All Jamaica 400K push continues – Thursday

NCB traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $130 on Thursday.

The Jamaica Stock Exchange main market ended at a 10th consecutive record close on Thursday with the all Jamaica composite Index pushing nearer to the 400,000 mark aided by a rise in the price of 18 main market stocks.
The market closed with the All Jamaica Composite Index surging 5,960.37 points higher to a record close at 384,731.07 and the JSE Index jumping 5,430.57 points to a record close of 350,533.51. Thursday’s close brings to 33, the number of record close for the year and 21 since the start of July. The main market surged to new record high at the start of the morning session and continued to create new highs during the first 90 minutes of trading as NCB Financial traded at $125 and Kingston Wharves at $75 to be aided by Jamaica Producers that traded as high as $28.50.
Market activities resulted in 30 securities trading, including 2 in the US dollar market compared to 34 securities trading on Wednesday. At the end of trading, the prices of 20 stocks rose, 4 declined and 6 closed trading, unchanged. The main market ended with 11,678,084 units valued at $147,689,924 changing hands, compared to 3,156,915 units valued at $54,279,819, on Wednesday.
The day’s volume was led by, JMMB Group 7.5% preference share closed with 8,042,693 shares and 59.4 percent of the day’s volume, the JMMB Group 7.25% preference share ended with 2,772,000 shares, 20.5 percent of main market volume,and Wisynco Group with 620,232 units for just 4.6 percent of the volume traded.
Trading resulted in an average of 483,444 units valued at an average of $2,448,792, in contrast to 432,522 units valued at an average of $5,469,997 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 469,931 shares valued $4,332,558, compared to 468,476 shares valued $4,558,933 traded on the immediately preceding trading day.

JSE breaks several records in trading on Thursday morning

August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments gained 77 cents and closed at $11.27, trading 2,850 shares, Caribbean Cement added $1.44 to finish at $50 with 14,153 shares trading, Grace Kennedy fell $2 to end at $57, trading 238,210 shares, Jamaica Broilers climbed $1.05 in trading 108,185 stock units at record high of $31, Jamaica Producers gained 50 cents and finished trading 7,000 units at a record high of $23, JMMB Group climbed 98 cents and ended trading 142,794 shares at $30.99. Kingston Wharves jumped $4 and ended trading 13,948 stock units to close at a record high of $74, Mayberry Investments jumped $2 to settle at $9, with 271,631 units changing hands, NCB Financial Group jumped $8 and ended trading 121,984 shares at a record close of $130, PanJam Investment gained $1 and closed at $55 trading 7,285 stock units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell 52 cents and settled at $11.23, trading 124,980 shares. Scotia Group rose $1.18 in trading 56,316 units at $56.20, Supreme Ventures added 35 cents and ended at $16.40, 11,824 shares changing hands.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 24,665 units valued US$9,781 as , JMMB Group 6% preference share completed trading of 4,950 stock units at $1.06, and Sygnus Credit Investments ended trading of 19,715 shares at 12 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced by 1.94 points to close at 169.56.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading is very strong for continuation of the market’s rally and shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 closing with a lower offer.

All Jamaica 400,000 push continued on Wednesday

Jamaica Producers traded at an all time high of $22.50 on Wednesday.

