Paramount Trading dominated market activity on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, on Monday in cornering 75 percent of the market and sending the volume of stocks traded surging 453 percent and the value 524 percent higher than on Friday after trading took place in all 48 securities compared with 43 on Friday and ended with 23 rising, 19 declining and six closing unchanged.
Investors traded 37,338,614 shares at $85,131,000 compared with 6,750,745 units at $13,652,638 on Friday.
Trading averaged 777,888 shares at $1,773,562, up from 156,994 units at $317,503 on Friday, with a month-to-date average of 210,517 stock units at $527,554 versus 168,748 shares at $435,824 on the previous day. Trading in April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Paramount Trading led trading with 27.82 million shares for 74.5 percent of total volume, followed by Jamaican Teas with 2.72 million units for 7.3 percent of the day’s trade, Spur Tree Spices with 2.10 million units for 5.6 percent market share and Fosrich with 1.59 million units for 4.3 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 12.74 points to 3,759.14.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.7. 
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 none with a lower offer.
At the close, Blue Power fell 39 cents to $2.05 with an exchange of 21 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 9 cents in closing at $2.35 with shareholders swapping 71,020 units, Dolphin Cove climbed 45 cents to end at $16.90 after an exchange of 17,847 stocks, Express Catering popped 21 cents to $5.15, after 263,085 stock units changed hands, 
Fosrich slipped 9 cents to $2.41 after 1,593,293 shares passed through the market, GWest Corporation fell 12 cents to end at 90 cents in trading 654 stock units, Honey Bun advanced 70 cents in closing at $7 after a transfer of 165,127 stocks, Indies Pharma declined 9 cents and ended at $3.06, with 42,605 units crossing the market, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 65 cents to close at $1.85 with 66,268 units clearing the market, KLE Group dipped 16 cents to $1.50 with a transfer of 35,269 shares, Knutsford Express fell 96 cents to end at $10.04 with investors transferring 1,397 stock units, Lasco Distributors rose 8 cents in closing at $2.75 with an exchange of 44,444 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 13 cents and ended at $4.13 after 25,603 shares changed hands, Lumber Depot increased 8 cents to close at $2.28 with investors swapping 87,229 units, Main Event shed 45 cents to end at $12.55 8,189 stock units changing hands, Medical Disposables gained 70 cents to close at $5.50, with a mere 11 stocks crossing the market, 
Paramount Trading climbed 11 cents in closing at $2.19 with an exchange of 27,820,000 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced $1.59 in ending at $15.59 following the switching ownership of one unit and tTech lost 36 cents to end at $2.15 in trading 179 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
CAB back atop ICTOP10
The ICTOP10 top performing stock for the previous week – Caribbean Assurance Brokers (CAB), was the biggest loser last week with a 15 percent decline and returns to the top of the listing as some selling came into the market, with most buyers remaining at the $2 or lower level with a pullback in prices of more Junior Market TOP10 stocks than those that rose.
Earning season delivered solid profit gains for several companies, but that did little to move prices substantially upwards, even as interest rates are softening. A few exceptions are CAB, Dolphin Cove, Consolidated Bakeries, Everything Fresh and earlier Image Plus and Tansjamaican Highway, which enjoyed increased buying interest that sent higher prices. Things have since cooled, as is the norm after most results were released in May, as investors await the critical second quarter number in late July into August before pulling the trigger.
Action in the markets this past week resulted in the ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks recording mostly losses with only a few winners. Main Market stocks recorded mostly wins, with few losses. Dolla Financial dropped out of the TOP10 with Everything Fresh moving back in.
Consolidated Bakeries jumped 20 percent to $2.44, followed by Iron Rock Insurance, which increased 9 percent to $2.50. Dolphin Cove climbed 8 percent to $16.44, helped by robust first quarter results, following an 88 percent increase in revenue to US$4.9 million over the first quarter in 2022, with profit after tax rising 97 percent to US$1.57 million from US$796,000 in 2022. Following CAB, the leading decliner, Image Plus, fell 7 percent to $2.04, while Edufocal and Dolla Financial lost 4 percent to end at $1.87 and $2.71, respectively.
