The Jamaica Stock Exchange, Main Market indices, climbed on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 47 percent and the value surging 434 percent above Tuesday’s activities, but it closed with declining stocks exceeding rising ones on a 3 to 2 basis.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 4,841.97 points to 443,103.96, the JSE Main Index popped 4,026.85 points to end at 388,150.21 and the JSE Financial Index rose 1.42 points to settle at 91.75.
Trading ended with 56 securities compared to 53 on Tuesday, with 18 rising, 26 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Some 13,218,682 shares were exchanged for $481,285,926 versus 8,858,814 units at $90,095,210 on Tuesday. Trading averages 236,048 units at $8,594,409, cup from 167,147 shares at $1,699,910 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 246,228 units at $2,954,224, compared to 248,355 units at $1,775,677 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
Productive Business Solutions 9.75% Preference share led trading with 3.62 million shares for 27.7 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 preference share, 2.5 million units for 18.1 percent of total trading, Transjamaican Highway closed with 1.69 million units for 12.9 percent market share and Supreme Ventures, 1.21 million units for 9.3 percent of the day’s trade.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.40 in closing at $72.60 with 19,225 shares clearing the market, Caribbean Producers shed $1 to end at $14, closing with 426,521 units changing hands, Eppley jumped $7.99 to $47 after trading 1,220 stock units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $1, ending at $44 in switching ownership of 2,785 stocks, First Rock Capital increased 40 cents to $13.05 in exchanging 40,657 units, GraceKennedy lost 50 cents to end at $107.50 in trading 10,091 shares. Guardian Holdings fell $21 to $512 after exchanging 2,783 stocks, Jamaica Broilers rose $1.07 to close at $27.07, with 10,986 stock units crossing the exchange, Jamaica Producers climbed 90 cents to $22.70 with an exchange of 8,526 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 60 cents in closing at $18.60 with the swapping of 2,450 stock units, Mayberry Investments gained 95 cents in ending at $10.40 after trading 5,583 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed $1 to close at $14, with 523 shares crossing the market. 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied $2.95 in closing at $107.95 after exchanging 11 units, PanJam Investment dropped $1.50 to $64.50, trading 15,265 stock units, Portland JSX climbed $2.93 to $9.43 while exchanging 350 shares. Proven Investments fell 40 cents in closing at $37.05 in an exchange of 6,885 stocks, Sagicor Group lost $1 to $56, with 121,771 stocks changing hands, Scotia Group gained $1.14 to close at $37.15, with 60,571 stock units crossing the market. Seprod rose 98 cents to end at $72 in exchanging 29,674 units, Stanley Motta declined 45 cents ending at $5.50 in switching ownership of 2,067 shares and Wisynco Group fell 40 cents in closing at $19.50, clearing the market with 46,343 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share declined $2.75 to end at $107 in trading 3,622,980 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks tumble on the JSE Main Market Tuesday
Declining stocks exceeded those rising by three to two on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday as the volume of stocks traded fell 40 percent, with a modest rise in the value traded over Monday’s activity.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 4,175.98 points to close at 438,261.99, the JSE Main Index dropped 4,103.95 points to 384,123.36 and the JSE Financial Index fell 1.26 points to settle at 90.33.
Trading ended with 53 securities compared to 54 on Monday, with 15 rising, 22 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios use earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com’s for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
A total of 8,858,814 shares were traded for $90,095,210 versus 14,684,649 units at $86,847,608 on Monday. Trading averages 167,147 units at $1,699,910, compared to 271,938 shares at $1,608,289 on Monday and month to date, an average of 248,355 units at $1,775,667, compared to 268,374 units at $1,794,355 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.27 million shares for 25.6 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.68 million units for 18.9 percent of the day’s trade and Mayberry Jamaican Equities with 798,271 units for 9 percent of market share.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rose $8 to end at $74 in an exchange of 68,331 shares, following an announcement by the company to recommend the payment of a dividend of $1.50 per share to the annual general meeting. Eppley dropped $9.99 to $39.01, with 2,000 units crossing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $2.25 to close at $45 in trading 4,486 stocks. GraceKennedy rallied 47 cents in closing at $108 31,333 stock units after crossing the market, Guardian Holdings popped $13, ending at $533 while exchanging 1,849 stock units, Jamaica Broilers declined $1 to $26, trading 32,400 units. Jamaica Producers fell 95 cents in closing at $21.80 with the swapping of 36,235 shares, Kingston Properties shed 41 cents to close at $7.49 in exchanging 4,499 stocks,
Mayberry Investments dropped 50 cents in ending at $9.45 with an exchange of 39,766 units. NCB Financial fell 50 cents to end at $101 with the trading of 77,865 shares, Palace Amusement dropped $2 in ending at $988 after an exchange of just one stock, Portland JSX declined $2.06 to end at $6.50 after the exchange of 1,055 stock units. Proven Investments lost 36 cents to end at $37.45 as 232,629 units changed hands, Sagicor Group gained $3.23 in closing at $57 in switching ownership of 167,268 shares and Seprod shed 48 cents to close at $71.02 with 11,725 stocks clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Slippage for JSE Majors on Monday
The volume of stocks traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday surged 97 percent above Friday trades but with a 32 percent fall in the value exchanged, leading to twice as many stocks falling as rising and resulting in a dip in the market index.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,166.89 points to 442,437.97, the JSE Main Index declined by 1,330.54 points to 388,227.31 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.39 points to settle at 91.59.
