Market activity ended on Wednesday, with the volume of shares trading declining after trading with the value 20 percent lower than on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as falling stocks exceeded those rising leading to a fall in the market indices, with, the All Jamaican Composite Index falling 1,779.45 points to 432,406.50 and the JSE Main Index losing 1,158.80 points to end at 385,372.01.
The JSE Financial Index shed 1.32 points to settle at 92.98. Trading ended with 55 securities compared to 49 on Tuesday, with 20 rising, 23 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.8. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 11,622,326 shares were traded for $156,171,406, down from 12,554,479 units at $195,108,057 on Tuesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.91 million shares for 16.4 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm 1.63 million units with 14 percent of the day’s trade, Carreras chipped in with 1.47 million units for 12.7 percent market share, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.09 million units for 9.4 percent of traded stocks and JMMB Group with 1.07 million units for 9.2 percent market share.
Trading averages 211,315 units at $2,839,480, compared to 256,214 shares at $3,981,797 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 426,733 units at $6,993,598, down from 448,354 units at $7,410,526 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
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, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.09 to close at $69.99 after exchanging 5,540 shares, Eppley lost $1.60 to end at $39.90 and closed with 1,323 stock units changing hands, First Rock Capital shed 71 cents to $11.29 after exchanging 13,186 units. GraceKennedy gained $1.50 after ending at $102.50 in an exchange of 359,575 stocks, Guardian Holdings dipped $27 in closing at $523, with 5,539 stocks changing hands, Jamaica Broilers fell $1.10 to $27.90 trading 259,855 units. JMMB Group declined 71 cents in closing at $40, with 1,067,881 stock units crossing the exchange, Massy Holdings rose 80 cents to $107.80 with 146,202 shares clearing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied $5 to end at $105 after 100 units crossed through the market. NCB Financial dropped $4 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $115 while exchanging 23,010 shares after hitting an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $108.11, Proven Investments increased $1 in ending at $36 with the swapping of 10,203 stock units,
Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost $2.07 to $6.23 in trading 48,208 stocks. Scotia Group fell 88 cents to end at $35.07 in exchanging 2,880 shares and Seprod declined $2.50 in closing at $55 in switching ownership of 30,530 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
More decline for JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with the volume of shares trading sliding 59 percent as 37 percent less funds entered the market compared to Monday and resulted in rising stocks pressured from those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 4,236.02 points to 434,185.95, JSE Main Index dropped 3,408.49 points to close at 386,530.80 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 1.03 points to 94.30.
A total of 49 securities traded down from 59 on Monday, with 14 rising, 18 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, the most used formula to compute appropriate stock values, averages 16.1. The PE for JSE Main and USD Market incorporates earnings forecast done by ICInsider.com for companies with financial years ending to August 2022.
A total of 12,554,479 shares traded for $195,108,057 versus 30,346,423 units at $309,070,966 on Monday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.15 million shares for 25.1 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.24 million units for 17.9 percent of the day’s trade and QWI Investments with 1.19 million units for 9.5 percent market share.
Trading averages 256,214 units at $3,981,797, compared to 514,346 shares at $5,238,491 on Monday and month to date, an average of 448,354 units at $7,410,526, down from 467,221 units at $7,747,214 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement shed $1.10 to close at $68.90 trading 7,575 shares, Eppley rose $1.20 to $41.50 after 1,358 stock units crossed the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained $1.01 in ending at $18.01, with 215,905, with stocks changing hands. Key Insurance popped 42 cents to $4.70, with 8,532 units clearing the market, Kingston Properties dropped $1 to $8.50 in switching ownership of 11,259 shares, Kingston Wharves popped $1.50 to $41 after exchanging 200 stocks. Massy Holdings jumped $8 in closing at $107, finishing at 108,561 stock units, Mayberry Investments lost 75 cents to close at $6.50 after exchanging 537 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $19 to end at $100 with an exchange of 92 shares. 
