Junior Market falls, future looks bright

November 8, 2026 by
Ten winning Junior Market stocks gained an average of 8.2 percent, the ten losing stocks averaged 10.9 percent. The market index declined by 2.56 percent to close the week at 3,149.92, down 82.71 points from 3,232.63 at the close of the previous week.

Caribbean Cream rose modestly during the week and slipped from the IC TOP10 listing and allowing Access Financial to enter the ICTOP10. Looking forward, the ICTOP10 listing that is compiled by ICInsider.com is headed by the currently suspended, Kintyre Holdings, projected to rise 1,076 percent. Two other stocks are projected to gain well over 300 percent and Omni Industries appears on both the weekly gainers list as well as the forecast.
CAC 2000 bouncing off a 52 weeks low led the winning stocks, with a rise of 28.57 percent, while Derrimon Trading led declining stocks. Limners and Bards rose 16.36 percent, and Edufocal advanced by 11.11 percent. GWEST Corporation added 9.68 percent, Omni Industries gained 6.52 percent and ISP Finance Services rounded out the top six with a rise of 2.92 percent.
Derrimon Trading Company fell by  21.26 percent, the week’s weakest performer. One on One Educational Services declined by 15.29 percent, followed by Mailpac Group at 12.31 percent. Fosrich Company lost 10.83 percent, Dolphin Cove dropped 10.57 percent and Express Catering fell 9.6 percent.
The ICInsider.com forecast based on 2026-27 earnings ranks the top ten Junior Market stocks by projected gain. Kintyre Holdings tops the list with a projected gain of 1,076 percent, more than double the next stock. While the potential gains may seem large, the stock rebounded early in the year to a high of 83 cents before dropping back to just 17 cents, following selling pressure that came from new shareholders who were paid for entities sold by share-based payments. The stock has fallen sharply this year and the Jamaica Stock Exchange suspended its trading in July over delays in filing audited financial statements. The group expects to enjoy a boost in revenues from expanded Visual Vibes advertising sites.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers is second, with a projected gain of 476 percent, as the stock is expected to benefit from lower costs and a boost in third quarter revenues and profit. Of note and a vote of confidence, two directors acquired more than 2.3 million shares between August and September. RA Williams follows in fourth place at 171 percent, but remains undervalued having posted outstanding first quarter results even as they embark on adding new product line to the business. MFS Capital Partners is fifth, with projected gains of 157 percent, the company recently announced expansion of its business in new locations and acquired a stationery and office supply business. Fontana is next, with a projected gain of 148 percent and Paramount Trading, with a projected gain of 135 percent, Omni Industries and Everything Fresh are projected to gain 133 percent and highly overlooked Access Financial sits at tenth place with 132 percent.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Atlantic tops Junior Market in January

February 1, 2026 by
The Junior Market maintained its resilience by month’s end, although it mostly traded lower than the December close for most of the month and ended slipping just half a point at the close of January, with the index declining by 11.11 points to finish the month at relatively stable 3,390.30, with Atlantic Hardware leading the market, as just under half of the companies listed gained, with trading ending with 22 rising and 23 declining. 

Main Market performance outshines the Junior Market. When the incredible and unsustainable 700 percent increase in the price of West Indies Petroleum share price is removed, the average gain for the Main Market is 10 percent compared to 11 percent for the Junior Market.  Losses are close as well, with an average of 7 percent for the Main Market and 11 percent for the Junior Market.

The early 2025 Junior Market listing, Atlantic Hardware led market gains with a 50 percent increase in January, driven by perceptions of strong hardware and building materials demand following the passage of Hurricane Melissa over Jamaica.
Jetcon Corporation followed closely with a 47 percent gain, benefiting from increased demand for new cars in Jamaica, with profit projected at 25 cents per the ICInsider.com for 2025, expect the price to keep on climbing. ISP Finance Services rounded out the top performers with a solid 24 percent advance, despite lacklustre profits for the nine months to September. Caribbean Assurance Brokers and One on One Educational Services both posted 15 percent gains, after recovering from declines in 2025, demonstrating continued investor appetite for some battered-down companies’ shares in the Junior Market, One on One also posted stable results from the first quarter to November, doubling profit for the 2024 first quarter, auguring well for 2026 fiscal results, but that may not be sufficient in moving the stock’s price much higher.
Everything Fresh experienced the steepest decline in the Junior Market with a 30 percent loss, as investors see the company that distributes fresh produce and other food items facing margin pressures and sales challenges, with less demand for its products from the hotel sector. Knutsford Express Services fell 29 percent, impacted by rising fuel costs and competition in inter-city transportation.
CAC 2000 declined 23 percent, while Consolidated Bakeries dropped 21 percent, unable to find a firm footing for sustainable growth and profit. Dolla Financial Services, despite maintaining high trading volumes of shares, fell 19 percent as investors took profits following the stock’s stronger performance in 2024, as they reassess prospects for 2026 that could result in a major rise in profits that will boost the stock.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Acquisition doubles ISP Finance

