Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with a 36 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded and a 36 percent greater value than Monday, with trading ending with an exchange of 39 securities compared with 43 on Monday and ending with prices of 12 stocks rising, 14 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
The market closed with trading in 11,812,842 shares for a value of $21,832,768 compared with 8,711,353 units at $16,041,925 on Monday.
Trading averaged 302,893 shares at $559,915, compared with 202,590 units at $373,068 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 159,877 units at $316,767 compared to 146,753 stock units at $294,464 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Fosrich led trading with 2.86 million shares for 24.2 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 2.06 million units for 17.5 percent of the day’s trade, One Great Studio closed with 1.24 million units for 10.5 percent market share, iCreate ended with 1.14 million units for 9.6 of trading, 
Tropical Battery had an exchange of 1.12 million units for 9.5 percent market share and EduFocal with 1.02 million units for 8.6 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 11.23 points to finish at 3,723.72.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $2.17 to close at $22.68, with 2,379 shares crossing the market, AMG Packaging skidded 63 cents to $2.42 with investors dealing in 131,215 stocks, Blue Power rallied 30 cents and ended at $3 and closed with an exchange of 4,114 shares. Cargo Handlers sank 92 cents to end at $13.08 while exchanging 304 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 23 cents in closing at $2.25 after a transfer of 6,758 shares, but the stock still has an overhang of selling, Consolidated Bakeries rallied 30 cents to $2.18 with traders dealing in 1,000 units. 
EduFocal dipped 11 cents to close at $1.44 in switching ownership of 1,018,324 stocks, Fosrich rose 8 cents to end at $2.38 after exchanging 2,862,584 stock units, Future Energy fell 9 cents in closing at $3.71 with 112,460 shares clearing the market. KLE Group declined 15 cents to $1.34 with trading of 30,000 stocks, Knutsford Express gained 38 cents to end at $12.38 after an exchange of one unit, Limners and Bards shed 16 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.30 after a transfer of 26,028 stock units. Main Event advanced 60 cents to close at $14.80 as investors exchanged 25,200 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 13 cents in closing at $1.52, with 211,741 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
All JSE Markets rise
The Jamaica Stock Exchange recorded gains in all three markets on Tuesday in trading on Monday as trading ended with a decline in the number exchanged, with the value traded rising over that on Monday
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 178.57 points to 335,378.11, the All Jamaican Composite Index gained 2,400.43 points to wrap-up trading at 359,385.57, the JSE Main Index rose 1,467.74 points to finish at 322,832.91. The Junior Market Index rallied 11.23 points to finish at 3,723.72 and the JSE USD Market Index increased 5.74 points to end at 243.50.
At the close of trading, 19,941,630 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 25,106,007 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $83.9 million, up from $52.25 million on Tuesday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 508,298 shares for US$11,596 compared to 501,713 units at US$12,814 on Monday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Transjamaican Highway with 4.42 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 706,792 units and Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 402,277 units.
In the Junior Market, Fosrich led trading with 2.86 million shares followed by MFS Capital Partners with 2.06 million units, One Great Studio closed with 1.24 million units, iCreate ended with 1.14 million stocks, Tropical Battery with 1.12 million shares and EduFocal with 1.02 million units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are First Rock Real Estate climbed $1 to $8, Scotia Group advanced $2.47 to end at $41.50, Mayberry Group rose 86 cents to close at $8.41 and Stanley Motta popped 88 cents in closing at $6.15.
The major declining Main Market stocks include General Accident dipped 65 cents in closing at $4.70, GraceKennedy fell 95 cents to close at $77.05, Jamaica Broilers dropped $1.02 to close trading at $32.50, Margaritaville lost $2.58 to $15, Massy Holdings declined $1 to end at $88.
On a day of limited price movement in the Junior Market, the major stocks with gains are Access Financial climbed $2.17 to close at $22.68, Knutsford Express gained 38 cents to $12.38 and Main Event advanced 60 cents to close at $14.80, with the major losing stocks being AMG Packaging skidded 63 cents to $2.42 and Cargo Handlers that sank 92 cents to end at $13.08.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rallied $36.45 and ended at $167.27.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.7 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.
Junior Market drops to start week
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 119 percent with 77 percent more value than Friday with trading in 43 securities compared with 41 on Friday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 20 declining and nine closing unchanged but shares of Limners and Bards traded at a 52 weeks’ low.
The market closed with trading of 8,711,353 shares valued at $16,041,925 up from 3,979,718 units at $9,087,458 on Friday.
