Stocks dropped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday and resulted in market indices plunging at the close of the market with the volume of stocks traded remaining subdued with 30 percent less volume passing through the market compared to Tuesday as funds entering the market remained steady.
Trading ended with 57 securities compared to 55 on Tuesday, with 21 rising, 24 declining and 12 ending unchanged. At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 3,397.23 points to 416,853.91, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,624.03 points to close at 367,199.58 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.27 points to settle at 87.90.
Overall, 6,419,042 shares were exchanged for $56,245,124 compared to 9,160,573 units at $56,371,792 on Tuesday. Trading averages 112,615 units at $986,757, compared to 166,556 shares at $1,024,942 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 195,870 units at $1,341,170, compared to 210,121 units at $1,401,836 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.50 million shares for 23.4 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.15 million units for 17.9 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 783,984 units for 12.2 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 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 ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints lost 44 cents ending at $11.40 after exchanging 7,203 shares, Caribbean Cement slipped 29 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 58.70 after an exchange of 23,078 shares, Caribbean Producers dropped 49 cents to end at $13.50 while trading 82,997 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $2.10 in closing at $42.90, with 2,811 stocks crossing the market. GraceKennedy gained $2.50 to end at $98.50, with 89,742 units changing hands, Guardian Holdings climbed $73.15 to close at $583.15 after trading 121 stock units, Jamaica Broilers rose 89 cents to $29.09 after exchanging 7,865 stocks. Jamaica Producers fell 44 cents in closing at $20.11, with an exchange of 66,000 shares, Massy Holdings increased $1.85 in ending at $89, with 8,721 units crossing the exchange, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rallied 65 cents to close at $14.15 in trading 106,342 stock units. NCB Financial advanced $4.75 to end at $96.75 with an exchange of 42,593 shares, Palace Amusement shed $46 after ending at $790 in switching ownership of 17 stocks, PanJam Investment shed $1.77 in closing at $59.90 in an exchange of 2,980 units. 
Scotia Group popped $1.40 to end at $36.39 with the swapping of 1,317 stock units, Stanley Motta dropped 50 cents to $5, with 5,048 stocks crossing the market, Supreme Ventures declined 70 cents to close at $28.60 in exchanging 294,794 shares. Sygnus Real Estate Finance popped 41 cents in closing at $10.21, with 1,615 units clearing the market and Victoria Mutual Investments advanced 65 cents to close at $5.68 in trading 76,505 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rose 69 cents to end at $7.63 in an exchange of 117 units. Eppley 7.75% preference share climbed $1 to a 52 weeks’ high of $21 with the swapping of 10 stock units and 138 Student Living preference share fell $7.58 to $49.32 with an exchange of 131 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Another day of decline for JSE Main Market
Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market activity ended with the volume of stocks traded declining 15 percent, with the value slipping marginally lower compared to trading on Monday as the market declined further in overall value versus Monday.
At the close, 9,160,573 shares were exchanged for $56,371,792, compared to 10,753,625 units at $57,897,672 on Monday. Trading averaged 166,556 units at $1,024,942, compared to 182,265 units at $981,316 on Monday and month to date, an average of 324,185 units at $1,476,401, compared to 324,185 units at $1,476,401 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.13 million units for 23.2 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.1 million units for 21.7 percent market share and Sterling Investments traded 741,714 shares with 8.1 percent market share.
Trading ended with 55 securities compared to 59 on Monday, with 12 rising, 24 declining and 19ending unchanged. At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,806.08 points to 420,251.14, the JSE Main Index plunged 4,084.10 points to close at 368,823.61 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 1.47 points to 88.17.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.8 for the Main Market. 
The JSE Main and USD Market PEs are computed using ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks closing with bids closing above their last selling prices and two closing with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints climbed 84 cents to $11.84 in switching ownership of 93 shares, Caribbean Cement fell $1.01, in ending at $58.99 after trading 14,832 stocks, Eppley Carib Fund exchanged 3,328 shares and gained $3 to end at $45, First Rock gained 40 cents trading 12,301 shares in closing at $12, GraceKennedy dropped $2.98 in closing at $96 with 46736 stock units crossing the exchange, Jamaica Broilers fell 45 cents to $28.20 after trading 22,343 shares. Jamaica Producers traded 10,262 shares and fell 45 cents in closing at $20.55, Massy Holdings shed $2.85 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $87.15, with 33,690 units changing hands, NCB Financial decreased $4.50 in ending at $92 while exchanging 11,802 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 45 cents to close at $13.50 with 4,000 shares changing hands, Palace Amusement rallied $76 to close at $836 in exchanging 11 units. 
