Honey Bun jumped into the Junior Market IC TOP10 this week in the sixth place, while Access Financial dropped out in a week when both of the Main and Junior markets declined in value compared to the 2023 year end close. Honey Bun rose to the ICTOP 10 following the release of the 2023 full year results, showing profit after tax rising 14 percent to $232 million, with indications that the 2024 performance should see profits hitting 80 cents per share with a PE of 8 currently.
Honey Bun sales income rose 16 percent for the fiscal year but only 8 percent in the final quarter.
t the close of the market on Friday, five Junior Market stocks gained between two and eight percent and three fell by 2 percent and 18 percent, while just two Main Market stocks rose at 2 and to four percent and seven fell by 7 percent or less.
The Main Market ICTOP10 ended with, 138 Student Living gaining 4 percent to $4.05. Declining stocks include JMMB Group down seven percent to $24.25, Pulse Investments with a six percent fall to $1.97 and General Accident down four percent to $4.66.
The Junior Market ended the week, with Lasco Manufacturing rising eight percent to $4.64, Lasco Distributors up seven percent to $4 and AMG Packaging climbing six percent to $3.20. Jamaican Teas dropped eighteen percent to $2.31, as investors seem to ignore a positive report on the group that was published in the Financial Gleaner on Friday.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.2, well below the market average of 13.4 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.3, just over half of the market, with an average of 13.4.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 292 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 189 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 14 of the most highly valued stocks representing 29 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 32 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market, there are 12 stocks, or 25 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 50, averaging 23, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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 on or around 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.
Junior Market slips into 2024
Trading started the new year with the market slipping moderately as market activity ended on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with an 83 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with an 87 percent lower the value than Friday and resulted from trading in 47 securities compared with 46 on Friday and ended with 15 rising, 25 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 9,655,336 shares for $17,937,572, down from 58,141,717 units at $143,291,459 on Friday.
Trading averaged 205,433 shares at $381,650, compared with 1,263,950 units at $3,115,032 on Friday compared with December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 2.46 million shares for 25.5 percent of total volume followed by One Great Studio with 1.59 million units for 16.5 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 665,397 units for 6.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 6.58 points to finish at 3,841.75.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
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 popped $2.49 in closing at $27.49 after 5 units passed through the market, AMG Packaging skidded 62 cents to $2.40 after trading 23,184 stocks, Blue Power increased 41 cents to close at $3.07, with 973 shares clearing the market. Caribbean Flavours fell 25 cents to end at $1.67 with investors swapping 16,000 stock units, Derrimon Trading climbed 8 cents and ended at $1.93, with 56,341 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove rose $1.27 to $19.37 in an exchange of 1,635 units. Fontana dipped 19 cents in closing at $10.01, with 26,660 stocks crossing the market, 
Fosrich sank 19 cents and ended at $2.41 with investors trading 566,382 stock units, Future Energy shed 25 cents to close at $3.69 after exchanging 665,397 shares. GWest Corporation advanced 9 cents to end at 97 cents with 5,360 stock units crossing the market, Honey Bun lost 29 cents in closing at $6.11 with traders dealing in 9,717 units, following the release of full year results showing a 15 percent rise in profits to $232 million or 49 cents per share, Image Plus declined 13 cents to $1.92 while exchanging 24,853 stocks. Indies Pharma dropped 34 cents to end at $2.75 in trading 247,531 units, ISP Finance jumped $2.49 and ended at $31.49 after an exchange of 11 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 21 cents to close at $2.59 with investors dealing in 338,041 shares. Jetcon Corporation shed 9 cents to $1 in an exchange of 38,592 stock units, 
JFP Ltd declined 16 cents and ended at $1.38 after it closed with an exchange of 504,995 shares, Lasco Distributors rallied 25 cents to end at $4 as investors exchanged 172,225 stocks. Lasco Financial increased 16 cents in closing at $2.10 in switching ownership of 157,155 units, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 33 cents to close at $4.64, with 437 stock units crossing the exchange, Lumber Depot sank 28 cents to $2.39 with investors transferring 82,830 shares. Main Event dropped 76 cents to end at $13.14 after a transfer of 2,176 units, ONE on ONE Educational lost 10 cents in closing at $1 with a transfer of 551,012 stocks, Regency Petroleum skidded 28 cents to close at $2.20 with an exchange of 340,150 stock units. Spur Tree Spices dipped 40 cents and ended at $2.36 after investors traded 388,474 shares and Tropical Battery popped 10 cents to $2 after an exchange of 155,094 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
ICTOP10 bounce as Main Market breaks higher
2023 was not a great year for the Jamaica Stock Market, with all three JSE markets declining moderately and sending powerful messages to investors, with several companies reporting increased profit, enjoying increased prices. Transjamaican Highway delivered an outstanding performance, ending the year up 93 percent and paid a 19 cents dividend for an overall return of 106 percent for the year.
