Trading activity dropped on Friday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, following Thursday big trade in tTech, with an 88 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded and an 89 percent fall in value compared to Thursday with trading in just 33 securities down from 39 on Thursday and ended with prices of 11 stocks rising, 
13 declining and 9 unchanged, with Edufocal trading at an intraday all time low of 41 cents.
The market closed with 6,927,786 shares being traded for $14,113,440 compared to 58,236,687 units at $126,195,317 on Thursday.
Trading ended with an average of 209,933 shares at $427,680 down from 1,493,248 units at $3,235,777 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averages 346,589 units at $632,252 compared to 361,089 stock units at $653,959 on the prior day and June with an average of 318,732 units at $696,979.
Dolla Financial led trading with 2.49 million shares for 36 percent of total volume followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 1.34 million stocks for 19.4 percent of the day’s trade and Omni Industries with 1.05 million units for 15.2 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index lost 34.68 points to cease trading at 3,722.15.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7, that is based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Consolidated Bakeries fell 4 cents to close at $2.25, with 891 shares crossing the exchange, Fontana gained 42 cents to close at $8.30 in switching ownership of 83,832 stocks, Future Energy shed 10 cents in closing at $3.29 after 14,448 shares passing through the market. 
Honey Bun rose 6 cents and ended at $8.69 in trading 2,221 stock units, Indies Pharma rallied 8 cents to end at $2.64 with an exchange of 10,224 shares, Jamaican Teas increased 20 cents to finish at $2.35 after investors exchanged 9,052 units. Lasco Financial sank 15 cents to $1.70, with 2,500 stocks changing hands, Lumber Depot skidded 4 cents in closing at $2.78 as investors exchanged 304,146 stock units, Main Event sank 95 cents to end at $11.55 with a transfer of 1,894 shares. Spur Tree Spices dipped 14 cents to close at $2.01, with 549,322 units crossing the market and tTech popped 20 cents to finish at $2.50 with an exchange of 46,800 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
tTech grabs 89% of the Junior Market
Technology consultants, tTech dominated trading activity on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, accounting for 52 million shares in what is another acquisition of controlling interest in the company by Simply Secure Limited a company owned by Kevin Gordon and Rob Mayo-Smith, resulting in a 552 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with the value jumping 501 percent more than stocks traded on Wednesday.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 39 securities down from 40 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 15 rising, 20 declining and four closing unchanged and ended with the Junior Market Index popping 35.57 points to to end trading at 3,756.83, thus recovering 40 percent of yesterday’s loss of 87.25 points.
The market closed with trading of 58,236,687 shares for $126,195,317 compared with 8,929,651 units at $20,998,580 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 1,493,248 shares at $3,235,777 compared with 223,241 units at $524,965 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 361,089 units at $653,959 compared to 198,758 stock units at $283,771 on the previous day and June with an average of 318,732 units at $696,979.
tTech led trading with 52.01 million shares for 89.3 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 3.01 million stocks for 5.2 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 553,176 units for 0.9 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial sank $1.55 in closing at $19.95 in an exchange of a mere 182 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 25 cents to close at $3.75 with 587 stocks clearing the market, Derrimon Trading rose 23 cents to end at $2.09 and closed after an exchange of 200 shares. Express Catering advanced 20 cents and ended at $4.05 in switching ownership of 10,790 stock units, Fontana dipped 7 cents to close at $7.88 after a transfer of 28,765 shares, Future Energy popped 14 cents to finish at $3.39, with 23,921 stock units crossing the exchange.
Honey Bun fell 26 cents to $8.63 in trading 7,290 stocks, ISP Finance climbed $6.30 in closing at $27.30 after an exchange of just 2 units, Jamaican Teas dropped 25 cents to $2.15 in trading 3,010,199 stocks. Knutsford Express shed 10 cents and ended at $10.90, with 6,685 units changing hands, Mailpac Group declined 10 cents to end at $2.06 with traders dealing in 462,596 shares, Main Event lost 29 cents to close at $12.50 in an exchange of 10 stock units. MFS Capital Partners increased 12 cents to 98 cents after trading 50 shares, Omni Industries slipped 8 cents to close at $1.05 with a transfer of 109,639 stocks, Paramount Trading rallied 9 cents and ended at $1.08 with investors swapping 17,203 units. Regency Petroleum sank 21 cents to finish at $2.31 with 49,600 stock units crossing the market and tTech rose 25 cents to end at $2.30 with investors trading 52,014,452 shares, representing 49 percent of the issued shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big drop for Junior Market
Stocks plunged the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange sharply lower on Wednesday, with the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator pointed to at the close on Tuesday with only 1 stock having a higher bid than the last selling price and 7 with lower offers with trading in 40 securities up from 39 on Tuesday and ended with prices of 12 rising, 21 declining and seven unchanged, resulting in the Junior Market Index sinking 87.25 points to end at 3,721.26.