PanJam Investment traded 140 units and fell $2.28 to $61.67, Salada Foods fell 72 cents to $4.61 after exchanging 3,050 stock units, Seprod traded 8,953 shares and lost $1.93 and closed at $68.07, Supreme Ventures rose 80 in closing at $29.30 in trading 45,140 stocks and Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell 70 cents in ending at a 52 weeks’ low of $9.80, with 6,670 units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks mostly fall on JSE Main Market
Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market activity ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 43 percent and the value falling 64 percent compared to trading on Friday as the market slipped in overall value.
At the close, 10,753,625 shares were exchanged for $57,897,672, down from 18,706,267 units at $161,301,374 on Friday. Trading averaged 182,265 units at $981,316, compared to 366,790 shares at $3,162,772 on Friday and month to date, an average of 324,185 units at $1,476,401, compared to 228,567 units at $1,609,780 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 493.11 points to 423,057.22, the JSE Main Index slipped just 29.08 points to close at 372,907.71 and the JSE Financial Index as rose 0.21 points to 89.64.
Trading ended with 59 securities compared to 51 on Friday, with 18 rising, 28 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.9 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.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.99 million units for 46.4 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.2 million units for 11.2 percent market share and Supreme Ventures with 576,472 shares for 5.4 percent of the total.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one closing with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments fell 67 cents to $86.31 after switching ownership of 54,553 shares, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.70 to $60 after trading 2,657 stocks, Eppley popped $2.25 to end at $41 in an exchange of three units. Eppley Carib Fund exchanged 3,204 shares and gained $2 to end at $42, GraceKennedy popped $2.68 in closing at $98.98 with 69,100 stock units crossing the exchange, Guardian Holdings gave back $139.99 of what was gained on Friday to close at $510.01 with 137 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers fell 73 cents to $28.67 after trading 8,253 shares. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy added $1 in closing at $85, with 5,583 units changing hands, NCB Financial decreased $2.50 in ending at $96.50 while exchanging 59,105 shares, 138 Student Living gained $1.05 to close at $5.10 with 610 shares changing hands, Palace Amusement rallied $119 to close at $760 in exchange of 37 units. 
PanJam traded 220 units and fell $4.35 at $63.95, Portland JSX rose 50 cents to $10 after exchanging 16,903 stock units, Supreme Ventures rose 62 in closing at $28.50 in trading 576,472 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments shed 39 cents to close at $13.21 in exchanging 136,945 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell 50 cents in ending at a 52 weeks’ low of $10.50, with 185 units clearing the market.
In the Preference segment, Eppley 7.25% jumped $1.50 to $21.50 after trading 220 shares and JMMBG7.25C due 2025 fell 44 cent to $2.46, with 1,500 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Three changes to ICTOP10
The past week ended with new entrants to the ICTOP listing, with Dolphin Cove and Paramount Trading reentering the Junior Market list while 138 Student Living enters the TOP10 Main market list.
Jetcon Corporation and Lasco Financial are out of the Junior Market TOP10, and Caribbean Cement left the Main Market list.
The Junior Market suffered some declines, no doubt connected to investors focusing on the latest IPO – OneonOne Educational Services to hit the market, as they seek funds to go into the issue, continuing a feature visible in the market for most popular IPOS. The Main Market moves were less pronounced, with just one significant fall.
In the Junior Market, Elite Diagnostic gained 7 percent to $3.45 and General Accident was up 8 percent to $5.50. Access Financial and CAC 2000 dipped 13 percent to $20.01 and $7.20, respectively and Caribbean Cream and Jetcon Corporation slipped 6 percent to $4.02 and $1.20, respectively. Caribbean Assurance Brokers ended 4 percent lower at $2.50 but has limited stocks offered, with most offers over $2.70.
The Main Market ended the week with Guardian Holdings jumping a sharp 29 percent to $650 on limited volume. There are now less than 1,000 shares offered for sale. At the close, there was an offer of 76 shares at $594 and the highest bid was $505 to buy 2012 shares. Profit for the June Quarter was TT$256 million, up 220 percent from $80 million in 2021, with six months moving up by 70 percent from $256 million to TT$436 million. The EPS comes out at TT$1.88 or J$43. The other big move was by Productive Business Solutions, falling 12 percent to US$1.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6.2, well below the market average of 13.9, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.9 versus the market at 12.8. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 243 percent and the Main Market TOP10 is projected to gain an average of 239 percent each to May 2023.
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 to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning 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.
