There was much activity in the Junior Market this past week, with the market index bouncing over the 3,800 mark for the first time since the middle of March, resulting in Caribbean Cream moving to $4.45 during the week but closed at $3.20 after traders pushed the stock down sharply on Friday, but Lasco Distributors shot to $3.31 and Lasco Manufacturing to $4.48 at the close with both moving out of the Junior Market ICTOP10.
Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing are still priced at less than 10 times 2023 fiscal year earnings when many others are priced over 15 times. Additionally, the company’s directors meet this week to consider dividends. Distributors is seemingly set to pay around 12 cents per share and Manufacturing 13 cents. With the dividend likely to be paid in July, the annual yield will equate to 42 percent and 35 percent, respectively, if the shares were acquired now. Replacing the two Lasco Companies are iCreate following a drop in the price to 95 cents and Edufocal closing at $1.78.
The Main Market TOP10 stocks remained the same as the week before, with the market struggling throughout the week, with four days of significant declines in the market index as selling pressure pushed prices down, resulting in just one stock, Transjamaican moving up in ICTOP10 with the largest gain of just 4 percent, with the stock hitting a record closing high of $2.11 on Friday. The chart shows it has the potential to gain another 200 percent. Berger Paints fell 9 percent to a 52 weeks’ low of $6.87, followed by JMMB Group with a loss of 4 percent to close at one year low of $28.75, Jamaica Broilers is down 3 percent to $35 and Scotia Group dipped 3 percent to $33.60 despite reporting increased profit for the first half of the 2023 fiscal year, with the second quarter almost doubling the similar quarter in 2022.
Lasco Distributors climbed 19 percent following an 11 percent rise last week to close at $3.31 and is up 59 percent from the 2023 low of $2.08 in April. Five stocks rose 6 percent: Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Dolphin Cove, General Accident, Consolidated Bakeries and Lasco Manufacturing, while One on One slipped 3 percent at the end of the week to be the biggest loser.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.7, well below the market average of 13.2. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 265 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 98, with an average of 30 and 20 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 10.4. There are 10 stocks representing 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 25, 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 283 percent to May 2024.
The differences between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
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 will likely 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.
Investors exchanged 145,467 shares for $6,472,009 versus 218,148 stock units at $2,738,982 on Wednesday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
National Flour Mills dipped 7 cents to $1.53 after an exchange of 6,150 stocks, NCB Financial closed at $3 in an exchange of 2,000 shares, One Caribbean Media remained at $3.70 with 3,329 units changing hands, Point Lisas ended at $3.05 after exchanging 9,111 shares. Prestige Holdings ended at $8 in trading 99 stocks, Republic Financial rose $1.62 and ended at $129 after 41,761 stock units crossed the market, Scotiabank gained 1 cent to close at $76.08 in trading 4,845 units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL declined 25 cents to end at $18.25 and closed with 3,560 shares changing hands, Unilever Caribbean dropped 17 cents to $12.50 with a transfer of 9,466 stocks and West Indian Tobacco remained at $13 after an exchange of 5,405 shares.
Investors exchanged 218,148 shares for $2,738,982 versus 249,560 units at $3,305,748 on Tuesday.
