The Main and Junior Markets did not maintain the sharp bounce of the previous week, but most ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks ended with gains. In contrast, the Main Market ended with mostly modest losses, with 138 Student Living rising 5 percent to $5.30 and JMMB Group declining by 5 percent to $31.49, all other changes in the Main Market were two percent or less.
Dr Karlene McDonnough – Chairman of Image Consultants Ltd. The stock came in for increased demand during the week ahead of the release of full-year results.
The Junior Market had one change in its TOP10 list as Iron Rock Insurance and Image Plus climbed 13 percent to $2.27 and $2.03, respectively, while Main Event and Honey Bun rose 5 percent to $12.26 and $6.75, respectively, with the only sizable decline being a 9 percent fall for Tropical Battery to $1.90.
Image Plus never benefitted from any serious IPO bounce seems to be finally finding buying interest and closed the past week with 159,904 shares on the bid at $2.02, 160,746 at $2 and just over 800,000 between $1.90 and $1.95, with 25,987 stocks on offer at $2.03, 81,709 at $2.05 with one big offer of 1.72 million units at S2.50 with smaller offers before the this. There has been healthy trading in the stock recently, with trading of 824,526 units on Thursday. Trading on Wednesday saw 1,153,255 shares changing hands in the stock, with 910,000 units on Tuesday and 1.75 million shares on Monday, which seems to have cleared out a great deal of overhang in the market.
Update on interest rate developments. A number of developments taking place in the economy are worth watching. Following last week’s $35 billion Bank of Jamaica CD auction that saw the average rate coming in at 8.49 percent, this week’s auction saw an offer of $34 billion, with the average rate remaining the same as the previous week with fewer funds chasing the offered amount. 
Another positive development is the average inflation rate running at 45 percent less than the same time last year and averaging 2.4 percent per annum since November last year. Foreign exchange inflows have been strong, with the NIR growing at $66 million in February and 220 million in March, putting it at a record end of month level as initial data suggest that tourism arrivals and foreign exchange generated by that industry exceed the similar period in 2019, the last year without the impact of covid-19 negatively affecting the sector. On top of those positive developments, corporate profits are expected to enjoy a good bounce for the majority of companies for the first quarter.
The Junior Market has a long term pattern, with the market starting to rise around a month before quarterly results are due and declining shortly after results are released. This is a pattern worth noting that can be built into investment decisions to improve returns.
Consolidated Bakeries Miss Birdie Easter bun. The stock is back in the ICTOP10
Dropping from the TOP10 Junior Market list this past week was Honey Bun, but investors should expect a big jump in revenues and profits for the first quarter, with the Easter coming at the beginning of April versus the 17th of April last year, as well as an improvement of gross profit margin that slipped up last year.
Returning to the TOP10 is Consolidated Bakeries in the number 3 spot. The company is projected to report a solid first quarter profit, with the Easter holidays coming at the start of April compared with April 17 last year and ensuring that mostly all Easter bun sales will be reported in the March quarter unlike 2022. The company reported a profit in 2022 a big improvement over a loss in the previous three years. ICInsider.com projects earnings of 40 cents for 2023 and 75 cents for 2024 with the company benefitting from a full recovery of the local economy and increase efficiency and reduction in borrowings. At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE
Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 13.5, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.7 compared with the market at 11.1. The differences are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 256 percent and the Main Market TOP10, an average of 271 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The Junior Market has 10 stocks representing 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 29, averaging 19, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, suggesting this may be a logical value for junior market stocks.
The 16 stocks with the highest value in the Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks and 19 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 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 traded 3,751,282 shares for $8,192,766 compared to 11,481,147 units at $32,060,415 on Monday.
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Everything Fresh dropped 14 cents to $1.45 after exchanging 23,683 units, Express Catering advanced 65 cents to $5 as just 2,711 shares passed through the market. Future Energy Source gained 24 cents in closing at $4.27 after 34,284 stock units changed hands, iCreate rallied 12 cents to $1.60 after a transfer of 10,099 stocks, Indies Pharma shed 44 cents after ending at $2.86 in trading 35,342 stock units. Knutsford Express climbed $1.37 to $11.78 with a transfer of 200 shares, Lasco Distributors lost 34 cents to close at $2.38 while exchanging 10,885 units, Lasco Manufacturing fell 38 cents to end at $4.07 in switching ownership of 19,436 stocks. Limners and Bards increased 40 cents to $2.60, with 3,610 stocks crossing the market, 
Lumber Depot declined 10 cents to $2.40 after an exchange of 29,000 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies popped $1.68 in closing at $15.69, with 11,005 units changing hands.
A total of 11,481,147 shares were traded for $32,060,415, down from 26,446,403 units at $79,364,016 on Friday.