Records continue to be broken with Jamaica Stock Exchange main market on Wednesday ending at another record close, the 9th in as many trading days as the market’ all Jamaica Index pushes towards the 400,000 market with a gain of nearly 2,000 points.
The market closed with the All Jamaica Composite Index; pushed 1,840.44 points higher to a record close at 378,770.70 and the JSE Index climbing 1,676.85 points to a record close of 345,102.94. Wednesday’s close brings to 32, the number record close for the year and 20 since the start of July.
Market activities resulted in 30 securities trading, including 3 in the US dollar market compared to 34 securities trading on Tuesday. At the end of trading, the prices of 13 stocks rose, 11 declined and 6 closed trading, unchanged. The main market ended with 11,678,084 units valued at $147,689,924 changing hands, compared to 3,156,915 units valued at $54,279,819, on Tuesday.
The day’s volume was led by, Sagicor Real Estate Fund with 8,692,402 shares and 74.4 percent of main market volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.50% preference share closing with 980,000 units and just 8.4 percent of the day’s volume and Carreras with 522,434 units just 4.47 percent of volume traded.
Trading resulted in an average of 432,522 units valued at an average of $5,469,997, in contrast to 98,654 units valued at $1,696,244 on Tuesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 468,476 shares valued $4,558,933, compared to 472,642 shares at $4,439,522 traded on the immediately preceding trading day. August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Barita Investments gained 50 cents and closed at $10.50, trading 89,535 shares, Caribbean Cement shed $1.44 to finish at $48.56, in trading 283,483 shares, Grace Kennedy fell $2 to end at $57, trading 238,210 shares, Jamaica Broilers jumped $1.45 in trading 33,768 stock units at $29.95, Jamaica Producers climbed $1.30 and finished trading of 45,000 units at a record high of $22.50, with supply of the stock extremely low.
JMMB Group lost $1.51 and ended trading just 981 shares at $30.01. Kingston Wharves jumped $1 and ended trading 13,573 stock units to close at $70, NCB Financial Group ended trading 37,334 shares to end at a record close of $122, PanJam Investment fell $1 and closed at $54 trading 14,160 stock units, Sagicor Group shed the 69 cents it gained on Tuesday and settled at $39.16, in exchanging 18,371 shares, Supreme Ventures lost 40 cents and ended at $16.05, with 29,277 shares changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments rose by 25 cents to close of $12.76, after trading 3,000 shares and Victoria Mutual Investments lost 25 cents and concluded trading of 135,000 stock units at $3.20.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 53,900 units valued US$14,662 as , Productive Business Solution lost 6 US cents and completed trading of 14,700 shares at 53 US cents, Proven Investments closed trading of 20,500 stock units at 23 US cents and Sygnus Credit Investments ended trading of 18,700 shares and closed with a gain of 1 cents at 12 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index fell 2.70 points and closed at 167.62.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading is very strong for continuation of the market’s rally and shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 1 closing with a lower offer.

8 consecutive daily JSE record close – Tuesday

Kingston Wharves jumped to close at a record $71 on Tuesday.

Records continue to be broken with Jamaica Stock Exchange main market on Tuesday ending at another record close and the 8th in as many trading days.
The market closed with the All Jamaica Composite Index surged 4,077.29 points to a record close at 376,930.26 and the JSE Index climbing 3,714.88 points to a record close of 343,426.09. Tuesday’s close brings to 32, the number record close for the year and 20 since the start of July.
Market activities resulted in 34 securities trading, including 2 in the US dollar market compared to 29 securities trading on Monday. At the end of trading, the prices of 14 stocks rose, 8 declined and 12 closed trading, unchanged. Trading in the main market ended with 3,156,915 units valued at $54,279,819, compared to 3,321,926 units valued at $66,161,713, on Monday.
The day’s volume was led by, Barita Investments with 1,062,000 shares and 33.6 percent of main market volume, followed by JMMB Group closing with 1,007,050 units and just 32 percent of the day’s volume.
Trading resulted in an average of 98,654 units valued at $1,696,244, in contrast to 118,640 units valued at over $2,362,918 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 472,642 shares at $4,439,522, compared to 709,910 shares at $6,787,180 traded on the immediately preceding trading day. August closed, with an average of 224,564 shares valued at $4,310,285, for each security traded.
In the main market activity, Caribbean Cement gained $1 to finish at $50, in trading 16,111 shares, Grace Kennedy added 50 cents and ended at $59, trading 34,320 shares, Jamaica Broilers jumped $1.48 in trading 13,352 stock units at $28.50, JMMB Group dropped $2.50 to end at $28.50, trading 1,007,050 shares. Kingston Wharves jumped $2.50 and ended trading 11,000 stock units to close at a record $71, PanJam Investment climbed 99 cents and closed at $55 trading 41,146 stock units, Portland JSX fell 25 cents and ended at $8.15, with 20,000 units changing hands, Sagicor Group gained 69 cents and settled at $39.85, in exchanging 9,636 shares, Scotia Group dropped $1.50 to $55, in exchanging 10,014 units, ahead of nine months’ results due after trading on Wednesday, Seprod rose $1 and ended trading of 2,567 stock units to close of $46, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 24 cents to close of $12.51, after trading 142,286 shares were traded and Victoria Mutual Investments recovered 38 cents of the loss on Monday and concluded trading of 22,000 stock units at $3.45.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 73,641 units valued US$63,809 as JMMB Group 6% preference share completed trading at $1.06 with an exchange of 58,641 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments ended trading 15,000 shares and closed at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index closed unchanged at 170.32.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 6 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none closing with a lower offer.

