Shake up took place in the ICTOP10 with Lasco Manufacturing that closed up by 10 percent to $6.08 at the end of last week and Lasco Distributors that fell 7 percent to $4.25 and dropping out of the TOP10 following migration from the Junior to the Main Market last week Wednesday.
With the 2024 financial year ending in March, the two companies will see a bump in earnings for 2025 and likely put them in the ICTOP10 again. Since the switch in listing, the number of stocks offered for sale has declined sharply and so have the bids to buy.
Coming into the Junior Market listing are Consolidated Bakeries, while AMG Packaging returns after a weeks’ absence, with the price falling to $3.12 from $3.27, EPS for the Consolidated Bakeries is projected at 30 cents for 2024, pushing it into position 2. The company promised much with a good brand but has delivered inadequate returns since being listed in 2013, but the operations have been undergoing changes with more focus on higher margin products and less on the regular breads, that faces greater competition in the market. A review of the 2023 audited statements shows that cost jumped but this was mostly for big wage increases which should moderate in 2025. Investing in the company is not without risk but it should benefit from continued growth and improved employment in the local economy going forward that should result in revenues growing faster than cost.
There were no new listing in the Main Market, but 138 Student Living rose 10 percent to $4.19 and JMMB Group gained 6 percent to close trading last week at $26.50, while Palace Amusements shed 9 percent to $1.04 and General Accident fell 6 percent to $5.30.
The Junior Market closed last week in positive territory as Stationery & Office Supplies climbed 13 percent to $1.70 while, Jamaican Teas, ISP Finance and Lasco Manufacturing all gained 10 percent, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 15 percent to $2.14 and Lasco Distributors fell 7 percent to $4.25.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Main Market TOP10 this past week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.4 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 13.3.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 270 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 178 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 23, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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 will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 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 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.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dived 51.06 points to end at 3,766.56, down 2.1 percent for the year to date.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on the last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Elite Diagnostic popped 25 cents in closing at $1.66 with traders dealing in 1,471 stock units, Image Plus skidded 7 cents to finish at $1.88 as investors exchanged 12,718 shares. Jetcon Corporation lost 7 cents and ended at 88 cents in trading 2,056 stock units, Knutsford Express slipped 80 cents to end at $11 with investors exchanging 2,293 stocks, Limners and Bards dipped 41 cents to close at $1.34 with a transfer of 11,395 units. Lumber Depot sank 36 cents to close at $2.34 following the trading of 181,052 shares, Main Event lost 66 cents to end at $13.61 in an exchange of 39,401 stock units, ONE on ONE Educational slipped 7 cents in closing at 92 cents with investors trading 1,225,460 stocks and Tropical Battery gained 13 cents to close at $2.18 after a transfer of 26,549 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
trading in 44 securities up from 39 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 16 rising, 17 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index shed 17.46 points to end the day at 3,817.62.
Iron Rock Insurance gained 16 cents in closing at $2.51, with 76 stocks crossing the market. Jamaican Teas lost 28 cents to $2.40 with investors trading 35,389 shares, Knutsford Express slipped 9 cents in closing at $11.80, with 1,965 stock units changing hands, Lasco Financial rose 11 cents and ended at $1.91 in trading 5,980 shares. Limners and Bards climbed 28 cents to finish at $1.75 with 1,449 units clearing the market, MFS Capital Partners fell 12 cents to end at $1.53 with an exchange of 461,757 stocks, Tropical Battery shed 15 cents to close at $2.05 after 99,901 stock units passed through the market and tTech increased 29 cents to $2.30 in switching ownership of just one share.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The market closed with an 81 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded of 7,214,648 shares for $16,008,489, 84 percent lower than on Thursday’s 37,301,154 units at $98,792,252.
At the close, Access Financial increased 69 cents to end at $21.95 with investors trading 403 shares, Blue Power shed 25 cents to $2.80, with 26,771 stock units changing hands, CAC 2000 lost 68 cents to close at $3.82 with investors dealing in 1,200 stocks. Caribbean Flavours climbed 11 cents and ended at $1.70 in swapping 22,162 units, Consolidated Bakeries popped 15 cents in closing at $2.18, with 102 shares crossing the market, Dolphin Cove gained 65 cents to end at $19.40 in an exchange of 3,115 units. Elite Diagnostic dropped 9 cents to $1.59 with traders dealing in 28,332 stocks, Everything Fresh fell 10 cents in closing at $1.70 as investors exchanged 97,487 stock units, Express Catering skidded 18 cents and ended at $3.80 in trading 6,841 shares. Fontana sank 10 cents to close at $8.88 after 27,994 stock units passed through the market, Fosrich dipped 27 cents to $2.15 with an exchange of 279,618 units, Future Energy declined 15 cents to close at $3.50 with 362,773 stocks clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated. 
The market closed with 37,301,154 shares being traded for $98,792,252 up sharply from 7,170,788 units at $14,644,800 on Wednesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Future Energy rallied 15 cents and ended at $3.65 in trading 300,501 units, GWest Corporation gained 9 cents to end at $1.10 with 162,050 stocks clearing the market, Honey Bun dropped 8 cents in closing at $7 with traders dealing in 23,012 stock units. ISP Finance popped $2.81 to end at $30.91, with a mere one share crossing the market, Jamaican Teas gained 23 cents to close at $2.75 after an exchange of 562,910 stock units, JFP Ltd lost 10 cents and ended at $1.35, with 19,716 stocks crossing the market. KLE Group rose 30 cents to $2.33 with investors swapping 144 units, Lumber Depot climbed 10 cents and ended at $2.80 with a transfer of 366,821 stocks, Mailpac Group increased 16 cents to end at $2.20 after investors ended trading 2,313,996 units. Main Event skidded 89 cents in closing at $13.58 with investors dealing in 6,199 shares, Paramount Trading advanced 14 cents to close at $1.38 after an exchange of 48 stock units, 
Regency Petroleum rallied 7 cents to $2.29 in an exchange of 18,538 shares. Spur Tree Spices rose 70 cents and ended at $3.24 as investors exchanged 22,588,085 units and Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 10 cents to close at $1.70 after a transfer of 1,790,379 stocks.
