It is not always that main market stocks are more attractive buys than those in the junior market, but that is what is happening currently. Strong gains, in 2016 to end of January this year, in junior market companies, resulted in Jamaica Stock Exchange main market having stocks with better values than in the junior market.
The end result is that unlike other years when the junior market stocks tended to outperform those of in the main market by a ratio of 2 to 1, this year could see both markets gaining roughly the same.
The big question, of course, is what will be the accepted PE of the market? Currently, while the average for 2016 is 17 for the main market and the ratio based on 2017 estimated earnings is 11, with 11 stocks selling above this level, Jamaica Producers and Kingston Wharves have PE ratios over 30 times 2017 earnings.
The main market faces turbulence currently as the market is sitting just below a major resistance level around 243,000 points on the All Jamaica Index. If it can overcome this level, then it will encounter resistance around the 265,000 mark.
The TOP 10 list includes 4 financial sector stocks, two communication stocks and two from the manufacturing sector.
Cable & Wireless has made considerable progress in recent years, moving from major annual losses to a stage where they reported a small profit in fiscal year 2016 to March and should break even for the nine months to December, the new financial year end. Revenues have been climbing at double digit pace and should increase even more with the upturn in economic activity and with more persons being employed. The company recently raised rates on a number of its services that should help move revenues upwards. They have also made considerable recovery in their cellular customer base and have expanded it, generating increased revenues as a result. IC Insider.com forecast calls for a profit in 2017 with growth in 2018 as well.
On this basis, the stock is set to make solid gains. The only factor preventing that is a strong possibility that the parent company may move with an offer for the minority shares that would place a cap on the upside.
Radio Jamaica is under selling pressure as investors ignore the fundamentals and an improving economy that could result in increased profits and growth in the stock. The merger with the Gleaner was predicated a great deal on cost cutting. The group is doing just that and should benefit from a stronger marketing team and from increased advertising as businesses augment their advertising spend.
Caribbean Cement cut cost sharply in 2016 and saw growth in local sales for the first six months. However, closure of the plant for upgrading resulted in lost sales in the third quarter but sales recovered in the fourth quarter. Going into 2017, the cost savings should reduce operating cost and boost gross profit margins. Increased economic activity and lower cost of capital is leading to an uptick in the construction sector and consequently, an increase in demand for cement. The stock remains highly undervalued and has room for major gains ahead.
Barita is one of the top IC Insider’s stock for growth over the next 12 months in the main market.
Pulse Investments reported earnings of $1.35 last year and 32 cents for the September quarter that places the stock in the undervalued category even as the price climbed to $7.10 recently. It could go higher, but a bit of the earnings flow from revaluation surplus on property and that may cause some investors to discount the earnings. In a very bullish market, that may not matter much, for many investors. One positive, is that the cash flow statement shows cash inflows growing at a much higher level than in 2015.
Keith Duncan, Group Chief Executive Officer of JMMB.
Berger Paints had a very good run to December last year, with strong gains in profit as revenues grew attractively. Growth should continue into 2018 fiscal year, helped by increased building activity and an improving economy. Dividend payment should be high, thus boosting yields.
Scotia Investments should benefit in much the same way as Barita Investments. The investment bank reported earnings of $1.27 for the October quarter and IC Insider.com forecast is $4.96 for 2017. The increase should benefit from widening net interest income, as interest rates soften and more funds generated are added to the pool of interest earning pool as well as from growth in unit trust funds that will engender higher fee income, in addition to robust stock market activities that will also enhance fee income for the brokerage arm. On the negative side, the revaluation now taking place in the local currency could negatively affect earnings from trading in this area.