Similar to Friday, 54 securities were traded, with 14 rising, 29 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
Overall, 14,684,649 shares were exchanged for $86,847,608 versus 7,435,594 units at $128,125,542 on Friday. Trading averages 271,938 units at $1,608,289, compared to 137,696 shares at $2,372,695 on Friday and month to date, an average of 268,374 units at $1,794,355, compared to 267,179 units at $1,856,762 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
JMMB Group 7.5% led trading with 5.01 million shares for 34.1 percent of total volume, followed by Portland JSX with 2.0 million units for 13.6 percent of the day’s trade, Community & Workers Credit Union ended with 1.45 million units for 9.9 percent market share, Transjamaican Highway exchanged 1.43 million units for 9.7 percent of the market trade and QWI Investments with 1.08 million units for 7.4 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a formula for certain appropriate stock values, averages 14.7 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years, ending up to the close of August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments lost 39 cents to end at $88.11, with 1,863 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Cement popped 50 cents to end at $66 after 5,858 units changed hands, Eppley climbed $1.05 to $49 trading 1,261 stock units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $3.96 in closing at $42.75 with an exchange of 234 stocks, First Rock Capital gained 64 cents in ending at $12.65 after trading 35,649 units, GraceKennedy shed $1.97 to $107.53 in exchanging 19,373 shares. Guardian Holdings fell $14 to $520, with 1,140 stock units changing hands, Jamaica Broilers declined $1 to $27 with the swapping of 14,622 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange declined $1.50 in closing at $18 in an exchange of 132,344 stock units. JMMB Group lost 88 cents to end at $43.12 in switching ownership of 313,322 shares, Massy Holdings shed $2.75 to close at $92.50 with 44,883 stocks clearing the market, NCB Financial rose 48 cents to end at $101.50 while exchanging 151,031 units. PanJam Investment dropped $1.50 to $66 in exchanging 1,811 units, Portland JSX fell $1.69 to $8.56 after 2,000,000 stock units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments shed 69 cents in closing at $37.81 with an exchange of 12,031 stocks. 
Sagicor Group lost 48 cents to end at $53.77 trading 87,304 shares, Salada Foods dropped 44 cents to $5.50 after exchanging 5,684 units, Scotia Group declined $1 in closing at $36 and trading 86,051 stocks and Seprod rallied 50 cents to $71.50 with 5,524 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share increased 41 cents to close at $3.20 in switching ownership of 12 shares and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $2.72 in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $20.88 trading 463 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
One new entry to ICTOP10
Prices of several stocks rebounded this past week as the selloff to fund the Dolla Financial IPO receded, but the changes had little impact on changing stocks in the TOP10, with just one new entrant to the listing.
Following last week’s 330 points fall, the Junior Market index recovered 143 points by the end of the week, while the Main Market All Jamaica Index lost 211 points on top of the 5,954.55 points given up in the previous week.
This week’s market performance resulted in mostly gains for TOP10 stocks. In the Junior Market, Medical Disposables rose 12 percent to $7.85, while Access Financial gained 9 percent to close at $21.80 and Lasco Financial rallied 6 percent to $3.50, following the release of full year results to March, with profit doubling to $306 million for earnings per share of 24 cents. Elite slipped 6 percent in closing at $3.40 and Caribbean Cream fell 5 percent to $4.69.