NCB Financial rallied $2.25 to $119 while exchanging 34,372 stock units, PanJam Investment declined 50 cents to end at $68 in exchanging 45,596 units, Proven Investments fell $1.10 in closing at $35 after 14,131 stocks changed hands. Sagicor Group lost $3 after ending at $58 in an exchange of 605,621 stocks, Seprod climbed $2.10 to close at $57.50, with 7,462 units crossing the market, Victoria Mutual Investments fell 30 cents to $6.45, with 10,788 shares crossing the exchange and Wisynco Group shed 42 cents to close at $19.10 with the swapping of 93,865 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Massy takes out JSE Main Index
Massy lost ground in market activity on Monday with the price diving $23.47 and taking a big bite out of JSE Main Index as the volume of shares trading surged 100 percent and with the value falling 30 percent compared to Friday as rising stocks were outgunned by those declining at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,713.39 points to settle at 438,421.97, JSE Main Index plunged 10,931.95 points to end at 389,939.30 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.02 points to close at 95.33.
Trading ended with 59 securities similar to Friday, with 19 rising, 28 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, the most used formula to compute appropriate stock values, averages 16.2 and those for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years, ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 30,346,423 shares were exchanged for $309,070,966 versus 15,195,980 units at $440,781,941 on Friday. JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 led trading with 25.1 percent of total volume for 7.62 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm, 24.4 percent for 7.39 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund contributed 11.3 percent with 3.43 million units, QWI Investments held 11 percent after an exchange of 3.33 million units, Wisynco Group followed with 5.1 percent after transferring 1.55 million units and Transjamaican Highway controlled 4.4 percent with an exchange of 1.34 million units.
Trading for the day averages 514,346 units at $5,238,491, compared to 257,559 shares at $7,470,880 on Friday and month to date, an average of 467,221 units at $7,747,214, compared to 460,902 units at $8,083,611 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Berger Paints gained 45 cents to finish at $12.45 in trading just 466 shares, Caribbean Cement fell $1 in closing at $70 with an exchange of 11,120 units, Caribbean Producers rose 35 cents to $14.60 after transferring 135,746 stocks. Eppley fell $1.15 to $40.30 with the swapping of 2,646 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $2 to $38, with 250 units clearing the market, First Rock Capital lost 55 cents after ending at $11.99 in an exchange of 4,103 shares. GraceKennedy shed $2.01 to end at $101 with the swapping of 972,053 stock units, Guardian Holdings declined $5 to $550 with 6,364 stocks changing hands, Kingston Properties advanced $1 in closing at $9.50 in switching ownership of 5,882 shares. Kingston Wharves lost 50 cents to close at $39.50 with 10,629 stocks crossing the market, Massy Holdings dropped $23.47 in closing at $99 in exchanging 531,384 stock units, NCB Financial shed $1.51 to end at $116.75 with a transfer of 48,764 units. PanJam Investment popped 94 cents to close at $68.50 in exchanging 35,324 shares, Proven Investments rallied 35 cents to end at $36.10 in trading 48,364 stocks, Sagicor Group advanced $2.58 to $61 with the swapping of 953,349 stock units. 
Scotia Group rose $1.28 after ending at $35.94 in switching ownership of 22,894 shares, Seprod rallied 38 cents to $55.40 with 9,861 units crossing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost 82 cents in closing at $16.68 with 1,538 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share shed 64 cents to close at $19.96 with an exchange of 2,500 stocks and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share advanced $7 to end at $107 after 200 shares crossed the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Cargo Handlers exits ICTOP10 with 33% gain
Cargo Handlers returned to ICTOP10 listing last week and was another winner with gains of 33 percent, sufficient to move it out of the top flight Junior Market stocks. The stock joins a long list of high performance ICTOP10 stocks, including the 32 percent gain in Tropical Battery stock in the previous week.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers come back in the Junior Market list, while Sterling Investments makes it back to the Main Market listing at the expense of TransJamacian Highway after just one week, but investors should keep an eye for this one.