NCB Financial still key stock to watch

NCB closed $2 higher on Friday.

Bulls pushed he Jamaican stock market, to new heights last week, with more gains expected this week with the strong likelihood that the Junior Market will clear the historical high reached in 2017..
NCB Financial played an important role in the market movement last week for the main market and Derrimon Trading chipped in for the Junior Market, these were not the only contributors to the gains in in the market last week.
Investors should keep their eyes on a number of stocks this week. NCB that closed on $115, should move higher this week as demand continues to build and with limited supply on offer. Scotia Group last trade was at $59.50 but the price could pull back before they release results for the July quarter on Wednesday. Those results could set the stage for price movements over the next few weeks. With PE ratios rising even a modest increase in profits could see the price moving into record territory.
Grace Kennedy may not be ready to break out of the $60 range as yet but it’s a stock to keep an eye on. Caribbean Cement keeps trading between $46 to $50, but there appears no real desire to move the price forward. Kingston Wharves closed the past week at a record high of at $68.50 and seems poised to move higher but the PE ratio of 44 is compared to a market average of 14, is scary. Supply of the stock remains low, with just two offers of 6,813 shares are displayed. Sygnus Credit Investments picked up last week buoyed by full year results in line with expectations of US$1.4 million. Demand should carry over into the current week and could lift the price further. Jamaica Producers has very limited volume on offer mostly in the higher $20 region while demand is building at $19 and just below.
In the Junior market, Indies continue with strong demand existing for the stock, with news of potential acquisition and new products, the stock is worth watching for more gains. Demand is building for Elite Diagnostics while supply has waned. General Accident could move higher as more demand comes in for it with limited selling, but investors may not want to be more aggressive with this stock at this time. If the company were to announce expansion into the Eastern Caribbean it may well make a difference.
Caribbean Flavours continues to slowly move higher and could do the same this week. There is no certainty the Derrimon Trading will rise any higher now that the price is in the mid three to four dollar level but must be watched. Medical Disposables, should be on the watch list for investors.
Stocks with scarce supplies that could spring surprises include Grace Kennedy, NCB Financial, Berger Paints, Caribbean Cement, Kingston Wharves, PanJam Investment, Sagicor Group, Salada Foods, Seprod and Scotia Group.
The Junior Market supplies continue to be limited for many of the listings. The list includes, Caribbean Flavours, Cargo Handlers, Derrimon Trading, Express Catering, General Accident, Caribbean Cream, Medical Disposables and Stationery and Office Supplies.
An overall view of stocks indicates that the main market continues to be steered higher by an upward sloping support line as well the 45 and 125 day moving averages, lending support just below. The Junior Market now at a 15 months’ high, is being steered by an upward rising long-term support line and a golden cross. The golden cross is a very strong bullish long-term signal.

3 new additions to IC TOP 10 stocks

Main Event is back in TOP 10.

The main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, racked up 6 consecutive days of record close on Friday, while the Junior market closed the week just 63 points short of the record close in 2017.
The gains in the two markets is driving the PE ratio of the market higher with the overall PE for the Junior Market rising from to 13 and the main market from 13.7 last week to 13.7 and 14 respectively, this week. Recent movement in the PE suggest that average PE for the market will end 2018 around 18 and 20 by the end of January as conditions continue to favour stocks as the preferred investment of choice along with real estate.
The Top 10 has three changes at the end of the week as movement in prices was the sole factor influencing the change. Caribbean Producers and Main Event dropped sharply in price on Friday and reentered the top list. While Caribbean Producers declined due partially to lower full year’s profit than was expected butt should recover as improved results for the 2019 fiscal year should be enhance with efficiency improvements, the sharp decline in the price from $7 to $5.20 of Main Event on modest volume of less than 7,000 shares is unclear, except for a bid gap between where some demand was and the offers. Access Financial and Fosrich Group dropped out of the Junior Market TOP 10 after rising in price and Sygnus Credit Investments having risen by 50 cents to $12.50 regained enough ground to be pushed out of the top list and allowed Berger Paints to return to the list.
The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks average 8.7 up from 8.5 last week, as the market continues to revalue the multiple higher. The latest valuation compares to an average PE for the overall market of 13.7, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is now 8.5 and is the same level as last week, for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 14.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 36 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 39 percent to the market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns within a 12 months period. Stocks are selected based on projected earnings for each company’s current fiscal year. Based on an assumed PE for each, the likely gains are determined and then ranked, with the stocks with the highest potential gains ranked first followed by the rest, in descending order. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis based on new information received that can result in changes in and out of the list as well.

