Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 7 percent and the value 15 percent more than on Friday after trading took place in 46 securities compared with 44 on Friday and ended with 12 rising, 20 declining and 14 closing unchanged on a day that closed with the market index falling.
Investors traded 7,109,987 shares for $15,074,419 compared with 6,672,237 units at $13,058,494 on Friday.
Trading averaged 154,565 shares at $327,705 up from 151,642 shares at $296,784 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 193,170 units at $366,976 compared to 195,857 stock units at $369,709 on the previous day compared to August with an average of 183,001 units at $460,354.
One Great Studio led trading with 2.69 million shares for 37.9 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 1.19 million units for 16.7 percent of the day’s trade and Mailpac Group with 643,319 units for 9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 20.18 points to conclude trading at 3,789.41.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.3, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rose 17 cents and ended at $25.17 in trading 1,033 shares, Derrimon Trading rallied 10 cents in closing at $2, with 28,280 stocks clearing the market, 
Future Energy Source fell 15 cents to end at $3.30 with investors dealing in 134,078 units. Indies Pharma advanced 14 cents to $2.90 in an exchange of 5,209 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 20 cents to close trading at $2 with investors swapping 50 stocks, Jamaican Teas lost 7 cents to close at $2 with an exchange of 59,546 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 11 cents in closing at $5.20 as investors exchanged 500,460 units, Main Event declined 23 cents to $14.23 after 2,266 shares crossed the market, Medical Disposables shed 39 cents and ended at at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.81, with 5,020 shares crossing the exchange.
Tropical Battery skidded 10 cents to end at $1.90, with 3,000 stock units changing hands and tTech declined 13 cents to close at $2.35 after a transfer of 87,848 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Solid gains for ICTOP10 stocks
The ICTOP10 stocks racked up some solid gains to close out the past week, even as the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior and the Main Market that suffered losses last week declined further this past week.
The Main Market had just two stocks with notable price changes this past week, with Scotia Group jumping 13 percent to $34 and Key Insurance slipping 8 percent to close the week at $2.55. There were more changes of note in the Junior Market ICTOP10 that closed the week with a 15 percent rise in General Accident Insurance to $5.24, the price of Elite Diagnostic rose 11 percent to $1.79 and Iron Rock Insurance gained 5 percent to end at $2.20. Image Plus with a 4 percent loss to $2.02, was the only declining stock of note.
Earnings for Margaritaville was adjusted to $3.10 for the current fiscal year ending May 2024, placing the stock at number 5 on the list.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5, well below the market average of 12.2. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to gain an average of 298 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
A total of 11 of the most highly valued stocks representing 23 percent of the Main Market are priced with a PE of 16 to 84, with an average of 31 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, with a PE of 21 for the top half and 17 excluding the stocks with the over weighted valuations.
The PE of the Junior Market Top 10 sits at 5.2 just half of the market at 10.4. There are 10 stocks or 26 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 29, averaging 19 that 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, and projected to rise by 288 percent to May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
The markets are not in a bullish state but there continue to be cases of slow upward movements in some prices as investors respond to some recent results leading them to quietly nibble away at the supplies of a number of stocks on offer and paving the way for price appreciation ahead. The list includes stocks such as Access Financial, AMG Packaging, Everything Fresh, Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Cream, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturing and Transjamaican Highway.
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.
ICTOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2024 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 and result in weekly changes 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 cooled on One Great Studio
Trading cool in on shares of One Great Studio at the close of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with less than 2 million shares trading compared to more than 14 million units traded in each of the previous three days as such Friday’s volume dropped sharply 68 percent with a 59 percent lower the value of stocks being traded but the Junior Market was able to record a moderate modest increase at the close of trading.
A total of 44 securities were traded compared to 45 on Thursday with market activity ending with prices of 20 rising, 15 declining and nine closing unchanged.
Investors traded 6,672,237 shares for $13,058,494 down from 21,011,494 units at $31,863,579 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 151,642 shares at $296,784 compared with 466,922 shares at $708,080 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 195,857 units at $369,709 down from 199,010 stock units at $374,909 on the previous day. August closed with an average of 183,001 units at $460,354.