Carreras is one of the few stocks that have languished at the old price while many others have recorded active gains. The company just announced an interim payment of $2.20 bringing the payment since August last year to $5.40. The full year’s amount is likely to be in the order of $7.60 for a yield on the current price of 11.5 percent. This yield will not last as investors are going to eventually push it downward by bidding the price up as an income substitute. IC Insider’s forecast
is for earnings of $9 per share for the 2018 fiscal year. The stock may well languish at current levels for a while. The longer it stays the better for those investors who may want to add it to their portfolio.National Commercial Bank reported impressive profit results for their December quarter with a jump of 49 percent to $3.56 billion with earnings per share ending at $1.45, up from 96 cents in 2016. IC Insider.com forecast earnings of $8 per share for the current year. NCB declared an increase in its interim dividend payment from 50 cents in 2016 to 60 cents per ordinary stock unit payable in February. The payment represents 42.76 percent of the first quarter profits and is an indication of future payment.
Persons associated with this article may have an interest in the companies commented on.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 104,123 shares compared to an average of 198,939 units on Friday. For the month to date, an average of 177,355 shares traded, versus an average of units 250,588 units up to the prior trading day. January ended with an average of 592,602 units.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 11 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 4 with lower offers.
Pulse Investments gained 78 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.10, trading 17,000 units. Radio Jamaica closed at $1.36, gaining 16 cents trading 105,008 shares, Sagicor Group lost 50 cents to close at $32.50 with 32,656 shares changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate fund closed at $10.20 for a loss of 30 cents with trades of 3,002,738 units, Scotia Group ended trading with a loss of $1 to close at $40, having traded 777,834 shares. Scotia Investments lost 50 cents, after trading 12,000 units and closed at $35, Supreme Ventures gained 20 cents with 23,824 shares traded and closed at $5.70, Proven Investments traded 194,000 ordinary shares, adding 3 cents to close at a 52 weeks high of 29 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded 177,438 units at $1.10.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 16 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
138 Student Living closed trading with an exchange of 15,000 units at $4.50, Pan Jamaican lost $1.45 and closed at $29.05 with 33,000 shares traded, Pulse Investments gained 32 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.32 in trading 12,850 units. Radio Jamaica lost 10 cents to close at $1.20 with 242,445 shares traded, Sagicor Group advanced $2.90 to a 52 weeks’ high of $33 with 33,429 shares changing hands, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 28 cents in closing at $10.50 while trading 41,740 units. Scotia Group ended trading with gains of $2.39, to close at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $41, with trades of 16,967 shares, Scotia Investments climbed $3.50 after trading 47,325 units and closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $35.50, Supreme Ventures gained 20 cents with 75,000 shares traded, to close at $5.50. Proven Investments traded 160,000 ordinary shares, adding 2 cents to close at a 52 weeks high of 26.01 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded 88,000 units at $1.10.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 279,763 shares compared to an average of 384,180 units on Tuesday. January ended with an average of 592,602 units.
Pan Jamaican lost 50 cents and closed at $30.50 with 20,195 units exchanged, Portland JSX traded 7,500 units with gains of 10 cents to close at $9.10, Pulse Investments gained 5 cents to close at $6 in trading 15,750 units, Radio Jamaica closed at $1.30 with 84,170 shares traded. Sagicor Group closed with 55,950 shares changing hands with a loss of 40 cents at $30.10 after it traded earlier at an intraday high of $31, Sagicor Real Estate fund gained 22 cents, closing at $10.22 and trading 14,328 units, Scotia Group ended trading at $38.61, gaining 61 cents with 771,110 shares changing hands. Scotia traded at an intraday high of $40. Scotia Investments also traded at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $34.94 but closed trading with 980,950 units while losing $1.02, to close at $32, Sterling Investments closed at $15.60 with trades of 70,850 units, Supreme Ventures gained 20 cents after trading 1,790,979 shares to close at $5.30, Proven Investments traded 500,825 ordinary shares, adding 1 cent to close at a 52 weeks; high of 24 US cents and JMMB Group 7.5% preference share traded 1,090,382 units at $1.10.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 592,602 shares compared to an average of 384,180 units traded on Monday. For the month to date, an average of 149,740 shares compared to an average of 111,605 units on the previous trading day. The average for the month of December ended at 549,379 units.