The price of Main Market listed Sygnus Credit Investments gained 13 percent to finish at $13.04 and was followed by Key Insurance, up 7 percent to $3.65 and 138 Student Living with an increase of 5 percent to $5.67, while Caribbean Producers dropped 7 percent in closing at $9.05.
Interest rates on BOJ CDs and Treasury bills have declined in recent weeks below 8 percent, but the Bank of Jamaica held the overnight rate at 7 percent as they cite concerns about the implication of increased minimum wages and the usual agricultural price hikes in the summer months amongst other issues that could derail the reduced inflation rates in recent months. Although many stocks are severely undervalued, a real market bounce may be some time off and may not happen until BOJ starts reducing rates later in the year.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.9, well below the market average of 13.8. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 250 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 highest valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 28 and 18 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 5.8 compared with the market at 10.8 there are ten stocks or 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 24, averaging 19, well above the average of the market. 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 250 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.
Jump in Junior Market trades
Trading jumped at the close of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, resulting in a 157 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded valued 276 percent more than on Wednesday following trading of 46 securities compared with 41 on Wednesday and ending with 18 rising, 14 declining and 14 closing unchanged and the Junior Market Index slipping 17.03 points to 3,702.12.
Investors traded 7,587,150 shares for $26,948,198 versus 2,955,503 units at $7,163,196 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 164,938 shares at $585,830 compared to 72,085 shares at $174,712 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 169,577 units at $444,178 compared with 169,956 stock units at $432,604 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Fosrich led trading with 2.11 million shares for 27.8 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 1.13 million units for 14.9 percent of the day’s trade and Regency Petroleum with 859,616 units for 11.3 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.7. 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power climbed 8 cents and ended at $2.44 with a transfer of 21 shares, Cargo Handlers advanced 45 cents in closing at $16.50 as 1,020 stock units passed through the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 29 cents to $2.44 after 95,012 units were traded, Caribbean Cream fell 8 cents to end at $3.10 in switching ownership of 8,095 stocks. Dolphin Cove rallied $1.11 to close at $16.44 after a transfer of 404,774 units, EduFocal dipped 11 cents in ending at $1.79, with 154,855 stocks crossing the market, Fontana gained 13 cents to close at $9.23 with investors transferring 142,421 stock units, Future Energy Source declined 12 cents to end at $4.06 after 439,451 shares crossed the market. iCreate increased 14 cents to $1.34 with an exchange of 146,402 stocks, 
Jamaican Teas popped 8 cents to close at $2.15 while exchanging 11,400 shares, JFP Ltd gained 8 cents to end at $1.75, with 158,383 units clearing the market, KLE Group shed 38 cents to close at $1.62 after exchanging 96,262 stock units. Knutsford Express increased 11 cents to close at $10.13 in an exchange of 2,963 stocks, Lasco Distributors dropped 17 cents in closing at $2.50 after investors traded 100 shares, Limners and Bards lost 15 cents and ended at $2.25, with 23,108 stock units crossing the exchange, Main Event advanced 50 cents in closing at $13, with 38,409 units changing hands. Medical Disposables dipped 20 cents to $4.80 after an exchange of 158,236 stock units, MFS Capital Partners climbed 8 cents to end at $3.17 as investors exchanged 1,131,230 shares, 
Regency Petroleum popped 20 cents ended at a record close of $2.80 with shareholders swapping 859,616 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped $1.70 to close at $14.10 after shareholders exchanged 9,554 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market trading plunges
Trading dropped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with an 86 percent plunge in the volume and the value of stocks traded compared with Tuesday following trading in 41 securities compared with 44 on Tuesday and ended with prices of 12 rising, 13 declining and 16 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 2,955,503 shares for $7,163,196 versus 20,786,643 units at $51,034,875 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 72,085 shares for $174,712 compared to 472,424 shares at $1,159,884 on Tuesday, with the month to date averaging 169,956 units at $432,604 compared with 177,644 stock units at $452,860 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 1.0 million shares for 33.9 percent of total volume, Regency Petroleum followed with 492,572 units for 16.7 percent of the day’s trade and Fosrich with 444,000 units for 15 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rallied 18.04 points to conclude trading at 3,719.15.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.7. 