One Great Studio led trading with 1.89 million shares for 28.3 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading with 1.64 million units for 24.6 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 766,933 units for 11.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 5.63 points to settle at 3,809.59.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and eight with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging rallied 21 cents to $2.49 after 18,873 shares passed through the market, Blue Power advanced 15 cents to $2.65 in switching ownership of 10 units, CAC 2000 climbed 58 cents to end at $4.46 after an exchange of 15 stocks, Cargo Handlers lost 45 cents to close at $14.50, with 5,095 stock units crossing the market. Caribbean Cream climbed 58 cents to $4.10 in trading 300 stocks, Caribbean Flavours popped 8 cents to end at $1.30 with investors transferring 41,968 units, Consolidated Bakeries shed 29 cents to close at $2.10 after a transfer of 200 shares, Derrimon Trading dropped 10 cents and ended at $1.90 in an exchange of 1,640,776 stocks. Dolla Financial dipped 11 cents in closing at $2.16 in trading of 766,933 stocks, Dolphin Cove rose 49 cents to $16.49, with 5,790 shares crossing the exchange, EduFocal gained 5 cents to end at $1.39 with shareholders swapping 69,976 units, Fontana rose 10 cents to close at $10.40 after exchanging 40,779 stock units. Fosrich skidded 11 cents in closing at $2.24 after trading 51,522 stock units, Future Energy Source gained 14 cents to $3.45 with investors dealing in 166,158 shares, 
Honey Bun popped 50 cents and ended at $6.80 as investors exchanged 1,160 stocks, Indies Pharma fell 14 cents to end at $2.76, with 4,475 units crossing the market. ISP Finance dropped $9.93 to close at $35 with 4,999 shares changing hands, Jamaican Teas advanced 7 cents and ended at $2.07 while exchanging 9,447 stock units, JFP Ltd dipped 5 cents to close at $1.50 after investors traded 38,548 units, Knutsford Express rose 5 cents in closing at $11.35 with a transfer of 18,570 stocks. Lasco Distributors rallied 10 cents and ended at $4.30 with traders dealing in 50 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing skidded 9 cents in closing at $5.31 with stakeholders exchanging 387 shares, Lumber Depot increased 14 cents to close at $2.24 with 684,872 stock units clearing the market, MFS Capital Partners rose 5 cents to $2.05 with an exchange of 29,459 units. 
One Great Studio shed 7 cents to end at $1.20 with investors transferring 1,889,355 units, Regency Petroleum increased 5 cents in closing at $2.15 after an exchange of 260,408 shares, Spur Tree Spices advanced 10 cents and ended at $2.10 with a transfer of 117,165 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 10 cents to end at $1.70 while exchanging 354,221 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
One Great Studio dominates again
For a third consecutive day, One Great Studio dominated Junior Market trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, accounting 71 percent with the volume of stocks traded and was the major reason for a 20 percent fall in volume and a 12 percent fall in the value of the day’s trade than Wednesday with 45 securities trading compared with 44 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 23 stocks rising, 13 declining and nine closing unchanged.
Investors traded 21,011,494 shares for $31,863,579 versus 26,192,370 units at $36,308,731 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 466,922 shares at $708,080 compared with 595,281 units at $825,198 on Wednesday with a month to date average of 199,010 shares at $374,909 compared with 177,933 stock units at $348,698 on the previous day. August closed with an average of 183,001 units at $460,354.
One Great Studio led trading with 14.83 million shares for 70.6 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 1.64 million units for 7.8 percent of the day’s trade and Mailpac Group with 1.0 million units for 4.8 percent of the day’s trade.