17 declining and 13 closing unchanged following the migration from the Junior Market of Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing to the Main Market, resulting in 46 listings now on the Junior Market. 
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 13.03 points to end at 3,829.89.
Iron Rock Insurance sank 38 cents to close at $2.14 after 45 shares passed through the market, JFP Ltd increased 12 cents to $1.45 with investors transferring 399,930 stocks. KLE Group declined 36 cents to end at $2.03 after trading a mere one stock unit, Knutsford Express advanced $1.14 in closing at $11.94 with an exchange of 355 stock units, Paramount Trading shed 25 cents to close at $1.24 after an exchange of 3,283 shares. Spur Tree Spices fell 10 cents and ended at $2.54 in an exchange of 1,060,608 stocks and tTech dropped 29 cents to $2.01, with 250 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The market closed with 11,495,682 shares trading for $25,742,485 up from 5,931,329 stock units at $11,322,870 on Monday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Lasco Manufacturing dipped 16 cents to end at $5.40 after 268,980 shares passed through the market. Limners and Bards gained 33 cents and ended at $1.80 in trading a mere one stock unit, Main Event rose 87 cents to $14.45 in an exchange of 508 units, MFS Capital Partners advanced 10 cents in closing at $1.70 with investors dealing in 63,827 stock units. Paramount Trading rallied 29 cents to end at $1.49 and closed a 91 shares and Spur Tree Spices rose 19 cents to close at $2.64 with an exchange of 6,792,429 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The market ended trading of 5,931,329 shares for $11,322,870 compared with 26,794,881 units at $31,045,200 on Friday.
At the close, AMG Packaging declined 33 cents to end at $3.11 as investors exchanged 1,516 stocks, Cargo Handlers popped $1.28 in closing at $14.11 with just three units passing through the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 15 cents in closing at $2.20, after an exchange of 120,394 shares. Caribbean Cream fell 19 cents to close at $3.69 with 489 stock units clearing the market, Caribbean Flavours skidded 11 cents and ended at $1.59 with traders dealing in 50,101 shares, Derrimon Trading popped 10 cents to close at $2 in an exchange of 614,908 stock units. Dolla Financial sank 10 cents to end at $2.64 after investors traded 124,086 stocks, Dolphin Cove shed 39 cents in closing at $19.31 with 321 units crossing the exchange, Everything Fresh climbed 10 cents to close at $1.70 after a transfer of 526,860 stocks. Express Catering dropped 6 cents and ended at $3.94 with investors dealing in 783 shares, Fontana dipped 10 cents to $9 crossing the market 32,314 stock units, Fosrich rose 15 cents in closing at $2.30 while exchanging 999,041 units. Future Energy fell 12 cents to $3.48 with a transfer of 113,618 shares, Honey Bun dropped 56 cents to close at $6.50, with 10,501 stock units changing hands, JFP Ltd lost 6 cents and ended at $1.33 after an exchange of 13,070 stocks. 
KLE Group rallied 24 cents to $2.39 with investors trading 139 units, Knutsford Express declined 44 cents and ended at $11.50 after exchanging 10,251 shares, Lasco Financial shed 29 cents in closing at $1.62 in trading 77,041 stock units. Limners and Bards dropped 30 cents to end at $1.47, with 27,676 stocks crossing the market, Lumber Depot advanced 15 cents to close at $2.70 with investors swapping 143,201 units, Main Event sank 94 cents to $13.58 after 4,227 stock units changed hands. MFS Capital Partners skidded 10 cents to close at $1.60 with investors trading 109,702 units, ONE on ONE Educational gained 12 cents in closing at $1 in switching ownership of 458,111 shares, Paramount Trading lost 35 cents and ended at $1.20 but only after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $1.10 with an exchange of 250,023 stock units. Stationery and Office Supplies popped 10 cents to end at $1.60, with 424,355 shares crossing the market and tTech dropped 10 cents in closing at $2.30 after an exchange of 310 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Edufocal suffered a major drop in price in the past week to $1.05 from $1.13 at the start and landed in an ICTOP10 Junior Market, in position number 7, at the same time, AMG Packaging gained just 5 percent to close at $3.44 and dropped out of the top tier to sit at the twelfth position. 
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.4 over half of the market, with an average of 13.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index gained 34.14 points recovering 83 percent of Thursday’s loss, to close at 3,792.05.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Jetcon Corporation climbed 10 cents in closing at 95 cents after an exchange of 793 shares. Knutsford Express popped 72 cents to end at $11.94 with investors transferring 477 units, Lasco Distributors advanced 32 cents to $4.55 in an exchange of 46,778 stocks, Lasco Financial rose 11 cents to close at $1.91 after 3,302 stock units were traded. Lasco Manufacturing gained 38 cents to end at $5.53 with investors trading 2,174 shares, Limners and Bards rallied 23 cents in closing at $1.77, with 24,142 stocks crossing the market, Tropical Battery skidded 13 cents and ended at $2.10 with investors trading 279,984 units and tTech increased 10 cents to $2.40, with 51 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