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are calculated 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 five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, CAC 2000 advanced $1.50 in ending at $7.11 with investors transferring 2,032 shares, Cargo Handlers rallied $2.05 to end at $16.05 with shareholders swapping 200 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries gained 24 cents to close at $2.40 after an exchange of 1,189 stocks, EduFocal popped 8 cents in closing at $1.90 after an exchange of 168,508 units, 
Fontana fell 39 cents to $9.10, with 37,376 units changing hands, Honey Bun fell 25 cents to close at $6.32 following the trading of 529 shares by investors, iCreate shed 8 cents and ended at $1.20 in switching ownership of 11,652 stocks, Knutsford Express dipped 58 cents in closing at $10.02 after 5,525 stock units passed through the market, Lasco Distributors declined 8 cents to $2.67, with 36,976 units clearing the market, Limners and Bards rose 15 cents to end at $2.40 with a transfer of 2,250 shares, Mailpac Group dropped 9 cents to end at $1.96 with 1,000 stocks crossing the market, Main Event shed 48 cents ended at $12.50, with 4,759 stock units crossing the exchange, MFS Capital Partners lost 26 cents to close at $3.09 while exchanging 219,367 units and 
Regency Petroleum climbed 8 cents in closing at $2.60 in an exchange of 492,572 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market trading climbs but index dips
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange lost ground on Tuesday, following a 54 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded at 23 percent greater value than Monday after there was trading in 44 securities, the same as Monday and ended with prices of 14 rising, 22 declining and eight closing unchanged.
Investors traded 20,786,643 shares for $51,034,875 versus 13,472,168 units at $41,603,295 on Monday.
Trading averaged 472,424 shares at $1,159,884 compared with 306,186 shares at $945,529 on Monday with a month to date average of 177,644 units at $452,860 compared with 150,509 stock units at $387,778 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
JFP Ltd led trading with 7.17 million shares for 34.5 percent of total volume, Future Energy Source followed with 3.06 million units for 14.7 percent of the day’s trade, Jamaican Teas ended with 2.12 million units exchanged for 10.2 percent market share, ONE on ONE Educational with 1.88 million units for 9 percent of shares trading, Fosrich with 1.16 million units for 5.6 percent market share and Derrimon Trading with 1.07 million units for 5.2 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 38.64 points to close at 3,701.11.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.6. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded prices 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, CAC 2000 dipped $1.19 to $5.61 with investors trading 122 shares, Cargo Handlers lost $2.75 and ended at $14, with 5,702 units changing hands, Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 17 cents in closing at $2.15 after trading 37,137 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries increased 13 cents to end at $2.16 with shareholders swapping 9,696 stock units. EduFocal shed 18 cents to close at $1.82, with 244,052 units crossing the market, Elite Diagnostic rallied 21 cents in closing at $2.53 with a transfer of 26,278 stocks, 
Everything Fresh declined 24 cents to end at $1.65 in an exchange of 23,820 shares. Express Catering dipped 9 cents to close at $5, with 16,839 stock units crossing the exchange, Fontana climbed 79 cents and ended at $9.49 in an exchange of 593,147 stocks, Fosrich fell 19 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $2.30 after the price dropped to an intraday low of $2.10 as 1,160,011 shares crossed the market. GWest Corporation popped 13 cents to end at $1.02 as investors exchanged 5,129 units, Honey Bun advanced 28 cents in closing at $6.57 after trading 12,033 stock units, iCreate dropped 12 cents to close at $1.28 after hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $1.05 following 300,326 units passing through the market. JFP Ltd shed 19 cents and ended at $1.65 7,169,473 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express declined 40 cents to close at $10.60 after an exchange of 3,628 stocks, 
Lasco Distributors rose 9 cents to $2.75 and closed after 40,434 stock units passed through the market. Lumber Depot gained 8 cents and ended at $2.30 in switching ownership of 14,661 shares, Regency Petroleum dipped 8 cents in closing at $2.52 while exchanging 575,176 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 60 cents to end at $15.80 after exchanging 3,230 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market slips with increased trading
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 256 percent and the value 358 percent more than on Friday resulting from the trading of 44 securities trading compared with 41 on Friday and ended with 15 rising, 23 declining and six closing unchanged.