At the close, Access Financial fell 94 cents to $25.05 after 20 shares crossed the market, AMG Packaging dipped 35 cents to $2.65 while exchanging 3,179 stocks, Caribbean Cream advanced 56 cents to end at $4.06, with a transfer of 4,305 units. Consolidated Bakeries lost 15 cents in closing at $2 with a transfer of 5,332 stock units, Derrimon Trading rose 12 cents to close at $2.12 in an exchange of 15,262 stocks, Dolphin Cove jumped 72 cents to $14.98 trading 19,132 shares, Everything Fresh increased 14 cents to end at $1.59 in an exchange of 19,044 units, Express Catering declined 40 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $4.35 after hitting an intraday low of $4 with investors transferring 87,215 stock units, Future Energy Source shed 56 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $4.03, with 374,727 stock units crossing the exchange. Honey Bun rallied 25 cents to $6.70 after an exchange of 28,818 units, Image Plus Consultants climbed 17 cents to $1.97 after exchanging 1,746,560 stocks, Indies Pharma dipped 23 cents to end at $3.30 with 29,054 shares clearing the market. 
Iron Rock Insurance popped 26 cents to $2.27 with an exchange of four stock units, ISP Finance declined $1.56 to $23.99, with 18,944 units changing hands, JFP Ltd dipped 20 cents to $1.75 after an exchange of 169,479 shares. Knutsford Express shed $1.83 to close at $10.41 in trading 3,941 stocks, Lasco Distributors rallied 12 cents to $2.72 as 148,729 stocks passed through the market, Limners and Bards lost 39 cents to end at $2.20 in switching ownership of 15,572 stock units. Lumber Depot rose 16 cents to $2.50 with the swapping of 9,789 shares, Mailpac Group dropped 11 cents after ending at $1.89 with 68,853 units crossing the market, Main Event advanced 24 cents to $11.90 and closed after 44,794 stock units changed hands. Regency Petroleum fell 21 cents to close at $2.23 after an exchange of 729,577 shares, Spur Tree Spices fell 36 cents in closing at $2.70 after exchanging 158,115 units, 
Stationery and Office Supplies shed $1.74 after ending at $14.01 in an exchange of 241,581 stocks and Tropical Battery declined 13 cents to $1.95 after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $1.80, with 344,018 stock units being traded.
At the end of the past week, in the Junior Market TOP10 four stocks gained and five declined. KLE Group jumped 16 percent to $1.69 and Tropical Battery rose 7 percent to close at $2.08. General Accident dropped 16 percent to $5 and Everything Fresh fell 6 percent to close at $1.45.
The Main Market 19 highest valued stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 29 and 21 excluding the most valued stocks and 20.5 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
A total of 26,446,403 shares were traded for $79,364,016 compared with 30,528,396 units at $77,798,162 on Thursday.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.4. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Fontana popped 22 cents in closing at $8.40 with 53,472 shares changing hands, Future Energy Source advanced 16 cents to end at $4.59, with 689,541 stock units crossing the market, General Accident rallied 29 cents after ending at $5 with 1,761 units crossing the exchange. Honey Bun dipped 35 cents to $6.45 with an exchange of 28,472 units, Indies Pharma rose 46 cents in closing at $3.53 with a transfer of 4,882,159 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance shed 26 cents to close at $2.01 trading 5,000 stocks. Jamaican Teas popped 18 cents to close at $2.28 in an exchange of 33,330 shares, JFP Ltd advanced 10 cents in closing at $1.95 with investors transferring 5,482,938 stock units, Knutsford Express increased $1.24 to end at $12.24 while exchanging 603,480 stocks. Lasco Distributors gained 23 cents to $2.60, with 634 units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 11 cents after ending at $4.45, with 22,214 shares clearing the market, Limners and Bards popped 34 cents to close at $2.59 in an exchange of 261,338 stock units. 
Paramount Trading shed 19 cents to close at $2.15 after 10,000 stocks were traded, Regency Petroleum rose 25 cents after ending at a record high of $2.44 with an exchange of 6,271,147 shares, Spur Tree Spices rallied 33 cents to $3.06 with 3,880,290 units changing hands. Stationery and Office Supplies advanced $1.25 in closing at $15.75 as investors exchanged 98,938 units and Tropical Battery gained 13 cents to close at $2.08 while exchanging 246,272 stocks.
Investors traded 30,528,396 shares for $77,798,162 up from 10,202,465 units at $28,165,787 on Wednesday.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 23.51 points to 3,701.89.
Derrimon Trading dipped 24 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.81 after an exchange of 125,357 stocks, Dolphin Cove shed 30 cents after ending at $14.70 following an exchange of 6,316 stocks, Express Catering advanced 10 cents in closing at $5.10 with trading of 82,589 shares. Honey Bun rose 50 cents to $6.80 after a transfer of 28,453 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance climbed 18 cents to close at $2.27 after exchanging two units, ISP Finance rallied $5.55 to end at $25.55, with 4 stocks crossing the market. Jamaican Teas dropped 19 cents to $2.10 with a transfer of 606,002 shares, Knutsford Express declined 33 cents to close at $11, with 7,280 units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing increased 34 cents to $4.34 in an exchange of 44,885 stock units. Main Event declined 44 cents to $11.66 with 26,394 shares clearing the market, Regency Petroleum popped 10 cents after ending at $2.19 with investors transferring 2,794,741 stocks, Spur Tree Spices popped 23 cents to end 
at $2.73 after 3,751,342 units crossed the exchange. Stationery and Office Supplies gained 35 cents after ending at $14.50 after 35,010 stock units passed through the market and tTech advanced 55 cents to $2.55 in switching ownership of two stocks.
