The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market stocks push the major market indices sharply higher on Wednesday even as trading levels dipped from Tuesday strong showing.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 5,003.2 points to 408,622.22, the JSE Main Index climbed 4,591.19 points to 372,908.59 while the JSE Financial Index rose 1.76 points to 96.63.
Trading ended with 42 securities changing hands with the prices of 14 stocks rising, the prices of 16 declining, with 12 remaining unchanged.
The average PE Ratio of the Main Market ended at 15.5 based on IC Insider.com’s forecasted 2020-21 earnings. The market closed with an exchange of 8,833,133 shares for $194,889,167 compared to 32,897,914 units at $307,628,403 on Tuesday.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.91 million shares for 21.7 percent of total volume followed by PanJam Investment with 1.65 million units for 18.6 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.14 million units for 13 percent market share.
The average trade for the day ended at 210,313 units at $4,640,218 in contrast to an average of 765,068 at $7,154,149 on Tuesday. An average of 403,249 units traded for the month to date, at $3,017,962 for each security that traded, in contrast to 422,580 units at $2,855,323. In contrast, trading in June resulted in an average of 818,748 units at $7,498,308.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading for the Main market shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital rose 52 cents to close at $14 after exchanging 3,525 shares, Grace Kennedy lost $1 to close at $57 with 158,158 shares crossing the exchange, Jamaica Broilers Group lost $2 to settle at $25 in trading 15,205 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped 39 cents to settle at $21.89 with investors switching ownership of 6,025 stock units, JMMB Group rose 40 cents in closing at $31.10 with 874,837 units passing through the market, Mayberry Investments shed 48 cents after closing at $5.32 trading 85,491 stock units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy jumped $11 to end at $171 as 117 shares cleared the market, NCB Financial Group fell 99 cents to end at $139 with 120,380 units changing hands, PanJam Investment increased by $1.90 to settle at $70 trading 1,646,674 stock units. Portland JSX declined by 99 cents in closing at $8 and exchanging 46,312 shares, Scotia Group gained $1.48 to close at $44.48 after trading 4,300 stock units, Seprod dropped $1 to end at $52 with an exchange of 242,788 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments fell 43 cents to close at $15.87 in an exchange of 8,366 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
NCB is out of IC Top 10
After entering IC Insider.com Main Market TOP 10 last week, NCB Financial Group is out of the top 10 and replaced by Victoria Mutual Investments. These two stocks are the only movement in and out of the TOP 10 for the week. There is no change to the Junior Market TOP 10.
Although the Main and Junior Markets declined during the week, the top three stocks in each market saw little change in the rankings. Accordingly, the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 292 to 666 percent by March 2021 as Caribbean Producers, followed by Lasco Financial and Lumber Depot in the third position. In the Main Market, the top three stocks are Berger Paints, followed by Radio Jamaica and JMMB Group, with expected gains of 195 to 208 percent.
During the early summer months, the local market tends to move sideways as trading levels recede. Investors should not keep their eyes off the market as excellent opportunities can bypass them. A good case is the near 75 percent rise in the price of General Accident since May 7 when the stock traded at $4.02.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results for the financial year ending after the second quarter of 2020, up to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.2 and the Junior Market at just 10.6, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 5.5 at just 52 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at 8.4 or 55 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the IC TOP 10 stocks is 293 percent, for the Junior Market and 146 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication that there is the potential to make greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver some of the best returns up to March 2021. The computation of projected gains is based on earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year for each stock. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. 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.
NCB is back IC Top 10
NCB Financial Group is back IC Insider.com Main Market TOP 10 stocks as the price slipped slightly by the end of the week to $135.90. There were no changes to the Junior Market TOP 10 lists.
This week’s focus: NCB shares have been under selling pressure, with the group reporting lower second-quarter profit than the prior year and concerns about losses that can occur from their loan portfolio. They announced measures to continue their focus on cost-cutting, with a proposed restructuring of the insurance arms that will lead to lower costs. In addition, they announced the cutting of 121 staff members that will lower operating costs, going forward. Investors can expect more adjustments in the group that will flow from the acquisition of the majority shareholding of the Guardian group.
The top three Junior Market stocks this week, with the potential to gain between 260 to 695 percent by March 2021, are Caribbean Producers, followed by Lasco Financial, while Caribbean Cream and Lumber Depot share the third position. In the Main Market, the top three stocks continue to be Radio Jamaica continues to lead, followed by Berger Paints and JMMB Group with expected gains of 186 to 208 percent.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results for the financial year ending after the second quarter of 2020, up to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.2 and the Junior Market at just 10.7, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 5.7 at just 53 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at 8.6 or 57 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the IC TOP 10 stocks is 284 percent, for the Junior Market and 141 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication that there is the potential to make greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021. The expected gain for each stock is based on earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. The ranking of stocks is done in order of likely increases. The highest-ranked stock is the most attractive. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. 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.