February 13, 2025 by
Micro financier, ISP Financial Services has more than doubled its size by acquiring the principal balance of a loan portfolio of approximately $1.2 billion. The acquisition more than doubles the company’s loan portfolio of just over $1 billion at the end of September last year net of provision for loan losses, pushing it to $2.2 billion.

The terms of the acquisition were not stated in the release by ISP at the close of the day on Wednesday but ICInsider.com has been reliably informed that the acquisition took place using a combination of internal and external funding which a portion of the principal deferred to be paid at some time in the future.

Last year’s annual general meeting scheduled to be held on November 21, 2024, was postponed until January, this targeted date has been pushed back, but no doubt will be held drown about March or April. The portfolio is acquired from a large Jamaican owned banking group. ISP had stated in 2021 that they were in discussions to acquire a portion of the loan portfolio of Micro lender, Mundo Finance but that deal was never materialized.
The current acquisition is likely to double revenues that stood at $520 million in 2023 and were 9 percent higher for the nine months to September last year to $400 million with $118 million generated in the September quarter. The acquisition could push profits sharply higher and also with the benefit of economies of scale. Profit for the nine months last year was up 66 percent to $55 million. IC Insider.com estimates that profits could exceed $2 per share or more in a full year of operation if all goes well.

At the end of September 2024, ISP equity capital was $641 million, with borrowings of $520 million. This recent acquisition stretched the capital base considerably with the debt to capital ratio out of line with acceptable levels, accordingly, ICInsider.com expects the company at the upcoming annual general meeting to have shareholders approve an increase in the share capital with the possibility that the stock could be split ahead of a likely return to the capital market to raise fresh equity capital to needed to normalize the capital base and to fund growth in the loan portfolio.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results, General Business News Tagged With: , , , ,

The JSE Main & Junior markets fall

February 13, 2024 by

The Main and the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange lost ground in trading on Tuesday as the JSE USD market inched moderately higher as trading ended with the volume and the value of stocks changing hands falling, compared with the previous day and resulted in the prices of 30 stocks rising and 42 declining.
At the close of trading, the Combined Market Index shed 524.55 points to close at 347,021.46, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 93.57 points to 370,839.06, the JSE Main Index sank 377.08 points to close at 334,406.36. The Junior Market Index fell 19.52 to 3,813.32. The JSE Main & Junior markets rose 0.21 points to 255.60.
At the close of trading, 16,492,495 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 47,975,821 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $62.80 million, from $164.28 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 180,495 shares for US$53,094 compared to 452,800 units at US$59,221 on Monday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with a leading trade of 4 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 3.94 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.83 million stocks.
In the Junior Market, Tropical Battery led trading with 847,958 shares followed by One Great Studio with 346,363 units and Indies Pharma with 292,036 shares.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Barita Investments dipped $1.02 to $70.18, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.99 in closing at $55.99, Eppley popped $1.99 to $35.99, Guardian Holdings rose $8 to $368, Pan Jamaica increased $1.08 to end at $51.20, Seprod rallied $1 to $83 and Supreme Ventures increased $1.97 and ended at $26.50.
The major declining Main Market stocks are Eppley Caribbean Property Fund that fell $2.50 to close at $37.50, JMMB Group shedding $1.39 in closing at $24.05 and Kingston Wharves dropping $2.40 and ending at $28.10.
At the end of Junior Market trading, Fontana climbed 28 cents to close at $10.60, with the major losing stocks being Access Financial down $1.24 to close at $21.41, AMG Packaging shedding 24 cents to $2.71, CAC 2000 declining 68 cents to end at $3.83, Dolphin Cove skidding 32 cents to $18 as ISP Finance dropped $6.33 to $25.02.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $5.80 to end at $43 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share declined $16 to $1,284.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.2. 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 for investors to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. 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.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Combined, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Stocks to Watch

August 21, 2023 by

There is currently low interest in buying Main Market stocks, even when the companies perform well and deliver positive results. One exception is Transjamaican Highway which has gained 86 percent for the year to date with more gains on the cards.