Access, Fosrich, JMMB now in IC TOP 10

Both the Jamaica Stock Exchange, main and Junior markets reached higher levels during the past week, with the main market hitting a series of new record highs. The coming weeks should see more gains as investors seek out opportunities as fixed interest returns have tanked.
The Top 10 has 3 changes, with Medical Disposables and Caribbean Producers moving out and making space for Access Financial and Fosrich Group in the Junior Market and JMMB Group coming in for is Berger Paints, with the latter jumping to $21.50 by the end of the week from $18 the week before.
Access Financial produced decent June quarter results with profit rising 16 percent to $217 million from $188 million for the 2017 quarter. The company is in the process of another acquisition, this time overseas, this should continue to help boost profit going forward. Fosrich posted good second quarter results and is on target to reach IC Insider.com’s forecasted earnings of 30 cents per share. Fosrich too, could be making an acquisition later this year, or early 2019, unofficial, but credible reports suggest. JMMB Group posted good first quarter results with a 59 percent increase in net profit. Some of the strong gains came from the relatively sharp fall in the value of the Jamaican dollar in the period that is not expected to continue.
The PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks average 8.5 up marginally from 8.4 last week, as the market continues to revalue the multiple higher. The latest valuation compares to an average PE for the overall market of 13, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is now 8.5 and is up from 8, last week, for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13.7, a clear indication of the level of potential gains that can be made by owning these stocks. Work done by IC Insider.com suggests that the PE ratio is likely to end 2018 around 16 to 18 times earnings, as investors continue to upgrade the multiple they are prepared to pay for stocks, which would lift prices sharply over the next several months from current levels. The latest government bond offer with a 4.58 years tenor, was heavily oversubscribed, resulting in rates dropping to 3.95 percent, suggesting that investors are satisfied that the economic policies will continue to lead to low inflation for a considerable time. These rates suggest more funds will be going into stocks as liquidity remains high in the financial system.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 35 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 38 percent to the market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns within a 12 months period. Stocks are selected based on projected earnings for each company’s current fiscal year. Based on an assumed PE for each, the likely gains are determined and then ranked, with the stocks with the highest potential gains ranked first followed by the rest, in descending order. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis based on new information received that can result in changes in and out of the list as well.

NCB on high watch alert

The stock worth watching this week is NCB Financial Group that jumped last week to $110, a price last seen last year November. With limited supply for sale and the year-end approaching, this stock seems set for $150 by early 2019, if not before.
NCB Financial Group recorded net profit of $20.9 billion for the nine months ended June, with profit attributable to stockholders of $20.7 billion, for an increase of 40 percent over the prior year. The figure includes one off gains of $4.4 billion from acquisition of a subsidiary. Importantly, third quarter profits rose a strong 30 percent to $6.8 billion over the 2017 quarter.
Grace Kennedy is another of the main market stocks to keep an eye on as it slowly tries to move higher. The price of Caribbean Cement has been seesawing between $45 and $52, but in a bull market one never knows when the break will come. Kingston Wharves close with the bid at $61 to but 58,300 shares and last traded at $53. In the Junior market, Indies Pharma continues to scale new highs with strong demand existing for the stock. General Accident could move higher as more demand comes in for it, with limited selling.
Caribbean Producers has been trading well with an upward bias and could continue in this vein until full year’s results are released. Caribbean Flavours seems to be following it parent, Derrimon Trading and continues to rise on limited selling volume. Medical Disposable sold down during the past week and could recover in the coming days.
Regardless of what happens to individual stocks, there is little doubt that the summer rally is on for Jamaica stocks and is being helped by some good results for a number of the companies. The rally is expected to continue until year end barring any major negative development.

