After four days of trading in March and the final two days in February, rising stocks finally whipped declining ones on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange when the market ended trading on Thursday, with the market indices rising after trading of 18 percent fewer shares valued at 68 percent less than on Wednesday.
Trading ended with 19 securities changing hands up from 15 on Wednesday, with seven rising, three declining and nine finishing unchanged. Grace Kennedy closed at 52 weeks’ high.
The Composite Index increased 2.32 points to 1,325.93, the All T&T Index rose 4.80 points to 1,761.87 and the Cross Listed Index slipped 0.03 points to 120.38.
The market closed with an exchange of 287,671 shares, for $5,750,419, down from 350,191 units at $18,129,021 on Wednesday.
An average of 15,141 units traded for the day at $302,654 compared to 23,346 at $1,208,601 on Wednesday. An average of 13,309 units traded at $436,983 for the month to date compared to 12,665 units at $484,247. The average trade for February amounted to 15,920 for $307,754.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s climbed $1 to $23, trading 10 shares, Angostura Holdings rose 4 cents to $15 in exchanging 112,354 stock units, Ansa Mcal advanced 25 cents to $53.25 in trading 147 shares, Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $14.10, with 800 shares changing hands. Clico Investment Fund rose 15 cents to $25.55, with 20,242 stock units clearing the market. First Citizens Bank carved out a gain of 74 cents at $44.01 in exchanging 13,000 units, Grace Kennedy gained 4 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.30 in switching ownership of 2,050 units, Guardian Holdings settled at $22, with 1,115 shares changing hands. 
Massy Holdings traded 2,800 stocks at $63, National Flour Mills slipped 5 cents to $2.20 in an exchange of 2,000 shares, NCB Financial Group fell 45 cents to $8.40 with the swapping of 54,805 units. One Caribbean Media fell 5 cents to $4.75, with 2,095 units crossing the exchange, Point Lisas ended at $3.01 while exchanging 1,000 shares, Prestige Holdings ended at $7.70 after 136 stock units changed hands. Republic Financial Holdings rose 1 cent to $134.56 trading 8,105 shares, Scotiabank traded 2,122 units at $55.95, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $15.01 with 58,609 units crossing the exchange. Trinidad Cement closed at $3.40 exchanging 1,000 shares and West Indian Tobacco traded 5,281 stocks at $3.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks break losing streak on TTSE
Stocks give up some gains Wednesday
Stocks gave back some of Tuesday’s gains bring the year to date gains to zero when the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended trading on Wednesday, with the market declining even as more stocks advanced than declined after an exchange of 15 percent more shares with an 11 percent lower value than on Tuesday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 2,201.29 points to 433,411.08, the Main Index dropped 1,957.22 points to 395,223.27 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.51 points to settle at 100.07.
Investors traded 40 securities, down from 47 on Tuesday and closed with 18 rising, 12 declining and 10 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.2 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Traders exchanged 16,449,582 shares for $59,313,530 compared to 14,255,372 units at $66,739,337 on Tuesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 36.1 percent of total volume, after an exchange of 5.94 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 29 percent for 4.78 million units, QWI Investments chipped in with 10.1 percent after 1.66 million units traded and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 6.9 percent of the day’s trade for 1.14 million units.
Trading averaged 411,240 units at $1,482,838 for each security, compared to an average of 303,306 shares at $1,419,986 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 358,582 units at $1,676,782 for each security, in contrast to 336,641 units at $1,757,591 on Tuesday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
Barita Investments rose $1.25 to end at $81.25 trading 3,179 shares, Berger Paints rose 24 cents in closing at $13.45, after exchanging 4,677 stock units, Caribbean Cement shed $2.30 to close at $67.20 in transferring 39,713 shares. Carreras gained 20 cents to finish at $7.73, with 53,050 units changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $1 to $41 after an exchange of 2,181 shares. First Rock Capital gained 25 cents to settle at $15.25 trading 56,515 stock units, Grace Kennedy rose $1.98 to $90.98, with the swapping of 119,902 shares, Jamaica Broilers ended 24 cents higher at $28.74 after the transfer of 25,562 units. JMMB Group rose 22 cents to $32.90 in an exchange of 55,700 units, Kingston Wharves shed 60 cents to $45, with shareholders switching ownership of 40,328 shares. 