Dolphin Cove gained 31% for 2023 to date but should go higher.

The action is in the Junior Market, but even there, the interest is glacier-like, with a few stocks moving higher as buying demand is now overwhelming sellers.
A look behind the stock order book shows that a few merit watching over the next few weeks.
The list includes Carreras, Dolphin Cove, Fontana, Lasco Distributers, Lasco Manufacturing, ISP Finance, Mayberry Investments as well as Transjamaican Highway.
Carreras is enjoying consolidation of demand around the $8 level following a jump in earnings in the June quarter from rising sales. However, that is unlikely to change it from primarily one for high dividend yield rather than capital appreciation.
Dolphin Cove’s stock is up 31 percent for the year to date, but profit for the six months to June is up 48 percent over the year to June 2022. Investors may want to note the latest report on the court judgement on the sale of Mystic Mountain. There were indications that Dolphin Cove was an interested buyer and they may well be amongst the preferred bidders. If they succeed, expect the stock with limited offers posted on the JSE platform to jump.
Lasco Distributors‘ trend line shows an upward slopping momentum for the stock supported by earnings that increased 38 percent in the first quarter to June, following a 33 percent rise in full year profits to March this year. Buying interest is solid in the $4 and over region that is overwhelming supply on offer between $4.49 and $5 after that; there are currently less than 70,000 units on offer.

Lasco

Lasco Manufacturing‘s profit for the 2023 fiscal year jumped 37 percent after tax, followed by 27 percent for the June quarter. Still, the market was slow in responding positively to both sets of results, even as the price was less than ten times 2023 earnings of 50 cents per share. The stock in the past week jumped into the $5 region for the for time in months and closed the week at $5.35, with solid buying at that level and just below but with very limited selling with few stocks on offer from just nine offers for 180,000 shares.
Investors may not be ready to pounce on Fontana just yet. Still, there is limited selling in the stock ahead of the release of full year results that could come in around 80 cents per share, but with increased earnings in the current fiscal year, that will benefit from the opening of the Portmore store in a few months.
ISP Finance is an odd candidate, but there has been above average interest in this stock in recent months, with few offers in the stock currently. There are two critical factors to consider. One is that the majority shareholder must be close to retirement as such new owners cannot be far off. The recent addition of two new directors who operate in the financial market and have collaborated closely with them has increased speculation that a takeover of the majority shares will be forthcoming sooner than later. The other factor is the sharp jump in the loan portfolio to almost $1 billion after the credit loss provision. The near $200 million increase in loans over December last year and March this year is expected to swell revenues and profits in the future. The shares have to be high on the list for a split at the current price.

Fontana Waterloo Square Branch just after it was opened in October 2019.

Mayberry Investments may not have a lot of buying currently, but selling seems to be at a low level that could ignite a jump in price at any time that buying interest jumps.
Transjamaican Highway stock has almost doubled this year, encouraged by profit ballooning 338 percent for the June quarter to US$6 million and 442 percent to US$11 million for the six months to June. Supply has diminished on the sell side and could be overwhelmed by buyers. Investors have not bought into the sharp change in fortune for this stock and where it could head to. In addition, they should declare a considerable dividend payment in a few months.

Filed Under: Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Falling stocks overwhelmed Junior Market