Investors traded 10,202,465 shares for $28,165,787 up from 8,256,705 units at $22,347,499 on Tuesday.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed based on the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Future Energy Source lost 12 cents to end at $4.35 with 497,865 shares crossing the exchange, General Accident dropped 35 cents to close at $4.70, with 5,150 stocks changing hands, ISP Finance declined $5.56 in closing at $20 after a transfer of 3,028 units. Jamaican Teas popped 13 cents to end at $2.29 with an exchange of 13,870 stock units, Knutsford Express rallied $1.33 to close at $11.33 with the swapping of 69,943 stocks, Lasco Distributors dropped 23 cents to $2.45 in an exchange of 13,792 shares. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 15 cents after ending at $4 and an exchange of 7,155 stocks, Limners and Bards lost 26 cents in closing at $2.25 after trading 6,624 shares, Main Event shed 15 cents to land at $12.10 in an exchange of 19,599 units. 
MFS Capital Partners fell 14 cents to end at $3.31 as 792,425 stock units passed through the market, Paramount Trading rose 19 cents to close at $2.34 after exchanging 545 units and tTech lost 30 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2, with 117,880 shares crossing the market.
A total of 8,256,705 shares were exchanged for $22,347,499 up from 4,366,193 units at $11,400,138 on Monday.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price and ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Express Catering advanced 19 cents to end at $5 in an exchange of 4,636 stock units, Fosrich declined 10 cents in closing at $2.74 after exchanging 1,879,393 stocks, Future Energy Source rose 19 cents to $4.47 in trading 376,387 stocks. GWest Corporation rallied 13 cents to $1.06 in switching ownership of 5,423 shares, Honey Bun gained 30 cents after ending at $6.30 as investors exchanged 6,202 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance rallied 9 cents to close at $2.09 after trading 4,956 units. Jamaican Teas fell 14 cents in closing at $2.16 in an exchange of 201,530 stocks, KLE Group popped 24 cents to $1.70, with 3,177 units crossing the exchange, Knutsford Express dipped 30 cents to end at $10, with 97,416 shares clearing the market. Lasco Distributors advanced 22 cents to $2.68 in trading 28,430 stock units, Limners and Bards rose 22 cents in closing at $2.51 with a transfer of 1,461,352 stock units, Lumber Depot increased 26 cents after ending at $2.40 as 268,060 stocks passed through the market. Mailpac Group gained 19 cents to close at $2 with investors transferring 558,371 shares, Main Event climbed 25 cents to end at $12.25 while exchanging 20,646 units,Medical Disposables popped 15 cents to $5, with 1,877 stocks crossing the market.
Paramount Trading fell 25 cents to end at $2.15, as 350 stock units passed through the market, Regency Petroleum rose 11 cents to close at $2.09 while exchanging 535,937 units, Spur Tree Spices climbed 10 cents after ending at $2.50 with an exchange of 153,009 shares but only after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $2.33 and Tropical Battery declined 9 cents in closing at $2 after exchanging 141,447 stock units.
The Main Market TOP10 saw the highest gaining stock rising just 34 percent, after Key Insurance jumped to $3.50 and was followed by 138 Student Living with an 8 percent rise to $5.40, but Caribbean Producers dropped 8 percent to $9.07. All other movements were 3 percent or less.
The Main Market 16 most valued stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 100, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest valued stocks and 18 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
A total of 6,478,077 shares were traded for $16,544,909 compared with 15,501,984 units at $52,166,724 on Thursday.
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Fontana climbed 77 cents in closing at $8.17 after 58,097 stocks crossed the exchange, General Accident rallied 99 cents to close at $5.98 in an exchange of 16,691 stock units, Honey Bun gained 49 cents to close at $6.75 in an exchange of 9,412 shares. iCreate dipped 8 cents to $1.52 after investors traded 17,856 units, Iron Rock Insurance slipped 30 cents to $2 after trading 3,000 stock units, Knutsford Express increased $1.45 to close at $10.30 as 29,957 stocks changed hands. Lasco Financial fell 13 cents to end at $2.37 with a transfer of 1,489 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing dipped 10 cents to $4.05 with the swapping of 10,560 shares, Main Event gained 28 cents in closing at $11.85 after an exchange of 21,203 stock units. Paramount Trading rose 14 cents to end at $2.38, with 54,500 units crossing the market, 
Stationery and Office Supplies declined 33 cents to close at $14.17 as 14,663 units passed through the market and tTech shed 23 cents in closing at $2.30 with investors transferring 700 shares.