Price movements resulted in the Junior Market Index popping 20.71 points to end at 3,803.96.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.5 based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Blue Power dipped 15 cents and ended at $2.50 after an exchange of 446,997 shares, Cargo Handlers shed $1.25 to $14.95, with 1,131 stock units crossing the exchange, Caribbean Cream declined 55 cents to close at $3.52 in switching ownership of 4,153 stocks, Derrimon Trading rebounded by 50 cents to $2 in an exchange of 728,866 units. Dolla Financial rose 7 cents in closing at $2.27 with investors trading 151,765 stock units, EduFocal popped 12 cents to $1.34 with an exchange of 4,706 units, Elite Diagnostic gained 16 cents and ended at $1.81 with shareholders swapping 2,611 stocks, Fontana fell 10 cents to $10.30, with 16,520 shares clearing the market. Fosrich advanced 26 cents to close at $2.35 after 1,637,218 units passed through the market, Future Energy Source rallied 6 cents in closing at $3.31 with a transfer of 125,086 stock units, General Accident increased 15 cents to close at $5.25 after trading in 41,060 shares, GWest Corporation advanced 6 cents and ended at $1.01 and closed with an exchange of 67,262 stocks. 
Honey Bun gained 30 cents to end at $6.30 after a transfer of 2,500 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance popped 20 cents to $2.20, with 2 stock units changing hands, ISP Finance climbed 93 cents in closing at $44.93 in trading 2 shares, JFP Ltd increased 11 cents to $1.55 after investors exchanged 14,796 units. Knutsford Express dropped 13 cents to $11.30 with trading in 25,269 stock units, Lasco Distributors lost 15 cents to close at $4.20 with an exchange of 199,870 shares, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 8 cents and ended at $5.40 with traders dealing in 18,650 units, Limners and Bards rose 7 cents to end at $1.75, with 5,670 stocks crossing the market. Lumber Depot climbed 10 cents and ended at $2.10 after 193,070 stock units crossed the market, One Great Studio advanced 9 cents to close at a record close of $1.27 with an exchange of 14,829,035 shares, Paramount Trading skidded 28 cents to $1.72 with stakeholders exchanging 5,500 stocks. 
Regency Petroleum fell 9 cents to end at $2.10 with investors transferring 150,094 units and Tropical Battery gained 10 cents in closing at $2 after 57,552 shares passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
1 Great Studio dominant Junior Market stock
Newly listed One Great Studio dominated Junior Market trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, pushing the volume of stocks traded up 53 percent and the value 66 percent more than Tuesday with trading in 44 securities compared with 42 on Tuesday and ended with prices of just 11 rising, 22 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
One Great Studio led trading with 21.66 million shares for 82.7 percent of total volume followed by Derrimon Trading with 900,000 units for 3.4 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 713,784 units for 2.7 percent market share.
Investors traded 26,192,370 shares for $36,308,731 against 17,126,215 units at $21,864,015 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 595,281 shares at $825,198, up from 407,767 stocks at $520,572 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 177,933 units at $348,698 compared with 143,154 stock units at $308,990 on the previous day. August closed with an average of 183,001 shares at $460,354.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 13.23 points to close at 3,783.25.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.3, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 5 cents to $24.95 while exchanging 3,324 shares, CAC 2000 increased 36 cents in closing at $3.88 as investors traded 200 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 9 cents to end at $2.83 in switching ownership of 10,832 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries rose 32 cents to $2.42 with a transfer of 1,386 units. Derrimon Trading shed 50 cents to close at $1.50 with investors transferring 900,000 stocks, Dolphin Cove skidded 16 cents to end at $16 with an exchange of 69,012 units, EduFocal lost 13 cents to end at $1.22 after 20,157 shares passed through the market, Elite Diagnostic dropped 16 cents to close at $1.65 with 10,274 stock units clearing the market. Fosrich popped 5 cents and ended at $2.09 with an exchange of 452,242 shares, General Accident advanced 12 cents in closing at $5.10 with investors dealing in 97,478 stock units, 