NCB Financial declined $1 to $141, with 53,913 stock units crossing the market, Palace Amusement dropped $67.03 to $885, with 210 units changing hands, PanJam Investment finished 90 cents lower at $64.10 trading 8,674 stock units. Proven Investments advanced $1.75 to $39, with an exchange of 35,591 stocks, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rose 43 cents to $8.35 with the swapping of 15,997 shares, Salada Foods declined $2.99 to $38.51 with 8,295 units clearing the market. Stanley Motta gained 34 cents to close at $5.35 after exchanging 212 units and Supreme Ventures fell $1.20 to $15 in transferring 90,750 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Tuesday’s Trinidad stock gains given back
Prices pulled back on Wednesday for seven stocks, while 4 recorded gains in trading on the Tobago Stock Exchange with 27 percent more shares changed hands with a value that was 177 percent higher than Tuesday.
Trading ended with 15 securities, down from 24 on Tuesday, with four stocks rising, seven declining and four finishing unchanged. The market indices movement eroded nearly all of Tuesday’s gains, with the Composite Index dropping 15.35 points to 1,323.61, the All T&T Index fell 1.24 points to close at 1,757.07 and the Cross Listed Index lost 4.04 points to 120.41.
Investors exchange of 350,191 shares, for $18,129,021, up from 275,148 units at $6,548,313 on Tuesday.
An average of 23,346 units traded at $1,208,601 compared to 11,465 at $272,856 on Tuesday. An average of 12,665 units traded at $484,247 for the month to date versus 8,557 units at $205,649. The average trade for February amounted to 15,920 units at $307,754.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
In trading, Angostura Holdings advanced 1 cent to $14.96 with 10 shares trading, Clico Investment Fund fell 10 cents to $25.40 with a swapping of 29,020 stock units. First Citizens Bank fell 50 cents to $43.27 with 2,214 shares crossing the exchange, Grace Kennedy climbed 6 cents to a 52 week’s high of $4.26 in an exchange of 5,020 stock units. 
Guardian Holdings increased 25 cents to $22, with 11,625 shares changing hands, JMMB Group fell 1 cent to $1.82, with 900 stocks clearing the market, Massy Holdings climbed 50 cents to $63 while exchanging 269,241 stocks. National Flour fell 10 cents to $2.25, with 22,000 stock units changing hands, NCB Financial Group declined 15 cents to $8.85 with an exchange of 5,855 shares, One Caribbean Media fell 1 cent to $4.80 while exchanging 1,025 stock units. Republic Financial Holdings settled at $134.55 after 10 stock units crossed the exchange, Scotiabank remained at $55.95 with 77 units clearing the market, Trinidad & Tobago NGL lost 49 cents to end at $15.01, with 169 shares crossing the exchange. Unilever Caribbean closed at $16.30 after trading 1,549 units and West Indian Tobacco ended at $34 in switching ownership of 1,476 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Market takes a breather in the move higher
After moving aggressively on Monday, stocks gave back some of Monday’s gains at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, with just over half the stocks traded declining with 34 percent fewer funds changing 21 percent fewer shares than on Monday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,342.33 points to 435,612.37, the Main Index shed 1,189.08 points to 397,180.49, and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.23 points to settle at 100.58.
Investors traded 47 securities changing hands, down from 49 on Monday and closed with 10 stocks rising, 25 declining and 12 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.1 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Traders moved 14,255,372 shares for $66,739,337 down from 18,062,183 units at $101,989,445 on Monday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 52.3 percent of total volume after exchanging 7.45 million shares, followed by Pulse Investments with 12.4 percent for 1.76 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 8.1 percent of the day’s trade for 1.16 million units.