Investors traded 13,472,168 shares for $41,603,295 versus 3,789,177 units at $9,092,799 on Friday.
Trading averaged 306,186 shares at $945,529, compared to 92,419 shares at $221,776 on Friday with a month to date average of 150,509 units at $387,778 compared to 134,726 stock units at $331,232 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Tropical Battery led trading with 3.0 million shares for 22.3 percent of total volume followed by Honey Bun with 2.15 million units for 15.9 percent of the day’s trade, Image Plus Consultants ended with 1.91 million units for 14.1 percent market share and Future Energy Source with 1.46 million units for 10.9 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 25.87 points to end at 3,739.75.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. 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. Three stocks traded at 52 weeks’ intraday low, with Fesco hitting $3,90, Fosrich reaching $2.20 and iCreate $1.18.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 30 cents in closing at $23.30 after an exchange of 478 shares, CAC 2000 lost $1.20 after ending at $6.80 with a transfer of 798 stocks, Cargo Handlers increased $1.75 to close at 52 weeks’ high of $16.75 with shareholders swapping 1,445 stock units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 56 cents to end at $2.32 after a transfer of 41,556 units, but after it traded at 52 weeks’ intraday high of $2.91. 
Caribbean Cream dipped 10 cents to $3.20 as investors exchanged 42,915 shares, Elite Diagnostic slipped 24 cents to close at $2.32, with 4,101 stocks clearing the market. GWest Corporation declined 11 cents in closing at 89 cents, with 1,859 units crossing the market, Honey Bun shed 19 cents and ended at $6.29 with 2,147,092 stock units crossing the exchange, Image Plus Consultants lost 9 cents to end at $2.11 after exchanging 1,906,103 stocks. Iron Rock Insurance climbed 31 cents to $2.60 in trading 213 units, Jamaican Teas dropped 8 cents to $2.11 in an exchange of 155,540 stock units, Knutsford Express advanced 50 cents to $11 as 16,650 shares passed through the market, Lasco Manufacturing dipped 18 cents to close at $4 with investors transferring 5,000 units, Main Event rose 25 cents in closing at $13, with 22,427 shares changing hands, MFS Capital Partners popped 19 cents to end at $3.40 after investors traded 143,203 stocks, Paramount Trading declined 24 cents in closing at $2.08 in an exchange of 56,866 stock units. 
Stationery and Office Supplies shed 45 cents to end at $15.20, with 6,209 shares crossing the market and Tropical Battery fell 8 cents to $1.95 in switching ownership of 2,997,784 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Transjamaican in ICTOP10, CAB jumps 44%
The release of company results and some sharp price movements shook up the ICTOP10 listing this week, resulting in several changes in the top 10. Caribbean Assurance Brokers (CAB) topped the week, reporting record first quarter profit cheered by investors who pushed the price up by 44 percent to $2.88 and cleared the market of just about all supplies under $3. The stock sits in the number 7 spot, with potential for gains of 250 percent over the next twelve months.