Honey Bun declined 45 cents to $6 in an exchange of 164,387 units, Iron Rock Insurance dipped 10 cents to close at $2 with stakeholders exchanging 2,509 stocks. ISP Finance dipped 95 cents and ended at $44. With investors trading 97 stock units, Jamaican Teas rallied 20 cents to end at $2 after 4,917 stocks crossed the market, JFP Ltd declined 6 cents in closing at $1.44 after an exchange of 51,048 shares, Knutsford Express gained 43 cents to close at $11.43 with shareholders swapping 314 units. Lasco Manufacturing gained 12 cents to $5.32 in an exchange of 1,229 shares, Limners and Bards lost 10 cents in closing at $1.68, with 14,926 units crossing the exchange, Paramount Trading climbed 5 cents to end at $2 in trading 3,667 stocks. Spur Tree Spices fell 12 cents and ended at $2.02 with traders dealing in 67,664 stock units, 
Stationery and Office Supplies shed 7 cents to end at $1.58 after a transfer of 426,793 stock units and Tropical Battery dropped 10 cents to $1.90, with 30,221 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market gets 49th listing
Jamaica’s most recent IPO that was oversubscribed, One Great Studio was listed and stated trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with the trading in the stocks dominating market activity with the vast majority of stocks traded and in the process pushed the volume for the day up 254 percent and the value 94 percent more than Monday after trading taking place in 42 securities compared with 40 on Monday and ended with prices of seven rising, 21 declining and 14 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 17,126,215 shares for $21,864,015 versus 4,843,898 units at $11,250,151 on Monday.
Trading averaged 407,767 shares at $520,572 compared with 121,097 units at $281,254 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 143,154 units at $308,990 in comparison to 120,286 stock units at $290,705 on the previous day. August closed with an average of 183,001 units at $460,354.
Newly listed One Great Studio led trading with 14.09 million shares for 82.3 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 606,944 units for 3.5 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 597,718 units for 3.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 21.90 points to close at 3,770.02.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.3, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $2.30 and ended at $25 in trading 227 shares, Cargo Handlers dropped 18 cents in closing at $16.20, with 250 units clearing the market, Dolla Financial fell 17 cents to end at $2.23 after 118,475 stock units crossed the market, Dolphin Cove dipped 33 cents to $16.16 in switching ownership of 181 stocks. Fontana lost 6 cents to close at $10.44 after investors traded 37,482 stocks, Fosrich shed 6 cents in closing at $2.04 in an exchange of 136,987 units, 
Honey Bun skidded 5 cents and ended at $6.45 while trading 14,285 shares, Indies Pharma fell 8 cents to close at $2.90 with stakeholders exchanging 23,822 stock units. Jamaican Teas lost 20 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.80 after an exchange of 11,239 stock units, JFP Ltd declined 7 cents to $1.50 as investors exchanged 13,416 shares, KLE Group fell 5 cents to $1.50 with 50 stocks changing hands, Knutsford Express skidded 45 cents to end at $11 with a transfer of 1,737 units. Main Event shed 49 cents and ended at $14.50 with shareholders swapping 517 stock units, newly listed, One Great Studio rallied 14 cents to a record close of $1.14 after an exchange of 14,087,445 units and hitting a high of $1.29. Paramount Trading dropped 5 cents in closing at $1.95 after 100 stocks crossed the exchange, Regency Petroleum advanced 7 cents and ended at $2.20 in trading 171,249 shares, 
Stationery and Office Supplies dipped 9 cents to end at $1.65 and closed after 597,718 stocks were traded and Tropical Battery climbed 11 cents in closing at $2 with investors dealing in 185,951 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Scotia climbs in ICTOP10
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market and the Main Market moved in opposite directions in the past week with the Junior Market enjoying some recovery from the fall in the past week and the Main Market suffering more pain, with a near 2 percent fall, with a few of the stocks hitting 52 weeks’ low, with Scotia Group being one of them and pushed to stock to 6 positions in the TOP10.