Investors traded 8,929,651 shares with a 141 percent increase in value to $20,998,580 compared with 8,664,446 units at $8,710,916 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 223,241 shares at $524,965 compared with 222,165 stock units at $223,357 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 198,758 units at $283,771 compared to 194,536 stock units at $242,186 on the previous day and June with an average of 318,732 units at $696,979.
Future Energy led trading with 3.03 million shares for 33.9 percent of total volume followed by Omni Industries with 1.36 million units for 15.3 percent of the day’s trade and Indies Pharma with 972,611 units for 10.9 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Derrimon Trading skidded 24 cents and ended at $1.86 with traders dealing in 198,318 shares, Dolla Financial lost 7 cents to end at $2.55 as investors exchanged 88,998 stocks, Dolphin Cove climbed 25 cents to close at $23.50, with 9,320 shares passing through the market. Elite Diagnostic dropped 31 cents in closing at $1.59 with investors swapping 46,819 stock units, Fosrich fell 10 cents to $2.18 in an exchange of 571,669 shares, Future Energy declined 15 cents to finish at $3.25 with stakeholders trading 3,028,915 stocks. Honey Bun rose 9 cents and ended at $8.89 after a transfer of 30,588 units, Indies Pharma sank 15 cents to $2.50, with 972,611 stock units changing hands, ISP Finance dropped $6.45 to close at $21 after 17,383 shares were traded. 
JFP Ltd gained 8 cents to end at $1.15, with 52,050 stock units crossing the market, Knutsford Express popped 25 cents in closing at $11 with investors transferring 819 units, Limners and Bards shed 44 cents to finish at $1.54 after an exchange of 106,028 stocks. Main Event advanced 30 cents to $12.79 after 2,852 shares passed through the market, MFS Capital Partners dipped 13 cents to close at 86 cents in switching ownership of 485,584 stock units, Paramount Trading sank 15 cents to finish at a 52 weeks’ low of 99 cents with an exchange of 1,382 stocks. Tropical Battery rallied 7 cents and ended at $2.19 in trading 163,533 units and tTech dipped 25 cents in closing at $2.05 after an exchange of 52 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading climbs on Junior Market
Trading activity picked up on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with a 263 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, valued 55 percent more than the outturn on Monday, with trading in 39 securities similar to Monday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 13 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Trading concluded with 8,664,446 shares changing hands for $8,710,916 up from 2,388,003 units at $5,605,364 on Monday.
Trading averaged 222,165 shares at $223,357 up from 61,231 units at $143,727 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 194,536 units at $242,186 compared to 188,953 stock units at $245,991 on the previous day and June with an average of 318,732 units at $696,979.
EduFocal led trading with 5.21 million shares for 60.2 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading with 741,995 stocks for 8.6 percent of the day’s trade and Omni Industries with 512,520 units for 5.9 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 28.67 points to close at 3,808.51.
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 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator is flashing negative readings for Wednesday, with just one stock ending with a bid higher than the last selling price and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 50 cents in closing at $21.50 after investors traded 1,156 shares, Cargo Handlers gained $1.70 to end at $12.95 after a transfer of 500 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 25 cents to end at $3.50 with 5,088 shares crossing the exchange. Consolidated Bakeries rose 32 cents to finish at $2.30 in trading 52,500 stock units, Dolla Financial popped 9 cents and ended at $2.62 after an exchange of 171,657 shares, Dolphin Cove slipped 15 cents to close at $23.25 with investors transferring 8,743 stocks. Elite Diagnostic increased 35 cents to $1.90 in an exchange of 94,091 units, Fontana sank 10 cents in closing at $7.90 with traders dealing in 45,350 stock units, Future Energy shed 10 cents to finish at $3.40 in switching ownership of 89,348 shares. 