For the TOP10 Main Market stocks, Productive Business Solutions gained 15 percent to US$1.15, VM Investments rose 13 percent to $5.87, Berger Paints rallied 6 percent to $11.30, followed by QWI Investments up 5 percent to 89 cents. Sygnus Credit Investments declined 5 percent to $14.80 and JMMB Group slipped 4 percent to $44 following the release of full year results.
Jetcon Corporation price dipped to $1.32 and squeezed out General Accident from the Junior Market TOP10.
Medical Disposables reported full year results to March, on Thursday, with profit before tax surging 938 percent to $143 million and profit due to the parent company shareholders before extraordinary gains in 2021 of $62 million, rising to $105 million, from $7.5 million, with revenues up 42 percent over the previous year.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 ends the week at 6.2, well below the market average of 15.1, while the Junior Market PE for the Top 10 is six versus the market at 13.4. The Junior Market TOP10 is projected to gain an average of 235 percent to May 2023 and the Main Market 228 percent.
Watch these stocks that are sitting just outside the TOP10, the list includes Key Insurance, followed by Caribbean Producers, Scotia Group and Sagicor Group from the Main Market and in the Junior Market, Dolphin Cove, General Accident and Iron Rock Insurance.
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 the end of May 2023 and are 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 are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Main market stocks slipped on Friday
Market activity ended on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 58 percent with an 87 percent higher value than on Thursday as rising stocks just exceeded those falling.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,760.54 points to 443,604.86, the JSE Main Index lost 1,705.22 points to close at 389,557.86 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.55 points to settle at 91.98.
On Friday, 54 securities were traded, down from 57 on Thursday, with 22 rising, 21 declining and 11 unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula to compute appropriate stock values, averages 15.1. for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Overall, 7,435,594 shares traded for $128,125,542 versus 17,737,465 units at $68,560,146 on Thursday. Trading averages 137,696 units at $2,372,695, compared to 311,184 shares at $1,202,810 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 267,179 units at $1,856,762, compared to 332,525 units at $1,596,385 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.63 million shares for 21.9 percent of total volume, followed by Supreme Ventures with 1.41 million units for 18.9 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group with 1.12 million units for 15 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments popped 49 cents in closing at $88.50 in trading 9,074 shares, Berger Paints advanced 30 cents to end at $11.30, with 423 stocks crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.50 to close at $65.50 as 7,350 stock units changed hands. GraceKennedy rallied 50 cents to $109.50 in switching ownership of 93,121 units, Guardian Holdings shed $1 in ending at $534 with an exchange of 2,608 shares, Jamaica Producers gained 30 cents to $22.80 after 7,565 units crossed the market. JMMB Group declined 99 cents to close at $44 with 1,116,258 stock units clearing the market, Kingston Wharves lost 62 cents in ending at $38.98 after trading 301 stocks, NCB Financial fell $3.88 in closing at $101.02 in exchanging 51,678 stocks. PanJam Investment climbed $1.50 to end at $67.50 while exchanging 801 stock units, Proven Investments increased 51 cents to end at $38.50 after exchanging 44,633 shares, Sagicor Group dropped 75 cents to $54.25, with 47,796 units changing hands. Scotia Group rose $1.40 to close at $37, with 91,201 units crossing the market, Seprod declined 87 cents to $71 in an exchange of 2,846 shares and Supreme Ventures rallied 50 cents in closing at $30.50 with the swapping of 1,406,282 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share gained $1.99 in ending at $22 after exchanging 200 stock units, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed 72 cents in closing at $7.23 in trading just two shares, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share lost 42 cents to close at $2.79 in trading 1,078 units and 138 Student Living s preference share advanced $1.66 to end at $18.16, with 53 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Decline for JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining modestly, but with 33 percent lower value than on Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks just edged out those falling.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,414.76 points to settle at 446,365.40, the JSE Main Index dipped 1,933.62 points to close at 391,263.08 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.78 points to settle at 92.53.
Trading ended with 57 securities compared to 50 on Wednesday, with 23 rising, 22 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing stock values, averages 15.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are calculated based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years, ending up to the close of August 2023.