Developments in the past week, the Main Market, Key Insurance rose 11 percent to close the week at $2.77, followed by a 10 percent fall in Scotia Group down to $30, but the bid closed higher than the last price, suggesting a rebound in the coming week. Scotia Group reported solid results for the nine months to July. ICInsider.com upgraded earnings to $5.50 but it could hit $6, with the stock being extremely undervalued. Caribbean Cement declined by 6 percent to close the week at $47.50 and JMMB Group fell 5 percent to $28.10
The Junior Market ICTOP10 closed the week with a 16 percent rise in the price of Caribbean Cream to $4.06 followed by a 12 percent decline for Elite Diagnostic to $1.61 and an 8 percent fall in General Accident Insurance to $4.55.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5, well below the market average of 12.3. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 336 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
A total of 12 of the most highly valued stocks representing 26 percent of the Main Market are priced with a PE of 15 to 84, with an average of 30 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, with a PE of 21 for the top half and 17 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5 compared with the market at 10.6. There are 12stocks or 26 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 38, averaging 21 that 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, and projected to rise by 300 percent to May 2024.
The divergence 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.
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 2024 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 and result 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.
ISP Finance jumps $10.20 above $44
Thinly traded ISP Finance, surged $10.20 to one year high of $44.20, leading the 12 stocks that rose at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday,
that was not enough to quell the negative pull of 17 other stocks that declined as the volume of stocks traded was moderately higher and the value 24 percent greater than in trading on Tuesday.
The market closed with trading in 44 securities, up from 40 on Tuesday and ended with 15 closing unchanged following those rising, and declining.
Investors traded 3,026,858 shares for $8,218,631 compared with 2,941,650 units at $6,618,990 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 68,792 shares at $186,787 compared with 73,541 shares at $165,475 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 110,748 units at $277,609 compared with 116,481 stock units at $290,019 on the previous day. August closed with an average of 183,001 units at $460,354.
Future Energy Source led trading with 744,736 shares for 24.6 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 600,551 units for 19.8 percent of the day’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 229,220 units for 7.6 percent market share.
The Junior Market Index fell 8.68 points to end trading at 3,768.86.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.5 computed based on the last traded price in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com’s for financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Consolidated Bakeries popped 10 cents to end at $2.10 after an exchange of 598 shares, Dolla Financial rose 6 cents to $2.37 in an exchange of 115,682 stocks,
EduFocal increased 21 cents to $1.46 with investors trading 145,666 stocks. Express Catering rallied 35 cents to close at $4.85, with 240 units crossing the market, Fosrich advanced 11 cents in closing at $2.04 with shareholders swapping 99,691 stock units, Future Energy Source fell 10 cents and ended at $3.30, with 744,736 stock units crossing the market. ISP Finance surged $10.20 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $44.20 after investors traded 7,716 stocks, Lasco Financial dropped 15 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.75 and closed after 166,806 units changed hands, Lasco Manufacturing declined 8 cents and ended at $5.20 as investors exchanged 155,801 shares. Limners and Bards shed 5 cents in closing at $1.70 with an exchange of 3,535 shares, Lumber Depot gained 6 cents to close at $2.06 after trading 20,521 stock units, 
Tropical Battery slippped 6 cents in closing at $1.90 after a transfer of 109,191 stocks and tTech dipped 13 cents to $2.35 with stakeholders trading a mere 199 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Elite Diagnostic moves into ICTOP10
Elite Diagnostic returns to the Junior Market ICTOP10 listing at the number 2 spot, Dolphin Cove dropped out but there are no changes to the Main Market Listing.
Elite Diagnostics had a bad fiscal year to June, with a loss of $1.7 million in the June quarter and a profit of only $2.8 million for the year, down from $49 million in 2022. With finance cost jumping to $47 million from $27 million the previous year while depreciation climbed by $41 million to $148 million. ICInsider.com expect revenues to keep on climbing at a above average rate and for cost to increase at a slower pace and deliver an attractive profit which is projected at 40 cents for the year. Recent history suggests that forecasts can be derailed by unforeseen developments, but the stock is worth while looking at as a medium term investment that is undervalued relative to potential.