Trading averaged 202,590 shares at $373,068, compared with 97,066 units at $221,645 on Friday, Trading for the month to date, averaged 146,753 units at $294,464 compared to 140,468 stock units at $285,616 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
One Great Studio led trading with 2.19 million shares for 25.1 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 1.25 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 904,279 units for 10.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 54.46 points to settle at 3,712.49.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging skidded 12 cents to end at $3.05 with an exchange of 4,000 units, after the company posted a 64 percent rise in profit $to 40 million for the first quarter to November, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 23 cents to end at $2.02, with 7,382 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Cream dropped 40 cents and ended at $4.05 as investors exchanged 2,223 shares. Fontana shed 7 cents in closing at $10.63 after 73,121 stock units crossed the market, Future Energy rallied 9 cents to close at $3.80 with investors trading 155,057 shares, Indies Pharma declined 24 cents to $2.71 in an exchange of 64,959 units. Iron Rock Insurance lost 43 cents to close at $2.07 with investors swapping 176 stocks, ISP Finance dropped $3.41 to $21.45 with a transfer of 2,380 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 19 cents and ended at $2.40 while exchanging 182,250 shares. Jetcon Corporation rose 7 cents to end at 85 cents with investors transferring 33 stocks, Knutsford Express dipped 40 cents to $12 in an exchange of 2,223 units, Lasco Distributors fell 20 cents and ended at $3.90 with traders dealing in 56,178 stock units.
Lasco Manufacturing lost 7 cents to close at $4.48 after an exchange of 58,705 shares, Lumber Depot advanced 11 cents to end at $2.50 in trading 360,630 stock units, Main Event sank 60 cents in closing at $14.20, with 20,634 stocks changing hands, before the company released 2023 full year results with earnings of 69 cents per share. MFS Capital Partners shed 9 cents to $2.35 after trading in 456,811 units, Paramount Trading declined 15 cents in closing at $1.45, with 15,826 shares crossing the exchange and Tropical Battery popped 7 cents to $2.10 with investors dealing in 528,007 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Express Catering drops ICTOP10
Access Financial returns to the Junior Market IC TOP10 after a week’s absence, replacing Express Catering at the end of the week that saw Jamaican Teas as the only Junior Market stocks with any sizable move, as the stock rose 12 percent to $2.59. No other Junior Market stock moved by more than two percent for the week.
There is no change to the Main Market list in the week but General Accident surprisingly jumped 23 percent to $5.75 on limited volume while Scotia Group was up 4 percent to $39.38. Palace Amusement fell 12 percent to $1.23, but supply seems low around these prices and Pulse Investment slipped by 6 percent to $1.85.
There are some developments in the market and in some stocks that are worth noting as they could surprise to the upside. Buying for Scotia Group is gradually improving and selling is not and the price could move solidly into the $40 range this coming week. Transjamaican Highway a previous TOP10 stock climbed this week to close at $2.84, up from $2.71 the previous week as the supply of the stock faded and demand has increased. AS Bryden has just two offers at the close of the week but the price seems to be above the average for the market, at a PE of 23, but be careful. Jamaican Teas has undisclosed selling at $2.59 by an institution but there was more buying by insiders than selling during the week. Junior Market TOP10 listed AMG Packaging climbed on Friday as investors quickly snapped up nearly 600,000 shares that were on offer at $2.40 before the stock closed at $3.17 ahead of first quarter results that show a solid 64 percent jump in profit to $39.86 million from $24.34 million in 2022. 
Caribbean Cement has both limited buying and selling currently, suggesting the price may stay around the mid $50 range for some time. Selling in General Accident is down but buyers are not yet close to the prices for limited stocks on offer. Watch Seprod as a visible supply of the stock below the $90 range is very limited. Stanley Motta has only three offers amounting to 10,437 shares between $6.04 and $8
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 13.6 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2, just over half of the market, with an average of 13.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 287 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 191 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 14 of the most highly valued stocks representing 29 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 32 and 22 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market, there are 13 stocks, or 27 percent of the market, with PEs from 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.
64% jump in Q1 profit at AMG
Profit at AMG Packaging climbed for the first quarter to November by a solid 64 percent to $39.86 million from $24.34 million in 2022, with profits for the quarter representing 44 percent of 2023 full year earnings of $89 million.
Much of the profit improvement arose from increased efficiency in the operations, following the introduction of new machinery.
The company, producers of cardboard carton boxes, reported revenues rising by just 7 percent to $272.5 million from $254 million in 2022. Manufacturing costs fell from $181 million to $171 million, with the cost of goods dropping by $14 million to $171 million and resulting in gross profit jumping 38 percent to $102 million from $73 million in 2022.
Pretax profit jumped 85 percent to $54.4 million, from $29.3 million but corporate taxes nearly tripled to $14.5 million from $5 million in 2022.