Trading for the day averaged 303,306 units at $1,419,986, compared to 368,616 shares at $2,081,417 on Monday. The month to date averaged 336,641 units at $1,757,591 to February with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped $1.17 to $80 to finish with a transfer at 25,533 shares. Berger Paints shed 99 cents to $13.21, with 3,567 shares crossing the exchange. Caribbean Cement fell 50 cents to $69.50 trading 17,782 stocks, Jamaica Producers fell 50 cents to $19.95, with 13,179 stocks changing hands. Jamaica Stock Exchange ended $1.50 lower at $18 after 80,328 stock units crossed the exchange, Kingston Wharves shed 60 cents to settle at $45.60 trading 18,334 units, Mayberry Investments slipped 40 cents to $5.29 trading 8,864 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced $1.03 to $8 in switching ownership of 216,359 stock units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $5 to $150 after exchanging 73 shares, NCB Financial Group declined $1.33 in closing at $142, with 148,747 stock units changing hands, 138 Student Living rose 30 cents to $5.60, exchanging 20,286 stocks, Palace Amusement climbed $151.03 to $952.03 trading 30 shares. 
Portland JSX shed $1.40 to close at $7.10 in transferring 6,500 stocks, Proven Investments fell $2.15 to $37.25, after an exchange of 26,284 units, Sagicor Group advanced $1.90 to $52, with 20,712 stocks clearing the market. Sagicor Real Estate Fund fell $1.07 to $7.92 in a transfer of 379 stocks, Salada Foods rose 50 cents to $41.50 after trading 9,418 stocks. Scotia Group climbed $1.50 to $42.50, with 34,379 shares changing hands, Seprod gained 50 cents to end at $70 in trading 9,783 stocks and Stanley Motta shed 34 cents to $5.01, with 16,000 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
TTSE Securities traded at 21/2 years’ high
On Tuesday, the number of stocks trading climbed to the highest level in more than 30 months when investors transacted trades in 24 securities, up from just 15 on Monday as the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange ended trading Tuesday.
Trading ended with 24 securities changing hands, the most in more than two years and compares to 15 on Monday. Three stocks rose, six declined and 15 remained unchanged. The Composite Index surged 17.24 points to 1,338.96, but the All T and T Index slipped 0.35 points to 1,758.31 and the Cross Listed Index jumped 4.78 points to 124.45.
Investors traded 275,148 shares, for $6,548,545 up from 58,567 units at $1,471,782 on Monday.
An average of 11,465 units traded for the day at $272,856 compared to an average of 3,904 at $98,119 on Monday. An average of 8,557 units traded at $205,649 for the month to date. The average trade for February amounted to 15,920 units at $307,754.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s shed 1 cent in closing at $22 and exchanging 41,463 shares, Angostura Holdings closed at $14.95 with 29,838 units clearing the market, Ansa Mcal stayed at $53 in switching ownership of 4,910 stocks. Ansa Merchant Bank stayed at $40.50 with an exchange of 923 stock units, Calypso Macro Investment Fund dropped 41 cents to close at $14.10 in switching ownership of 500 stocks, while Clico Investment Fund fell 9 cents to $25.50, with 61,408 stocks crossing the market. First Citizens Bank declined 20 cents to $43.77 in an exchange of 225 shares, FirstCaribbean International Bank closed at $7 after trading 32,010 stocks. 
Grace Kennedy carved out a gain of 21 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.20 in trading 1,002 stocks, Guardian Holdings closed at $21.75, with 764 shares clearing the market, JMMB Group remained at $1.83 with 20,780 stock units changing hands. Massy Holdings rose $1.20 to $62.50 in swapping 3,958 stocks, National Enterprises settled at $3.12 in trading 15,762 units, National Flour Mills remained at $2.35 after 2,712 stocks crossed the exchange. NCB Financial Group increased 70 cents $9 after trading 273 stock units, One Caribbean Media ended at $4.81 trading 9,531 shares, Point Lisas closed at $3.01, with 830 units crossing the market. Prestige Holdings closed at $7.70 with an exchange of 5,105 stocks, Republic Financial Holdings remained at $134.55, with 15,347 stocks changing hands, Scotiabank fell 5 cents to close at $55.95 in switching ownership of 3,347 units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL remained at $15.50 with an exchange of 22,627 units. Trinidad Cement declined 10 cents to $3.40, with 500 shares clearing the market. Unilever Caribbean stayed at $16.30, trading 291 shares and West Indian Tobacco ended at $34 after 1,042 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE majors now new year positive
Stocks rising and declining share the honours with 20 each, at the close of trading on Monday leaving to the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market to close above Friday’s close with the volume of shares traded falling 51 percent and values down 9 percent to Friday.