CAB has been at the top of the TOP10 for several weeks going back to mid-March and now sits at the number 6 spot in spite of the substantial price gains, with ICInsider.com raising EPS to 50 cents from 45 cents. Taking over the number one spot is baker Consolidated Bakeries with Image Plus, that is in demand at number 2.
At the same time, ICInsider.com’s projection for Transjamaican Highway puts the stock into the Main Market TOP10 with projected earnings of 31 cents and a targeted price in the $6 region by early 2024 and replaces NCB Financial that got an earnings downgrade following the release of half year results showing earnings falling behind that for 2022, with a sharp fall in foreign exchange trading gains and increase loan loss provision.
Transjamaican headed the Market Watch list on April 29 this year. Then the price was at $1.77, with ICInsider.com indicating projected earnings of 24 cents per share and a short term price target of $2.40 and now the stock price is $1.85. The company released first quarter results on Friday, with profit of US$6 million.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers selling at a PE of just 7 based on historical earnings.
ICInsider.com has since adjusted earnings to 0.02 US cents per share or 31 Jamaican cents.
While the ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks had solid gains at the end of the week, the Main Market suffered several losses, with seven stocks declining.
Iron Rock Insurance jumped 22 percent to $2.29, Jamaican Teas rebounded from the previous week’s low by climbing 11 percent to $2.19 and dropped out of the TOP10 along with Everything Fresh having posted robust gains in revenues and profit for the March quarter, with investors welcoming the positive development by driving the stock up 14 percent to $1.89, with more to come. The company reported a profit of $35 million compared to just $7 million for the 2022 March quarter. IC Insider.com has since revised EPS for 2023, down to 25 cents from 30 cents previously, the combination of both of the above moves resulted in the stock moving out of the TOP10, but it still has more room for gains ahead. Lasco Distributors, one of the most undervalued stocks on the market, rose 4 percent to $2.68 but is trading at less than 6.4 times 2023 earnings of 42 cents per share and much lower based on earnings of 70 cents for fiscal 2024 has already started. After the March 2023 results are out, the EPS will switch over to the figure for 2024 and that would result in the stock holding the number 1 spot with likely gains above 400 percent. Image Plus rallied 4 percent to $2.20 and holds the number 3 spot on the TOP10.
Tropical Battery is the third stock to move out of the TOP10 with an earnings downgrade to 20 cents per share, following the release of half year results, showing a profit of $50 million, up from $30 million in the March quarter and from $87 million to $94 million for the half year. Dolla Financial, Edufocal and Dolphin Cove are this week’s new entrants to the Junior Market IC TOP10. Dolphin sits at the number 2 spot, with projected earnings of $3, following the 2022 full year results of 0.76 US cents or J$1.17 and will benefit from a sharp rebound in cruise ship arrivals, with the first 10 months last year being a fraction of what it was 2019 and the first quarter of 2020. This is in addition to increased stopover arrivals that will be greater than last year for a large part of the year.
The price of Main Market listed Key Insurance rose 8 percent to $3.40 to be the only stock of notable gains while Caribbean Producers dropped 8 percent in closing at $9.71, following release of nine months’ results that suggest that full year earnings from ongoing operations should end up around J$1.30 per share. Jamaica Broilers slipped 5 percent to $33.95 and Berger Paints fell 4 percent to $8.
Stocks are being prepped to rally, with signals that interest rates will be declining across the board sooner. Interest rates fell below eight percent on BOJ CDs and Treasury bills this past week, paving the way for a cut in the Bank of Jamaica overnight rate. That will provide more invigoration for the Jamaica stock market, with the Junior Market posting gains for a third consecutive week, even as the Main Market suffered another week of a mild decline.