Junior Market ends steady trading day slightly down
Declining stocks whipped those rising on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but price movements were mostly moderate with a few exceptions, following 41 securities being traded compared with 42 on Thursday, 
with the market closing with prices of 12 rising, 19 declining and 10 closing unchanged after a 45 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded at a 37 percent lower in the value than Thursday.
The market closed with trading of 3,979,718 shares for $9,087,458 down from 7,215,549 units at $14,447,149 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 97,066 shares at $221,645, compared with 171,799 units at $343,980 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 140,468 units at $285,616 compared to 145,686 stock units at $293,307 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 922,326 shares for 23.2 percent of total volume followed by AMG Packaging with 568,839 units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 530,862 units for 13.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 1.62 points to close at 3,766.95.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial sank $2.50 to close at $20.50 in an exchange of 5,053 stocks, AMG Packaging increased 41 cents to close at $3.17, with 568,839 units crossing the market,
Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 24 cents to end at $2.25 with an exchange of a mere 500 shares. Consolidated Bakeries lost 32 cents in closing at $1.88 after 210 stock units passed through the market, Fontana advanced 10 cents and ended at $10.70 after an exchange of 73,847 shares, Indies Pharma rose 17 cents to $2.95 with investors transferring 88 stock units. ISP Finance declined by 14 cents to close at $24.86, with 200 units crossing the exchange, Jetcon Corporation fell 7 cents and ended at 78 cents with investors trading 25 stocks, Limners and Bards skidded 16 cents in closing at $1.50 in switching ownership of 112,900 units. Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 13 cents to end at $1.68 while exchanging a mere 1,553 stocks and Tropical Battery shed 9 cents in closing at $2.03 with a transfer of 4,385 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market rises
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with a 74 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a 56 percent higher value than on Wednesday following trading in 42 securities the same as Wednesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 18 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed on Thursday, with 7,215,549 shares changing hands for $14,447,149 up from 4,153,063 units at $9,236,370 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 171,799 shares for $343,980 compared with 98,882 units at $219,914 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averages 145,686 units at $293,307 up from 142,018 stock units at $286,189 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 2.19 million shares for 30.4 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 1.30 million units for 18 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 851,349 units for 11.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 26.75 points to settle at 3,768.57.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $3 in closing at $23 after an exchange of 2,386 stock units, AMG Packaging popped 40 cents to closed at $2.76 after an exchange of 23 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 24 cents to close at $2.01 with an exchange of 8,602 stocks. Consolidated Bakeries rallied 29 cents and ended at $2.20 after 1,584 units were traded, Dolphin Cove declined 10 cents to end at $18.50 with investors trading 3,891 shares, EduFocal fell 9 cents in closing at $1.50 with an exchange of 184,967 stocks. Indies Pharma lost 22 cents to $2.78 while trading 96 units, Jamaican Teas rose 27 cents to end at $2.59 as investors exchanged 550,059 stock units, Knutsford Express skidded 20 cents and ended at $12.40 in trading 525 shares.
Lasco Distributors climbed 12 cents to close at $4.10, with 183,822 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing increased 10 cents to $4.60 in switching ownership of 110,247 stocks, Lumber Depot sank 10 cents and ended at $2.40 after 51,017 units passed through the market. Main Event dropped 12 cents to close at $14.85 with an exchange of 3,517 shares, MFS Capital Partners advanced 34 cents in closing at $2.49 with traders dealing in 1,298,213 stocks, following an announcement of a directors’ meeting to consider recapitalization of the company, Spur Tree Spices dipped 12 cents to end at $2.35, with 37,003 units crossing the market and Stationery and Office Supplies sank 14 cents in closing at $1.55 with investors dealing in 25,501 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Juniors rise as JSE Main & USD markets drop
The Junior Market was the only market recording gains at the close of trading on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, but the JSE USD market slipped with the Main Market falling as trading ended with the number of shares jumping but with a lower value than on Wednesday as trading ended with 32 ordinary shares rising and 35 declining.
At the close of trading on Thursday, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 991.34 points to 332,385.19, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,252.29 points to 356,120.35, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,306.80 points to 319,222.85. The Junior Market Index added 26.75 points to settle at 3,768.57 and the JSE USD Market Index shed 2.75 points to close at 238.07.
At the close of trading, 24,096,418 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 16,686,862 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $52.34 million, up from $145.58 million on Tuesday and the JSE USD market closed after 81,185 shares for US$2,499 compared to 22,109 units at US$25,157 on Wednesday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 12.69 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.12 million units and Radio Jamaica with 849,926 units.
In the Junior Market, Derrimon Trading led trading with 2.19 million shares followed by MFS Capital Partners with 1.30 million units and One Great Studio with 851,349 stocks.