Several stocks posted strong gains leading the market into positive for the year to date, for only the second time since the start of the year, with January 5th being the only other day the market recorded gains over the 2020 close. The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 4,304.98 points to 436,954.70 at the close, the Main Index advanced 3,840.76 points to 398,369.57, but the JSE Financial Index slipped 037 points to 100.35.
Investors traded 49 Securities, up from 47 on Friday and closed with 20 rising, 20 declining and 9 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 19.4 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Traders exchanged 18,062,183 shares for $101,989,445 compared to 35,675,257 units at $112,526,954 on Friday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 45 percent of total volume, after an exchange of 8.12 million shares followed by Pulse Investments with 21.4 percent for 3.86 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund 7.9 percent for 1.42 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 6.1 percent market share for 1.11 million units.
JSE Main Market recorded gains in 2021 for only the second time for the year when the market closed on Monday.
Trading for the day averaged 368,616 units at $2,081,417, compared to 759,048 shares at $2,394,191 on Friday. February closed with an average of 419,015 units at $2,509,660.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments slipped 33 cents to $81.17, after exchanging 26,461 shares, Berger Paints closed 30 cents higher at $14.20, with 17,723 units changing hands. Caribbean Cement advanced $5 to $70, after the stock surged to $75 in early trading, with the switching of 125,524 stocks, Ciboney Group lost 22 cents to finish at $1.22, with 38,183 shares clearing the market, Eppley advanced $3.40 to $28.40, with the swapping of 24,498 units. First Rock Jamaica lost 30 cents to end at $15 trading 3,126 stocks, Grace Kennedy climbed $4.50 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $89, with 194,627 shares changing hands. The stock traded upto $95 in response to a strong rise in profit, the company reported for 2020, Jamaica Broilers lost 26 cents to close at $28.74, with an exchange of 24,329 units. Jamaica Producers gained 25 cents to end at $20.45 in swapping 196,833 stocks, Key Insurance rose 76 cents to $4.77 trading 154,642 stock units, Kingston Properties rose $1.41 to $7.25, with 700 units crossing the exchange. Mayberry Investments ended 40 cents higher at $5.69, transferring 7,352 shares, NCB Financial fell 67 cents to $143.33 with an exchanging of 88,291 stock units, 1834 Investments fell 25 cents to 95 cents trading 2,120 units, 138 Student Living shed 70 cents to end at $5.30 while exchanging 1,700 stock units. 
Palace Amusement dropped $49 to $801, with 683 shares crossing the market, PanJam Investments rose $1 to $65, in an exchange of 13,660 stocks, Portland JSX ended $1.40 higher at $8.50, with the swapping of 2,000 units, Proven Investments climbed $3.40 to $39.40 trading 361 stock units. Sagicor Group declined $2 to finish at $50.10, in switching ownership of 81,964 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 69 cents to close at $8.99 after 7,200 shares crossed the market, Salada Foods fell $3 to $41 in exchanging 6,514 stocks. Scotia Group declined $1.50 to $41 trading 271,291 units, Seprod gained 50 cents to close at $69.50, with the swapping of 34,072 shares, Supreme Ventures lost 50 cents to finish at $16.40 in switching ownership of 13,711 units and Wisynco Group lost 29 cents to close at $16, in transferring 134,237 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
TTSE stocks drop on Monday
Investors chopped stock prices down on Monday as trading fell compared to Friday, ended with the market declining after investors traded 57 percent fewer shares at 45 percent less value than Friday on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
Trading ended with 15 active securities, down from 17 on Friday, with four rising, six declining and five remaining unchanged. The Composite Index dropped 13.99 to 1,321.72, the All T&T Index slipped 3.95 points to 1,758.66, and the Cross Listed Index lost 3.29 points to 119.67.
The market closed with an exchange of 58,567 shares for $1,471,782 compared to 135,847 units at $2,664,969 on Friday.