Honey Bun declined 10 cents and ended at $8.80 with investors dealing in 870 stock units, Indies Pharma dropped 15 cents to end at $2.65 with a transfer of 21,772 units, Knutsford Express skidded 51 cents to close at $10.75 with investors swapping 501 stocks. Lasco Financial popped 14 cents to close at $1.85, with 1,318 shares changing hands, Limners and Bards rose 44 cents in closing at $1.98 after 208,547 stock units passed through the market, Main Event rallied $1.37 and ended at $12.49 after closing with an exchange of 10,648 units and tTech dipped 9 cents to close at $2.30 with 310 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Beryl ruffled no ICTOP10 feathers
Hurricane Beryl while not flattening the Jamaica stock market sucked much life out during the week, with volumes and values falling sharply as the markets held up well following the end of month activity in the prior week, with the Main Market being flat and sight slippage for the Junior Market.
The Junior Market ICTOP10 closed with two stocks rising and two declining with notable losses. The Main Market has three stocks with notable gains and two losses of size.
The Junior Market ICTOP10, Caribbean Assurance mark and closed the week up 16 percent to close at $3.85, tTech climbed 14 percent to $2.39. Caribbean Cream continues to suffer from a lack of good corporate governance by not providing investors with up-to-date information on its performance in the absence of full year and interim results, accordingly, the stocks keep on meandering between a low of $3 and $4 range, dropping 13 percent to $3.31 followed by One great Studio, down 7 percent to 83 cents.
Margaritaville the best performer in the Main Market TOP10 climbed 14 percent to $15.45, Berger Paints was up 5 percent in closing at $8.98 and Guardian Holdings popped 4 percent to close at $359.99. Declining stocks are General Accident dipping 9 percent to $6.30 and JMMB Group falling 4 percent to $24.
Iron Rock Insurance drops out of the TOP10 with trading in the stock suspended and is replaced by Dolla Financial that fell back in price during the week following the big month end run up last week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 13.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.7, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.9.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 299 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 212 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 102, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 16 stocks, or 34 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 51, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. The average PE for the top half of the market is 18, possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks currently.
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 2025 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.
Trading drops on the Junior Market to start week
Trading activity dropped sharply at the close of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with an 81 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, after a 50 percent drop in value compared to Friday with trading in 39 securities down from 35 on Friday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 13 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
The market closed with the trading of 2,388,003 shares for $5,605,364 down from 12,610,753 units at $11,308,047 on Friday.
Trading averaged 61,231 shares at $143,727 compared to 360,307 units at $323,087 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 188,953 units at $245,991 compared to 221,299 stock units at $271,889 on the previous day and June with an average of 318,732 units at $696,979.
iCreate led trading with 302,647 shares for 12.7 percent of total volume followed by One Great Studio with 293,060 units for 12.3 percent of the day’s trade with the price hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of 75 cents and Regency Petroleum with 266,994 units for 11.2 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index declined 15.95 points to culminate at 3,779.84.
The Junior Market ended with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
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 of the market, Cargo Handlers dropped $1.90 to close at $11.25 in switching ownership of 2,336 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 10 cents to end at $3.75 after a transfer of 5,535 stocks, Caribbean Cream climbed 44 cents in closing at $3.75, with just 852 shares crossing the market. Derrimon Trading declined 12 cents and ended at $2.10 after an exchange of 28,556 stock units, Dolphin Cove popped 16 cents to finish at $23.40 in trading 3,017 shares, 
Fontana sank 25 cents to end at $8, with 78,641 stock units crossing the market. Fosrich dipped 7 cents in closing at $2.25 as investors traded 70,472 stocks, Indies Pharma rallied 10 cents to $2.80 in the trading of 244,721 stock units, Jetcon Corporation rose 9 cents and ended at 94 cents with an exchange of 11 stocks. KLE Group advanced 14 cents to finish at $2.25 as only 85 units passed through the market, Knutsford Express fell 20 cents to close at $11.26 with traders dealing in 1,179 shares, Main Event increased 10 cents to end at $11.12 after an exchange of 3,121 stock units and Spur Tree Spices lost 13 cents in closing at $2.16 with a transfer of 11,646 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market dipped to close the week
Trading activity was more robust at Friday’s close on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with a 254 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a 90 percent jump in value over Thursday’s trades with trading in 35 securities that was the same on Thursday and ended with prices of 13 rising, nine declining and 13 closing unchanged, with Edufocal hitting an all time low of 48 cents and Express Catering hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $3.35 before closing higher.