In a week when the Junior Market dropped 297 points in three days that pushed the index down to 3,871 points, it bounced on the last two days to close over 4,031, still 137 points from the record of 4,168.16, at the end of the previous week. Meanwhile, the Main Market continues to consolidate around support at 440,000 points measured by the All Jamaica Composite Index.
Recent IPOs JFP limited and EducFocal are set to list on Monday and Tuesday coming following the oversubscribed initial public offers.
During the past week, the Junior Market TOP10 listed Access Financial, Lasco Financial and Iron Rock Insurance gained 6 percent each while Medical Disposables fell 9 percent and Tropical Battery slipped 5 percent. In the Main Market, the primary movers are Guardian Holdings with a 4 percent gain, while JMMB Group fell 7 percent and Proven Investments declined by 5 percent.
The potential gains for the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks remained for a second week at 105 percent, much lower than the Main Market at 127 percent, an indication that the Main Market is undervalued. The top three stocks in the Junior Market are Medical Disposables followed by Elite Diagnostic and Lasco Distributors to gain between 122 and 133 percent, compared to 121 and 126 percent, previously.
The potential gains for Main Market stocks moved from 124 percent last week to this weeks’ 127 percent, with the top three being JMMB Group followed by Guardian Holdings and Sygnus Credit Investments all projected to gain between 168 and 193 percent versus 161 and 193 percent last week.
The average PE for Junior Market has surpassed the average of 17 times 2020 earnings achieved at the end of March last year in moving to 19 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings and is ahead of the JSE Main and USD Markets at 15.7 well off from 19 in 2021. The TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of a mere 9, with a 48 percent discount to that market’s average.
All the stocks in the Junior Market can gain just 5 percent to the end of March this year, based on an average PE of 20. About a third of Junior Market stocks with positive earnings are trading at or above this level, averaging around 23.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market is 21 percent less than the PE of 19 at the end of March and 24 percent below the target of 20 to the end of March this year. The Main Market TOP 10 average PE is 9 representing a 43 percent discount to the market, well below the potential of 20. Around 15 stocks or a thirty percent of the market trade at or above a PE of 19, with most over 20, for an average roundabout 25, suggesting that the accepted multiple is between 20 and 25 times current year’s earnings. The depressed PE of the main market may be indicating that bigger investors are reluctant to be aggressive in buying into the market currently with inflation, rising interest rates and war populating the headlines.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market.
ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios 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 per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Increased trading on Main Market
Market activity ended on Friday with the volume of shares trading rising moderately above Thursday level with 239 percent higher value at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as declining were more than rising ones.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,112.90 points to 440,135.36, the JSE Main Index rose 876.40 points to 400,871.25 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.19 points to end at 95.35.
A total of 59 securities traded, up from 56 on Thursday ending with 20 rising, 26 declining and 13 unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15.90. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 15,195,980 shares were exchanged for $440,781,941 versus 14,510,096 units at $130,102,912 on Thursday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 29.5 percent of total volume for an exchange of 4.48 million shares followed by JMMB Group with 18.4 percent for 2.80 million units, GraceKennedy controlled 15.5 percent with 2.35 million units, QWI Investments held 11.6 percent after trading 1.77 million units and Transjamaican Highway had 6.9 percent with 1.04 million units changing hands.
Trading averaged 257,559 units at $7,470,880, compared to 259,109 shares at $2,323,266 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 460,902 units at $8,083,611, compared to 492,391 units at $8,178,496 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints fell $1 to $12 with 1,386 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Cement lost 50 cents to close at $71 in an exchange of 3,798 stocks, Caribbean Producers declined $1.69 after ending at $14.25 with 395,160 stock units clearing the market. Eppley rose $1.35 in closing at $41.45 with a transfer of 81 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $1.94 to $40 in exchanging 103,690 shares, First Rock Capital rallied $1.24 in closing at $12.54 in switching ownership of 3,891 stocks.GraceKennedy shed 97 cents to end at $103.01 with the swapping of 2,352,331 shares, Guardian Holdings advanced $5 to $555 in trading 24,116 stock units, Jamaica Broilers lost 50 cents to settle at $29 with a transfer of 41,988 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 30 cents to end at $17 while 31,808 stock stocks changed hands, JMMB Group fell $1 to $41 trading 2,798,284 stock units, Kingston Properties shed $1 to end at $8.50 in exchanging 8,741 shares. Kingston Wharves fell $1 to $40 after 126,144 units crossed the exchange, Massy Holdings declined $5.53 to close at $122.47 after transferring 158,384 stocks, Mayberry Investments gained 95 cents in closing at $7.45 with the swapping of 2,000 stock units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $19 to end at $119 after trading 253 units, NCB Financial shed 55 cents to close at $118.26 in exchanging 34,417 shares, Palace Amusement dropped $80 to $950 in switching ownership of 43 stock units. 