Transjamaican Highway gained 93% for 2023.
Readers of this publication would have gotten a good lead ahead of the first set of results in the year with the stock listed as a Stock to Watch in April, with the price then at $1.77 and gained 53 percent since, plus the dividend.
Other notable gains were recorded by Ciboney at 107 percent, following a change in ownership of the company, Main Event rising 55 percent, Regency Petroleum rallied at 47 percent, Knutsford Express at 45 percent and Dolphin Cove at 39 percent plus paying dividends of $1.85 during the year thus raising the returns to 53 percent.
There were several disappointing performances but one message is the import of proper stock selections and the benefits of portfolio diversification.
The Main Market all Jamaica Composite Index rose 17,082 points or 5 percent and the Junior Market just 2 percent during December, with technical indicators showing the Main Market now in a bullish state, having broken out sharply from a wedge formation, but the Junior Market remains under pressure for the time being, except for a limited number of stocks.
At the close of the market, four Junior Market stocks gained between eight and 26 percent and 5 fell by 7 percent and less, while three Main Market stocks rose between one to 15 percent and two fell by 6 percent each.
The Main Market ICTOP10 ended with, Palace Amusement gaining 15 percent to $1.40, followed by JMMB Group up 4 percent to $26 and Margaritaville 3 percent to $17.58, while 138 Student Living and Key Insurance declined 6 percent each two $3.89 and $2.25 respectively.
The Junior Market ended the week, with Caribbean Cream jumping 26 percent to $4.59, Jamaican Teas popping 21 percent to $2.80, a 52 weeks’ high. AMG Packaging climbed 12 percent to $3.02 and Tropical Battery rose 8 percent to end the week at $1.90. Lasco Manufacturing fell 7 percent to $4.31, Lasco Distributors and Paramount Trading fell by 4 percent each to $3.75 and $1.60 respectively.
Tropical Battery dropped out of the IC Junior Market TOP10, and Access Financial replaced it.
Indications of where stock prices could be by May 2024 can be seen from stocks with the highest values in the Main and Junior Markets.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 14 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.3, just over half of the market, with an average of 14.1.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 286 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 184 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 26 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market, there are 16 stocks, or 33 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 55, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 20, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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 on or around 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.
Trading surges on Junior Market to end 2023
Trading surged on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, as the market closed out 2023 with a small decline for the second time since 2020, with a huge jump in the volume of stocks traded rising by 460 percent and the value jumping 479 percent more than Thursday with trading concluding with 46 securities changing hands compared with 45 on Thursday and ended with prices of 24 rising, 12 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 58,141,717 stock units for $143,291,459 versus 10,388,698 units at $24,745,282 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 1,263,950 shares for $3,115,032 compared with 230,860 units at $549,895 on Thursday. Trading ended with the month to date averaging 466,866 units at $1,111,272 compared to 416,223 stocks at $983,962 on the previous day, well up on November that closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Tropical Battery led trading with 21.15 million shares for 36.4 percent of the volume followed by Future Energy with 10.21 million stock units for 17.6 percent of the day’s trade, Regency Petroleum closed with 4.69 million units for 8.1 percent market share, EduFocal with 2.96 million units for 5.1 percent market share, Image Plus ended with 2.89 million units changing hands for 5 percent of stocks traded and Fosrich closed with 2.25 million units for 3.9 percent of the overall volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 65.03 points to lock up trading for 2023 at 3,848.33 with a loss of 3.5 percent for the year.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Blue Power dipped 28 cents to end at $2.66, with 20,016 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Cream increased 39 cents to $4.59 as investors exchanged 5,166 units, Caribbean Flavours climbed 34 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.92 as 124,565 shares passed through the market. Derrimon Trading sank 16 cents to close at $1.85 in an exchange of 1,540,620 stock units, Dolphin Cove popped $1 in closing at $18.10 with traders dealing in 48,385 shares, EduFocal fell 8 cents to $1.62 while exchanging 2,955,104 stocks. Fontana advanced 20 cents in closing at $10.20 with a transfer of 151,667 units, Fosrich rose 15 cents and ended at $2.60 with investors swapping 2,248,711 stock units, Future Energy gained 39 cents to end at $3.94 in an exchange of 10,214,342 shares. 