The Junior Market’s long history of rising around a month before the release of quarterly results and declining shortly after results are released seems to be starting with a rise of 108 points in the market index in the previous week with more this past week, with the supply of some stocks continuing to fall sharply.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.8, well below the market average of 13.5. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 259 percent, by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 highest valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 27 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks and 19 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.8 compared with the market at 10.8. There are nine stocks, or 19 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 26, averaging 19 are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, suggesting that this may currently be the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks. Junior Market is projected to rise by 248 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Trading drops on Junior Market
Trading closed modestly higher on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, following a 40 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded with the value dropping 38 percent lower than on Thursday after trading resulted 41 securities changing hands compared with 43 on Thursday and ended with prices of 17 rising, 12 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 3,789,177 shares for $9,092,799 compared with 6,265,342 units at $14,610,525 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 92,419 shares at $221,776 compared with 145,706 units at $339,780 on Thursday with a month to date, an average of 134,726 units at $331,232 versus 139,140 stocks at $342,651 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Fosrich led trading with 726,482 shares for 19.2 percent of total volume, followed by Mailpac Group with 591,469 units for 15.6 percent of the day’s trade and Image Plus Consultants with 347,986 units for 9.2 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 3.62 points to finish at 3,765.62.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.4. 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell $1.50 to end at $23 in an exchange of 1,000 shares, AMG Packaging dropped 11 cents to $2.69 after shareholders traded 26,195 stocks, Cargo Handlers declined 70 cents to close at $15 with investors transferring 597 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 48 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.88 in trading 182,242 units, following the release of the first quarter results on Thursday showing a major increase in profits over the same period in 2022. Consolidated Bakeries lost 26 cents to end at $2.03, with 10,011 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove rose 29 cents to end at $15.29 after exchanging 259 stocks, EduFocal popped 19 cents in closing at $1.94, with 210,691 stock units crossing the exchange, 
Everything Fresh climbed 29 cents to close at $1.89 after a transfer of 75,146 units, as investors responded well to first quarter results that saw profit jumping sharply over that in 2022. Honey Bun gained 17 cents to end at $6.48 while exchanging 25,360 units, Indies Pharma increased 13 cents to $3.18 with shareholders swapping 300 stocks, Knutsford Express dipped 89 cents to end at $10.50, with 1,065 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Financial rallied 11 cents in closing at $2.46 while 115,108 shares passed through the market. Mailpac Group climbed 8 cents to close at $2 after an exchange of 591,469 units following release of the first quarter results slightly improved profit in comparison with 2022, Main Event popped 30 cents to end at $12.75 with an exchange of 100 stocks, 
MFS Capital Partners shed 14 cents to $3.21 with 102 shares changing hands and Stationery and Office Supplies advanced $1.43 to end at $15.65 2,202 stock units crossing the market, following the release of improved profit from normal operations.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market jumps
Stocks mostly rallied in trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, following a modest increase in the volume and value of stocks that were traded over Wednesday with trading in 43 securities compared with 40 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 25 rising, 14 declining and four closing unchanged.
Investors traded 6,265,342 shares for $14,610,525 compared to units at $15,461,171 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 145,706 shares at $339,780 compared with 143,032 stocks at $386,529 with the month to date, averaging 139,140 shares at $342,651 compared to 138,333 units at $343,004 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 1.13 million shares for 18.1 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 774,737 units for 12.4 percent of the day’s trade and Regency Petroleum with 734,711 units for 11.7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index jumped 44.61 points to close at 3,762.00.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.3. 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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $1.24 to $24.50 with shareholders swapping 852 shares, AMG Packaging dropped 12 cents to close at $2.80, with 3,000 stocks passing through the market, Blue Power lost 10 cents to end at $2.30 after a transfer of 4,772 stock units, Cargo Handlers popped $1.73 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $15.70 after exchanging 20,333 units. Caribbean Assurance Brokers rallied 42 cents in closing at $2.40 after hitting $2.55 and triggering the circuit breaker ahead of strong first quarter results with profit jumping to $17 million up from $1.8 million in 2022 as investors snapped up 621,937 shares and cleared the market of a lot of the overhang in the market, following a surge in demand for the stock since late last week. Consolidated Bakeries fell 24 cents in closing at $2.29, with 352,346 units changing hands, Dolphin Cove rose 11 cents to $15 in trading 2,973 stocks, EduFocal shed 15 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.75, with 774,737 stock units clearing the market. 