PanJam Investment shed 99 cents to end at $67.56 with 20,375 stocks crossing the exchange, Portland JSX fell $1.36 to $7.50 after the swapping of 5,000 shares, Proven Investments popped 75 cents in closing at $35.75 with a transfer of 21,504 stocks. Sagicor Group fell $1.58 to end at $58.42 with 8,163 stock units changing hands, Seprod declined $2.93 to $55.02 with the swapping of 7,031 units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose 82 cents to $17.50 in an exchange of 500 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share declined $5 to close at $100 after exchanging 2,000 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Massy pushes Main Market Index 11,265 points
Massy Holdings jumped 28 percent after the stock was split into 20 units on Thursday, sending the Main Market Index flying more than 11,000 points as trading ended with the volume of shares exchanged declining 15 percent and the value falling 71 percent below Wednesday’s levels at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising and declining stocks were equal in numbers.
The All Jamaican Composite Index gained 1,744.16 points to 442,248.26, the JSE Main Index surged 11,265.05 to 399,994.85 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.09 points to settle at 95.54.
Trading ended with 56 securities versus 55 on Wednesday with 24 rising, 24 declining and eight ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 14,510,096 shares were exchanged for $130,102,912 versus 16,997,775 units at $448,161,608 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 24.2 percent of total volume for an exchange of 3.51 million shares, followed by QWI Investments, 15.5 percent with 2.24 million units, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund accounted for 14.6 percent with 2.12 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund traded 2.08 million units for 14.4 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway, 8.1 percent in transferring 1.18 million units.
Trading averages 259,109 units at $2,323,266, compared to 309,050 shares at $8,148,393 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 492,391 units at $8,178,496, compared to 532,587 units at $9,187,397 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rallied $1.15 in closing at $13 with an exchange of just 39 shares, Caribbean Cement popped 48 cents to close at $71.50 in trading 44,518 units, Eppley fell $2.80 to end at $40.10 in switching ownership of 209 stocks. First Rock Capital shed $1.60 to end at $11.30 with 18,000 stock units changing hands, GraceKennedy rose 97 cents to $103.98 after 296,200 shares crossed the market, Guardian Holdings fell $2 to end at $550 in transferring 20,116 stocks. JMMB Group rose $1 to $42 in switching ownership of 341,458 units, Kingston Properties advanced $1.30 in closing at $9.50 after exchanging 1,008 shares, Kingston Wharves fell $1 to $41 in trading 23,484 units. Margaritaville added $3 to close at $21.90 with 405 stocks crossing the market, Massy Holdings rose $28 to a 52 weeks’ high of $128, with the swapping of 34,490 shares, after a 20 to one stock split took effect on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday. Mayberry Investments lost 50 cents to finish at $6.50 with an exchange of 11,427 stock units. NCB Financial fell $1.19 to end at $118.81 in swapping 21,870 stocks, Palace Amusement climbed $51 to $1,030 in exchanging 8 shares, PanJam Investment lost 95 cents in ending at $68.55 with 9,553 stock units changing hands.
