The volume of stocks traded on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, fell by 12 percent and the value dipped by 16 percent compared to trading on Monday, with activity taking place in 43 securities, up from 41 on Monday and ended with prices of 16 rising, 22 declining and five left unchanged.
Jamaican Teas dropped to a 52 weeks’ low of 2.20 while Main Event surged to an intraday record high of $12.50.
A total of 8,389,729 shares were traded for $24,298,687 compared to 9,587,270 units at $29,063,432 on Monday. Trading averaged 195,110 shares at $565,086 compared to 233,836 units at $708,864 on Monday with the month to date averaging 258,383 units at $695,016 down from 264,459 stock units at $708,070 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
JFP Ltd led trading with 1.21 million shares for 14.4 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.08 million units for 12.9 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 871,755 units for 10.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 24.82 points to settle at 3,999.21.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.4. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $2.40 in closing at $22.90, with just 20 shares crossing the market, Blue Power dipped 10 cents to $3.10 with an exchange of 600 units, Cargo Handlers advanced 13 cents to $11.13 as 3,072 stocks changed hands. Caribbean Cream shed 14 cents to close at $3.86 with investors transferring 34 stock units, Caribbean Flavours rose 13 cents to $1.75 as 88,768 shares passed through the market, Consolidated Bakeries increased 11 cents to end at $2.42 after a transfer of 200 units. Elite Diagnostic lost 35 cents in closing at $3.33 with the swapping of 17,435 stock units, Everything Fresh rallied 15 cents to $1.60 with a transfer of 202,533 stocks, Future Energy Source fell 15 cents to $5.15, with 391,288 units changing hands. General Accident popped $1.10 to close at $5.10 in trading 7,300 shares, Jamaican Teas dropped 27 cents ending at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.28 after an exchange of 871,755 stock units, KLE Group declined 34 cents to end at $1.66 while exchanging 4,274 stocks. Knutsford Express declined 30 cents to close at $8 in an exchange of 60,065 stock units, Lasco Distributors dipped 10 cents to $2.80 as investors traded 218,196 units, Lasco Financial gained 12 cents in closing at $2.83, with 1,000 shares crossing the exchange. 
Limners and Bards fell 10 cents ending at $2.40 after an exchange of 30,856 stocks, Main Event popped $1.15 to close at a record closing high of $11.50, following the trading of 212,325 units, MFS Capital Partners shed 10 cents to $2.90 trading 124,334 stock units. Spur Tree Spices dropped 23 cents to end at $3.16 in exchanging 1,078,230 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies climbed $1.65 in closing at $16.85, with 6,262 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big drop for Junior Market on Monday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange fell sharply on Monday, fuelled by falling volume of stocks trading with a decline of 60 percent as the amount of funds passing through the market dropped 56 percent compared to trading on Friday after 41 securities were traded compared with 39 on Friday and ended with prices of 10 rising, 25 declining and six closing unchanged.
A total of 9,587,270 shares were traded for $29,063,432 down from 24,249,069 units at $66,587,007 on Friday.
Trading averaged 233,836 shares at $708,864 down from 621,771 units at $1,707,359 on Friday, with the month to date, averaging 264,739 units at $708,070 versus 267,703 stock units at $707,986 on Friday the previous trading day. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
Consolidated Bakeries led trading with 1.38 million shares for 14.4 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 956,783 units for 10 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 927,898 units for 9.7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 60.44 points to settle at 3,974.39.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.3. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial declined $3.19 after ending at $20.50 with investors switching ownership of 7,158 shares, Cargo Handlers shed $1.55 to end at $11 in an exchange of 5,410 units, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 39 cents in closing at $2.31 after exchanging 1,378,803 stock units. Dolphin Cove dipped 60 cents to close at $13 after an exchange of 63,390 stocks, Everything Fresh popped 13 cents to $1.45 in trading 145,000 stock units, Future Energy Source rose 14 cents to close at $5.30 as investors exchanged 737,370 shares. General Accident lost $1.05 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $4 with a transfer of 9,968 units, Honey Bun fell 29 cents to end at $6.59 after exchanging 150 stocks, iCreate shed 18 cents to $1.81 with the swapping of 524,693 stock units. JFP Ltd fell 12 cents to $1.57 while investors exchanged 893,614 shares, KLE Group rallied 40 cents to end at $2 after a transfer of 223,500 units, Knutsford Express dipped 69 cents to $8.30 after 4,209 stocks changed hands. Lasco Distributors lost 20 cents in closing at $2.90, with 90,593 stocks crossing the market, Lasco Financial declined 29 cents to close at $2.71 as 118,224 shares passed through the market, Limners and Bards dropped 15 cents to $2.50 118,890 units changing hands. 
