Iron Rock Insurance ended the past week up 14 percent to $2.25 and Lasco Distributors climbed 11 percent to $2.77 after both jumped 34 percent and 21 percent, respectively, earlier in the week, with two new stocks entering the Junior Market ICTOP10. At the same time, the Main Market TOP10 delivered moderate up and down movements.
The Lasco Distributors price movement follows release of full year results with earnings of 38.5 cents per share, with ICInsider.com projecting earnings of 55 cents for the fiscal year ending March 2024, leaving much room for solid upside price movement in the months ahead.
Lasco Manufacturing (LasM) and Caribbean Cream (Kremi) released improved full year results over those for 2022. Importantly, ICInsider.com forecast for the 2024 fiscal year is 70 cents per share for LasM and 90 cents for Kremi, with both entering the TOP10 this week, with one at the top and one at the bottom. Iron Rock Insurance and Edufocal fell from the Junior Market TOP10 to make way for the two stocks.
The stock rising in the ICTOP10 Junior Market, apart from those mentioned in the opening paragraph, is Consolidated Bakeries, with an increase of 4 percent to $2.27. At the same time, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, iCreate and One on One dipped 4 percent to $2.40, $1.26 and $1.10 respectively.
The price of Main Market listed Caribbean Producers, popped 5 percent in closing at $10.06, Key Insurance fell 11 percent to $2.80 and 138 Student Living lost 8 percent in value to close at $5.15.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP10 is 5.9, well below the market average of 13.5. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 259 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 28 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks and 18 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.3 compared with the market at 10.5. There are 10 stocks representing 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 24, averaging 19 are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently. Junior Market is projected to rise by 295 percent to May 2024.
Lasco’s ICool drinks.
The differences between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
In the market generally, Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and, in the process, gradually reduce the supply of several stocks that are attractively priced as the market moves toward the summer months, the start of the stock market year.
A look behind the supply chain shows an ever decreasing number of stocks on offer. The list includes Caribbean Assurance Brokers with strong buying interest between $1.88 and $2.40, but limited selling above $2.50, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Producers (CPJ), Fontana, Dolphin Cove, Honey Bun, Main Event, 
Massey Holdings, Seprod, Transjamaican and Wisynco have started to look positive. Supplies of some stocks are being quietly sucked out of the market, setting the stage for a sustained rally sometime down the road. 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, 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 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.
A total of 24,040,809 shares changed hands amounting to $81,535,879 up from 8,887,886 units at $52,849,273 on Thursday.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
JMMB Group advanced $1.24 to close at $29.99 in an exchange of 4,998 stocks, Key Insurance dipped 49 cents to $2.80, with 24,924 shares changing hands, Massy Holdings lost $4.50 to end at $100 after an exchange of 105,204 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell $1 to $70 in switching ownership of 6 shares, NCB Financial lost $1.39 in closing at $68.60 with shareholders swapping 124,916 units, 138 Student Living dipped 36 cents to close at $5.15 after an exchange of 4,229 stocks, Pan Jamaica Group declined $2.90 ended at $54.09 while 12,829 units were exchanged, Portland JSX shed 54 cents to close at $11 with a transfer of 1,603 shares, Sagicor Group climbed $2.25 to end at $50.50 with an exchange of 8,854 stock units and Stanley Motta popped 30 cents to $5.40, with 15,163 stocks crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share rose $25 to $1250 as investors exchanged 300 stocks, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share fell 64 cents to close at $3.61 in an exchange of 12,880 stock units and 138 Student Living preference share dropped $1.25 to end at $88 with 83 shares clearing the market.
A total of 112,013 shares were traded for US$25,887 compared with 147,149 units at US$2,647 on Thursday.
Proven Investments rose 0.1 of a cent to finish trading at 16.1 US cents after 29,361 stock units were traded, Sterling Investments ended at 1.68 US cents after 13,500 stocks changed hands, Sygnus Credit Investments fell 1.03 cents to end at 10 US cents with 2,208 units being traded and Transjamaican Highway climbed 0.2 of a cents to close at 1.4 US cents while exchanging 65,367 shares.
