The past week was quiet for IC TOP 10 listings, resulting in no change to the list at the end of the week that saw the local market trading in a narrow band and the Junior Market closing at the highest point since August 28 and the Main Market since the end of August.
Scotiabank profit drops in Jamaica.
The top three stocks in each market saw no change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 292 to 695 percent by March 2021. Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic. The focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year results, projected to show recovery from the 2020 financial year final numbers. The top three Main Market stocks, with expected gains of 205 to 264 percent, are Berger Paints followed by Radio Jamaica and JMMB Group. All three suffered declines during the week.
This week’s focus: Scotia Group reported a net income of $5.56 billion for the nine months ending in July, compared to $9.79 billion for the corresponding 2019 period. Overall, loans advanced, grew 12 percent mainly due to the strong performance of the Commercial Banking unit, increasing 24 percent versus the prior year. 
Retail loan grew 5 percent year over year, driven by strong mortgage growth of 16 percent. Total revenues, excluding expected credit losses for the nine months, ended July at $32.1 billion, a reduction of $1.7 billion or 5.1 percent, compared to 2019. For the July 2020 quarter, gross revenues fell from $12.4 billion to $11 billion, with non-interest income contributing $1.1 billion to the decline. Administrative and other expenses were essentially flat at $5.8 billion year over year, a $2 billion increase in provision for expected loan loss helped push profit down in the quarter, to $1.55 billion from $4.2 billion in 2019. Notably, while loans amounting to $221 billion at the end of July grew 12 percent year over year, loans declined modestly from $223 billion at the end of April, the result of the increased credit loss provisioning.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on the profits of companies reporting full year’s results, from now to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, an indication of the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.1 and the Junior Market 10.9, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 6 at just 55 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.2 or 54 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 279 percent, and 153 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication of potentially, 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 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. 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.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,015.97 points to 402,637.72, the Main Index gained 909.86 points to 367,526.77 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.84 points to settle at 97.14.
Trading ended with an average of 95,497 units at $1,203,930 for each security, in comparison to an average of 244,891 shares at $884,695 on Thursday. The average trade for the month to date ended at 233,735 units at $1,206,845 for each security, in contrast to 187,575 units at $1,207,217. Trading month to date compares adversely to August’s average of 497,441 units at $3,201,918.
First Rock Capital fell $1.05 to settle at $12, with 12,574 shares changing hands, Jamaica Broilers Group shed 36 cents to end at $24.60, after 14,625 stock units crossed the market, Kingston Wharves rose $1 to $47, in trading 377 units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 55 cents with an exchange of 10,384 stock units to end at $7.52, Portland JSX advanced $1.48, in ending at $8.50 with investors switching ownership of 400 stock units, Proven Investments finished at $36.35, with gains of 4 cents in trading 7,476 stock units. Salada Foods declined by $2.99 to close at $25 in transferring 10,000 stock units, Scotia Group gained 50 cents in closing at $50.50, with 124,036 shares passing through the market, Seprod rose $2 to $55.50 after the transfer of 24,995 stock units. Supreme Ventures picked up 49 cents to settle at $14, with investors switching ownership of 165,785 shares and Wisynco Group shed 65 cents to end at $16.35, in exchanging 40,884 shares.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,047.56 points to 401,621.75, the Main Index rose 962.30 points to 366,616.91 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.01 points to close at 96.30.
Trading ended with an average of 244,891 units changing hands at $884,695 for each security, in comparison to an average of 137,893 shares at $958,843 on Wednesday. The average trade for the month to date ended at 187,575 units at $1,207,217 for each security, in contrast to 179,192 units at $1,254,388. Trading month to date compares adversely to August’s average of 497,441 units at $3,201,918.
Jamaica Broilers rose 36 cents to close at $24.96 in trading 19,670 shares, Jamaica Producers advanced $1.85 to $21 and cleared the market with 1,350 units. Key Insurance rose 66 cents to $8.57 trading 17,006 stock units, Kingston Wharves dropped $2.89 in closing at $46, with 10,317 units crossing the market, Mayberry Investments slipped 57 cents to $5.13, after 19,300 stock units passed through the market. Proven Investments advanced $1.85 to $35.95, after an exchange of 592 units, Salada Foods gained 99 cents to close at $27.99, with 75 units crossing the market, Scotia Group rose $1 to end at $50, after trading 32,180 shares. Seprod climbed $1.10 to $53.50, in exchanging 9,312 units, Supreme Ventures lost 46 cents to settle at $13.51 trading 101,403 shares and Wisynco Group gained 50 cents to close at $17, with 87,673 shares changing hands.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 1,062.87 points to 400,574.19, the Main Index shed 921.81 points to 365,654.61 and the JSE Financial Index remained unchanged at 96.29.
The average trade for the month to date ended at 179,192 units at $1,254,388 for each security, in contrast to 185,696 units at $1,300,931. Trading month to date compares adversely to August’s average of 497,441 units at $3,201,918.
Jamaica Producers declined by $1.85 to $19.15, with 5,992 units changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 33 cents, in finishing at $18.95 with 17,418 stock units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves closed at $48.89, having gained 89 cents and trading 5,099 stock units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $8 to close at $163, after exchanging 636 units, Palace Amusement climbed $200 in closing at $1,300 trading 10 units, Proven Investments declined by $1.80 to $34.10 with an exchange of 5,490 stock units. Sagicor Group gained 30 cents to close at $44.90, in transferring 24,509 stock units, Salada Foods dropped $1 to $27, with an exchange of 11,896 units, Scotia Group climbed $2 to $49 while trading 204,296 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments ended at $18, with gains of $1.45 in transferring 104,248 stock units.