Guardian Holdings jumps $144 on Friday
Guardian Holdings jumped 28.5 percent on limited volume after jumping $144 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the supply of the stock available for sale virtually dried up after several months of selling pressure. The overall Main Market volume of stocks traded rose 12 percent, with a value 250 percent greater than on Thursday, leading the market to climb as rising stocks exceeded those declining.
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The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,224.68 points to 423,550.33, the JSE Main Index jumped 3,601.11 to 372,936.80 and the JSE Financial Index popped 1.98 points to close at 89.43.
Trading ended with 51 securities compared to 58 on Thursday, with 21 rising, 16 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
At the close, 18,706,267 shares were exchanged for $161,301,374 versus 16,728,941 units at $46,042,543 on Thursday. Trading averaged 366,790 units at $3,162,772, compared to 288,430 shares at $793,837 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 228,567 units at $1,609,780, compared to 186,606 units at $1,138,336 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
Mayberry Investments led trading with 6.92 million shares for 37 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 6.52 million units for 34.8 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 1.34 million units for 7.2 percent market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.32 million units for 7 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.9 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 August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints fell 85 cents to $11 in switching ownership of 4,806 shares, Caribbean Cement rose 70 cents in ending at $61.70 and trading 20,688 stocks, First Rock Real Estate popped 47 cents to end at $12.47 in an exchange of 2,996 units.GraceKennedy dropped $2.60 in closing at $96.30, with 104,922 stock units crossing the exchange, Guardian Holdings gained $144 to close at $650 with an exchange of 1,126 stocks, but the offer for the stock was at $590 at the close, Mayberry Investments climbed 35 cents to $9.20 and closed with 6,918,037 stock units changing hands. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy shed $1 in closing at $84 after trading 110 units, NCB Financial increased $1.58 to $99 while exchanging 75,228 shares, Palace Amusement rallied $122.99 to close at $879 after exchanging two units. 
Proven Investments declined 45 cents to end at $33 after trading 230 stock units, Scotia Group advanced 91 cents to $34.98, with 612,178 stocks crossing the market, and Seprod popped $1.93 to end at $70 with the swapping of 505 shares. Supreme Ventures lost $1.12 in closing at $27.88 after trading 289,299 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 39 cents to close at $13.60 in exchanging 52,252 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1.50 in ending at $11 with 1,089 units clearing the market and Wisynco Group shed 47 cents in ending at $18 with an exchange of 50,696 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading value plunges on JSE main market
The majority of rose on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with 58 securities compared to 53 on Wednesday, with 32 rising, 12 declining and 14 ending unchanged and trading ended, with the volume of stocks traded rising 171 percent with a 43 percent lower value than Wednesday as a mere $46 million passed through the market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 543.67 points to 420,869.32, the JSE Main Index climbed 480.00 points to 369,335.69 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.40 points to close at 87.45.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 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 August 2023.
Overall, 16,728,941 shares were traded for $46,042,543 compared to 6,172,524 units at $81,213,738 on Wednesday. Trading ended with an average of 288,430 units at $793,837, versus 116,463 shares at $1,532,335 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 186,606 units at $1,138,336, compared to 132,918 units at $1,319,982 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.10 million shares for 54.4 percent of total volume followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 3.99 million units for 23.8 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.27 million units for 7.6 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose 85 cents to $11.85 and closed with 89 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement shed $1.45 in ending at $61 with 7,376 stock units clearing the market, Guardian Holdings advanced $1 to $506 after exchanging 105 units. Jamaica Broilers rallied 51 cents in closing at $29.37 in transferring 18,223 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell $1 to $17 after 6,864 stock units changed hands, Mayberry Investments fell $1.63 in closing at $8.85 after exchanging 26,148 shares. Mayberry Jamaican Equities declined 50 cents to $14 in an exchange of 106,063 units, NCB Financial popped $7.42 to end at $97.42, with 9,641 stocks crossing the market, 138 Student Living dropped 75 cents in ending at $4.30 in switching ownership of 2,895 stocks. Palace Amusement gained $1.01 to close at $756.01 after trading 50 units, PanJam Investment increased $1.40 to end at $59.60, with hinge shares crossing the exchange, Portland JSX gained 99 cents in closing at $9.50 in trading 1,524 stock units. Proven Investments popped 95 cents to close at $33.45, trading 563 stocks, 
Scotia Group lost 92 cents after ending at $34.07, with 12,502 stock units changing hands, Stanley Motta advanced 62 cents to $5.60 while exchanging 980 units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance increased 50 cents to $12.50 with the swapping of 364 shares.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share jumped $5.16 to a record high of $56.90 with an exchange of 218 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big fall for JSE main market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed on Wednesday, with a big fall in the market as the volume and the value of stocks traded declined 27 percent from trading on Tuesday, leading to more stocks declining than rising.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,995.89 points to settle at 420,325.65, the JSE Main Index declined by 3,019.85 points to 368,855.69 and the JSE Financial Index shed 1.03 points to settle at 87.45.