Image Plus rallied 11 cents to close at $2.05 with investors transferring 2,892,365 units, Indies Pharma popped 14 cents to close at $3.09 after an exchange of 853,375 stocks, Jamaican Teas advanced 21 cents to end at 52 weeks’ high of $2.80, with 1,789,229 stock units crossing the market. Jetcon Corporation rose 19 cents in closing at $1.09 with an exchange of 603,626 shares, Lasco Distributors declined 10 cents to close at $3.75 with 396,396 stock units clearing the market, Lasco Manufacturing shed 19 cents and ended at $4.31 with investors dealing in 9,827 units. Mailpac Group gained 16 cents to $2.29 after an exchange of 617,768 stocks, MFS Capital Partners rallied 24 cents to end at $2.24 with investors trading 409,204 units, ONE on ONE Educational increased 8 cents in closing at $1.10, with 908,832 shares changing hands. 
Paramount Trading climbed 17 cents and ended at $1.60 in trading 5,000 stock units, Regency Petroleum increased 22 cents to close at $2.48 after 4,687,683 stocks changed hands and Spur Tree Spices dropped 57 cents to close out the year at $2.76 after investors traded trading 1,707,764 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big gains for Junior Market stocks
Investors pushed 22 stocks higher on Thursday and left 10 declining after 45 securities trading compared with 44 on Wednesday and ended with 13 closing unchanged with the market index jumping 50.05 points to 3,783.30, following a near 51 points gain over the previous two trading days and ended trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the volume and value of stocks traded declining 90 percent from trading on Wednesday.
A total of 10,388,698 shares changed hands for $24,745,282 compared to 99,492,688 units at $248,103,688 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 230,860 shares at $549,895, compared with 2,261,197 units at $5,638,720 on Wednesday. Trading month to date, averages 416,223 units at $983,962 compared to 428,507 stock units at $1,012,729 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 3.09 million shares for 29.7 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 1.10 million units for 10.6 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 1.05 million units for 10.1 percent of the day’s trade.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.8, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 50 cents and ended at $25 in an exchange of 185 units, AMG Packaging rallied 57 cents to $2.97 with traders dealing in 56,652 stocks, Blue Power climbed 28 cents to end at $2.94 after a transfer of 67 shares. Caribbean Cream rose 56 cents to $4.20, with 23,845 stock units changing hands, Derrimon Trading gained 12 cents to close at $2.01 with a transfer of 26 shares, Dolla Financial popped 9 cents to $2.60 after exchanging 217,112 stock units. Dolphin Cove advanced 10 cents to end at $17.10 with investors swapping 11,571 units, Fontana sank 14 cents to $10 in an exchange of 91,263 stocks, Honey Bun popped 14 cents and ended at $6.40 with investors trading 107 shares. ISP Finance rallied $4.15 to close at $29 with just 100 stock units clearing the market, Jamaican Teas increased 9 cents to $2.59 with investors transferring 48,336 stocks, J
etcon Corporation climbed 11 cents in closing at 90 cents in switching ownership of 530,832 units. KLE Group rose 40 cents to end at $1.90 while exchanging 784,660 shares, Knutsford Express advanced $1.20 to close at $12.60 with 300 stock units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing skidded 14 cents and ended at $4.50 with an exchange of 11,703 units. Lumber Depot gained 10 cents and landed at $2.60, with 270,334 stock units crossing the market, MFS Capital Partners lost 27 cents in closing at $2 after an exchange of 173,637 shares, Paramount Trading shed 26 cents to end at $1.43 in trading 6,800 stocks. Spur Tree Spices jumped 44 cents and ended at $3.33 as investors exchanged 3,088,133 units and Tropical Battery increased 21 cents to close at $1.95 after investors ended trading 272,925 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Friday’s bulk trading returns to Junior Market
The large blocks of stocks in four companies that swelled trading on Friday dominated trading again on Wednesday on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the overall volume and the value of stocks traded rising a mere one percent over trading on Friday with trading in 44 securities up from 40 on Friday and ended with prices of 18 rising, 15 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Mailpac Group was the leading trade with 50.06 million shares for 50.3 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 32.75 million units for 32.9 percent of the day’s trade, Future Energy chipped in with 10.59 million units for 10.6 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices with 2.34 million units for 2.4 percent of total volume.
The total amount of stocks traded was 99,492,688 for $248,103,688 up from 98,460,419 units at $245,339,629 on Friday.