Developments in the past week, the Main Market, now reflects the Jamaica market price for Margaritaville that climbed 16 percent to $16.30, followed by an eight percent increase for JMMB Group to$29.70 following an announcement from the company that the will be implementing a $10 million stock buyback, while 138 Student Living popped 5 percent to $4.33 and Key Insurance shed 13 percent to close the week at $2.50.
The Junior Market ICTOP10 closed the week with General Accident rising 10 percent to $4.94, followed by Caribbean Assurance Brokers, up 6 percent to $2.83 as Iron Rock Insurance dropped 9 percent to $2.10 and Everything Fresh dipped 5 percent to $1.30.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.1, well below the market average of 12.2. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 330 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
A total of 12 of the most highly valued stocks representing 26 percent of the Main Market are priced with a PE of 15 to 84, with an average of 29 and 20 excluding the highest PE ratios, with a PE of 22 for the top half and 17 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.1 compared with the market at 10.6. There are 10 stocks or 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 39, averaging 21 that 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, and projected to rise by 298 percent to May 2024.
The divergence 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.
The markets are not in a bullish state but there continue to be cases of slow upward movements in some prices as investors respond to some recent attractive results leading them to quietly nibble away at a number of stocks, gradually reducing the supply of a number of them that are attractively priced. The list includes stocks such as Access Financial, AMG Packaging, Everything Fresh, Dolphin Cove, Caribbean Cream, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing, Main Event and Transjamaican Highway.
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 2024 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 and result 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.
Falling stocks dominate Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded being marginally less than on Wednesday with 41 securities trading compared with 44 previously and ended with 14 rising, 24 declining and three closing unchanged.
Investors traded 4,860,312 shares for $11,208,181 down marginally from 5,058,766 units at $11,709,970 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 118,544 shares at $273,370, compared with 114,972 units at $266,136 on Wednesday, with the month to date, averaging 115,601 units at 287,180 compared to 114,865 stock units at $290,632 on the previous day. August closed with an average of 183,001 units at $460,354.
Future Energy Source led trading with 1.41 million shares for 29 percent of total volume, Jetcon Corporation followed with 952,217 units for 19.6 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 571,162 units for 11.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 16.62 points to 3,800.94.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.5. 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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging increased 17 cents to $2.52 in an exchange of 15 shares, CAC 2000 lost 26 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.52 after 1,976 stock units passed through the market, Cargo Handlers shed 45 cents and ended at $13.50 in switching ownership of 1,632 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 8 cents to close at $2.83 with investors dealing in 1,800 stocks. Dolphin Cove dropped 92 cents in closing at $16.06 after trading 2,700 shares, EduFocal dipped 12 cents in closing at $1.40 and closed, with an exchange of 51,381 units, Everything Fresh rallied 13 cents to $1.50, with 2,869 stocks crossing the market, Fontana skidded 30 cents to close at $10.60, with 10,679 stock units changing hands. Fosrich advanced 8 cents to end at $2.03 with investors exchanging 186,964 units, 
Future Energy Source climbed 8 cents and ended at $3.44 with trading in 1,407,267 stock units, General Accident gained 10 cents in closing at $5 with 40,200 shares clearing the market, Knutsford Express popped 50 cents to close at $11.50 as investors exchanged 1,249 stocks. Limners and Bards fell 15 cents to $1.75 in an exchange of 208,234 shares, Lumber Depot declined 8 cents to end at $2.20 with traders dealing in 9,921 units, Main Event shed 94 cents and ended at $15.06 after a transfer of 2,076 stocks, Medical Disposables dropped 15 cents and ended at $4.10 after investors exchanged 1,000 stock units. MFS Capital Partners fell 13 cents to end at $2.36 with a transfer of 66,700 stocks, Spur Tree Spices skidded 9 cents in closing at $2.04 while exchanging 571,162 stock units, 
Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 10 cents to close at $1.97, with 254,738 shares crossing the market and tTech dipped 15 cents to $2.20 after 100 units were traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