Trading ended with 53 securities compared to 57 on Tuesday, with 13 rising, 25 declining and 15 ending unchanged. Overall, 6,172,524 shares were exchanged for $81,213,738 versus 8,448,425 units at $63,984,241 on Tuesday. Trading averages 116,463 units at $1,532,335, compared to 148,218 shares at $1,122,531 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 132,918 units at $1,319,982, compared to 148,218 units at $1,122,531 on the previous trading day. July closed with an average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.50 million shares for 24.3 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.16 million units for 18.9 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 608,480 units for 9.9 percent of market share.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 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 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Berger Paints fell 93 cents to $11 after trading 3,154 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $2 to close at $40 after exchanging 310 stocks, Guardian Holdings lost $1 in ending at $505 after switching ownership of 926 units. Jamaica Producers advanced 50 cents to $21.25, with 8,534 stock units crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange declined 88 cents to end at $18 while exchanging 8,835 units and Mayberry Investments rose 85 cents to close at $10.48, with 4,504 shares clearing the market. NCB Financial shed $6 in ending at a 52 weeks’ low of $90 with an exchange of 22,866 stocks, PanJam Investment dropped $5.80 in closing at $58.20 trading 5,506 stock units, QWI Investments lost 11 cents in closing at 74 cents after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks’ low of 59 cents as investors traded 282,628, Scotia Group popped 92 cents to end at $34.99 after an exchange of 32,705 units. 
Supreme Ventures increased $1.52 to $28.67, with 23,538 shares crossing the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied 86 cents to close at $12, with 2,860 stock units changing hands and Wisynco Group dropped 52 cents to end at $18.40 after an exchange of 92,999 stocks.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living s preference share gained $1.29 after ending ends record high of $51.74 in an exchange of 4 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
ICTOP10 picks remove dreaming
The ICTOP listing is meant to remove dreaming from investors’ arsenal of investment tools and place them on more solid grounds. The performance of Fosrich last week illustrates that vividly, with the stock hitting the pre-split equivalent of $54.20 on Wednesday only for the price to fall back to a low of $3 on Friday or the equivalent of $30 on a pre-split basis.
The above shows that many investors are groping in the dark, hoping that a stock with the wind behind its back must be one to buy to make money. They ignore the simple but profound principle of buying low and selling high. The other factor that shows up in the judgement is why buy the stock after the split when it is more expensive than if purchased before. this is an age-old issue where investors feel that they are buying the stock cheaper than before but in fact, they are paying more for it and therefore reduce potential profit.
Fosrich may have a bright future but what about the many stocks that are undervalued in the market, why chase expensive ones? When Fosrich reports second quarter earnings this coming week investors will get a glimpse to see whether it was smart to buy the stocks at the elevated prices last week. Investors made the same error with Salada Foods buying it at $10 when it was not worth much more than $3 now the stock is slowly adjusting to reality. Investors in Fesco at $8 are feeling the paid as the stock slowly retreats and is now under $6. Investors in SSL Venture Capital will soon discover some nastiness of speculating in the dark.
There was one change to the Junior Market TOP10 listings this past week, with General Accident returning at the expense of Dolphin Cove which rose 6 percent during the week to $15.93, the former price dropped to $5.07 from $5.99 at the close of the previous week.
Elite Diagnostic fell 9 percent to $3.21 and CAC 2000 dipped 3 percent to $8.25. Jetcon Corporation rose 9 percent to $1.27 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers rallied 8 percent to $2.60 after the company reported six months results showing a profit of $4.45 million, up from a loss of $31 million last year for the same period, ICInsider.com upgraded earnings to 45 cents per share, from 40 cents previously. The Main Market ended the week, with no significant price changes.
Investors should keep a careful watch on Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Dolphin Cove, Express Catering, General Accident, Jamaica Broilers, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Financial, Lasco Manufacturing, Stationery and Office Supplies and Paramount Trading. Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Producers, Express Catering will be major beneficiaries of the strong rebound in tourist arrivals and the supply of General Accident has declined sharply over the past few weeks, but investors may be reluctant to pile into the stock ahead of the hurricane season.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6.2, well below the market average of 13.9, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6 versus the market at 12.9. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 238 percent and the Main Market TOP10 is projected to gain an average of 235 percent each to May 2023.