Trading averaged 2,261,197 shares at $5,638,720, compared with 2,461,510 units at $6,133,491 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 428,507 units at $1,012,729 compared with 301,518 stock units at $692,188 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 5.11 points to end at 3,733.25.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around 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 48 cents to $24.50 with 850,000 stock units clearing the market, AMG Packaging declined 30 cents and ended at $2.40 with traders dealing in 76 shares, Blue Power lost 36 cents to end at $2.66, with 1,000 stocks crossing the exchange. 
Cargo Handlers popped $1.84 in closing at $14.92 with investors trading 923 units, Dolphin Cove skidded 14 cents to close at $17 after an exchange of 701 stocks, Fontana advanced 16 cents to $10.14 with investors transferring 36,524 units. Honey Bun sank 14 cents to close at $6.26 in an exchange of 2,252 shares, Indies Pharma rose 14 cents and ended at $2.99, with 34,657 stock units crossing the market, ISP Finance shed $4.55 in closing at $24.85 with an exchange of 1,244 shares. Jamaican Teas climbed 19 cents to end at $2.50 after investors ended trading 32,747,972 stocks, Knutsford Express dropped $1.18 in closing at $11.40 while exchanging 5,852 units, Medical Disposables increased 20 cents to $2.70 in trading 6,000 stock units and Spur Tree Spices gained 39 cents to close at $2.89 with, 2,339,563 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Mostly price gains for ICTOP10
The Main Market of the JSE rose around two percent and Junior Market just under one percent for the week and led the top 10 mostly higher, with 7 Main Market and 4 Junior Market stocks rising with declining stocks recording losses of 4 percent or less, at the same time one stock moved out of the TOP10.
The Main Market ICTOP10 ended with, General Accident declined 11 percent to $4.50. Buying interest picked up during the week for Scotia Group pushing the stock to several 52 weeks’ highs and a rose of 7 percent for the week to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $38.40. This stock has much more juice left that should take it into the $40 range by early 2024. Caribbean Producers rallied 6 percent to $9, while Margaritaville also rose 6 percent and closed at $17 and Pulse Investments rose 5 percent to $2.09 and Key Insurance slipped 4 percent to $2.40.
The Junior Market ended the week, with AMG Packaging climbing 17 percent to $2.70, buying is not aggressive currently while supplies up to $3.15 is limited, with none on offer until $10. Investors should expect a big bounce in the first quarter profits due by mid-January. The company states that they are exploring the possibility of new equipment and expanded facilities that could shape a future expansion of momentous proportions. Caribbean Cream rose 10 percent to $3.64 and Stationery and Office Supplies gained 9 percent and dropped out of the TOP10 and is replaced by Tropical Battery. There were no notable declines at the end of the week.
There was no new addition to the IC Main Market TOP10.
Indications of where stock prices could be by May 2024 can be seen from stocks with the highest values in the Main and Junior Markets.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 288 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings and now provides better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 195 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP10, 15 of the most highly valued stocks, 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 29 and 18 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7, just over half of the market, with an average of 13.2. There are 14 stocks, or 29 percent of the market, with PEsfrom 15 to 49, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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 on or around 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.
Big trading day for Junior Market
Trading surged on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday with Mailpac Group leading trading with 50.04 million shares accounting for 50.8 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas with 32.66 million units for 33.2 percent of the day’s trade, Future Energy ended with 10.09 million units for 10.2 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices with 1.84 million units 
for 1.9 percent of total volume, resulting with the volume of stocks traded surging 3,131 percent, with the value 5,722 percent more than Thursday after trading in 40 securities as was the case on Thursday and ended with 16 rising, nine declining and 15 closing unchanged.
At the close investors traded a solid 98,460,419 shares for $245,339,629 compared with a mere 3,047,673 units at just $4,213,805 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 2,461,510 shares at $6,133,491, compared with 76,192 units at $105,345 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 301,518 stock units at $692,188 compared with 156,308 stock at $326,386 on the previous day. November closed with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed 45.75 points to close at 3,728.14.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.3, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around 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, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 24 cents to $2.24 after a transfer of just 500 stocks, Caribbean Cream climbed 64 cents to end at $3.64 as investors exchanged a mere 18 units, Dolphin Cove rose 44 cents in closing at $17.14 after 4,684 shares passed through the market. Fosrich rallied 10 cents and ended at $2.40, with 5,551 stock units changing hands, 
Indies Pharma dropped 10 cents to close at $2.85 with a transfer of 2,500 shares, Iron Rock Insurance increased 49 cents to $2.55 with investors dealing in 2 units. Limners and Bards gained 14 cents in closing at $1.68 in an exchange of 500 stocks, One Great Studio advanced 12 cents and ended at 97 cents with investors transferring 259,498 stock units, Regency Petroleum rose 10 cents to end at $2.30 in an exchange of 36,407 shares. Spur Tree Spices climbed 25 cents to close at $2.50 with 1,844,997 stock units crossing the market and Stationery and Office Supplies popped 11 cents to $1.74 while exchanging 109,880 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops with reduced trading
Trading declined sharply below Wednesday’s levels on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 68 percent and the value 80 percent lower than Wednesday after trading in 40 securities compared with 37 on Wednesday and ended with 14 rising, 17 declining and nine closing unchanged as two stocks traded at 52 weeks’ low.