Investors ended trading 12,610,753 shares for $11,308,047, compared to 3,565,444 stock units at $5,961,750 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 360,307 shares at $323,087 compared to 101,870 stocks at $170,336 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averages 221,299 stock units at $271,889 compared to 180,414 stock units at $256,831 on the previous day and June with an average of 318,732 units at $696,979.
EduFocal led trading with 8.57 million shares for 68 percent of total volume followed by Lasco Financial with 1.55 million units for 12.3 percent of the day’s trade and iCreate with 630,506 units for 5 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index shed 19.10 points to conclude trading at 3,795.79.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, based on last traded prices and earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial advanced 10 cents to finish at $22 with 3,087 shares clearing the market, Blue Power rose 20 cents and ended at $4.35 with a transfer of 2,038 stock units, Dolphin Cove gained 21 cents to end at $23.24 with 9,436 units crossing the market. 
Fontana popped 25 cents to end at $8.25 with an exchange of 78,738 stocks, Future Energy increased 11 cents in closing at $3.50 in trading 60,932 units, iCreate dropped 7 cents to close at 55 cents in an exchange of 630,506 shares. Knutsford Express climbed 26 cents to $11.46, with 1,208 stocks changing hands, Lasco Financial lost 14 cents to finish at $1.71 with 1,547,839 stock units crossing the exchange, Limners and Bards declined 38 cents and ended at $1.51 in switching ownership of 19,130 shares. Main Event fell $1.48 in closing at $11.02 as investors exchanged 16,775 stock units and Spur Tree Spices rallied 12 cents to end at $2.29 and closed with an exchange of 457,339 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market mirrors Monday’s trading
Trading activity closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with a modest pickup in the volume of stocks traded, with a slightly higher value than Monday following trading in 39 securities compared with 45 on Monday and ending with prices of 16 rising, 16 declining and seven closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 9,063,593 shares for $12,534,600 up from 8,840,186 units at $12,066,585 on Monday.
Trading averaged 232,400 shares at $321,400 compared with 196,449 units at $268,146 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 213,140 units at $292,871 compared to June with an average of 318,732 units at $696,979.
EduFocal led trading with 2.88 million shares for 31.8 percent of total volume followed by Omni Industries with 1.89 million stocks for 20.8 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 1.51 million units for 16.6 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 8.39 points to finish at 3,828.51.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.8, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging dipped 9 cents to finish at $3.20 after 9,495 shares crossed the market, Blue Power dipped 23 cents to close at $4.15 after 2,175 stock units were traded, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 49 cents to $3.84 and closed after trading in 2,680 shares. Caribbean Cream declined 44 cents to close at $3.35, with 36,625 stocks crossing the market, Derrimon Trading popped 7 cents to end at $2.22 in switching ownership of 130 shares, Express Catering rallied 14 cents in closing at $3.79 with investors trading 7,600 stocks. 
Indies Pharma rose 12 cents to $2.69 in an exchange of 42,951 units, JFP Ltd sank 12 cents to end at $1.04 with 1,507,707 stocks clearing the market, Lasco Financial skidded 32 cents in closing at $1.85 with an exchange of 22,875 units. Limners and Bards advanced 44 cents to $1.92 after 290,364 stock units passed through the market, Mailpac Group fell 10 cents to finish at $2.15 after a transfer of 476,795 shares, Regency Petroleum dropped 30 cents to close at $2.18 with investors swapping 20,193 stock units. Tropical Battery shed 9 cents to $2.11 in an exchange of 17,747 shares and tTech slipped 30 cents to end at $2.05 with investors transferring just 1,559 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market declines into 2H
Junior Market stocks ran out of steam at the commencement of trading in the second half of the year and could not add to a b 5.2 percent gain last week, resulting in a minor 23 points fall in the market index on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday. 
Trading ended with an 82 percent drop in the volume of stocks traded, with an 89 percent lower value than Friday following trading in 45 securities up from 41 on Friday and ending with prices of 11 rising, 23 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
EduFocal traded at an intraday low of 50 cents. CAC 2000 ended trading at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.94 and so did Paramount Trading in closing at $1.10.
The market closed with trading of 8,840,186 shares for $12,066,585 compared with 50,135,125 units at $113,211,858 on Friday.
Trading averaged 196,449 shares at $268,146 compared with 1,222,808 units at $2,761,265 on Friday and June with an average of 318,732 units at $696,979.