December 19, 2022 by

Declining stocks overwhelmed those gaining at the close of the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded jumping 247 percent and the value surging 201 percent more than on Friday with 46 securities trading versus 41 on Friday and ended with 12 rising, 28 declining and six closing unchanged.
A total of 27,627,621 shares were exchanged for $54,220,421 up from 7,964,359 units at $18,013,451 on Friday.
Trading averaged 600,600 shares at $1,178,705 versus 194,253 units at $439,352 on Friday, with the month to date, averaging 220,674 units at $540,974 compared with 185,721 stock units at $482,303 on the previous trading day. November closed with an average of 259,893 units at $711,335.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 18.53 million shares for 67.1 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 1.93 million units for 7 percent of the day’s trade, JFP Ltd ended with 1.68 million units for 6.1 percent market share, Lumber Depot traded 1.51 million units for 5.5 percent of the market, Dolla Financial closed with 1.15 million units for 4.2 percent of total shares traded and ONE on ONE Educational exchanged 1.11 million units for 4 percent of stocks traded.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 37.46 points to settle at 3,856.03.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.6. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Cargo Handlers lost 69 cents to end at $12 in switching ownership of 979 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 32 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.85 with an exchange of 3,653 units. Consolidated Bakeries dipped 35 cents to close at $1.63 after 28,196 stocks changed hands, Dolphin Cove rallied 30 cents to $13.65 after an exchange of 35,839 units, EduFocal declined 11 cents in closing at $2.30 with investors transferring 83,917 stocks. Elite Diagnostic gained 27 cents to close at $3.30 after a transfer of 59,144 shares, Fontana popped 11 cents to $8.79, finishing after 23,349 stock units changed hands, Fosrich dipped 15 cents in ending at $3.80 in an exchange of 1,932,309 stocks. Future Energy Source shed 13 cents to close at $4.82 with the swapping of 302,046 stock units, Honey Bun dipped 26 cents to end at $6.65 after investors exchanged 17,881 shares, iCreate lost 28 cents in closing at $1.87, with 9,821 units crossing the market. Indies Pharma fell 15 cents to $2.60 with a transfer of 4,831 shares, Iron Rock Insurance increased 20 cents to $2 with one share crossing the market, Medical Disposables declined 63 cents to close at $4.52 with an exchange of 282 units. MFS Capital Partners rose 15 cents to end at $3.15 in trading 227,599 stock units, Paramount Trading dropped 20 cents to close at $1.70 as investors exchanged 82,128 stock units, Regency Petroleum shed 34 cents to end at $1.41, with 18,531,416 shares crossing the exchange, after hitting a new high of $1.79 in early trading, Stationery and Office Supplies climbed 28 cents ending at $13.30 in an exchange of 2,250 units and Tropical Battery fell 14 cents in closing at $2.33 after 279,683 shares changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trading jumps on Junior Market

September 14, 2022 by

Trading jumped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 11 percent with 111 percent greater value than on Tuesday, following trading in 43 securities versus 44 on Tuesday and ended with 23 rising, 15 declining and five closing unchanged.
Jamaican Teas led trading with 4.52 million shares for 25.6 percent of total volume, followed by Cargo Handlers with 3.30 million units for 18.7 percent of the day’s trade, iCreate closed with 2.17 million units for 12.3 percent of the market, ONE on ONE Educational had 1.89 million units for 10.7 percent market share and Fosrich with 1.08 million units for a 6.1 percent share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 11.10 points to end at 4,202.18.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging rallied 44 cents to close at $3.95 with the swapping of 360 shares, Cargo Handlers shed 10 cents in closing at $14.50 after trading 3,300,430 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers increased 39 cents to $2.69, with 1,000 stocks crossing the market. Elite Diagnostic climbed 20 cents to $3.55 after a transfer of 380,207 stock units, Future Energy Source advanced 12 cents to end at $4.88, with 421,313 stock units crossing the exchange, General Accident lost 37 cents in closing at $5.03aim trading 13,771 stocks. iCreate dropped 39 cents to close at $3.60 as investors exchanged 2,173,117 shares, Iron Rock Insurance rose 18 cents to $3.28, with five units changing hands, Jamaican Tea popped 35 cents to $2.90 and closed with an exchange of 4,516,759 stock units. KLE Group declined 27 cents to end at $1.80 in switching ownership of 538 stocks, Knutsford Express gained 90 cents to end at $7 while exchanging 1,350 units, Lasco Financial fell 13 cents to $2.94 in exchanging 15,597 shares. Limners and Bards added 12 cents in closing at $2.89, with 40,299 units clearing the market, Lumber Depot advanced 12 cents to close at $3 with a transfer of 386,221 shares, Main Event rose $1.79 and ended at $7.49 after exchanging one stock unit. Medical Disposables dipped 15 cents to $5.85 in an exchange of 56,735 stocks and ONE on ONE Educational popped 13 cents to $2, 1,888,447 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Junior Market plunges 112 points