Mailpac Group advanced 12 cents to end at $2.15 after 116,159 stock units crossed the market, Stationery and Office Supplies declined 35 cents in closing at $15.20 with 6,569 stock units clearing the market and Tropical Battery dropped 20 cents in ending at $2.56 with an exchange of 450,450 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
PBS jumps ICTOP10 with 89% gain
Productive Business Solutions surged 45 percent to close at US$2 from US$1.38 at the close of the previous week and dropped out of the TOP10, having entered at the beginning of April at $1.06 and has now recorded a gain of 89 percent. Caribbean Assurance Brokers slipped out of the Junior Market TOP10 following a downgrade of earnings per share with the release of nine months’ results.
138 Student Living made it back in the Main Market TOP 10 following reporting strong full year results with the promise of more in 2023 as students return to on campus training and Medical Disposables returns to the Junior Market list.
The Junior Market had five top 10 stocks gaining between 4 percent and 14 percent, with two declining over five percent. The Main Market list had only two stocks gaining from 10 and 45 percent with five losses but with four ranging from 4 to 9 percent.
Notable price changes during the week include Lasco Distributors rising 14 percent to $3.10, General Accident and Lasco Financial popped 10 percent to close at $5.05 and $3, respectively, Elite Diagnostic was up 6 percent to $3.72 and Caribbean Cream rose 4 percent to $4. Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 8 percent to close the week at $2.39, following the release of nine months results that rose 33 percent to 40 cents, with the crucial third quarter results being flat in contrast to solid growth in the first half of the year.
In the Main Market, Productive Business Solutions rose 45 percent during the week to $2, followed by Radio Jamaica, that jumped 10 percent to $2. VVM Investments dropped 9 percent to $4.39 while Caribbean Producers slipped 5 percent to $12.33, Berger Paints also dipped 5 percent and ended at$10.40 and Guardian Holdings fell 4 percent to $500.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.3, well below the market average of 13.4. At the same time, the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.2 versus the market at 12.4, an important indicator of the level of undervaluation of the ICTOP10stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 224 percent and the Main Market TOP10 an average now of 298 percent, to May 2023, following an upgrading of Guardian Holdings earnings per share to $173.50 from $92 previously.
The Junior Market has 14 ; stocks representing a third of the market, with PEs from 16 to 38, averaging22 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18. This data shows the extent of potential gains that the TOP 10 stocks possess. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 15 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 80, with an average of 28 and 24.3 excluding the highest valued one and 22.5 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. Accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting 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.
Lasco Financial & 138SL now Stocks to Watch
Lasco Financial and 138 Student Living are added to the Stocks to Watch list following release results recently showing increasing profits over 2021, both stocks are on the ICInsider.com TOP10 list.
ICInsider.com watch list comprises Access Financial, Barita Investments, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Consolidated Bakeries, Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers, Elite Diagnostic, Everything Fresh, General Accident, Guardian Holdings, Jamaica Broilers, Key Insurance, Knutsford Express, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing, Medical Disposables, NCB Financial, One on One, Palace Amusement, Paramount Trading, Scotia Group, Stationery and Office Supplies and Wisynco Group
Major factors to consider going forward. The rebound in tourist arrivals only came to 2019 levels since June. Providing there are no reversals, then companies who are highly dependent on the sector will enjoy a big bounce for the next nine months compared to the lower business generated since last year to April this year. The same applies to the entertainment industry as the sector only opened up after March this year. Banks will make a fortune from increased interest rates.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on.
Trading surges on Junior Market
Trading surged sharply on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining rising 216 percent more and the value 169 percent more than on Thursday with 39 securities trading down from 46 on Thursday, ending with 12 rising, 18 declining and nine closing unchanged.