Proven Investments shed $1 in closing at $35 in transferring 31,588 units, Sagicor Group advanced $1.60 to end at $60 with 559,196 shares clearing the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed 87 cents in ending at $16.68 in switching ownership of 16 units and Victoria Mutual Investments rose 80 cents to close at $6.90 in an exchange of 24,577 stocks.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share declined $3 to $105 after trading a mere one stock unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market slips on Wednesday
Market activity ended on Wednesday with the volume of shares trading remaining fairly stable but with an 80 percent higher value than on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as the number of rising and declining stocks were almost equal.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,032.87 points to 440,504.10, the JSE Main Index fell 817.05 points to 388,729.80 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.24 points to end at 95.45.
Trading ended with 55 securities similar to Tuesday, with 20 rising, 21 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 16,997,775 shares were exchanged for $448,161,608 versus 17,322,599 units at $249,225,504 on Tuesday. Wisynco Group led trading with 23.8 percent of total volume in exchanging 4.05 million shares followed by QWI Investments with 21.8 percent after trading 3.7 million units, Wigton Windfarm, 15.7 percent after trading 2.66 million units and Transjamaican Highway, 11.7 percent with a transfer of 1.99 million units.
Trading on Wednesday averaged 309,050 units at $8,148,393 compared to 314,956 shares at $4,531,373 on Tuesday and month to date an average of 532,587 units at $9,187,397, compared to 578,123 units at $9,399,046 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints shed $1.13 to close at $11.85 in switching ownership of 4,213 shares, Caribbean Cement declined $2.97 to $71.02 with 3,984 stock units changing hands, Caribbean Producers advanced $2.88 to $15.93 in trading 328,419 units. Eppley popped $2.87 to $42.90 with 731 stocks clearing the market, Guardian Holdings advanced $2 to $552 in exchanging 13,656 shares, Jamaica Producers rose $1.55 in closing at $21.65 with the swapping of 2,771 stocks. JMMB Group fell $1.15 to end at $41 in trading 125,824 units, Key Insurance lost 60 cents after ending at $4.30 with 5,430 stock units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves rallied $1.46 to $42 with 1,033 shares changing hands. Margaritaville declined $3 to close at $18.90 in switching ownership of 2,388 units, Massy Holdings climbed $50 to close at $2,000 after exchanging 150,570 stock units, with the price adjusting for the 20 to one split effective at the commencement of trading on Thursday. Mayberry Investments gained 50 cents to finish at $7 with a transfer of 1,535 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 30 cents to end at $7.50 in trading 5,693 shares, PanJam Investment advanced $2.50 in closing at $69.50 with 1,448 stocks crossing the market, Portland JSX rose 81 cents to $8.86 with the swapping of 102 units. 
Proven Investments rallied $1 to $36, with 6,195 stock units changing hands, Sagicor Group fell $1.60 to end at $58.40 with an exchange of 237,461 stock units, Scotia Group lost 50 cents at $34.50 after swapping 134,753 stocks. Supreme Ventures lost 50 cents in closing at $18 after switching ownership of 19,897 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose 87 cents to close at $17.55 with a transfer of 450 units and Victoria Mutual Investments shed 50 cents to settle at $6.10 in an exchange of 279,035 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference shares gained 50 cents ending at $7.50 in trading 717 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market rallies
Market activity ended on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with the volume of shares declining 34 percent and the value 52 percent lower than on Monday and leading to rising stocks exceeding those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 814.75 points to settle at 441,536.97, the Main Index climbed 1,556.37 points to 389,546.85 and the JSE Financial Index popped 1.02 points to close at 95.69.
A total of 55 securities were traded compared to 54 on Monday, with 23 rising, 21 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years, ending up to August 2022.
A total of 17,322,599 shares were traded for $249,225,504, down from 26,282,472 units at $523,039,414 on Monday.
QWI Investments led trading with 29.7 percent of total volume after transferring 5.14 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm, 20.2 percent with 3.5 million units, Transjamaican Highway accounted for 16.6 percent with 2.88 million units and Jamaica Producers exchanged 1.09 million units for 6.3 percent market share. 