July 25, 2022 by

On Monday, trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, as the market Index plunged 112.43 points to settle at 4,196.68. The volume of stocks traded declined 38 percent and the value 40 percent more than on Friday, leading to 44 securities trading versus 42 on Friday and ended with 14 rising, 24 falling and six closed unchanged.
The Volume of stocks traded fell sharply to 8,001,420 shares but with a much larger value of $72,466,003 versus 12,922,133 units at $51,588,178 on Friday. Trading averaged 181,850 shares at $1,646,955 in contrast to 307,670 shares at $1,228,290 on Friday with month to date, averaging 565,323 units at $2,952,498 compared to 590,210 units at $3,037,223 on the previous trading day. June closed with an average of 429,016 units at $1,630,104.
For a sixth consecutive day, Dolla Financial led trading, with 1.83 million shares trading on Monday for 22.9 percent of total volume, followed by Fosrich with 1.41 million units for 17.7 percent of the day’s trade one day before it starts trading ex-split on Tuesday that will result in ten stocks for each one currently owned and JFP Limited with 821,113 units for 10.3 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial year end that falls between November this year and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $3.09 in closing at $20 in exchanging seven shares, AMG Packaging fell 50 cents to end at $3.50 in trading 331,842 stocks, CAC 2000 dipped 10 cents to $8.40, with 3,725 units crossing the market. Cargo Handlers shed $1.90 in ending at $11.40 and trading 39,715 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers dipped 11 cents to close at $2.30 while exchanging 5,487 shares, Caribbean Cream rose 20 cents in closing at $4.50 with the swapping of 120,453 units. EduFocal increased 22 cents to $2.49, with 181,071 stock units crossing the exchange, Express Catering declined 30 cents to end at $5.65 after exchanging 9,584 stocks, Fosrich fell 54 cents to $36.50 in switching ownership of 1,412,392 stock units. General Accident shed $1.18 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $4.81, with 10,169 units crossing the market, iCreate advanced 14 cents to end at $4.64 in an exchange of 489,711 stocks, Jamaican Teas fell 14 cents to $2.60 and closed, with an exchange of 199,634 shares. Knutsford Express dropped 49 cents to close at $6.90 with 5,754 units changing hands, Lasco Financial gained 11 cents in ending at $3 after exchanging 27,801 stocks, Mailpac Group shed 14 cents in closing at $2.36 and trading 135,783 shares. Main Event declined 70 cents to $7.20, with 18,119 stock units changing hands, Medical Disposables popped 20 cents at $7, with 157,027 stock units clearing the market, SSL Venture rallied 74 cents to end at a record high of $4.04 as 290,689 stocks crossed the exchange and Stationery and Office Supplies climbed $2 to close at $17 in exchanging 24,382 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

8 Junior Market stocks that should split

June 12, 2022 by

Stock splits and bonuses are two tools companies have in their tool kit to deliver value to their shareholders if used appropriately. Interestingly while the Scotia Group has used these tools repeatedly for the past several decades, Directors at NCB Group have frowned on the practice seeing no value to the group.
The critical point is that directors run a company for the benefit of shareholders not solely for the benefit of the company. Shareholders are kings and queens of the companies they own shares in and directors should not lose sight of that factor.
Some companies have split their stocks and investors love the results of these splits as they see where the values have mostly gone up, before and after the split. Some companies like the Lasco group have handled the split badly by overdoing it and creating too much liquidity that kills the value of the stock for years. The split is also an indication that a company’s profit is likely to grow short term which would cause the stock to struggle as the price gets more expensive without the split.
A look at the Junior Market shows 27 of the 45 companies listed trading below four dollars, with seven priced at more than twice $4. The price differential between the two groups suggests that a stock split is warranted if management is serious about the minority shareholders as well as creating the liquidity in the stock to maximize publicity from listing.
The seven companies are Access Financial, with only 270 million issued shares, with a stock split well overdue that will result in improved liquidity and build interest in it. Cargo Handlers at $11.50 has limited liquidity and needs a split to build back excitement into trading it. Dolphin Cove is the third one with the price at $15.25 and recently much higher, but the majority owner may not be so inclined to go the route of a split, but one never knows as local shareholders could well prevail on them to do so. Fosrich now trading around $27, is proposing a 10 to 1 stock split at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) this month. Honey Bun trading at $8.50 has the potential to move up to the $20 region later this year or early in 2023 and warrants a second split, having done one a few years ago.