A total of 24,249,069 shares were exchanged for $66,587,007, up from 7,669,560 units at $24,736,067 on Thursday. Trading averaged 621,771 shares at $1,707,359 compared to 166,730 units at $537,741 on Thursday with the month to date averaging 267,703 units at $707,986 compared to 228,023 stock units at $595,987 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
Everything Fresh led trading with 10.46 million shares for 43.1 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy Source with 6.32 million units for 26.1 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 2.16 million units for 8.9 percent market share. Dolla Financial chipped in with 1.17 million units for 4.8 percent market share and ONE on ONE Educational ended with 1.03 million units for 4.2 percent of stocks traded.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 23.88 points to settle at 4,034.83.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.4. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $1.69 to $23.69 with investors transferring 1,238 shares, Blue Power dropped 10 cents to close at $3.20 with the swapping of 534 stocks, Caribbean Flavours dipped 13 cents in closing at $1.62 after trading 7,500 stock units. Dolla Financial advanced 13 cents in ending at $3.43 as investors exchanged 1,165,270 units, Dolphin Cove lost 20 cents to end at $13.60 after exchanging 4,774 shares, EduFocal shed 21 cents in closing at $2.66 finishing trading of 445,757 stock units. Elite Diagnostic popped 32 cents to end at $3.72 with 4,038 stocks clearing the market, Everything Fresh declined 35 cents to $1.32 after a transfer of 10,458,798 units, Future Energy Source fell 17 cents to close at $5.16 with an exchange of 6,324,130 stocks. Indies Pharma gained 13 cents after ending at $2.85, with 3,134 stock units changing hands, JFP Ltd fell 11 cents to $1.69, with 2,156,657 units crossing the market, Lasco Distributors rose 25 cents in closing at $3.10 after 464,538 shares changed hands.
Limners and Bards rallied 27 cents to $2.65 in an exchange of 26,244 stocks, Mailpac Group lost 10 cents to end at $2.03, with 277,170 shares crossing the market, Main Event climbed 25 cents to close at $10.35 in exchanging 47,585 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies dipped 45 cents to end at $15.55 and closed with 14,240 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Losing Junior Market stocks overpower those rising
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 43 percent spurred by a 54 percent rise in value over Wednesday, with 46 securities trading versus 42 on Wednesday and ending with prices of nine rising, 28 declining and nine closing unchanged.
A total of 7,669,560 shares were traded for $24,736,067 compared to 5,241,850 units at $16,012,234 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 166,730 shares at $537,741 versus 124,806 units at $381,244 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 228,023 units at $595,987 compared with 237,359 shares at $604,859 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 2.49 million shares for 32.5 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 951,467 units for 12.4 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 755,682 units for 9.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 47.70 points to close at 4,058.71.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.7. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial shed $1.69 to close at $22, with 150 shares passed through the market, Blue Power increased 10 cents to $3.30 with an exchange of 329 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 20 cents to close at $2.39 as investors exchanged 345,279 units. Consolidated Bakeries shed 18 cents to end at $2.71 as 2,885 stock units passed through the market, Elite Diagnostic dipped 17 cents in closing at $3.40 after exchanging 130,430 stock units, Everything Fresh lost 10 cents in ending at $1.67 in an exchange of 1,453 shares. Express Catering dropped 19 cents in closing at $5.01 in exchanging 300 stocks, Future Energy Source rose 14 cents to close at $5.33, with 112,325 units crossing the exchange, Indies Pharma dipped 15 cents to end at $2.72 after trading 48,422 stocks. ISP Finance dropped $1 to $15 in trading 5,000 shares, KLE Group declined 41 cents to $1.60 after 21,215 units crossed the market, Limners and Bards fell 32 cents to $2.38 with investors transferring 139,050 stock units. 
Medical Disposables lost 35 cents in closing at $5.15 after trading 1,000 stock units, MFS Capital Partners climbed 42 cents to close at $2.96 while exchanging 28,387 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies shed 50 cents to end at $16 with 5,642 units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market climbs higher on Wednesday
Trading activity dropped at the close on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 48 percent with a 43 percent fall in value from Tuesday, with 42 securities trading down from 45 on Tuesday and ended with 21 rising, 14 declining and seven closing unchanged.