Everything Fresh dipped 24 cents to $1.60 while exchanging 318,838 units, Fontana advanced 10 cents to $8.75 following trading of 20,466 shares, Fosrich declined 10 cents to $2.50 with investors transferring 408,975 stock units, GWest Corporation gained 6 cents to end at 95 cents after an exchange of 740 stocks. Honey Bun dipped 17 cents and ended at $6.31 after 113 units were traded, Image Plus Consultants rose 6 cents to close at $2.25 with a transfer of 1,131,452 stocks, Indies Pharma increased 10 cents in closing at $3.05, with 15,308 stock units crossing the market. Iron Rock Insurance advanced 40 cents to $2.29 after just 3 shares were traded, KLE Group gained 17 cents to end at $2.02 as investors exchanged 12,267 shares, Lasco Distributors popped 8 cents to close at $2.68 in switching ownership of 33,449 stock units. 
Lasco Manufacturing climbed 28 cents to end at $4.18 with an exchange of 1,114 units, Lumber Depot fell 6 cents in closing at $2.24 with 10,308 stocks changing hands and Paramount Trading rallied 24 cents to $2.32 as 551 stock units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market big fall
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered a sharp drop on Tuesday with after a few stocks plunged to trigger the market circuit breaker midway through the trading session Market Index dived 81.24 points to settle at 3,684.54, with the volume of stocks traded declining 37 percent and the value 35 percent lower than on Monday with trading in 45 securities compared with 46 on Monday and ended with 18 rising, 17 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 5,857,959 shares for $14,377,145 compared with 9,252,473 units at $22,159,172 on Monday.
Trading averaged 130,177 shares at $319,492 down from 201,141 shares at $481,721 on Monday, with a month to date average of 137,727 units at $337,388 compared to 139,009 units at $340,427 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 702,194 shares for 12 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 671,187 units for 11.5 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal ended with 535,960 units for 9.1 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.3. 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 nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined $2.75 to end at $23, with 300 shares clearing the market, AMG Packaging gained 26 cents to close at $2.93 as investors traded 69 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rallied 6 cents to close at 1.95, with an exchange of 504,227 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries climbed 38 cents to $2.55, with 169,493 stock units changing hands. EduFocal fell 25 cents to $1.80 after a transfer of 535,960 units, Elite Diagnostic dipped 22 cents to close at $2.35 with an exchange of 6,017 shares, Everything Fresh rose 7 cents to $1.68 after an exchange of 59,051 stock units, Fontana popped 13 cents to end at $8.78 as investors exchanged 54,699 stocks.
Future Energy Source advanced 8 cents in closing at $4.18 in switching ownership of 130,653 stocks, General Accident rose 7 cents and ended at $5 and closed with an exchange of 35,460 shares, Honey Bun dropped 17 cents and ended at $6.30 with 1,000 stock units changing hands, Indies Pharma popped 30 cents to close at $3.30 with shareholders swapping 376,908 units. Jamaican Teas rose 11 cents to $2.20, with 235,583 shares crossing the market, Jetcon Corporation shed 10 cents in closing at $1.05 after 61,822 stock units crossed the market, KLE Group climbed 19 cents to $1.81 with investors transferring a mere 24 stocks, Knutsford Express lost 90 cents to end at $10.50 after an exchange of 28,229 units. Lasco Distributors lost 23 cents in closing at $2.40 with an exchange of 230,350 units, 
Lasco Manufacturing fell 25 cents to $3.90 with a transfer of 20,269 stock units, Limners and Bards declined 22 cents and ended at $2.23 as 12,000 stocks passed through the market. Main Event rose 69 cents to close at $13.19 in trading 50 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped $1.30 to end at $14.20 in an exchange of 500 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise