The main market has been quietly rising since the start of November and closed the past week at the highest level since the start of the month while the Junior Market declined to the lowest level since early May this year but the performance of the ICTOP10 was mostly positive, with the Junior Market having 4 stocks gaining between 5 and 15 percent and two with declines of 6 and 7 percent. The Main Market had two stocks gaining 5 and 11 percent and two falling by 3 percent.
Against the above market movements, there was just one new addition to the ICTOP10 with listings for the Junior Market with Caribbean Flavours moving out with a 15 percent gain for the week to close at $1.39 and Access Financial taking its place. The other big action in the Junior Market, resulted in Paramount Trading gaining 12 percent to close at $1.68, Caribbean Cream rising 9 percent to $3.70 and Jamaican Teas adding 5 percent to end at $2.35. Lasco Manufacturing dropped 7 percent to $4.20 and Express Catering fell 6 percent to $3.75.
The Main Market closed the week with Key Insurance climbing 11 percent to $2.50, while 138 Student Living rose by 5 percent to $4.22.
Access Financial Services is enjoying a turnaround in its fortunes with profit for the second quarter to September surging 153 percent over the same period in 2022 to reach EPS of 51 cents even with allowances for credit losses rising to $89 million from $54 million in the 2022 period as revenues from interest climbed 25 percent to $556 million and revenues net of finance cost was up 9.5 percent to $567 million. 
For the half year, profit jumped 76 percent to $234 million as loan granted borrowers rose almost $600 million to $5.36 billion from $4.76 billion in September 2022 and the same amount since March this year. The company had more than $760 million available to lend plus cash flows from profit that should pushed lending up around 25 percent year over year and helped to swell profits for the year substantially above the six months levels.
Elsewhere, we upgraded Scotia Group’s earnings to $6 per share making it a more attractive IC TOP10 stock.
An indication 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, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 318 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
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 29 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 20 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7, over half of the market, with an average of 12.9. There are 15 stocks, or 31 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 47, averaging 20 that are well above the market’s average of 12.9. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, with the market projected to rise by 260 percent on or around May 2024.
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 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.
A total of 6,629,759 shares were traded for $37,460,689 down from 11,457,646 units at $107,505,758 on Friday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
JMMB Group shed 41 cents to close at $26.09 with investors dealing in 58,966 units, Pan Jamaica declined 40 cents and ended at $50 after an exchange of 130 stocks, Proven Investments dropped $1.44 to end at $23.60, with 1,056 shares crossing the market. Pulse Investments skidded 29 cents in closing at $1.91 in an exchange of 101,006 stock units, Scotia Group lost $1.48 to $33 after 127,879 stocks passed through the market, Seprod rose 90 cents to end at $76 with a transfer of 768 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied $1.60 in closing at $10.50, with 4,612 stocks clearing the market and Wisynco Group fell $2.29 and ended at $19.21 with stakeholders exchanging 144,364 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share increased $1 to close at $19, with 470 stock units crossing the market and Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed 40 cents to $6.40 with an exchange of 1,169 units.
A total of 11,457,646 shares were traded at $107,505,758 compared with 12,874,056 units at $35,782,868 on Thursday.
Index rallied 1,073.03 points to close trading at 315,890.19 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.28 points to 68.75.
Jamaica Broilers shed 88 cents to end at $34 after 37,432 stocks passed through the market, Jamaica Producers popped 98 cents in closing at $22.98 in switching ownership of 157,497 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 25 cents to close at $9.25, with 1,158 shares crossing the market. Key Insurance rose 25 cents and ended at $2.50 while exchanging 163,000 stock units, Kingston Wharves advanced $1.98 to $28.49, with 700 units crossing the market, Mayberry Investments rallied 58 cents to end at $7.80 in an exchange of 8,001 stocks. Proven Investments popped $2.53 in closing at $25.04 with investors dealing in 1,908 shares, Sagicor Group climbed $1.08 and ended at $41.20 with a transfer of 52,723 stock units, Scotia Group increased 55 cents to close at $34.48 after 35,464 stocks crossed the exchange. Sterling Investments rose 31 cents to $2.60 in trading 586 units, 
Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 50 cents and ended at $12 in an exchange of 1,727,489 shares and Wisynco Group gained $2.30 in closing at $21.50 after an exchange of 1,691,440 units.
A total of 12,874,056 shares were traded for $35,782,868 down sharply compared with 54,394,461 units at $1,087,515,284 previously.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Kingston Properties climbed 26 cents to close at $6.99 in an exchange of 4,130 units, Massy Holdings rose $4.70 to $90, with 4,339 shares clearing the market, Mayberry Investments dropped 93 cents to end at $7.22 with stakeholders exchanging 8,400 stock units. NCB Financial rallied $1 in closing at $69 in trading 40,922 shares, Pan Jamaica advanced $4.46 and ended at $50.46, with 8,417 stock units crossing the exchange, Proven Investments fell $1.22 to close at $22.51 in switching ownership of 133 units. Scotia Group popped 52 cents to $33.93 after an exchange of 11,642 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments declined 50 cents to close at $11.50, with 10,050 units crossing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance lost $1.79 and ended at $8.90 with a transfer of 8,800 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share climbed 50 cents in closing at $6, with 1,445 shares changing hands.
A total of 54,394,461 shares were traded for $1,087,515,284, up sharply from just 4,541,590 units at a mere $25,960,870 on Tuesday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Pan Jamaica lost $1 in closing at $46 with traders dealing in 12,076 shares. Proven Investments gained 73 cents to end at $23.73 in an exchange of 888 stocks, Sagicor Group declined $1 in closing at $40 after 12,007 units changed hands, Salada Foods rallied 38 cents to $2.90 with investors exchanging 343 stock units and Seprod shed $3 to close at $75 in trading 6,477 shares and VM Investments ended with 187,370 shares being traded to close at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $2.56 after a loss of 19 cents.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share dropped 49 cents to end at $5.50, with 19,433 stock units crossing the exchange and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share fell $100 and ended at $1,100 in switching ownership of 51 units.