At the close of the market, some of the major rising Main Market stocks are Margaritaville rose $2.58 to $17.58 and Seprod climbed $1 and ended at $84.
the major declining Main Market stocks include AS Bryden fell $3.50 and ended at $36.50, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund sank $2.50 to close at $37.50, Guardian Holdings declined $30 to $360, JMMB Group dipped $1.15 to close at $23.80, Massy Holdings skidded $1.45 to close at $89 and Sagicor Group lost $2.93 in closing at $42.
In the Junior Market, the major rising stocks include Access Financial gaining $3 in closing at $23 and AMG Packaging gaining 40 cents to close at $2.76. Stocks declining in the Junior Market had moderate price changes.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share declined $25 and ended at $1,075.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.8 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.
Junior Market slipped few points on Wednesday
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with a 54 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with a 41 percent lower value than in trading on Tuesday following trading in 42 securities compared with 43 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 18 stocks rising, 13 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed on wednesday with an exchange of 4,153,063 stock units at $9,236,370 from 9,032,533 shares at $15,706,426 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 98,882 shares at $219,914 compared with 210,059 units at $365,266 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 142,018 units at $286,189 compared with 149,068 stock units at $297,020 on the previous day and to December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Dolla Financial led trading with 1.31 million shares for 31.5 percent of total volume followed by One Great Studio with 558,940 units for 13.5 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 323,373 units for 7.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 5.71 points to end at 3,741.82.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging fell 64 cents to $2.36 after an exchange of 40,200 stock units, Blue Power dipped 29 cents in closing at $2.70 with investors dealing in 28 shares, Cargo Handlers rallied 25 cents to close at $14, with 391 stock units crossing the exchange. Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 22 cents to close at $2.25 with investors transferring 5,096 units, Caribbean Flavours sank 7 cents to end at $1.80 with 2,037 stocks crossing the market, EduFocal climbed 11 cents in closing at $1.59 with traders dealing in 79,400 units. 
Fosrich popped 7 cents to $2.25 and closed with an exchange of 12,450 shares, ISP Finance increased 13 cents and ended at $25 after 3,877 stocks changed hands, Jamaican Teas dropped 17 cents to close $2.32, with 298,178 shares changing hands. Lasco Financial gained 18 cents to end at $2.10 after investors ended trading 78,250 units, Limners and Bards advanced 11 cents to $1.66 after an exchange of 42,289 stocks, Main Event rose 67 cents to close at $14.97, with 7,944 stock units clearing the market. Spur Tree Spices advanced 12 cents and ended at $2.47 in an exchange of 11,408 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 8 cents in closing at $1.69 after 241,682 stocks passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Decline for JSE Main Market, Junior & USD markets steady
The Junior Market and the JSE USD market were relatively stable in trading on Wednesday, with the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange declining meaningfully as trading ended with the number and the value of shares trading rising sharply over that on Tuesday as trading ended with 37 ordinary shares rising and 34 declining.
At the close of trading on Wednesday, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied 503.65 points to end trading at 336,013.76, while the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 3,548.11 points to 357,372.64, the JSE Main Index declined 2,758.68 points to lock up trading at 320,529.65. The Junior Market Index slipped 5.71 points to 3,741.82 points and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.02 points to end trading at 240.82.
At the close of trading, 16,686,862 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 14,586,125 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $145.58 million, up from $38.46 million on Tuesday and the JSE USD market closed after only 22,109 shares were exchanged for US$25,157 compared to 135,574 units at US$3,223 on Tuesday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.67 million shares followed by Jamaica Broilers with 3.22 million units, JMMB Group 7.5% ended with 2.35 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.03 million units.
In the Junior Market, Dolla Financial led trading with 1.31 million shares, followed by One Great Studio with 558,940 units and iCreate with 323,373.
At the close of the market, Main Market stocks rising are AS Bryden that rallied $1 and ended at $40, Caribbean Cement climbing $2.24 to $57, NCB Financial gaining $1.30 in closing at $67.50.
Declining Main Market stocks include Guardian Holdings down $5 to $390, Jamaica Stock Exchange dipping 96 cents to $10.06, Mayberry Group declining 95 cents to $7.50, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shedding 89 cents to close at $9.01, Proven Investments dropping $1.30 and ended at $22.18 as Sagicor Group skidded $1.07 to end at $44.93 and Seprod sank $1.99 and ended at $83.
In the Junior Market, rising stocks include Main Event which rose 67 cents to close at $14.97 and the stock with the largest loss in the Junior Market was AMG Packaging fell 64 cents to $2.36.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $8.17 in closing at $48.17 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share rallied $40 to end at $1,100.
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 13.9 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.
