Stocks ended up mostly declining on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange this week, with the two primary market indices slipping by 0.1 percent with prices of 6 stocks rising and 10 declining compared with just 9 rising and 7 declining the previous week.
The average PE ratio of the market, closed at 8 based on 2023 earnings compared to 5.44 based on the estimate of the 2024 earnings, with the difference showing the extent of the market’s current level of undervaluation and the upside potential for gains ahead.
In a week of mostly moderate price movements were mostly moderate, Republic Holdings was the only stock to record a notable gain, with a rise of 40 cents to $114. Ansa Merchant Bank lost 50 cents to $39.50, Scotiabank fell $1.05 to $56, Ansa McAl fell 50 cents to $60.50, Angostura Holding fell 85 cents in closing at $14 and Prestige Holdings declined by 93 cents to close at $10.07.
Stocks with the potential to gain more than 100 percent when the market comes back to life, include CIBC Caribbean Bank with a possible gain of 200 percent, the severely undervalued Guardian Holdings, with a 430 percent potential, Republic Holdings at 160 percent, First Citizens Bank 100 percent, Massy Holdings 50 percent, Trinidad Cement with 300 percent. Eric Solis with a 90 percent potential gain and One Caribbean Media with 300 percent.
Investors should watch Prestige Holdings with the potential to gain 100 percent and Trinidad and Tobago NGL with a potential gain of 230 percent.
The market closed with 237,981 shares being traded with a value of $1,288,296 compared to 165,430 stock units at $2,297,270 on Tuesday. An average of 12,525 shares were traded at $67,805 compared with 8,707 units at $120,909 on Tuesday, with trading month to date averaging 19,220 shares at $173,342 compared with 19,715 units at $181,144 on the previous day and an average of 19,548 stocks valued at $423,231 for 
Ansa McAl remained at $61 and closed with an exchange of 241 units. Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $23.75, with 265 stocks crossing the market, CIBC Caribbean Bank ended at $8.25 with traders dealing in 613 shares, Endeavour Holdings remained at $18 in an exchange of just one unit. First Citizens Group climbed 31 cents to close the trading of 1,559 stocks at $42.16, GraceKennedy remained at $3.75 after 2,846 stock units passed through the market, Guardian Holdings lost 25 cents to close at $15 in trading 230 shares. JMMB Group ended at $1.06 with 111 stock units clearing the market, Massy Holdings shed 3 cents in closing at $3.82 with a transfer of 25,223 stocks, National Flour Mills remained at $1.70 as investors exchanged 4 units. NCB Financial ended at $2.39 with 185,900 stocks crossing the market, 
Prestige Holdings sank 20 cents to finish at $10.50 with investors trading 1,845 units, Republic Financial rose 16 cents and ended at $114 with an exchange of 4,549 shares. Scotiabank ended at $56 trading 432 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL rallied 2 cents to $4.75 after an exchange of 12,860 shares, Unilever Caribbean slipped 5 cents to close at $11.20 with investors dealing in 431 units and West Indian Tobacco fell 1 cent to a 52 weeks’ low of $5.50 in an exchange of 249 stocks.
The market closed with the trading of 604,133 shares at $2,439,877 compared with 666,289 stocks at $21,610,825 on Friday. An average of 33,563 shares were traded at $135,549 down from 39,193 units at $1,271,225 on Friday, with trading for the month to date averaging 20,594 shares for $185,951, up from 19,533 units at $190,075 on the previous day and an average for December of 19,548 shares at $423,231.
Angostura Holdings sank 2 cents to $14.83 with 16 shares crossing the market, Calypso Macro Investment Fund gained 15 cents to close at $23.75 after an exchange of 73 units. First Citizens Group rose 93 cents and ended at $42.69 with investors trading 475 stocks, GraceKennedy ended at $3.74 with 547 stock units traded, Guardian Holdings rallied 33 cents to end at $15.25 with investors trading 16 stock units. JMMB Group remained at $1.06 in switching ownership of 57,211 units, L.J. Williams B share popped 1 cent to end at 80 cents with 17,178 changing hands, Massy Holdings slipped 5 cents in closing at $3.85 with investors trading 323,947 shares. National Enterprises rose 2 cents to close at $2.77 with 20,089 units clearing the market, National Flour Mills remained at $1.70 after a transfer of 15,000 stocks, NCB Financial ended at $2.39 in trading 107,225 stock units. 
Prestige Holdings sank 1 cent to $10.99 and closed with an exchange of 2,578 shares, Republic Financial climbed 20 cents and ended at $113.80 with 3,077 stock units being traded, Scotiabank advanced 5 cents in closing at $57.10 after 1,235 units passed through the market. Trinidad & Tobago NGL remained at $4.75 with a transfer of 13,795 stocks, Unilever Caribbean declined 5 cents to end at $11.20 after an exchange of 734 units and West Indian Tobacco popped 4 cents to close at $5.55 with investors dealing in 40,913 stocks.
Only three stocks rose and six declined in the Junior Market ICTOP10 during the week. The Main Market ICTOP10 ended with six stocks gaining and just two declining. The All JSE TOP10, compiled from all listed ordinary stocks on the JSE, had one change, with Jamaica Broilers replacing Caribbean Cream. Guardian Holdings with the potential to gain 436 percent continues to hold the number one spot in the market with 138 Student Living at number 2 in the All JSE ICTOP10. Elite Diagnostics holds the number one spot in the Junior Market TOP10 followed by Express Catering.
The Main Market ICTOP10 Berger Paints added 13 percent to close at $8.34, Caribbean Producers and Scotia Group rose 6 percent to close at $9 and $55, Key Insurance and QWI Investments propped 5 percent to $2.30 and 90 cents respectively.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 14 stocks, 29 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 31 with an average of 21 and a PE of 18 for half of the market with the highest PEs.
