading 236 stocks. Palace Amusement climbed $100 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2,900 in transferring 832 stocks, PanJam Investment popped $2.20 to $57.20, with 250 units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments rose $1.48 in closing at $31.50 trading 1,539 stock units. Sagicor Group gained $1 to end at $52 with an exchange of 667 shares, Scotia Group popped 87 cents to $34.87 after an exchange of 32,403 units, Seprod rallied $1 to $68 with the swapping of 1,234 stock units. 
Supreme Ventures gained 65 cents to close at $28 in trading 20,247 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 44 cents in closing at $12.50 with 1,305 shares crossing the market.
A total of 23,052,827 shares were traded for $45,065,813 up from 9,807,711 units at $34,195,444 on Monday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Jamaica Broilers advanced $1.99 to $30.99 in an exchange of 70,831 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 78 cents to settle at $14.48 after a transfer of 55,036 units. JMMB Group popped 40 cents to end at $34.40 with the swapping of 22,833 stocks, Kingston Wharves rallied 98 cents to end at $35.50 in switching ownership of 520 stock units, Massy Holdings advanced $1.42 to $80 in trading 1,106 shares. Mayberry Investments shed 79 cents to end at $8.07 after 714 stocks cleared the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined $5 in closing at $70 in transferring 580 shares, NCB Financial lost 59 cents to close at $78.01 in an exchange of 60,001 units. 138 Student Living dipped 59 cents to $4.31 as investors traded 312 stock units, Palace Amusement climbed $700 to a 52 weeks’ high of $2,800 with a transfer of 2,676 stocks, with shareholders voting at the annual general meeting held after trading closed to spill the stock 600 to one in late February, Sagicor Group advanced $2.49 to end at $51 in switching ownership of 21,332 shares. 
Seprod lost 50 cents in closing at $67 after 3,356 units passed through the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1.30 to close at $9.05 with the swapping of 9,400 stock units and Wisynco Group dipped 42 cents to close at $16.58 after exchanging 37,141 shares.
A total of 9,807,711 shares were traded for $34,195,444 compared to 9,464,712 units at $128,636,676 on Friday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Guardian Holdings climbed $8 to close at $520 with a transfer of 170 units, JMMB Group lost 40 cents to end at $34 in exchanging 79,318 stock units. Massy Holdings fell $1.42 to close at $78.58 in trading 44,995 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced $1.09 to $12.99 after swapping of 1,305 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $8 to $75 with investors transferring 1,124 stocks. Portland JSX rose $1.10 in ending at $11.50 after three shares passed through the market, Sagicor Group declined $1.99 to close at $48.51 trading 19,963 stock units, Seprod dipped $1.49 to $67.50 as investors exchanged 9,530 units and Sterling Investments shed 47 cents to $2.60 trading 26,099 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7% preference share gained 59 cents in closing at $2.84 transferring 31 shares.
Iron Rock Insurance jumped 19 percent to $2.40, Lasco Manufacturing gained 13 percent to $4.55 and Paramount Trading climbed 11 percent to $2.20, after release of strong second quarter results that showed continued improvement in profit, jumping 212 percent for the half year to $149 million. Caribbean Cream reported improving results but the overall profit was light and the stock fell 20 percent to $3.20, Lasco Financial shed 8 percent to $2.60 and General Accident slipped 7 percent to $4.71. All other movements in the Junior Market TOP10 were 3 percent or less. The Main Market only major mover was Berger Paints with an 11 percent loss to $9.50.
The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 104, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest valued stocks and 27 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
A total of 9,464,712 shares were exchanged for $128,636,676 versus 12,878,672 units at just $32,824,074 on Thursday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
GraceKennedy shed $1.05 to finish at $79 with the swapping of 185,510 units, Jamaica Producers lost 89 cents to end at $20 after an exchange of 152,479 stock units, JMMB Group popped 51 cents to close at $34.40 as investors traded 63,698 shares. Kingston Wharves dipped 48 cents to $34.52 with 1,560 stocks changing hands, Mayberry Investments rose 87 cents to $8.87 with a transfer of 8,489 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities dropped $1.10 to close at $11.90 in trading 35,760 stock units. NCB Financial shed $1.40 after ending at $78.60 in switching ownership of 132,060 shares, 138 Student Living rallied 65 cents to close at $4.97 after 190 stocks cleared the market, Palace Amusement traded 252 shares with a gain of 2 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2,100, PanJam Investment declined $3.09 in closing at $55.01 with the swapping of 16,506 units. Seprod advanced $1.54 to $68.99 after an exchange of 11,020 stock units, 
Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 42 cents to end at $12.58 with 41,177 shares changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose $1.35 to close at $10.35 in switching ownership of 4,253 stock units.
A total of 12,878,672 shares were traded for $32,824,074 compared with 3,798,109 units at $31,876,506 on Wednesday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Guardian Holdings dropped $8 to close at $512 after a transfer of 289 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange declined $1.38 after ending at $13.52 after 650 stocks changed hands, Kingston Properties gained 49 cents to close at $7.29 after a transfer of 1,774 stock units. Kingston Wharves lost 40 cents in closing at $35 in trading 284 stocks, NCB Financial popped $1.50 to $80 in swapping 25,551 shares, Palace Amusement jumped $249.98 to a 52 weeks’ high of $2,099.98 in exchanging 797 units. PanJam Investment dipped 90 cents in closing at $58.10 with 1,356 units changing hands, Proven Investments declined $2.38 to $30 with investors transferring 8,825 stocks, Sagicor Group lost 50 cents to end at $50.50 after trading 2,769 stock units. Scotia Group gained 75 cents to close at $34 after an exchange of 106,838 shares, Stanley Motta shed 60 cents to finish at $4.20 as investors transferred 14,070 units, Supreme Ventures lost 47 cents in ending at $27.50 with an exchange of 724 shares. 
Sygnus Credit Investments declined 97 cents in closing at $13 trading 21,385 stock units and Wisynco Group shed 69 cents to end at $17 in clearing the market with 95,594 stocks.
A total of 3,798,109 shares were traded for $31,876,506,down from 7,367,753 units at $142,989,772 on Tuesday.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Kingston Properties dipped 51 cents to $6.80 with 21,200 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves shed 48 cents to end at $35.40 in swapping 159 stock units, Mayberry Investments lost 58 cents after finishing at $8.27 in an exchange of 9,044 units. NCB Financial declined $1.48 to $78.50, trading 30,418 stock units, 138 Student Living dropped 67 cents to $4.30 with a transfer of 15,687 shares, Palace Amusement popped $50 to close at $1,850 after 232 stocks cleared the market. PanJam Investment dipped $1, ending at $59 as investors switched ownership of 15,557 stock units, Proven Investments advanced $2.38 to close at $32.38 with 3,616 units changing hands, Sagicor Group rose $1 in closing at $51, trading 61,922 shares. Scotia Group declined $1.64 to $33.25 after exchanging 815 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments rallied $1.17 after ending at $13.97 in transferring 47,726 stock units.