Overall, 17,737,465 shares were exchanged for $68,560,146 versus 17,842,696 units at $102,253,017 on Wednesday. Trading averages 311,184 units at $1,202,810, compared to 356,854 shares at $2,045,060 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 332,525 units at $1,596,385. May closed with an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.24 million shares for 18.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.73 million units for 15.4 percent of the day’s trade, Ciboney Group ended with 2.37 million units for 13.4 percent market share, Sagicor Select Financial Fund closed with 2.36 million units trading for 13.3 percent market share. Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund ended with 1.79 million units for 10.1 percent market share and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024, 1.21 million units for 6.8 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied 91 cents to $88.01 in switching ownership of 12,725 shares, Berger Paints lost $1 to close at $11 in exchanging at 12,985 units, Caribbean Cement fell $2.70 to $67 after 32,147 stocks crossed the exchange. Carreras climbed 30 cents to end at $9.95 after exchanging 273,510 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund increased $2 in closing at $47 in exchanging 7,404 units, First Rock Capital shed 43 cents in closing at $12, with 11,738 stock units changing hands. GraceKennedy advanced $1.40 to $109 in trading 39,512 shares, Jamaica Producers declined 30 cents to close at $22.50 after 369 stocks crossed the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained $1.60 to end at $19.30 trading 5,211 stock units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 52 cents to $15, with 160,500 stocks crossing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $9.95 to $105 while exchanging 411 shares, Palace Amusement rallied $90 in closing at $990 and exchanging ten units. PanJam Investment dropped $1.50 in ending at $66, with 5,666 shares clearing the market, Portland JSX fell 45 cents to end at $10.25 with the swapping of 5,000 stock units, Scotia Group lost $1.20 to close at $35.60 with an exchange of 16,198 stocks. 
Seprod climbed $1.37 to end at $71.87, trading 11,616 units, Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 99 cents to close at $14.99 in an exchange of 97,609 stock units and Victoria Mutual Investments gained 37 cents in closing at $5.89 as 28,299 stocks changed hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined $1.93 to $6.51 while exchanging 421,550 units, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share popped 42 cents to $3.21, with 10 shares changing hands and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share increased $2.75 to end at $109.75 in exchanging 404 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market falters to start June
Market activity started in June, with the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market giving back some of the gains enjoyed on Tuesday in closing out May. The volume of stocks traded on Wednesday declined 7 percent and the value dropped 47 percent lower than on Tuesday as rising stocks were fewer than those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 1,658.03 points to end at 448,780.16, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,215.87 points to 393,196.70 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.66 points to settle at 93.31.
Trading ended with 50 securities compared to 53 on Tuesday, with 19 rising, 24 declining and seven ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Overall, 17,842,696 shares were traded for $102,253,017 versus 19,187,062 units at $194,339,772 on Tuesday. Trading averages 356,854 units at $2,045,060, compared to 362,020 shares at $3,666,788 on Tuesday. May averaged 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.72 million shares for 20.8 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.5% preference share with 2.74 million units for 15.3 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 2.69 million units for 15.1 percent market share. Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund ended with 2.32 million units for 13 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund traded 2.29 million units for 12.8 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 90 cents to close at $87.10 while exchanging 169,135 shares, Caribbean Cement rose $1.25 to end at $69.70, with 171,404 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Producers fell 35 cents in closing at $15.30 as 82,835 units were swapped. Eppley climbed $7.95 in ending at $47.95 in switching ownership of 1,561 stocks, GraceKennedy fell $2.90 to close at $107.60 with an exchange of 18,800 stocks, Jamaica Broilers dropped 50 cents to end at $28, with 132,044 units changing hands. Jamaica Producers popped 30 cents to $22.80 with the swapping of 109 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost $1.30 in closing at $17.70 with an exchange of 1,000 shares, JMMB Group declined $2 to $45 in exchanging 212,458 stocks. Mayberry Investments lost 45 cents to end at $10 after trading 21,713 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 98 cents to close at $14.48, with 11,508 units crossing the exchange, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $6.95 in closing at $95.05 after exchanging 72 shares. NCB Financial fell 98 cents to $105.02, with 45,393 units crossing the market, Palace Amusement shed $23.95 to $900 in trading 70 shares, PanJam Investment rose $1.50 to end at $67.50, trading 1,613 stock units. 