Investors traded 5,098,602 shares for $13,005,135 versus 12,402,210 units at $34,083,670 on Thursday.
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Elite Diagnostic declined 27 cents to $2.13 and closed after investors traded 19,300 stocks, Honey Bun rose 22 cents to $6.89, with 35,292 units crossing the market, Indies Pharma popped 16 cents to end at $3.40 in an exchange of 30,139 shares. Iron Rock Insurance dipped 38 cents in closing at $2.10, with 31,913 units crossing the exchange, Jamaican Teas rallied 15 cents to close at $2.34 with an exchange of 78,210 stock units, KLE Group advanced 43 cents to close at $1.95 in exchange of one share, Knutsford Express fell 55 cents and ended at $11 after an exchange of 1,572 stocks. Lasco Distributors shed 13 cents to $2.77 in trading 25,745 units, Medical Disposables declined 60 cents in closing at $4.18, with 4,101 shares changing hands, Regency Petroleum popped 13 cents to end at $2.98, with 121,078 stocks clearing the market. 
Spur Tree Spices increased 9 cents to $2.42 in switching ownership of 119,299 stock units, Stationery and Office Supplies lost 27 cents to close at $15.50 after a transfer of 97 shares and tTech shed 26 cents and ended at $2.20 with investors transferring 2,750 stock units.
The Composite Index dropped 14.43 points and ended trading at 1,240.67, the All T&T Index fell 19.98 points to 1,891.25, the SME Index remained at 69.27 and the Cross-Listed Index fell 1.19 points to finish at 76.19.
At the close, Agostini’s dropped $2.52 to $66.50 with investors trading 2,750 shares, Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $21.99 after 21 stocks were traded, First Citizens Group dipped 1 cent to $48.99 after 10,185 units changed hands, FirstCaribbean International Bank rose 1 cent to $7.01 after shareholders traded 59,980 stocks. GraceKennedy lost 6 cents in closing at $3.79, 100 stock units crossing the market, JMMB Group rose 2 cents to $1.40 as investors exchanged 217 shares, L.J. Williams B share added 5 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.80 with shareholders exchanging 13,900 stocks. Massy Holdings ended at $4.99 with a transfer of 49,266 units, National Enterprises remained at $3.55 after an exchange of 955 stock units, National Flour Mills ended at $1.50 with 20 stocks changing hands, 
NCB Financial dipped 20 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $3, with 6,051 shares crossing the exchange. One Caribbean Media shed 10 cents to end at $3.71 after 38,221 units passed through the market, Prestige Holdings popped 50 cents to $8.50 after it closed with 100 shares changing hands, Republic Financial fell $1.09 to $127.90 in switching ownership of 3,477 stock units, Scotiabank lost $1 to close at $76 with 1,580 units clearing the market. Trinidad & Tobago NGL remained at $18.25, with 4,882 stocks changing hands, Unilever Caribbean declined 14 cents to $15.30 with investors transferring 21,436 stock units and West Indian Tobacco ended at $13 after 5,024 units passed through the market.
A total of 8,887,886 shares were traded for $52,849,273 compared to 4,443,891 units at $149,369,888 on Wednesday.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.4 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Massy Holdings climbed $1.50 to $104.50 with investors transferring 732 shares. Mayberry Investments rallied 47 cents to end at $8.50, with 102,411 units crossing the market, NCB Financial popped 49 cents to $69.99 as 148,709 stock units passed through the market, Sagicor Group dipped $3.74 and ended at $48.25 after investors ended trading of 39,116 stocks. Scotia Group advanced 60 cents to close at $34.85 while exchanging 323,426 shares, Seprod declined $6 to $70 with an exchange of 2,214 units, Supreme Ventures fell 99 cents to end at $26.90 with shareholders swapping 18,867 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 30 cents to $12.90 with a transfer of 200 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $9.20 and ended at $78.50 after a transfer of 1,589 units and 138 Student Living preference share shed $15.75 to close at $89.25 with 106 stock units clearing the market.
