Stationery & Office Supplies – Montego Bay office.
Investors got a serious dose of a new set of company results and they liked a number of them, driving up prices of some up, following results that surprised positively. Many of the surprising ones matched the ICInsider.com forecast. Stationery & Office Supplies that was in the ICTOP10 up to last week reported earnings in line with ICInsider.com projections of $1 and investors pushed the price to a 52 weeks’ high of $9.50, with a gain of 109 percent for the year so far, with more gains ahead.
tTech is another company reporting earnings in line with the ICInsider.com forecast, with the stock jumping to $5.91 to be up 41 percent for the year. Berger Paints another TOP 10 stock up to last week, seems well on the way to earn $1.50, ICInsider.com forecasted, the price closed the week at $15, pushing it out of the TOP10. There are only 4,852 units on offer up to $17 thereafter, just over 154,000 between $18.99 and $19.86, Grace Kennedy reported a 26 percent rise in profit for the quarter, a continuation of good growth it enjoyed in 2020, but the market is yet to reward it with a price rise.
Access Financial and Key Insurance have moved into the TOP10 to fill the space left by the two stocks that fell out at the end of the week.
When ICInsider.com embarked on the 2021 profit forecast, it was a most difficult time due to the turbulence in the economy and businesses of many listed companies. Nevertheless, we boldly made our forecast and the first fruits are now showing and investors like them in driving up nine of 15 Junior Market stocks selected in January, bettering the gains for the year of 26 percent. Two stocks more than doubled and one is up 96 percent after more than doubling in trading for the year to date, earlier this week, before some profit taking set in. One stock rose 64 percent, one gained 43 percent, two 35 percent and two with 29 percent gain. Added to this is Future Energy Sources that was a part of the TOP10 listing starting at the end of February and has since gained 35 percent.
The ICTOP15 stocks in continuing an outstanding performance saw, Stationery & Office Supplies jumping 109 percent for the year to date, Lumber Depot 104 percent, Jamaican Teas 96 percent, Main Event 64 percent, Lasco Financial rose 43 percent, Caribbean Cream and Caribbean Producers up 35 percent, Lasco Distributors and MailPac a rise of 29 percent each.
The JSE Main Market is only up 4 percent year to date, but ICTOP15 stock selection saw Carreras and Grace Kennedy rising 37 percent, QWI Investments and Caribbean Cement up 29 percent, Seprod up 20 percent, Jamaica Producers 19 percent and Jamaica Broilers up 15 percent.
The bullish tone of both markets continues, but the Junior Market had hit the top line of an upward sloping channel that could act as resistance and is worth watching. The Main Market is a few thousand points away from its channel top, but those resistance points should be only temporary barriers if they, in fact become that.
The top three stocks in the Junior Market are headed by Elite Diagnostic followed by Medical Disposables and Jetcon Corporation, with the potential to gain between 245 to 283 percent. The top three Main Market stocks are Radio Jamaica in the number one spot, followed by Jamaica Broilers and PanJam Investment, with expected gains of 165 to 385 percent.
The targeted PE ratio for the market averages 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, up to the second quarter of 2022. Fiscal 2020-21 ended March 2021 with the average PE at 17 for Junior Stocks and 19 times for the Main Market. With interest rates on government paper below 5 percent and likely to remain there for a few years, the likelihood is for the average PE ratios to climb higher during the next twelve months.