Proven Investments declined 99 cents to $38 in an exchange of 29,227 stocks, Radio Jamaica dropped 35 cents to $2.50, with 336,685 shares clearing the market, Sagicor Group shed $2.99 to end at $55 while exchanging 125,413 stocks. Scotia Group rallied 80 cents in closing at $36.80 after exchanging 2,102 stock units, Seprod gained 48 cents to close at $70.50 after 13,500 units changed hands, Stanley Motta rallied 46 cents to $5.95, with 16,561 units crossing the market. Supreme Ventures climbed 46 cents to close at $29.96 after trading 95,238 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments fell $1.90 in closing at $14 after 611,693 stock units changed hands.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $2 after ending at $107 and trading 586 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Rising JSE main market stocks batter losers
Market activity on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 163 percent and the value 285 percent more than Monday as rising stocks exceeded those declining by a wide margin.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 2,316.94 points to settle at 450,438.19, the JSE Main Index and the JSE Financial Index advanced 0.31 points to settle at 93.97.
Some 53 securities traded compared to 54 on Monday, with 34 rising, ten declining and nine ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula used for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Overall, 19,187,062 shares traded for $194,339,772 versus 7,299,070 units at $50,442,185 on Monday. Trading averages 362,020 units at $3,666,788, compared to 135,168 shares at $934,115 on Monday and month to date, an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016, compared to 232,770 units at $3,558,980 on the previous trading day. April averaged 532,209 units at$5,709,319.
JMMB Group 7.5% preference share led trading with 10.52 million units for 54.8 percent of total volume, followed by Supreme Ventures with 1.43 million shares for 7.4 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway ended with 1.32 million units for 6.9 percent market share and Caribbean Producers exchanged 1.02 million units for 5.3 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 17 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rallied 35 cents to end at $88 with an exchange of 123,555 shares, Berger Paints advanced $1.37 to $12, with just 84 units crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cement rose $4.45 to $68.45 after 31,606 stock units passed through the market. Caribbean Producers rallied 87 cents to $15.65 in switching ownership of 1,023,013 stocks, Carreras increased 40 cents to $9.90 after 294,229 units changed hands, Eppley dropped $6.23 to $40, with 4,028 stocks crossing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $1 to $45 while exchanging 5,325 shares, First Rock Capital climbed 45 cents in closing at $12.50 in an exchange of 915 stock units, GraceKennedy rose $3 to close at $110.50 as 12,469 shares changed hands. Guardian Holdings advanced $15 to end at $535, trading 3,909 stock units, Jamaica Broilers rallied 50 cents to close at $28.50 after exchanging 23,170 units, Jamaica Producers gained 50 cents in ending at $22.50 with the swapping of 2,337 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 50 cents to $19, with 95,847 shares changing hands, Massy Holdings shed $3 in closing at $95 after exchanging 29,647 units, Mayberry Investments increased 35 cents to end at $10.45, with 317,126 stocks clearing the market. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy lost $3 after finishing at $102 in exchanging 48 stock units, NCB Financial fell 40 cents to $106 in trading 51,458 shares, Palace Amusement climbed $3.95 to close at $923.95 in exchanging 11 units. Proven Investments increased $2.24 to end at $38.99 after trading 2,183 stock units, 
Supreme Ventures climbed 49 cents in closing at $29.50, with 1,425,406 stocks clearing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments advanced $1.10 to end at $15.90 trading 130,918 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied $1.54 in closing at $15.54 in trading 7,000 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% popped by $1 to close at $3000 after just one unit changed owners and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share declined by $2 in, ending at $105 with an exchange of 774 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Paramount Trading joins ICTOP10
Dolla Financial Services IPO was heavily oversubscribed, and it is unlikely that investors will be able to buy the stock in the secondary market at a price that would place it in the TOP10 after day two of listing. Accordingly, the stock has been moved to the sideline, but it seems set to reach the $3 region sometime after listing.
The shifting of Dolla Financial out of the TOP10 resulted in Paramount Trading entering the TOP10 with the price falling to $1.75 in a week that saw investors selling stocks to raise funds to get into the IPO issue.
The past week was volatile, with the Junior Market index dropping more than 330 points or 7.6 percent from the close of the previous week to Wednesday, as investors sought funds to go into the Dolla IPO. The selloff was visible from May 12 with a near 100 points fall on that day as there was talk in the market of the pending issue.
This week’s pullback of the market resulted in mostly declines in the TOP10 Junior Market stocks. Medical Disposables dropped 13 percent to $7, while Access Financial also dropped 13 percent to close at $20, Elite Diagnostic slipped 9 percent in closing at $3.60 and Lasco Financial dipped 7 percent to $3.30.