Trading ended with an exchange of 4,541,590 shares for just $25,960,870 compared with 5,872,129 units at $40,649,016 on Monday. The value of stocks traded on Tuesday is the lowest since October 30, when $15.93 million worth of shares were traded.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.9. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Jamaica Stock Exchange shed 50 cents and ended at $9 in trading 13,034 stock units, Kingston Wharves climbed $1.50 to $28 after an exchange of 1,271 stocks, Massy Holdings fell $5.90 and ended at $85.10, with 535 units crossing the market. NCB Financial shed 83 cents to close at $69 after an exchange of 41,642 shares, Pan Jamaica declined $2.48 in closing at $47, with 222 units changing hands, Proven Investments increased by 90 cents to end at $23, with an exchange of 7,269 stocks. Radio Jamaica lost 17 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.26 cents after 178,798 shares changed hands, Sagicor Group gained $1 to $41, with 37,933 units crossing the market, Scotia Group lost 41 cents and ending at $33.50 in an exchange of 74,094 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 26 cents to close at $12.05, with 58,001 stock units clearing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance increased $1.29 to end at $10.69 as investors exchanged 3,087 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% climbed $4.99 in closing at $46 with shareholders swapping 11 units and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share rose $50 to $1,200 in an exchange of 3 shares.
A total of 5,872,129 shares were traded for $40,649,016 down from 8,247,700 units at $96,457,587 on Friday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Massy Holdings rose $1 to $91 with 1,170 stocks changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rallied $1.20 to close at $10.20 after 20,300 stock units were traded. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy declined 80 cents in closing at $92, with 276 shares crossing the market, NCB Financial increased $3.83 and ended at $69.83 with a transfer of 32,729 units, Pan Jamaica climbed $2.48 to end at $49.48 with stakeholders exchanging 15,814 stocks. Proven Investments shed 90 cents in closing at $22.10 in trading 4,893 stock units, Sagicor Group lost $1.10 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $40 while were investors exchanging 9,528 shares, Salada Foods skidded 51 cents to close at $2.51 with traders dealing in 30,370 units and Seprod popped $2.94 to end at $77.95 after a transfer of 31,895 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share fell $1 and ended at $18 in trading 6,375 stock units and Eppley 7.75% preference share dipped $2.88 to $16.34 after an exchange of 3,000 shares.
There were no new additions to the Main Market IC TOP 10, however, the Junior Market, had 3 new additions with Express Catering coming in as well as Caribbean Flavours and Lasco Distributors, replacing Dolphin Cove enjoyed b appreciation during the week, Everything Fresh that also dropped out following downward adjustment to earnings, after the company released third quarter results with weak profit performance although revenues in the quarter rose nicely over the similar period in 2022 and Caribbean Assurance with management advising of a surprising 40 percent cut in “the International Comprehensive Health Insurance Programme’s renewal commission rate, with a corresponding 40 percent increase in its new business rate, with the expressed intention of incentivising the production and consistent growth of new business.” Unfortunately, Management gave no timeline when revenues will return to traditional levels.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.9, just over half of the market, with an average of 13.1. There are 14 stocks, or 29 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 46, averaging 21 that are well above the market’s average of 13. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, with the market projected to rise by 260 percent on or around May 2024.
A total of 8,247,700 shares were traded for $96,457,587 versus 9,049,895 units at $57,441,768 on Thursday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.8. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 39 cents and ended at $9.82 after an exchange of 80,721 stocks, Key Insurance rallied 35 cents to end at $2.25, with 120 units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves advanced $1.98 in closing at $28 after an exchange of 12,121 stocks. Mayberry Investments rose 31 cents to close at $8.16 after 6,324 units passed through the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell $1.24 to $9, with 70,300 shares changing hands, NCB Financial declined $4 to end at $66 with an exchange of 433,935 stock units. Proven Investments advanced 98 cents in closing at $23 after trading 3,225 shares, Sagicor Group shed $1 to close at $41.10, with 466,034 stocks crossing the exchange, 
Scotia Group popped 50 cents and ended at $34 with investors dealing in 30,975 units and Wisynco Group rallied 50 cents to $19.60 while exchanging 11,521 stock units.
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 16 percent with a 40 percent lower value than on Wednesday. Trading took place in 52 securities compared to 55 on Wednesday, resulting in 24 rising, 16 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
Carreras led trading with 3.18 million shares for 35.1 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.74 million units for 19.2 percent of the day’s trade and Ciboney Group with 1.71 million units for 18.9 percent of the day’s trad
GraceKennedy climbed 89 cents to end at $72.89 after a transfer of 112,399 stocks, Key Insurance fell 50 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.90 with stakeholders exchanging 69,034 units, Massy Holdings shed $1 to close at $90, with 805 stocks changing hands. NCB Financial shed $2.39 to end at $70 with investors dealing in 45,046 shares, Proven Investments skidded 73 cents in closing at $22.02 in an exchange of 15,505 stock units, Salada Foods increased 42 cents to close at $3.02 with traders dealing in 562 shares. Scotia Group dipped 50 cents to end at $33.50 as investors exchanged 131,682 stock units, 
Seprod rallied 25 cents to $75.25 with 3,156 units clearing the market and Stanley Motta rose 55 cents in closing at $6 with an exchange of just 250 stocks.