Kingston Wharves stock price sets to hit $61 

Stocks with scarce supplies that could spring surprises include, Barita Investments, Grace Kennedy, NCB Financial, Berger Paints, Caribbean Cement, Kingston Wharves, PanJam Investment, Sagicor Group, Salada Foods, Seprod and Scotia Group. The main market is not the only segment with limited supplies. The Junior Market supplies continue to be limited for many of the listings. The list includes, Blue Power, Caribbean Flavours, Cargo Handlers, Caribbean Producers, Derrimon Trading, Express Catering, General Accident, Caribbean Cream, Medical Disposables, Stationery and Office Supplies and tTech.
An overall view of stocks indicates that the main market continues to be steered higher by an upward sloping support line as well the 45 and 125 day moving averages, lending support just below. The Junior Market now at a 15 months’ high, is being steered by an upward rising long-term support line and a golden cross. The golden cross is a very strong bullish long-term signal.

Just 1 new addition to IC TOP 10

The bullishness continued on Jamaica Stock Exchange, driving the main market to more record highs and hitting more than 352,000 points on Friday, while the Junior Market traded at a 15 months’ high.
Half year earnings season is almost over with only Jamaica Broilers and Scotia Group left to report for the main market. Some results were excellent and most were okay, confirming what was already telegraphed to investors by earlier results. Regardless, with interest rates now under 2 percent for short term government and the central bank’s instruments, the bull market is clearly on. The chronic shortage of many of the stocks continue to put upward pressure on prices and moving the PE ratios higher as well.
Medical Disposables is the only new addition this week, to the TOP 10 coming at the expenses of FosRich Group as the price of the former, dropped to $5.10 from $6.40 at the end of the past week. General Accident has been at the top of the Junior Market list for a long time, enjoyed a bounce in the price to $3.80 by the end of the week, helped by half year results that showed profit rising from $8 million in 2017 to $95 million in the half year, with the quarter up from a loss of $9 million to a profit of $66 after tax. IC Insider.com also down graded earnings for the full year to 45 cents per share and the stock now sits at 6th spot in the list. The PE is just 8.4 and will go higher.
The PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks averages 8.4 up from 7.9 last week, as the market continues to revalue the multiple higher. The latest valuation compares to an average PE for the overall market of 13, based on 2018 estimated earnings.The main market PE is now 8 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13.5, a good indicator of the level of undervaluation of these stocks. Work done by IC Insider.com suggests that the PE ratio is likely to end 2018 around 16 or 17 times earnings, as investors continue to gradually upgrade the multiple they are prepared to pay for stocks, which would lift prices sharply over the next several months from current levels. In addition, the latest Treasury bill offer saw rates dropping to 1.7 percent on the 91 days instrument and 1.88 percent on the 182 days instrument. These rates suggest more funds will be going into stocks as liquidity remains high.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 35 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 40 percent to the market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns within a 12 months period. Stocks are selected based on projected earnings for each company’s current fiscal year. Based on an assumed PE for each, the likely gains are determined and then ranked, with the stocks with the highest potential gains ranked first followed by the rest, in descending order. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis based on new information received that can result in changes in and out of the list as well.

JSE main market indices fall – Monday

Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange resulted in further declines in the market indices but by less than the approximate 2,000 points decline on Friday, even as advancing stocks outnumbered declining ones.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 736.94 points to 345,989.59 and the JSE Index lost 671.43 points to 315,235.59. Market activities resulted in 30 securities trading including 4 in the US dollar market compared to 31 securities trading on Friday.
At the end of trading, the prices of 13 stocks rose, 8 declined and 9 traded unchanged. Trading in the main market ended with 3,337,734 units valued at over $77,717,624, compared to 12,389,267 units valued $54,066,117 on Friday.
Trading resulted in an average of 128,374 units valued at an average of $2,989,139 for each security traded. In contrast to 442,474 units for an average of $1,930,933 on Friday. For the month to date an average of 223,710 shares valued at an average of $4,528,884 versus 231,530 shares valued at an average of $4,665,985 on Friday. July closed with an average of 169,022 units valued at $3,514,756, for each security traded.
The day’s volume was led by, Grace Kennedy with 825,425 units 24.73 percent of the traded volume followed by Victoria Mutual Investments with 500,675 units 15 percent of the day’s volume and Ciboney Group with 360,084 units and 10.79 percent of the main market volume.
Stocks with major price changes| Berger Paints jumped $2 and ended at $20, in trading 30,655 stock units, Caribbean Cement fell 40 cents and finished at $47.10, trading 59,491 shares, Grace Kennedy fell 40 cents and ended trading 825,425 shares to close at $59.10, Jamaica Producers finished trading 19,719 units at $18 with a rise of 80 cents, JMMB Group lost 70 cents and ended at $28.30, exchanging 71,075 shares, Kingston Wharves added 40 cents to finish at $53, trading 8,522 stock units, Mayberry Investments lost 44 cents to settle at $7.45, trading 72,824 units,  Mayberry Jamaica Euities jumped $1 to settle at an all-time closing high of $10, trading 349,204 units, PanJam Investment gained 40 cents and concluded trading 985 shares and closed at $52, Sagicor Real Estate Fund jumped $1.50 to $13.50, with 28,511 shares, Salada Foods shed 25 cents to close at $16.75, in exchanging 1,200 units, Scotia Group shed $1 in traded 83,372 shares to close at $52, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 40 cent to close at $10.50 in trading 11,629 shares and Wisynco Group rose 34 cents and finished trading 211,342 shares to end at $9.39.
Trading in the US dollar market closed with 18,035 units valued at over $31,181, as JMMB Group 6 % preference share gained 2 cents and completed trading at $1.06 with 510 stock units, JMMB Group 5.75% preference share lost 14 cents in concluding of 15,000 shares at $2.01. Margaritaville traded 1,075 shares and ended at 18 US cents Proven Investments trading 1,450 shares and closed at 19.01 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index advanced by 0.32 points to close at 159.56.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 4 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 closing with lower offers.