The prospectus for One on One IPO is out with just over 125 million shares earmarked for the wider public. The PE ratio based on the company’s projections to August 2022 is just under 7 cents per share before tax for a PE ratio of around 14.5 just above the market average of 12.9. Based on where recent IPOs are valued investors can look for a price after listing around $1.50 but investors have priced many of them closer to 30 times 2022 earnings in which case a price of $2 is not out of the reckoning.
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 to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning 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 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.
Month end rally for JSE
The usual month end rally surfaced again on the last trading day for July, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the volume of stocks rising 232 percent more than on Thursday, with a 157 percent higher value, with rising stocks exceeding those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index gained 1,802.80 points to close at 429,500.62, the JSE Main Index climbed 1,031.73 points to 375,693.41 and the JSE Financial Index inched 0.52 points higher to 89.64.
Trading ended with 59 securities compared to 56 on Thursday, with 23 rising, 21 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
At the close of trading, 22,398,173 shares were exchanged for $169,689,057 versus 6,738,750 units at $66,010,050 on Thursday. Trading averages 379,630 units at $2,876,086, compared to 120,335 shares at $1,178,751 on Thursday and a month to date, average of 173,643 units at $1,683,017, compared to 162,714 units at $1,619,716 on the previous trading day. June closed with an average of 281,913 units at $5,309,050.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.80 million shares for 43.7 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – due 2028, with 5.08 million units for 22.7 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.80 million units for 8 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.9 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 15 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Eppley dropped $1.98 to end at $38.70 with an exchange of 866 shares, Guardian Holdings shed $5 in ending at $505, with 139 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Producers climbed $1.71 to $22.49 in an exchange of 143,940 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange increased $1.54 to close at $19.49, with 235,971 stock units clearing the market, Mayberry Investments gained 89 cents in closing at $10.69 after trading 37,405 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 50 cents to end at $14.50 in exchanging 570 stock units. NCB Financial rallied $6.95 to $97, trading 15,437 stocks, Palace Amusement fell $1 to close at $889 in exchanging one share, PanJam Investment rose 54 cents in closing at $64.99 with the swapping of 11,910 units. Proven Investments declined 79 cents after ending at $32.51, with 44,818 stock units crossing the exchange, Salada Foods popped 50 cents to end at $5.10 in trading 4,882 stocks, Scotia Group advanced 47 cents while ending at $36.47 in trading 17,005 shares. 
Seprod gained $1.93 in closing at $70 after exchanging 23,844 units, Supreme Ventures climbed 62 cents to close at $30, with 184,773 stocks changing hands.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rose 90 cents to a 52 weeks’ close of $40 with an exchange of 101 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share increased 50 cents to $105 in switching ownership of 1,945 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading drops
Stock prices mostly fell in market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded dropping 40 percent with a 58 percent lower value than on Wednesday.
Trading ended with an exchange of 6,738,750 shares for $66,010,050 down sharply from 11,320,379 units at $157,629,727 on Wednesday. The average trade was 120,335 units at $1,178,751, compared to 188,673 shares at $2,627,162 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 162,714 units at $1,619,716, compared to 164,961 units at $1,643,100 on the previous trading day. June averaged 281,913 units at $5,309,050.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.72 million shares for 25.5 percent of the volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 729,653 units for 10.8 percent of trading and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 705,363 units for 10.5 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 2,610.73 points to 427,697.82, the JSE Main Index declined 1,907.55 to 374,661.68 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.69 points to close at 89.12.
A total of 56 securities traded compared to 60 on Wednesday, with 13 rising, 18 declining and 25 left unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 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 to the close of August 2023.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 55 cents in closing at $87.35 after switching ownership of 153,550 shares, Berger Paints lost 95 cents to end at $11, with 1,600 stock units crossing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $3.23 to close at $40 trading 180 units. Guardian Holdings advanced $4, ending at $510, with 123 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers climbed 48 cents to $29.48 in trading 11,847 shares, Jamaica Producers fell $1.71 in closing at closing after exchanging 1,500 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 55 cents to $17.95 in exchanging 67,304 stocks, Kingston Properties dropped 46 cents to $7.01 after trading 394,190 stock units, Margaritaville rallied $3.75 to close at $21, with 506 units clearing the market.
Massy Holdings rose 99 cents to $91 while exchanging two stock units, NCB Financial lost $7.45 to close at $90.05 in an exchange of 111,712 shares, PanJam Investment fell 55 cents to $64.45, with 502 stocks changing hands. Salada Foods dropped 50 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $4.60 with an exchange of 11,370 shares and Supreme Ventures shed 62 cents in closing at $29.38 with an exchange of 196,312 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