An average of 3,904 units traded for $98,119 compared to 7,991 at $156,763 $522,920 on Friday. The average trade for January amounted to 15,920 units traded at $307,754.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of trading, Agostini’s shed $1.69 to end at $22.01 after exchanging one share, Angostura Holdings rose 35 cents to $14.95 with 4,000 units changing hands, Clico Investment Fund shed 16 cents to close at $25.59 with an exchange of 18,775 units. First Citizens Bank added 48 cents to close at $43.97 with the swapping of 7,037 shares, Guardian Holdings fell 23 cents to $21.75 with 5,537 units clearing the market. JMMB Group lost 2 cents to end at $1.83 after trading 9,478 shares, National Flour ended at $3.12 after exchanging 100 shares. 
NCB Financial Group fell 55 cents to $8.30 trading 5,933 stocks, One Caribbean Media traded 25 stock units at $4.81. Prestige Holdings traded 190 units at $7.70, Republic Financial Holdings closed at $134.55, with 2,259 shares changing hands. Scotiabank rose 5 cents to $56 trading 1,345 units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL gained 50 cents to end at $15.50 with 3,827 shares crossing the exchange, Trinidad Cement closed at $3.50 in trading 50 stock units and Unilever Caribbean slipped 3 cents to $16.30 in exchanging 10 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Fesco, JMMB & Sygnus in IC TOP10 stocks
IC TOP10 stocks are now based on earnings for 2021/22 fiscal years. Of the January listing, Access Financial Services moved out of the TOP 10 Junior Market list while Main Market QWI Investment and Carreras fell from the Main market list with increased prices.
Coming into the TOP10 are Fesco, the latest IPO that is expected to come to market shortly, with the prospectus having been released but temporarily withdrawn to correct some errors. JMMB Group and Sygnus Credit Investments are now in the TOP10 Main market listing.
Since the start of the year, the Junior Market is up 10.5 percent, with 11 companies’ stock rising between 20 and 63 percent, including four with gains from 49 percent up. The Main Market, on the other hand, is marginally down for the year by less than one percent, with five stocks recording gains between 21 percent and 47 percent and Ciboney rising 500 percent for the year to date.
The Junior Market and the Main Market moves are supported by technical indicators, pointing to robust gains ahead and back up by some companies reporting positive profit results.
This week’s focus: Grace Kennedy had outstanding results for 2020 with much more to come in 2021; expect the price to move sharply over the next few weeks. Caribbean Cement reported a 70 percent rise in profit for 2020 and is projected to earn $6.70 for 2021, the stock is an ideal candidate to move higher in the weeks ahead.
The top three stocks in the Junior Market can gain between 329 to 339 percent are Main Event followed by Elite Diagnostic and Jetcon. With expected gains of 202 to 459 percent, the top three Main Market stocks are Radio Jamaica, followed by Berger Paints and VM Investments.
The local stock market’s targeted average PE ratio is 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, up to the second quarter of 2021. The Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below the market average, a clear indication of strong gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 14.7 and the Junior Market 9.8 based on ICInsider.com’s projected 2021-22 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.2 at just 53 percent of the market average. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 7.1 or 48 percent of the PE of that market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 289 percent and 204 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2021-22 earnings. IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain 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.
February ends on a high note
Trading climbed on Friday with an exchange of 124 percent more shares valued 77 percent more than on Thursday as more stocks rose than declined on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market and ending with the market indices closing higher than the January close, almost wiping out the loss suffered since the start of the year.
The market should move higher during the coming week following record breaking results by Grace Kennedy with earnings of $6.26 that suggests the price should climb to over $100 and Caribbean Cement with record earnings of $3.76 and a likely price of $75. Technical indicators are also pointing to a run in the market to 437,000 points on the All Jamaica Composite Index in the short term.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,408.76 points to 432,649.72, the Main Index climbed 2,126.52 points to 394,528.81 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.78 points to settle at 100.72.
Trading ended with 47 active securities, the same as on Thursday and closed with prices of 21 rising, 15 declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The PE Ratio averages 17.1 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
Traders exchanged 35,675,257 shares for $112,526,954 compared to 15,923,380 units at $63,507,779 on Thursday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 63.1 percent of total volume, after 22.50 million shares changed hands following comments from the company’s Managing Director, Earl Barrett, that the rate to be paid for energy produced by their phase two wind turbine will fall from 13 US cents to 5.6 us cents per Kilowatt hour effective April. Sagicor Select Financial Fund followed with 12.9 percent for 4.60 million units, Pulse Investments 8.1 percent, with 2.88 million units, Ciboney Group chipped in for 3.7 percent with 1.32 million units and Key Insurance 3.4 percent trading 1.23 million units.