A total of 5,241,850 shares were traded for $16,012,234 compared to 10,330,282 units at $28,311,242 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 124,806 shares at $381,244 down from 229,562 units at $629,139 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 237,359 units at $604,859 versus 255,541 stock units at $640,982 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
MFS Capital Partners led trading with 1.06 million shares for 19.8 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 819,597 units for 15.3 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 668,333 units for 12.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 9.05 points to settle at 4,106.41.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.7. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $1.69 to end at $23.69, with ten shares crossing the market, Consolidated Bakeries gained 18 cents to end at $2.89 after trading 165 units, Dolla Financial advanced 13 cents to close at $3.33 after a transfer of 819,597 stock units. Dolphin Cove lost 27 cents in ending at $13.73 while exchanging 3,031 stocks, Elite Diagnostic increased 17 cents to $3.57 after exchanging 115,234 stocks, Fosrich rallied 11 cents to end at $4.59 with a transfer of 668,333 stock units. Future Energy Source shed 11 cents to $5.19 in an exchange of 205,844 shares, General Accident rose 60 cents to $5.10, with 1,909 units crossing the exchange,Indies Pharma climbed 11 cents in closing at $2.87 in owners switching 2,407 stock units. Iron Rock Insurance climbed 37 cents to close at $2.67 as investors exchanged 223 units, KLE Group rallied 26 cents to $2.01 after 346 stocks passed through the market, Knutsford Express popped 94 cents in closing at $8.99 with the swapping of 599 shares. Lasco Distributors advanced 14 cents to end at $2.87 with investors transferring 5,062 stocks, Lasco Financial increased 24 cents to $3 after trading 1,364 units, 
Lasco Manufacturing dipped 15 cents to $3.85 with trading of 163,100 shares. Main Event fell 25 cents in closing at $10.10 with 26,633 stock units changing hands, MFS Capital Partners dropped 46 cents to $2.54 in exchanging 1,059,310 units, Spur Tree Spices rose 11 cents to end at $3.51 after exchanging 58,434 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies declined 95 cents to close at $16.50 in trading 250 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market pops higher on Tuesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange inched higher at the close on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 37 percent over Monday levels after funds entering the market rose 19 percent more than on Monday with 45 securities trading similar to Monday and ended with prices of 13 rising, 18 declining and 14 closing unchanged.
A total of 10,330,282 shares were traded for $28,311,242 compared to 7,558,210 units at $23,889,400 on Monday.
Trading averaged 229,562 shares at $629,139 versus 167,960 units at $530,876 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 255,541 units at $640,982 compared to 260,979 stock units at $643,461 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 3.15 million shares for 30.5 percent of total volume as the price closed at a 52 weeks’ low, followed by Dolla Financial with 670,443 units for 6.5 percent of the day’s trade and Lasco Distributors with 618,725 units for 6 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 3.02 points to settle at 4,097.36.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.7. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined $1.69 to $22 in switching ownership of 6,216 shares, Blue Power rallied 26 cents to close at $3.25 with the swapping of 1,234 units, Cargo Handlers shed 35 cents to end at $12.55 as investors exchanged 23 stock units. Dolla Financial dipped 13 cents to $3.20 in trading 670,443 stocks, Elite Diagnostic fell 10 cents to $3.40 and closed with 81,266 stocks trading, Everything Fresh popped 13 cents to $1.70 with a transfer of 67,254 shares. Future Energy Source advanced 12 cents in closing at $5.30, with 381,368 stock units changing hands, Indies Pharma dropped 24 cents to $2.76 in exchanging 10,318 units, ISP Finance lost 20 cents to end at $16 as 7,476 stocks passed through the market. Knutsford Express lost 65 cents to close at $8.05 after 16,546 stock units crossed the market, Lasco Distributors declined 27 cents to $2.73 after trading 618,725 units, Lasco Financial shed 24 cents to end at $2.76 with an exchange of 166,220 shares. Lasco Manufacturing increased 20 cents in closing at $4 after trading 250,375 stock units, Limners and Bards gained 12 cents to close at $2.72 after exchanging 13,265 stocks, Main Event rose 72 cents to $10.35 in an exchange of 28,757 units.
Stationery and Office Supplies climbed 45 cents to end at $17.45 after a transfer of 9,969 shares and tTech climbed 15 cents to $2.95, with 1,200 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Juniors in early week rise
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recorded gains on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded falling 74 percent less after a 44 percent fall in the value of funds passing through the market compared to Friday following trading in 45 securities trading versus 44 on Friday and ended with 13 rising, 25 declining and seven closing unchanged.
A total of 7,558,210 shares were traded for $23,889,400, down from 28,794,407 units at $42,886,545 on Friday.
Trading averaged 167,960 shares at $530,876 compared with 654,418 units at $974,694 on Friday, with the month to date averaging 260,979 units at $643,461 versus 285,601 stock units at $673,263 on the previous trading day. October closed with an average of 264,407 units at $832,036.