For the TOP10 Main Market stocks, Berger Paints fell 13 percent to $10.63; Radio Jamaica declined 11 percent to $2.55, VM Investments lost 7 percent, followed by QWI Investments down 6 percent to 85 cents. There were no meaningful gains.
During the week, General Accident reported first quarter results with profit due to shareholders of the parent company rising 36 percent to $49 million, Friday after trading, Lasco Distributors reported profit increasing 12 percent for the full year to $1 billion but the final quarter being up 35 percent to $241 million and Lasco Manufacturing rising 45 percent in the March quarter to $522 million and the full year up 24 percent to $1.7 billion.ICInsider.com upgraded earnings for Lasco Distributors to 50 cents from 45 cents, but the others remain as previously stated. All three stocks are trading below ten times 2022 earnings and therefore have huge potential to appreciate.
Results for Access Financial and Medical Disposables to March are awaited.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 ends the week at 6.2, well below the market average of 14.4, while the Junior Market PE for the Top 10 sits at 5.9 versus the market at 13.1. The Junior Market TOP10 is projected to gain an average of 245 percent to May 2023 and the Main Market 241 percent.
Watch these stocks that sit just outside the TOP10 that investors should watch. They include Key Insurance, followed by Caribbean Producers and Scotia Group from the Main Market. In the Junior Market, Iron Rock Insurance, Dolphin Cove, Jetcon Corporation, Stationery and Office Supplies and Lasco Manufacturingreported strong fourth quarter results to March this year.
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 the end of May 2023. They are 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 are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Weekend gains for JSE main market
Market activity ended on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 11 percent within 18 percent greater value than on Thursday as rising stocks edged out those declining, sending the market indices into positive territory at the close.
Trading ended with 56 securities changing hands compared to 54 on Thursday, with 22 rising, 19 sliding, with 15 unchanged. The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,636.40 points to 443,816.22, the JSE Main Index 678.54 points to 387,816.69 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.10 points to settle at 92.77.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.4. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
Overall, Overall, 11,037,154 shares were exchanged for $85,895,992 versus 12,027,193 units at $67,590,197 on Thursday. Trading averages 197,092 units at $1,533,857, compared to 222,726 shares at $1,251,670 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 237,747 units at $3,689,672, compared to 240,017 units at $3,810,037 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 532,209 units at $5,709,319.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.72 million shares for 24.6 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.51 million units for 22.8 percent of the day’s trade and QWI Investments, 961,802 units for 8.7 percent of market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped $2.21 to close at $87.65, with 48,902 shares changing hands, Caribbean Producers lost 71 cents to end at $15 in switching owners of 192,169 stocks, Eppley rallied $6.23 in ending at $46.23 after 35 stock units crossed the exchange. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $2.95 in closing at $41.05 and trading 687 units, First Rock Capital climbed 85 cents to $12.40, with 12,035 shares crossing the market, JMMB Group gained 65 cents to end at $46 trading 160,986 stocks. Kingston Wharves increased $1.25 in ending at $39.70 after exchanging 6,212 units, Massy Holdings rose $1.80 to $95 with 4,080 stock units changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced $1.36 in closing at $14.60 in an exchange of 23,809 stocks. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $9.99 to close at $105 with the swapping of 91 stock units, NCB Financial shed 50 cents to close at $106.50 with an exchange of 21,683 units, 138 Student Living advanced 43 cents to $5.19 with 15,946 shares clearing the market. PanJam Investment increased $2 to $66 after exchanging 3,106 stocks, Portland JSX fell 30 cents to $10 with 40,349 shares changing hands, Proven Investments fell $1.85 to end at $36.05 after exchanging 88,068 stock units. 
Sagicor Group rose $1.49 to $57.99, with 107,192 units crossing the market, Scotia Group popped 52 cents to close at $36 while exchanging 334,902 stocks, Seprod lost 39 cents, ending at $70.01 trading 5,380 units. Stanley Motta shed 40 cents in closing at $4.90 while exchanging 186,644 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 98 cents to $16.08 and closed after trading 65,064 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance dropped 55 cents, ending at a 52 weeks’ low of $12.95, with 1,175 stock units crossing the market and Wisynco Group declined 65 cents to end at $19.30 in switching ownership of 266,327 shares.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share declined $1.66 to close at $16.50 in exchanging 311 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