Investors traded 3,047,673 shares for $4,213,805 down from 9,632,022 units at $21,100,384 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 76,192 shares at $105,345 compared with 260,325 units at $570,281 on Wednesday. Trading month to date, averages 156,308 units at $326,386 compared to 162,082 stock units at 342,317 on the previous day, down compared to November, with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
One Great Studio led trading with 1.46 million shares for 47.8 percent of total volume followed by the managerially troubled iCreate with 382,342 units for 12.5 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal with 327,543 units for 10.7 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 18.95 points to culminate at 3,682.39.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around 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, AMG Packaging popped 33 cents to finish trading at $2.64, with 8 stocks changing hands, Blue Power climbed 37 cents to close at $3.03 in trading 515 units, Caribbean Cream skidded 31 cents to $3 after a mere 1,229 shares changed hands. Derrimon Trading fell 10 cents and ended at $1.92 in an exchange of 30,654 stock units, Dolla Financial rose 9 cents to $2.59 with investors dealing in 45,503 shares, Dolphin Cove shed 15 cents in closing at $16.70 while exchanging 4,782 units. Elite Diagnostic advanced 8 cents to $1.73 after 1,172 stocks passed through the market, Fosrich gained 12 cents to close at $2.30 in switching ownership of 44,673 stock units, GWest Corporation sank 12 cents and ended at 87 cents with 229 shares clearing the market.
iCreate gained 9 cents to end at 59 cents with investors swapping 382,342 units, Iron Rock Insurance declined 44 cents to $2.06 in an exchange of 37 stocks, Jamaican Teas lost 14 cents to end at $2.31, with 22,552 stock units crossing the market. Knutsford Express dipped 20 cents in closing at $12.58 after an exchange of 19 shares, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 13 cents to close at $4.63 after 4,596 stocks passed through the market, Main Event popped 40 cents and ended at $13.90 with a transfer of 321 units. Medical Disposables dropped 42 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $2.50 after an exchange of 713 stock units, One Great Studio sank 12 cents in closing at an all-time low of 85 cents with investors trading 1,457,855 shares, Regency Petroleum dipped 10 cents to close at $2.20 with an exchange of 17,413 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies fell 20 cents to end at $1.63 after trading 31,513 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main & USD markets gains, Juniors slip
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange gained at the close of trading on Thursday, with the USD Market also closing higher as the Junior Market slipped to close out trading, with market activity ending with the volume and value of stocks traded falling below Wednesday’s levels on the penultimate day before the Christmas break for the market.
At the close of the market, Main Market stocks rallying were Jamaica Broilers with a gain of $1.49, Sagicor Group up $1 and Scotia Group closing at a new 52 weeks’ closing high of $37.50, after gaining 38 cents. Declining Main Market stocks include GraceKennedy down $2.17 and Barita Investments with a fall of 90 cents.
Rising Junior Market stocks include Main Event with a gain of 40 cents, Blue Power up 37 cents, and AMG Packaging gaining 33 cents. Declining stocks include Medical Disposables falling 42 cents followed by Caribbean Cream with a loss of 31 cents and Iron Rock Insurance down 44 cents.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 512.77 points to 328,594.68, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 571.53 points to wrap up trading at 351,983.29, the JSE Main Index popped 723.66 points to 315,985.82. The Junior Market Index dipped 18.95 points to wrap-up trading at 3,682.39 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 4.25 points to finish at 223.13.
Investors traded 10,449,490 shares, in all three markets, down from 13,761,322 units on Tuesday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounts to $48.29 million compared with $65.97 million on Tuesday. The JSE USD market closed after just 6,525 shares were traded, for US$320 compared to 130,502 units at US$2,973 on Wednesday.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rallied $1 to $41 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share lost $30 to end at $1,060.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.7 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