A total of 147,149 shares were exchanged for US$2,647 compared with 842,727 units at US$97,351 on Wednesday.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
A total of 12,402,210 shares were traded for $34,083,670, down from 17,037,616 units at $59,386,219 on Wednesday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
Honey Bun dropped 13 cents to close at $6.67 with 5,014 units changing hands, iCreate dipped 11 cents to $1.20 after 260,961 stocks were traded, Image Plus Consultants shed 8 cents in closing at $2 as investors exchanged 904,162 stocks, Indies Pharma dropped 21 cents in closing at $3.24 with invetors swapping 53,927 shares, ISP Finance rose $1.10 to $26.50 with investors transferring 23,087 units, JFP Ltd declined 14 cents to end at $1.64 in an exchange of 876,924 shares, Knutsford Express dipped 23 cents to close at $11.55 with 34 stocks clearing the market, Lasco Financial advanced 11 cents and ended at $2.46 after an exchange of 1,660 stock units, Limners and Bards fell 25 cents to end at $2.23 with a transfer of 12,976 units, Lumber Depot lost 9 cents to close at $2.21 in switching ownership of 22,980 stock units, Mailpac Group fell 12 cents to $1.85 after a transfer of 586,278 units, Medical Disposables increased 64 cents in closing at $4.78 with 1,642 shares crossing the market,
Paramount Trading declined 9 cents to $2.09 after investors traded 428 stocks, Regency Petroleum dipped 10 cents to end at $2.85 as 136,537 stock units passed through the market and Spur Tree Spices dropped 27 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.33 after an exchange of 1,642,325 shares.
Investors exchanged 268,376 shares for $6,907,243 compared to 401,593 stocks at $2,290,438 on Wednesday.
At the close, Ansa McAl ended at $51, with 100,010 shares changing hands, Calypso Macro Investment Fund closed at $21.99 as 21 units were traded, First Citizens Group ended at $49 after an exchange of 2,721 stocks. FirstCaribbean International Bank dipped 1 cent in closing at $7 as investors exchanged 50,420 stock units, Guardian Holdings declined 55 cents to end at $20 with 8,746 stocks clearing the market, JMMB Group popped 1 cent in ending at $1.38 with investors transferring 1,282 shares. Massy Holdings ended at $4.99 in an exchange of 26,845 stock units, National Enterprises remained at $3.55 after 16,618 units were traded, National Flour Mills ended at $1.50, with 875 stock units crossing the exchange. One Caribbean Media lost 1 cent to close at $3.81 while investors exchanged 2 units, Point Lisas shed 49 cents and ended at $3.01 as shareholders traded 7,000 stocks, 
Prestige Holdings ended at $8 after a transfer of 115 shares. Republic Financial fell 51 cents to end at $128.99, with 312 shares passing through the market, Scotiabank rallied 43 cents to close at $77 after an exchange of 1,675 stocks, Trinidad & Tobago NGL dipped 25 cents to $18.25 with shareholders swapping 518 units. Trinidad Cement rose 8 cents to $2.78 and closed, with 2,400 stock units changing hands, Unilever Caribbean climbed 2 cents in closing at $15.44 with an exchange of 44,953 stocks and West Indian Tobacco remained at $13 with 3,863 units crossing the market.
Overall, 842,727 shares were traded for US$97,351 compared to 15,452 units at US$986 on Tuesday.
Productive Business Solutions climbed 44.92 cents to US$1.90 with an exchange of 41,899 stocks, Proven Investments lost 0.9 of a cents and ended at 16 US cents, with 918 units crossing the exchange, Sterling Investments ended at 1.68 US cents while investors traded 1,188 stock units and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.16 of a cent to close at a record high of 1.45 US cents after a transfer of 787,041 shares.