At the close, Agostini’s fell 20 cents in closing at $68.80 after a transfer of 242 shares, Angostura Holdings remained at $23.10 after an exchange of 22 stocks, Ansa McAl shed 1 cent to end at $50.99 as investors traded 191 stock units, Ansa Merchant Bank ended at $49 in an exchange of 2,900 units. Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $21.80, with 3 units crossing the market, First Citizens Group jumped $2.94 to $48.99, with 2,651 stocks clearing the market, FirstCaribbean International Bank advanced 1 cent to end at $7.01 with a transfer of 10,522 stock units. GraceKennedy lost 35 cents to close at $3.15, as 625 shares passed through the market, Guardian Holdings remained at $20.05 after an exchange of 832 shares, Guardian Media climbed 10 cents in closing at $2.30 after investors traded 20,882 stocks, JMMB Group gained 1 cent in closing at $1.41 in trading 101,650 stock units. L.J. Williams B share remained at $2.80 with shareholders swapping 736 units, Massy Holdings dropped 6 cents to end at $4.92 while exchanging 14,293 units, National Enterprises ended at $3.55, with 7,255 shares changing hands, National Flour Mills rallied 9 cents to $1.60 after investors traded 4,350 stocks. NCB Financial ended at $3, with 200 stock units crossing the exchange, 
One Caribbean Media declined 1 cent in closing at $3.70 with investors transferring 600 stocks, Point Lisas popped 4 cents to end at $3.05, with 150 shares crossing the market, Republic Financial dipped 33 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $127.38 in switching ownership of 14,065 units. Scotiabank dropped 43 cents to $76.07 in an exchange of 1,430 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL increased 25 cents in closing at $18.50 with an exchange of 1,907 stocks, Trinidad Cement popped 1 cent and ended at $2.51 in switching ownership of 29,814 stock units, Unilever Caribbean dropped $2.13 to end at $12.67 after exchanging 828 units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $13 after 2,000 shares changed hands.
Investors exchanged 249,560 shares at $3,305,748 versus 139,700 stock units at $1,491,369 on Monday.
Ansa McAl remained at $51 as investors traded 6,320 units, Ansa Merchant Bank rose 50 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $49 after 100 stock units were traded. Calypso Macro Investment Fund lost 18 cents to $21.80 after a transfer of 124 shares, First Citizens Group gained 5 cents to close at $46.05 after exchanging 2,640 stock units, FirstCaribbean International Bank shed 1 cent and ended at $7 in switching ownership of 2,359 units. GraceKennedy fell 5 cents to $3.50 with investors transferring 15,496 stocks, Guardian Media declined 10 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.20 in an exchange of 1,397 shares, JMMB Group climbed 2 cents to close at $1.40 with 1,500 stock units changing hands, Massy Holdings ended at $4.98 after 66,726 stocks crossed the market. National Enterprises remained at $3.55, with 24,754 units being traded, National Flour Mills rallied 1 cent in closing at $1.51 with an exchange of 6,881 stock units, NCB Financial ended at $3, with 15,700 shares crossing the market. 
Prestige Holdings dropped 50 cents to end at $8 after 40,718 stocks passed through the exchange, Republic Financial advanced 21 cents to $127.71 and closed after 3,215 units were traded, Scotiabank dipped 50 cents to close at $76.50 after an exchange of 3,734 stock units. Trinidad & Tobago NG ended at $18.25 while exchanging 2,018 shares, Trinidad Cement lost 28 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.50 with 2,505 stock units being traded, Unilever Caribbean dipped 20 cents to end at $14.80 in an exchange of 41,115 units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $13 with investors trading 2,222 stock units.
Investors traded 139,700 shares for $1,491,369, down from 218,165 stock units at $2,569,756 on Friday.
First Citizens Group dropped $2.99 to $46 with investors exchanging 1,400 stocks, FirstCaribbean International Bank ended at $7.01 in switching ownership of 51,270 units. GraceKennedy fell 24 cents to $3.55 with 20,263 stocks being traded, Guardian Holdings gained 5 cents to end at $20.05 after exchanging 1,564 stock units, JMMB Group dipped 2 cents in closing at $1.38 as shareholders traded 2,541 units, Massy Holdings dipped 1 cent and ended at $4.98, with 20,323 shares crossing the market. National Enterprises endned at $3.55 after an exchange of 9,033 stock units, National Flour Mills ended at $1.50 with investors transferring 9 units, NCB Financial remained at $3 with 2,949 stocks changing hands 
One Caribbean Media ended at $3.71 after shareholders traded 100 shares. Prestige Holdings ended at $8.50 with an exchange of 306 stocks, Republic Financial lost 40 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $127.50 as 299 stock units pass through the market. Scotiabank increased $1 to end at $77 with a transfer of 5,216 shares, Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $18.25, with 1,946 units crossing the market and Unilever Caribbean dipped 30 cents to $15 while exchanging 22,342 shares.
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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.
Investors traded 401,593 shares for $2,290,438 compared to 171,203 stock units at $1,565,935 on Monday.