The average PE ratio of the market, closed higher at 8.03 up from 7.62, last week based on 2023 earnings compared to 5.51 based on 2024 projected earnings, with the difference being graphically illustrating the market’s current undervalued level and by extension the upside potential ahead.
Investors should watch Prestige Holdings with the potential to gain 85 percent and Trinidad and Tobago NGL with a potential gain of 230 percent.
The market closed with trading of 182,013 shares valued $2,158,732 down from 455,330 stock units at $3,025,118 on Monday.
Calypso Macro Investment Fund sank 7 cents and ended at $23.60 after 1,100 units crossed the market, CIBC Caribbean Bank lost 5 cents to close at $8.20 as investors exchanged 2,000 stocks, Eric Solis Marketing remained at $4.26 with just 2 units passing through the market. First Citizens Group ended at $41.75 in an exchange of 609 shares, Guardian Holdings slipped 8 cents to end at $14.92 with traders dealing in 22,702 stock units, Guardian Media sank 1 cent and ended at $1.14 after an exchange of 10 shares. JMMB Group declined 3 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.07 with 9,930 stocks crossing the market, Massy Holdings fell 4 cents to finish at $3.86 after a transfer of 85,920 units, National Enterprises ended at $2.77 after trading 3,780 stock units. National Flour Mills rose 4 cents to $1.70 and closed with an exchange of 17,006 shares, One Caribbean Media dipped 29 cents to finish at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.70 with investors trading 2,189 units, 
Point Lisas gained 8 cents and ended at $3.28 with 1,180 stocks clearing the market. Prestige Holdings popped 4 cents to end at $11.29 in switching ownership of 1,200 stock units, Republic Financial remained at $113.60 with investors exchanging 1,735 shares, Scotiabank shed 10 cents to close at $57 in an exchange of 16,252 stocks. Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $4.70 with 8,175 units changing hands, Unilever Caribbean remained at $11.30 in trading 200 stock units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $5.55 after an exchange of 5,725 shares.
Just two stocks fell and 8 rose in the Junior Market ICTOP10 during the week, reversing last week’s adverse movement of just two rising and 8 falling. The performance of the Main Market ICTOP10 resulted in three stocks gaining while four declined. The All JSE TOP10, compiled from all listed ordinary stocks on the JSE, had two changes. JMMB Group returns to the All JSETOP10 following a week’s absence along with Caribbean Producers, replacing the Junior Market, Access Financial and AMG Packaging. 
In Main Market ICTOP10 activity, Berger Paints shed 14 percent to close at $7.36, Key Insurance dropped 10 percent to $2.20, Caribbean Producers and Scotia Group lost 5 percent to $8.50 and $52 respectively.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 12 stocks, 25 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 32 with an average of 21 and a PE of 18 for half of the market with the highest PEs.
Stocks with the potential to gain more than 100 percent when the market comes back to life, include CIBC Caribbean Bank with a possible gain of 200 percent, the severely undervalued Guardian Holdings, with a 430 percent potential, Republic Holdings at 160 percent, First Citizens Bank 100 percent, Massy Holdings 50 percent, Trinidad Cement with 300 percent. Eric Solis with a 100 percent potential gain and One Caribbean Media with 300 percent.
The market closed with trading of 130,134 shares valued at $926,287, sharply down from 1,104,846 stock units at $3,237,605 on Tuesday. Trading resulted in an average of 7,230 shares at $51,460 compared with 55,242 units at $161,880 on Tuesday, with trading month to date averaging 24,300 stock units at $108,673 compared with 28,568 units at $122,981 on the previous day and an average for December of 19,548 shares at $423,231.
CIBC Caribbean Bank remained at $8.11 in trading 2,000 stock units, First Citizens Group ended at $41.50 with 973 shares clearing the market, GraceKennedy ended at $3.71 as investors exchanged 144 stock units. Guardian Holdings remained at $15 with 5,127 units crossing the market, JMMB Group remained at $1.07 after a transfer of 5 stock units, L.J. Williams B share lost 5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 70 cents with traders dealing in 4,565 shares. Massy Holdings sank 9 cents to finish at $3.90 in an exchange of 107,096 stock units, National Enterprises fell 7 cents and ended at $2.70 with investors trading 575 units, One Caribbean Media popped 17 cents to end at $2.99 with 50 stocks changing hands. 
Prestige Holdings ended at $11.30 after 1,000 units were traded, Republic Financial skidded 10 cents to end at $113.50 as 2,141 stock units passed through the market, Scotiabank gained 90 cents and closed at $59.90 with an exchange of 75 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $4.75 with 873 stock units crossing the market, Unilever Caribbean rose 1 cent and ended at $11.27 with investors swapping 543 shares and West Indian Tobacco remained at $5.55 with a transfer of 50 stocks.
The week’s movement resulted in just two stocks rising and 8 falling, with five suffering big losses in the Junior Market ICTOP10. The performance of the Main Market ICTOP10 was in sharp contrast to the Junior Market, as five stocks gained and only two declined. The All JSE TOP10, compiled from all listed ordinary stocks on the JSE, had two changes. Key Insurance returns to the All JSETOP10 following a week’s absence and Access Financial returns, replacing JMMB Group and Pulse Investments, with earnings for both revised downward, following the release of September results.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10, Iron Rock Insurance was the only stock with a noteable gain, with the price rising 19 percent to $4.29. Lumber Depot dropped 22 percent to $2.08, Caribbean Flavours dived 14 percent to end trading at $1.20, Caribbean Assurance shed 13 percent to end at 2.51 and Express Catering fell 11 percent to $3.01.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at just 5.6, well below the market average of 14.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.5, more than half of the market, with an average of 13.