4 new additions to IC TOP 10

The bullishness continued on Jamaica Stock Market during the past week with the main market reaching new record level on Thursday and the Junior Market closing at the highest level since November 3, last year.
Several companies released results during the week, some showed strong gains and others were in line with the prior year’s period or slightly below and some were in line with expectations, investors reacted accordingly. The chronic shortage of many of the stocks continue to put upward pressure on prices. Following the release of results some companies profit forecast were adjusted. This resulted in Radio Jamaica and Palace Amusement falling from the TOP 10. Palace forecast for 2019 fiscal year is now placed at $100 per share up from earnings of $96 for 2018 including gain on sale of property. Key Insurance reported another quarter of losses and full year’s earnings were revised downwards putting it outside the top listing. Indies Pharma, the other Junior Market stock to jump ship, rose to $2.36 after listing earlier in the week and is up 57 percent from the IPO price of $1.50.
Paramount Trading fell to $2.10 on low volume to jump into the list and Lasco Distributors fell to $3.85 climbed in as well. Paramount is now in a new fiscal year and is expected to record much improved results over the outturn for the year to May as the company enjoys the benefits of increased revenues and profit from the two new ventures started earlier this year in chlorine, bleach and manufacturing of lubricants. Lasco reported improved results of the year to March with the first quarter to June this year recording improvement over 2017 an indication for increased sales and profit in 2019.
Existing TOP 10 stock, Caribbean Cement continues to undergo wild swings in prices and traded as high as $56 during the past week but closed the week at $47.50, on Friday as supply has virtually dried up, not surprising with the company cutting finance cost and reports of several projects slated to come on stream later this year. Berger Paints moved down from $21 to $18 during the past week as direct cost rose sharply by 46 percent in the June quarter to negate a 35 percent rise in revenues but profit after tax rose 13 percent over 2017.
Salada Foods was recently in the Top 10 but moved out based on increased price, reenters with a fall in price to $17 and benefits from improved nine months’ results suggesting earnings of $2 per share. Management expressed concerns as to the impact that the imposition of a cess on coffee could have on sales. Sygnus Credit Investment is a new entrance to the main market and enters as the price fell sharply during the week to $10, but closed with the bid at $10.50.
The PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks averages 7.9 compared to an average PE for the overall market of 12.5, based on 2018 estimated earnings and the main market PE stands at 8 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13, a good indicator of the level of undervaluation of these stocks, currently. Work done by IC Insider.com suggest that the PE ratio is likely to end around 16 or 17 times earnings by year end, as investors continue to gradually upgrade the multiple they are prepared to pay for stocks, which would lift prices sharply over the next several months from current levels. In addition, the latest Treasury bill offer, saw rates dropping to 1.7 percent on the 91 days instrument and 1.88 percent on the 182 days instrument. These rates suggest more funds will be going into stocks as liquidity remains high.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 37 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 39 percent to the market.
TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns within a 12 months period. Stocks are selected based on projected earnings for each company’s current fiscal year. Based on an assumed PE for each, the likely gains are determined and then ranked, with the stocks with the highest potential gains ranked first followed by the rest, in descending order. Potential values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis based on new information received that can result in changes in and out of the list as well.