Trading for the day averaged 759,048 units at $2,394,191, Thursday ended with an average of 338,795 shares at $1,351,229. Trading month to date averaged 419,015 units at $2,509,660 for each security, in contrast to 399,667 units at $2,516,231 on Thursday. January closed with an average of 311,275 units at $1,432,133.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading has nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of trading, Barita Investments gained 36 cents to end at $81.50, after trading 10,772 shares, Caribbean Cement climbed $2.51 to $65, with the swapping of 60,748 stocks. Carreras lost 34 cents in closing at $7.41, in a transfer of 97,841 units, Ciboney Group dropped 36 cents to $1.44, with 1,316,248 shares crossing the exchange, Eppley fell $2.10 to $25, with the swapping of 21,424 units. Grace Kennedy advanced $3.50 to a 52 weeks’ high of $84.50, with 30,224 shares clearing the market, Jamaica Broilers gained 20 cents to close at $29, with 235,232 stock units changing hands, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed $1.60 to $19.60, after the swapping of 61,828 stocks. Key Insurance shed 79 cents to $4.01, trading 1,226,874 stock units, Kingston Properties declined $1.33 to $5.84 in 5,835 units crossing the exchange. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $10 to $145 after exchanging 260 stocks, NCB Financial climbed $3 to close at $144, transferring 78,611 shares, 138 Student Living rose 90 cents to $6 exchanging 3,210 stock units, Sagicor Group rose 50 cents to $52.10, in switching ownership of 468,195 stock units. 
Sagicor Real Estate Fund picked up 48 cents to close at $8.30, after 155,883 shares crossed the market, Salada Foods climbed $3.50 to $44, exchanging 97 stocks. Scotia Group lost 50 cents in ending at $42.50 trading 34,852 units, Seprod shed 54 cents to $69, with the swapping of 8,011 shares, Stanley Motta gained 35 cents to settle at $5.35, with 50 units clearing the market. Sterling Investments ended 36 cents higher at $3 in an exchange of 33,207 stock units and Supreme Ventures climbed $1.60 to $16.90 with 138,316 units changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 8.75% preference shares rose 55 cents to end at $7.40, in exchanging 153 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
2020 a great year for Grace Kennedy
The year just past may have been a terrible one for many, for at Grace Kennedy, they have much to be thankful for and management wish must be for another repeat performance like 2020.
Grace reports record profit of $6.2 billion attributable to shareholders for 2020, jumping 39 percent from $4.49 billion in 2019 after taxation more than doubled to hit $2.85 billion for an increase of 178 percent.
Profit before tax rose a strong 58 percent compared to 2019 to end at $9.7 billion. Importantly profit before other income jumped a stunning 82 percent to $6.8 billion while other income rose 20 percent to $3 billion. In what was a spectacular year for the 100 years old company, revenues grew 12 percent to $115 billion, surpassing the $99 billion generated in 2019. Direct and operating expenses rose 9 percent to $109 billion. Other comprehensive income brought total profits to $9.2 billion versus $9.26 billion in 2019.
The groups’ segments had a mixed performance, with Food trading profit almost doubling from 11 percent rise in sales while Insurance and Money transfer contributed 21 percent and 26 percent in profit but banking and Investments fell.
“GK’s Food Trading segment saw improved revenue and profitability primarily due to the outstanding performance of its international food businesses. GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC showed triple digit increase in gross profit and marked growth in revenue, with the Grace and La Fe brands recording growth and improved margins; and GK’s Jamaican food distribution business recorded strong growth in both revenue and pre-tax profit, coupled with improved operating margins,” a release from the company stated.
The group earned 6.26 per share for the year versus $4.51 in 2019 and the stock price closed on Friday with a last traded price of $84.50 for a PE ratio of 13, well below the market average of 20. ICInsider.com projects 2021 earnings of $11 per share and see the stock heading close to $200 for the year and receives the coveted IC BUY RATED stamp of approval.
Total shareholders’ equity stood at $29 billion at the end of December, up from $27 billion in 2019. the group paid $1.59 billion in dividend during the year, up slightly from $1.54 billion in 2019.