Trading averages 314,956 units at $4,531,373, down from 486,712 shares at $9,685,915 on Monday and month to date, an average of 578,123 units at $9,399,046, compared to 645,444 units at $10,644,265 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Caribbean Cement gained 99 cents to end at $73.99 with 4,438 shares crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers lost 48 cents to end at $29.50 after exchanging 14,665 stocks, Jamaica Producers declined $1.88 to $20.10 with a transfer of 1,085,151 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange shed 94 cents in closing at $17 in trading 13,724 stock units, Kingston Wharves fell $1.46 to close at $40.54 after 21,375 units crossed the market, Margaritaville declined $3.10 to close at $21.90 in switching ownership of 9,195 shares. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 50 cents to end at $7.20 in an exchange of 9,409 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced $1.80 to $100 in transferring 10 stocks, NCB Financial rallied $2 in closing at $120 with the swapping of 22,132 units. 
Palace Amusement popped $94 to $979 in switching ownership of 5 stock units, PanJam Investment dropped $4 at $67 with 10,887 shares clearing the market, Proven Investments declined $3 to $35 in trading 20,334 stocks. Scotia Group gained 38 cents to close at $35 with the swapping of 33,086 shares, Seprod rose 45 cents in closing at $57.95, finishing with 9,386 units changing hands, Stanley Motta rose 52 cents to end at $5.92 with a transfer of 14 stock units. Supreme Ventures gained 50 cents to close at $18.50 with the swapping of 270,486 stocks, Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell 88 cents to end at $16.68 with an exchange of 106 stock units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference shares popped 50 cents in closing at $7 after trading 7 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market closes mixed
Market activity on Monday resulted in the volume and value of shares trading rising 26 percent respectively over Friday’s trades on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks were edged out by those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,130.32 points to close at 440,722.22, the JSE Main Index rallied 607.57 points to end at 387,990.48 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.15 points to close at 94.67.
A total of 54 securities traded up from 52 on Friday, with 21 rising, 24 declining and nine ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
A total of 26,282,472 shares traded at $523,039,414 versus 20,846,690 units at $711,105,869 on Friday. Stanley Motta led trading with 38.1 percent of total volume for 10 million shares followed by QWI Investments, 11 percent, with 2.9 million units, Sagicor Group controlled 10.4 percent after an exchange of 2.72 million units, Transjamaican Highway cornered 9.7 percent of trades with 2.56 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund held 6.8 percent market share with 1.78 million units and Wigton Windfarm ended at 5.1 percent with 1.34 million units changing hands.
Trading averages 486,712 units at $9,685,915, up from 400,898 shares at $13,675,113 on Friday and month to date, an average of 645,444 units at $10,644,265, compared to 698,683 units at $10,965,700 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments lost 40 cents to end at $90.10 with 8,361 shares crossing the exchange, Caribbean Producers fell $1.61 to $13.01 in trading 580,325 stock units, Eppley gained 88 cents in ending at $40 in switching ownership of 3,664 stocks. First Rock Capital advanced $1 in closing at $13 in an exchange of 122,188 units, Guardian Holdings climbed $14.99 to end at $550 with a transfer of 13,866 shares, Jamaica Broilers popped 48 cents to $29.98 after trading 17,579 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 99 cents to end at $17.94 with the swapping of 53,980 units, JMMB Group declined $2 to close at $42 after exchanging 344,818 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rallied 64 cents in ending at $7.70 with 7,235 shares changing hands. NCB Financial fell $6.94 to $118 in switching ownership of 48,647 stock units, Palace Amusement dropped $145 after ending at $885 with a transfer of 19 stocks, PanJam Investment advanced $4.80 to close at $71 with 15,540 units changing hands. Proven Investments rose $3 in closing at $38 with 26,931 stocks clearing the market, Sagicor Group advanced $5.75 to end at $60 in exchanging 2,722,902 stock units, Scotia Group gained 62 cents to finish at $34.62 in trading 346,585 shares. 