The Junior Market, with an average PE 12.3 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings, is currently trading well below the target, as well as the recent historical average of 17. This represents another 39 percent rise in the market that would equate to a rise of 60 percent to March 2022. The Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 6.4 at just 52 percent of the market average, indicating substantial gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week with an overall PE of 16.5, some distance from the 19 the market ended March, suggesting a 15 percent rise from now to March 2022. The Main Market TOP 10 trades at a PE of 7.8 or 47 percent of the PE of that market and well off the potential of 20.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 220 percent and 168 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2021-22 earnings. IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely increase for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in movements in and out of the lists weekly. Revisions to earnings per share 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, Barita Investments dropped $3.05 to $83 with 33,408 shares changing hands. Berger Paints advanced $1.35 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $15 after exchanging 30,727 stock units, Caribbean Cement slid $4.98 to $81.02 with 96,636 shares crossing the exchange. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed 98 cents to close at $44 trading 11 units, First Rock Capital fell 40 cents to $16.50 in exchanging 50,337 shares, Grace Kennedy slipped 19 cents to close at $88.66 in switching ownership of 161,912 stocks. Jamaica Broilers ended $1 lower at $34.50 in exchanging 30,864 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 24 cents to close at $17.99 with 11,600 stock units crossing the market, JMMB Group rose $1.05 to $33.05 in trading 33,966 units, Kingston Wharves advanced $1 to end at $48 in an exchange of 3,152 stocks, NCB Financial declined $1.50 to $138.50 after transferring 39,781 units, 138 Student Living gained 30 cents to end at $5.30 in exchanging 2,129 stocks. PanJam Investment rose $1 to close at $66.50 in trading 594,688 units, Proven Investments rose 94 cents to $37.95 in trading 26,800 shares, Sagicor Group closed 54 cents higher at $50.55 in an exchange of 35,406 stocks. Salada Foods rose 86 cents to $7.66 in switching ownership of 116,542 stock units, Scotia Group shed 50 cents to end at $41 in trading 20,188 units, Supreme Ventures picked up 50 cents to close at $19.50 with the swapping of 10,037,859 shares, 
Victoria Mutual Investments declined 78 cents to $6.30 in trading 154,338 stock units and Wisynco Group gained 30 cents to close at $15.90, with 240,532 shares crossing the exchange.
Trading ended with 37 securities changing hands up from 35 on Thursday and closed with prices of 15 rising, 15 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Lasco Distributors gained 13 cents to close at $4.20 with an exchange of 66,204 units, Lasco Financial ended 6 cents lower at $3.94 with the swapping of 1,000 shares, Lasco Manufacturing gained 6 cents in closing at $5.40 in transferring 82,790 stock units. Lumber Depot gained 17 cents ending at $3.18 after exchanging 1,851,495 units, Mailpac Group shed 26 cents to finish at $3.69 after clearing the market with 867,626 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced $2.49 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $9.50 in trading 16,303 shares and tTech dipped 8 cents to end at $5.91 with a transfer of 1,250 stock units.
The JSE USD Equity Index added 1.46 points to end at 213.07. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.8 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
At the close, First Rock Capital gained 1.8 cents to end at 11.8 US cents after trading 3,593 shares, Margaritaville remained at 9 US cents with 125,697 shares changing hands, Proven Investments increased 1.45 cents to 26.85 US cents in exchanging 2,178,514 shares. Sterling Investments dropped 0.11 cents to 2.29 US cents, after trading 570,768 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.3 of a cent in closing at 14.7 US cents, with 100,000 stocks crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.04 of a cent to end at 0.9 US cents, after exchanging 121,891 stocks.
A total of 15 securities traded, down from 20 on Wednesday, with five rising, six declining and 4 remaining unchanged. The Composite Index added 2.35 points to settle at 1,343.22, the All T&T Index slipped 1.48 points to 1,819.82 and the Cross-Listed Index rose 0.90 points to close at 116.77.
National Enterprises fell 23 cents to close at $3 in trading 16,300 shares, National Flour Mills declined 35 cents to end at $1.95 with the swapping of 52,900 shares, NCB Financial Group rose 10 cents to $8.20, with 138,482 stocks crossing the market. Republic Financial Holdings traded 5,371 shares after losing 9 cents and closing at $132.52, Scotiabank gained 9 cents to close at $54.75 trading 11,352 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL jumped $1 to close at $14.80, after trading 178,353 stock units, Unilever Caribbean slipped 3 cents to $16.30 after exchanging 156 stocks and West Indian Tobacco added I cent to end at $32.51, with 3,046 units changing hands.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,110.77 points to 451,625.91, the Main Index rose 732.14 points to 427,434.05, and the JSE Financial Index inched 0.15 points up to settle at 106.89.
Trading averaged 308,990 units at $1,775,357, compared to 231,986 shares at $2,914,778 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averages 289,678 units at $3,227,079, in contrast to 287,442 units at $3,395,135 on Wednesday. April averaged 234,200 units at $1,772,561.