Fosrich to vote on a 10 to 1 stock split at the coming AGM this month.

Back in 2020, management of ISP Finance had indicated that a split was on the cards, but even with the stock at more than $22 and highly illiquid with less than 3 percent of shares freely available for regular trading action to split the stock is nowhere in sight. Main Event is just at the borderline at $8.20 so a split may be in the future when it has fully recovered from the loss in business, with the advent of the covid-19 pandemic. There are 300 million shares issued with the top 10 holdings accounting for 93.5 percent. Stationery and Offer Supplies hinted at a past AGM that they had looked at it but felt the time was not right. The time may well be very close with the price trading recently around the $12 region with record profits expected this year a split could well happen with the AGM coming up later this year. The company has only 250 million shares issued of which 90 percent are held by the Top10 shareholders. Medical Disposables trades at $7-8 region, with the price not yelling for a split just yet but if management is smart they would split the stock with only 263 million shares issued, a two for one basis as rising profit this fiscal year will probably put the price to around $5 after such a split when all is said and done.

Filed Under: Company News, General Business News, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Another record close for Junior Market stocks

April 27, 2022 by

Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 9 percent and the value 12.00 percent higher than on Tuesday, leading to rising stocks clobbering that declining and ending with a moderate rise in the market index.
Some 43 securities traded, up from 42 on Tuesday and ended with 25 rising, seven declining and 11 closing unchanged. Five stocks closed at 52 weeks’ highs and one at a 52 weeks’ low.
The Junior Market Index climbed 15.34 points to settle at a record close of 4,399.56 after hitting an all-time intraday high of 4,411.48 in the early trading session.
The PE Ratio, a measure for computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.9. The PE ratios of the Junior Market incorporate ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with financial years closing up to the end of August 2023.
Overall, 15,885,401 shares traded for $60,086,622 compared to 14,524,296 units at $53,604,474 on Tuesday. iCreate led trading with 2.42 million shares for 15.2 percent of total volume, followed by Tropical Battery with 1.81 million units for 11.4 percent of the day’s trade, Spur Tree Spices ended with 1.75 million units for 11 percent market share, EduFocal chipped in with 1.40 million units for 8.8 percent market share and Medical Disposables, 1.13 million units for 7.1 percent market share.
Trading averaged 369,428 shares at $1,397,363 up from 345,817 shares at $1,276,297 on Tuesday with month to date, averaging 426,741 units at $1,621,938 versus 430,328 units at $1,635,995 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $1.12 to close at $21.50 while exchanging 24,946 shares, AMG Packaging rose 10 cents to $3.90, with 66,261 stocks crossing the market, CAC 2000 shed $1.40 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $6 after exchanging 2,401 stock units. Cargo Handlers climbed 48 cents, ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $12.48 after trading 32,521 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 18 cents to end at $2.74 after an exchange of 29,655 units, EduFocal fell 12 cents to $3.10, with 1,396,003 stocks clearing the market. Elite Diagnostic dropped 12 cents to $3.58 in exchanging 108,262 shares, Everything Fresh popped 13 cents to close at $1.63 with the swapping of 281,192 stock units, Express Cateringlost 59 cents in closing at $5.90, with 355,162 units crossing the market. Fosrich advanced 85 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $29.20 in trading 57,814 stock units, Honey Bun increased 57 cents to end at $9.87 in an exchange of 308,708 shares, iCreate rallied 31 cents to $2.64 with an exchange of 2,418,108 stocks. Jetcon Corporation rose 15 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.95, with 398,430 shares changing hands, Mailpac Group advanced 10 cents in closing at $3.20 in switching ownership of 860,243 stocks, Main Event gained 41 cents to $9.99 in an exchange of 55,877 stock units. Medical Disposables climbed 95 cents to close at $7 after exchanging 1,128,190 units, Spur Tree Spices increased 31 cents in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.22 after 1,754,659 stocks changed hands, SSL Venture popped 17 cents in closing at $1.75, with 175,106 shares clearing the market, Stationery and Office Supplies popped 75 cents to end at $9 trading 15,960 units and tTech rose 11 cents to $3.90 after 11,782 stock units passed through the exchange.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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