Seprod rose $1.50 to $57.50 after 18,329 units crossed the market, Stanley Motta shed 53 cents in closing at $5.40 with the swapping of 10,002,152 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 37 cents to end at $15.10 in trading 79,715 units and Wisynco Group rallied 83 cents to close at $19.84 in switching ownership of 251,780 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share popped 49 cents in ending at $6 with 1,000 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Tropical drops ICTOP10 with 32% rise
Last week Tropical Battery surged right to the top of the ICTOP10 Junior Market listing with the company seems poised to earn $280 million for the current year, with earnings per share of 22 cents. Investors who pounced on the stock immediately after the release of the first quarter results before the price pulled, drive the price up in the holiday shortened week to close with a 32 percent gain at $2.30.
In a week when the Junior Market came back to life to close at a new record high on Friday, following a new record on Thursday, the market index closed on Friday over the 4,100 mark for the first time and ended at 4,168.16, with a 21.6 percent gain for the year to date. At the same time, the Main Market continues to consolidate around the 440,000 points level, on the All Jamaica Composite Index.
The EduFocal initial public offer to raise $130 million at $1 per share, opened and closed on Thursday morning, ICInsider.com was informed that preliminary data suggests that the offer attracted around twice the amount on offer, resulting in the early closure. Elsewhere, the Jamaica Stock Exchange is enjoying robust business in 2022 over 2021, which should deliver a big bump in revenues and profit for 2022 should the trend holds, accordingly, ICInsider.com now puts 2022 earnings for the first quarter above the 2021 full year’s earnings of 71 cents, with a possible $3 per share for the full year. Watch this one.
In TOP10 developments this week, returning to the Junior Market are Cargo Handlers with the price holding at $8.99 and Medical Disposables after the price slipped from $7.27 to $6.60 this week. Dropping out of the TOP10 this week are Caribbean Assurance Brokers with the price falling 23 percent to $2.50 as investors dumped the shares after the company reported a 47 percent increase in profit to 21 cents per share, but vastly down on the 33 cents per share reported in the nine months to September. The Main Market had three changes, with Caribbean Producers and Carreras returning to the Top10 to be joined for the first time by Transjamaican Highway and out goes Berger Paints, Jamaica Broilers and Sagicor Group.
During the week, the Junior Market TOP10 listed AMG Packaging fell 8 percent to $3.14 and in the Main Market, Proven Investments rose 9 percent followed by Berger Paints 6 percent and a 4 percent fall for Jamaica Broilers, but Guardian Holdings and Sagicor Group fell 5 percent
The Junior Market potential gains for the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks moved from 113 percent to 105 percent much lower than the Main Market at 124 percent. The top three stocks in the Junior Market are Elite Diagnostic followed by AMG Packaging and Lasco Distributors to gain between 121 and 126 percent, compared to 120 and 153 percent, previously.
The potential gains for Main Market stocks moved from 125 percent last week to this weeks’ 124 percent, with the top three being Guardian Holdings followed by JMMB Group and Sygnus Credit Investments all projected to gain between 161 and 193 percent versus 161 and 180 percent last week.
The average PE for Junior Market has surpassed the average of 17 times 2020 earnings achieved at the end of March last year in moving to 19.2 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings and is ahead of the JSE Main Market at 16.1. The TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of a mere 9.8, with a 49 percent discount to that market’s average.
All the stocks in the Junior Market can gain just 4 percent to the end of March this year, based on an average PE of 20. About a third of Junior Market stocks with positive earnings
are trading at or above this level, averaging around 23.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market is 16.1 just 18 percent less than the PE of 19 at the end of March and 24 percent below the target of 20 to the end of March this year. The Main Market TOP 10 average PE is 9.2 representing a 43 percent discount to the market, well below the potential of 20. Around 15 stocks or a thirty percent of the market trade at or above a PE of 19, with most over 20, for an average roundabout 25, suggesting that the accepted multiple is between 20 and 25 times the current year’s earnings. The depressed PE of the main market may be indicating that bigger investors are reluctant to be aggressive in buying into the market currently with inflation, rising interest rates and war populating the headlines.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. 
ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios 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 per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.