EduFocal led trading with 3.82 million shares for 43.2 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.29 million units for 14.6 percent of the day’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 571,549 stocks for 6.5 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index fell 23.11 points to end the day at 3,820.12.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Derrimon Trading dipped 12 cents in closing at $2.15 in an exchange of 40,983 stocks, Dolla Financial lost 38 cents to close at $2.62 with investors trading 25,148 units, Express Catering fell 34 cents to finish at $3.65, with 131,475 shares changing hands. Fosrich skidded 11 cents and ended at $2.28 as investors exchanged 239,343 stock units, Future Energy slipped 30 cents to end at $3.35 with a transfer of 184,930 shares, 
Indies Pharma dropped 22 cents to close at $2.57 after 22,397 units were traded. ISP Finance shed $2.50 to $27.45 after just one stock crossed the market, JFP Ltd declined 10 cents to end at $1.16 after a transfer of 395,242 stock units, Knutsford Express rallied $1.20 in closing at $11.20, with 2,678 shares crossing the market. Lasco Financial increased 22 cents to finish at $2.17 in an exchange of 510 stocks, Limners and Bards slipped 7 cents and ended at $1.48 after 20,907 units passed through the market, Spur Tree Spices fell 10 cents to close at $2.20 trading of 1,291,745 stock units and tTech climbed 25 cents to $2.35 with 3,831 shares clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
ICTOP10 has a brand new listing
Having fallen badly in the previous week, the Junior Market rallied a solid 5.2 percent the past week to end up above 3,800 points on Thursday and Friday and the Main Market rose 1.2 percent to close out the week, with the Junior Market ICTOP 10 blazing a trail with some lofty gains and the Main Market posting just two stocks with notable gains and a few losses of size, with one new stock entering the TOP10.
Other than the b moves in the TOP10, the market got some good news this past week. For one Jamaica Broilers reported positive full year results that were helped by a $2.3 billion one off gain, excluding those gains normal profits would have been in the order of $4.80 when taxes relating to the capital gains are excluded. The other positive news is that the Bank of Jamaica will officially start to ease the tight monetary policy pursued over the past three years. In reality, they commenced easing in early May, with CD rates falling from 11.59 percent in early April to mostly under 10 percent during June.
The other news of worth is that GDP growth for the March quarter was 1.4 percent, but that reflects a slowdown from last year and an even slower December quarter that was 1.7 percent. The latest GPD data and other available information suggest the evidence of a slow down. These include reduced first quarter results of several companies and a decline in tourist arrivals in the second quarter, suggesting that the second quarter is likely to grow at an even slower pace than the first. The positive take from any economic slowdown is that the tight monetary policy that the country is in will be eased further.
JSE Main Market had three winners and four losers. The Junior Market ended with six winners and three losers.
The Junior Market ICTOP10 saw Dolla Financial surging 30 percent to $3 followed by Consolidated Bakeries’ big recovery from last week’s big 28 percent fall and ended with a gain of 28 percent to $1.98, Access Financial gained 15 percent to end at $21.93, Caribbean Cream popped 7 percent to $3.80 and Stationery and Office Supplies rose 7 percent to close at $1.70. Declining stocks include Caribbean Assurance Brokers down 13 percent to close at $3.31 and tTech falling 9 percent to $2.10.
JMMB Group was the star performer in the Main Market TOP10, climbing 13 percent to $25.10 and Berger Paints was up 6 percent in closing at $8.52. Declining stocks are 138 Student Living and Pulse Investments dipping 6 percent to $3.86 and $1.50 respectively and Guardian Holdings dropped 4 percent to close at $345.
Dolla Financial with a 30 percent surge, dropped out of the ICTOP10 for the week and is replaced by One Great Studio.
One Great Studio was listed in September 2023 at $1 per share, the price has since slipped to a low of 80 cents per share following first quarter profit that fell 55 percent to $10 million from $23 million in 2023, following a fall in revenues from $115 million to $91 million.
The principal activities of the Group are to provide search engine optimisation, web design and development and software development services, with clients based in Jamaica, the wider Caribbean and other countries. The company is looking to add other services by way of a possible acquisition in the future to benefit from synergies.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 13.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.7, just over half of the market, with an average of 13.3.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 303 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 215 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 102, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 14 stocks, or 30 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 53, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The average PE for the top half of the market is 18, possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks currently.
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 2025 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.