Dolla Financial led trading with 3.24 million shares for 42.9 percent of total volume, followed by EduFocal with 887,986 units for 11.7 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 448,902 units for 5.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 20.80 points to close at 4,094.34.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.6. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial lost 74 cents to end at $23.69, with 1,233 shares crossing the exchange, AMG Packaging dropped 24 cents in closing at $3.16, with 7,218 units crossing the market, Blue Power dipped 31 cents to close at $2.99 after an exchange of 3,903 stocks. CAC 2000 declined 19 cents to $8.30 in trading 675 stock units, Cargo Handlers shed 40 cents to $12.90 after 306 stocks passed through the exchange, Caribbean Cream popped 15 cents to $4 with the swapping of 34 units. Caribbean Flavours fell 18 cents to $1.62 as investors exchanged 13,900 shares. Consolidated Bakeries dipped 30 cents to end at $2.70 in switching ownership of 41,765 stock units, Everything Fresh fell 20 cents in closing at $1.57 with a transfer of 307,508 stock units. Express Catering jumped 71 cents to $5.27 after an exchange of 1,700 units, Future Energy Source rallied 10 cents to $5.18 after 208,772 shares changed hands, Indies Pharma climbed 25 cents to $3 after investors exchanged 37,581 stocks. Iron Rock Insurance declined 43 cents to end at $2.30 with an exchange of 5,588 units, Knutsford Express advanced 62 cents in closing at $8.70, with 57,212 stocks clearing the market, Lasco Distributors rose 27 cents to $3 while exchanging 40,594 shares. Lasco Financial climbed 28 cents in closing at $3 in an exchange of 52,902 stock units, Limners and Bards dropped 12 cents to end at $2.60 in exchanging 31,105 stock units, Main Event slipped 37 cents to $9.63 after a transfer of 59,893 shares. 
MFS Capital Partners shed 13 cents ending at $2.95, with 52,810 stocks passing through the market, Stationery and Office Supplies lost 45 cents to close at $17 after trading 3,891 units and tTech dropped 49 cents to $2.80, with investors swapping 699 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Lasco Financial heads Junior Market TOP10
Iron Rock Insurance rose 23 percent for the past week after closing at $2.72. It exited ICInsider.com TOP10 of Junior Market stocks while Lasco Financial climbed back into the top list to be the stock likely to gain the most into the first half of 2023, with 268 percent, at the same time, Key Insurance gained 8 percent to close the week at $3.76, enough to push it from the TOP10 to be replaced by Radio Jamaica that dropped to $1.81 on Friday.
Following Lasco Financial half year results, with profit up 26 percent in the September quarter, earnings for the full year were raised from 40 cents to 50 cents, with the company resuming growing the loan portfolio. Lasco Manufacturing released six months of results to September that rose 23 percent in the quarter, an improvement over the first quarter and retains earnings previously projected.
The past week ended with the Junior Market moving modestly higher, as it continues to consolidate ahead of a break that is poised to move it sharply higher, with third quarter results to start hitting the market in droves this week and next. The Main Market also closed marginally higher at the week’s end than the previous one.
The Junior Market rise during the week benefitted from three of the top 10 stocks gaining between 5 percent and 23 percent with only one decline of note. The Main Market’s highest loser fell 4 percent, while four stocks gained 4 to 8 percent.
Other notable price changes during the week include Dolphin Cove, with an increase of 8 percent to $14 and Paramount Trading, up 5 percent to $1.99, while Lasco Manufacturing declined 9 percent to close the week at $3.85 in the Junior Market and in the Main Market, Productive Business Solutions rose 6 percent to $1.38, Guardian Holdings jumped 5 percent to $519 following the release of impressive nine months results and VVM Investments popped 5 percent to $4.80 while Caribbean Producers slipped 4 percent to $13.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6.2, well below the market average of 13.6. At the same time, the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.9 versus the market at 12.6, an important indicator of the level of undervaluation of the ICTOP10s tocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 243 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 256 percent by May 2023.
The Junior Market has 14 stocks representing a third of the market, with PEs from 16 to 38, averaging 22 compared with the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18.5. This data shows the extent of potential gains that the TOP 10 stocks possess. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 15 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 80, with an average of 25 and 22 excluding the highest valued one and 21 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. Accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting 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.