138 Student Living fell 30 cents to close at $5 with 3,999 stock units crossing the market, Pan Jam Investment rose $2 to close at $65.50 in exchanging 11,859 stocks, Proven Investments fell 89 cents to $37.01 in the swapping of 17,979 stock units, Pulse Investments gained 30 cents to $4.60 in switching ownership of 345,178 shares. Sagicor Group declined $1.99 to $50.01 in an exchange of 200,381 units, Salada Foods lost 20 cents to finish at $6.80 with a transfer of 117,419 stocks, Seprod gained 88 cents to close at $77.88 in trading 12,866 shares, Supreme Ventures gained 49 cents to settle at $19 with the swapping of 48,842 stock units and Wisynco Group lost 40 cents in ending at $15.60 after trading 197,460 stocks.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands, the same number as on Wednesday, with the prices of four stocks rising, none declining and two remaining unchanged.
At the close, First Rock Capital inched 0.01 of a cent higher to 10 US cents with 63,039 shares traded, Margaritaville ended at 9 US cents with an exchange of 99,400 units, Proven Investments rose 0.39 of a cent to 25.4 US cents with an exchange of 263,547 stocks. Sterling Investments gained 0.1 of a cent to close at 2.4 US cents with 5,000 stock units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 0.4 of a cent to finish at 15 US cents with a transfer of 33,319 units and Transjamaican Highway ended at 0.94 US cents with 130,500 shares crossing the exchange.
The market closed with three stocks ending at 52 weeks highs, helped by good news and shortage of supply of stocks for sale. One technical indicator shows the market sitting at the top of a channel or resistance. Release of results after the market closed, of some companies and a few others that were released before, could power the market into breaking through the resistance level and place the market in a position to the 4,000 points level. The PE Ratio based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings averaging 12.3.
Trading ended with an average of 559,143 units at $1,547,839 up from 351,689 at $822,523 on Wednesday and for the month to date an average of 357,873 units at $865,988, compared to 334,624 units at $787,227 on Wednesday. April closed with an average of 329,241 units at $854,716.
Honey Bun dropped 16 cents to $6 with an exchange of 55,902 units, iCreate gained 6 cents to close at 80 cents with 16,558 stock units passing through the market, Indies Pharma fell 25 cents to $4 with 387,501 shares traded. Jamaican Teas fell 30 cents to settle at $3.50 after 6,713,850 units changed hands, KLE Group lost 9 cents to finish at $1.21 with 600 stocks crossing the exchange, Lasco Distributors declined by 25 cents to $4.07 with 145,965 stock units traded. Lasco Financial climbed 61 cents to 52 weeks high of $4 with a transfer of 55,209 shares, Limners and Bards rose 6 cents to $2.98 with investors switching ownership of 252,216 units, Lumber Depot advanced 21 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $3.01 with an exchange of 3,917,606 units. Mailpac Group lost 5 cents to close at $3.95 with 317,577 stock units changing hands, Medical Disposables dropped 75 cents to $4.25 with 10,895 stocks passing through the market, Stationery and Office Supplies jumped $1.01 to settle at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.01 with 24,878 units traded and tTech advanced 9 cents to $5.99 with 8,461 shares crossing the exchange.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
Pulse Investments lost 40 cents in closing at $4.30 in an exchange of 411,205 units, Sagicor Group climbed $2.51 to $52 with 2,279,348 shares crossing the market, Salada Foods dropped 20 cents to $7 in transferring 206,193 stock units, Seprod slid 88 cents to end at $77 in switching ownership of 4,451 shares, Supreme Ventures fell $1.44 to $18.51 with 73,026 units changing hands and Wisynco Group rose 50 cents to $16 after exchanging 45,650 units.
At the close, 35 securities traded down from 37 on Tuesday with 15 stocks rising, 14 declining and six ending unchanged.
Trading averaged 351,689 units at $822,523 in contrast to 357,620 at $580,663 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date averages 334,624 units at $787,227, compared to 332,395 units at $782,617 on Tuesday. April averaged 329,241 units at $854,716.
Jamaican Teas fell 30 cents to $3.80 with a transfer of 1,225,475 stocks, Jetcon Corporation rose 6 cents to 91 cents with an exchange of 50,827 stock units, KLE Group climbed 27 cents to $1.30 with investors switching ownership of a mere 5 shares. Lasco Distributors declined 8 cents to $4.32, with 13,297 units changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing gained 21 cents to close at $5.31 with 2,071,884 stocks traded, Mailpac Group rose 6 cents to $4 with a transfer of 335,132 stock units and tTech jumped $1.30 to $5.90 with 23,000 shares crossing the exchange, following release of first quarter resulting showing a 94 percent rise in profit.