At the close, Agostini’s ended at $69.02. with 450 shares crossing the market, Angostura Holdings remained at $23.10 in switching ownership of 170 stocks, Ansa McAl ended at $51 with an exchange of 302 stock units. Ansa Merchant Bank climbed $1.50 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $48.50 as investors exchanged 4,200 units, Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $21.99 in an exchange of 14 shares, Endeavour Holdings closed trading at $12.65 after 315 units passed through the market, First Citizens Group dropped $1 to $49 with investors trading 34 stock units. FirstCaribbean International Bank lost 1 cent in closing at $7.01, with 41,649 stocks clearing the market, GraceKennedy remained at $3.85 in trading 300 units, Guardian Holdings dipped 2 cents to $20.55 after an exchange of 100 shares, Massy Holdings fell 6 cents to $4.99, with 57,989 stock units changing hands. 
National Enterprises declined 20 cents to $3.55 in an exchange of 278,005 stocks, NCB Financial shed 4 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.20 with a transfer of 380 units, Republic Financial popped 60 cents to close at $129.50 after investors traded 1,856 stocks, Scotiabank lost 43 cents and ended at $76.57 after an exchange of 546 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $18.50 with a transfer of 1,742 stock units, Trinidad Cement remained at $2.70, with 5,050 units crossing the exchange, Unilever Caribbean rose 17 cents to $15.42 while exchanging 6,997 stocks and West Indian Tobacco dropped 50 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $13 in trading 1,494 stock units.
The Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange close on Monday with the volume of stocks traded rising 57 percent with a 36 percent higher value than Friday, resulting in 22 securities trading, up from 19 on Friday, with prices of eight rising, seven declining and seven unchanged.
The Composite Index dipped 4.32 points to finish at 1,263.16, the All T&T Index shed 4.69 points to close at 1,922.89, the SME Index remained at 69.27 and the Cross-Listed Index slipped 0.55 points to end at 77.97.
Guardian Holdings advanced 2 cents to close at $20.57 in swapping of 347 units, JMMB Group declined 3 cents in closing at $1.37 after an exchange of 18,459 stocks. L.J. Williams B share rose 35 cents to $2.75 after trading 100 stock units, Massy Holdings dipped 4 cents to end at $5.05, with 74,373 shares crossing the market, National Enterprises ended at $3.75 as investors exchanged 4,160 stocks, National Flour Mills shed 15 cents and ended at $1.50 in switching ownership of 4,231 units. NCB Financial ended at $3.24 after a transfer of 991 stock units, One Caribbean Media remained at $3.82, with 16,438 units changing hands, Point Lisas increased 23 cents to $3.50 in trading 286 shares, 
Prestige Holdings gained 16 cents to close at $8 with a transfer of 90 stocks. Republic Financial lost 10 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $128.90 after exchanging 2,489 shares, Scotiabank rallied 44 cents and ended at $77 after 1,314 stock units crossed the exchange, Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 50 cents in closing at $18.50 with shareholders swapping 5,301 stocks. Trinidad Cement popped 7 cents to end at $2.70 with investors transferring 230 units, Unilever Caribbean remained at $15.25 with 1,320 shares clearing the market and West Indian Tobacco fell 25 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $13.50 in an exchange of 13,220 units.
Elsewhere the only other news of note was the passing of the Chairman and majority owner of the Lasco companies, the addition of two new directors at ISP Finance and the Bank of Jamaica issue of $35 billion in 28 days CDS with investors offering to buy just $35.24 billion, BOJ took up less than the amount offered with $34.45 billion being sterilized the amount offered and moved the total amount of CDs outstanding to a record $111.45 billion up from $109 billion the week before. The average interest rate climbed back above 8 to 8.24 percent.
Action in the markets this past week resulted in four ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks recording significant losses of 6 to 26 percent, with only 2 with 4 percent gains. Everything Fresh dropped out of the TOP10 and iCreate returns after a brief absence. Main Market stocks were mixed, with one noted loss and two gains of note.
Market is projected to rise by 265 percent to May 2024.