Pan Jamaican gained $1 and closed at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $31 with 90,681 units being exchanged, Pulse Investments traded 8,000 units, losing 5 cents to close at $5.95, Radio Jamaica lost 5 cents, closing at $1.30 with 73,828 shares traded, Sagicor Group closed with 22,947 shares changing hands with a gain of 50 cents at $30.50. Sagicor Real Estate fund traded 49,769 units and closed at $10, Scotia Group ended trading at $38, losing $1 with 30,863 shares changing hands. Scotia Investments traded 3,849 units, gaining 2 cents to close at $33.02, Sterling Investments closed at $15.60 with trades of 23,000 units, Supreme Ventures lost 11 cents after trading 700,304 shares to close at $5.10 and Proven Investments traded 12,450 ordinary shares and closed at 23 US cents.
The average trade for the day in the main market ended at 149,740 shares compared to an average of 111,605 units traded on Friday. For the month to date, an average of 175,757 shares compared to an average of 201,775 units on the previous trading day. The average for the month of December ended at 549,379 units.
Pan Jamaican gained 10 cents and closed at $30 with 27,659 units being exchanged, Portland JSX closed at $9 with 10,000 units trading. Pulse Investments traded 12,500 units, gaining 83 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.00, Radio Jamaica rose 5 cents, closing at $1.35 with 27,693 shares traded, Sagicor Group closed with 112,763 shares changing hands with a gain of 99 cents at $30. Sagicor Real Estate fund traded 12,627 units and closed at $10, Salada closed at $8 having traded 148,787 shares, Scotia Group ended with 9,771 shares changing hands at $39. Scotia Investments traded 14,891 units, losing 49 cents to close at $33, Sterling Investments lost 15 cents to close at $15.60 after trading 124,700 units, Supreme Ventures traded 11,259,836 shares and closed at $5.21 and Proven Investments traded 15,300 ordinary shares to close at 23 US cents.
The market closed with 42 securities changing hands, with 24 stocks rising and 9 falling in the overall market, including 10 stocks rising and 2 falling, in the junior market. A total of 8 securities ended at new 52 weeks’ closing highs.
having traded 127,613 shares, 
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading in the main and junior markets, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 21 stocks with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 with lower offers.
Mayberry Investments traded 36,000 shares with gains of 75 cents, to close at $5, 
In market activity, Barita closed at $5.75 after trading 100,000 shares, Berger Paints jumped $1 which pushed the price to a new closing high at $9.50 while trading 27,437 shares, Cable and Wireless ended with 96,651 units at $1.25, after gaining 5 cents, Caribbean Cement jumped $2.98 and traded 57,643 shares to close at $33.50. Carreras closed at $66.70 with a loss of 5 cents and 8,729 shares changing hands, 1834 Investments traded 50,000 units at $1.30, Grace Kennedy had 1,260 units trading to close at $40.50, Jamaica Broilers lost 23 cents and closed at $15.02 with 26,933 shares changing hands. Jamaica Producers traded 121,025 shares, gaining $1.80 to end at 52 weeks’ high of $11.80, Jamaica Stock Exchange traded 53,840 shares at $5.60, 
JMMB Group traded 623,532 units at $15.35 in gaining 4 cents, Kingston Properties closed at $8.50 with 18,435 units traded, Kingston Wharves ended up trading 30,000 units to close at $27.49, after losing 26 cents. National Commercial Bank swapped 134,201 shares to close at $52.60, Pan Jamaican lost 30 cents and closed at $29.65 with 11,923 units traded, Portland JSX gained 50 cents to close at $9.50 while trading 10,923 units. Pulse Investments traded 12,000 units, gaining 60 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.95, Sagicor Group closed with 2,276,639 shares changing hands with a gain of 1 cent at $29.04, Scotia Group, with 3,010,131 shares changing hands, gained $1 to close at $37. Scotia Investments traded 2,091 units losing 50 cents to close at $32.50, Seprod traded 466,763 units and rose 30 cents to $29.80 and Supreme Ventures gained 11 cents in trading 10,371 shares to close at $5.21.