Stationery and Office Supplies and Jetcon Corporation dropped out of the Junior Market list, the former earning, was revised down for 2020, with the loss incurred in the June quarter while Jetcon price inched up, to be squeezed out of the top stocks.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on the profit of companies reporting full year’s results, from now to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, an indication of the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15 and the Junior Market 10.8, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. 
The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 6 at just 56 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.1 or 54 percent of the PE of the overall market.
the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. 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.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 1,674.54 points to 401,637.06, the Main Index carved out a gain of 1,545.95 points to 366,576.42 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.12 points to close at 96.29.
Trading ended with an average of 113,552 units changing hands at $637,545, in comparison to an average of 241,851 shares at $1,208,807 on Monday. The average trade for the month to date ended at 185,696 units at $1,300,931 for each security, in contrast to 200,398 units at $1,436,123 on Monday. Trading month to date compares adversely to August’s average of 497,441 units at $3,201,918.
Jamaica Broilers Group declined by 45 cents in closing at $25 and 33,295 shares crossing the exchange, Jamaica Stock Exchange carved out a gain of 62 cents to end at $18.62 trading 12,262 units, Mayberry Investments settled at $5.69, with a rise of 57 cents, with 2,000 units passing through the market. Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 43 cents to end at $8.07 with investors swapping 122 stock units, NCB Financial fell 60 cents to settle at $135, after exchanging 48,381 shares, Palace Amusement dived $400 in closing at $1,100, in trading 20 shares. Proven Investments climbed $1.75 to settle at $35.90, with 1,191 units changing hands, Scotia Group lost $1 to end at $47 with 7,120 units crossing the exchange and Seprod climbed $1.40 to close at $52.40 with investors switching ownership of 63,478 shares.
Trading month to date compares adversely to August’s average of 497,441 units at $3,201,918.
Jamaica Stock Exchange declined by $3 to settle at $18 after 101,669 shares changed hands. JMMB Group shed 49 cents to end at $29.51, in exchanging 143,462 stock units, Kingston Properties advanced $1.20 to $7.50 with an exchange of 15 stock units, Kingston Wharves gained 50 cents, trading 9,008 units to end at $48. Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 50 cents to $8.50, with 133,975 shares changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $5 to $155 and cleared the market with 549 units, NCB Financial fell $1.40 to $135.60, in exchanging 11,126 stock units. Proven Investments lost $1.85 to end at $34.15, after trading 2,105 units, Seprod dropped $2 to settle at $51 with investors switching ownership of 215,510 shares, Sterling Investments gained 30 cents ending at $3.20, with 62,334 stock units crossing the exchange and Sygnus Credit Investments climbed $1.75 to close at $16.80 trading 38,323 shares.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 980.40 points to 402,248.48, the Main Index rose 858.57 points to 367,100.77 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.25 points to close at 97.09.
Trading month to date compares adversely to August’s average of 497,441 units at $3,201,918.
Key Insurance declined by $1.05 to settle at $8.10, in transferring 19,595 stock units, Kingston Properties fell by $1.39 to $6.30, while exchanging 100 units, Kingston Wharves closed $2.50 higher at $47.50, with an exchange of 8,801 units. NCB Financial declined $2 to $137, trading 194,240 shares, Portland JSX fell $1.48, in ending at $7.02 with 100 units changing hands. Salada Foods closed at $28, with a loss of $1 after trading 426 shares. Scotia Group climbed $1.98 to $48, with investors switching the ownership of 50 stocks, Seprod declined $2 to settle at $53, in exchanging 2,119 units, Supreme Ventures gained 31 cents to close $13.81, in transferring 8,819 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 30 cents to close at $15.05, with 5,368 stock units crossing the market.
The average trade for the month to date is 210,813 units at $957,419 for each security. Trading month to date compares adversely to August’s average of 497,441 units at $3,201,918.
Jamaica Producers Group advanced to $22, with gains of $2 and 32,899 shares changing hands, Key Insurance lost 34 cents to end at $7.21, with 5,536 stock units changing hands. Kingston Properties climbed $1.52 and ended at $7.69, in trading 4,282 stock units, Kingston Wharves rose $2 to settle at $44 with investors swapping 9,554 stock units, NCB Financial Group climbed $2.50 to end at $138.50, in trading 58,879 shares. PanJam Investment rose $2.50 to settle at $69, after exchanging 955 units, Seprod gained 50 cents in ending at $54.50, with 7,685 stock units passing through the market and Wisynco Group picked up 50 cents to close at $16.50 and 77,995 shares changing hands.
The average trade for the month to date ended at 497,441 units at $3,201,934 for each security, in contrast to 491,213 units at $3,153,576. Trading for the month to date is well ahead of July, which closed with an average of 392,128 shares for $2,444,356.
Key Insurance lost 39 cents to settle at $7.21, with 8,947 units changing hands, NCB Financial Group carved out a gain of $2 to close at $140 with investors swapping 637,827 shares. PanJam Investment advanced $5.90 to $71, after exchanging 5,950 stock units, Proven Investments rose $1.99 to settle at $37.99, in 2,802 units changing hands. Sagicor Group finished $2.42 higher at $46.42, with an exchange of 275,545 shares, Scotia Group climbed $3.49 to $50.49, in exchanging 29,922 stock units, Seprod shed $1.50 to close at $53.50, having traded 15,713 stock units. Sygnus Credit Investments rose 35 cents to close at $15.35 with 128,320 shares passing through the market and Wisynco Group lost 50 cents to close at $16 and 200,997 shares changing hands.