The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped in trading on Friday, but gained for the week with the volume of stocks traded rising 46 percent with a 57 percent higher value than on Thursday with 45 securities trading compared with 43 on Thursday and ended with 19 rising, 16 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
A total of 5,893,458 shares for $15,143,469 up from 4,043,628 units at $9,615,722 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 130,966 shares at $336,522, up from 94,038 shares at $223,621 on Thursday, with a month to date, averaging 125,959 units at $310,749 compared with 124,664 stocks at $304,083 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at 2,583,503.
Dolla Financial led trading with 1.16 million shares for 19.7 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery with 973,055 units for 16.5 percent of the day’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 818,306 units for 13.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 10.52 points and concluded trading at 3,764.13.
The PE Ratio a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.5. The PE ratios of 
Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial shed 95 cents and ended at $25 with a transfer of 2,336 shares, AMG Packaging increased 27 cents to close at $2.94 after an exchange of 20,017 units, Cargo Handlers dipped 80 cents to end at $13 in switching ownership of 15 stock units, Caribbean Cream lost 17 cents in closing at $3.30, with 16,318 stocks clearing the market. Dolla Financial rallied 9 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $2.89, with 1,162,207 units crossing the market, EduFocal dropped 12 cents to end at $1.93 with the swapping of 277,205 shares, Elite Diagnostic fell 19 cents to close at $2.40 with investors transferring 3,050 stock units, Everything Fresh gained 17 cents to land $1.66, with 103,212 stocks crossing the exchange. 
Fontana advanced 15 cents and ended at $8.65 in an exchange of 151,260 stocks, Fosrich climbed 7 cents in closing at $2.61 as investors traded 523,888 units, GWest Corporation rose 7 cents in closing at 95 cents in trading 102,020 stock units, ISP Finance popped $1.85 to end at $21.50 after exchanging 6 shares. Jamaican Teas dipped 12 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $1.98 and closed with an exchange of 293,709 stocks, Jetcon Corporation climbed 14 cents to close at $1.19 as 10,101 shares passed through the market, KLE Group shed 41 cents in ending at $1.61 with an exchange of 56 stock units, Lasco Distributors dipped 17 cents to end at $2.58 after a transfer of 140,104 units. Limners and Bards declined 25 cents and ended at $2.23 in an exchange of 13,847 units, Main Event dropped 6 cents to $13.29 while exchanging 76,777 stocks, Medical Disposables rallied 53 cents in closing at $5.61 after 51 shares crossed the market. 
MFS Capital Partners gained 24 cents to close at $3.56, with 55,275 stock units changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies lost 98 cents to end at $14.52, with investors trading 33,582 stocks and Tropical Battery increased 8 cents to close at $2 with a transfer of 973,055 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big gain for JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 28 percent valued 39 percent lower than on Thursday, resulting in seven securities traded, similar to trading on Thursday with four rising, one declining and two ending unchanged.
A total of 88,165 shares were traded for US$11,398 compared with 122,385 units at US$18,559 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 12,595 shares at US$1,628 down from 17,484 stock units at US$2,651 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 36,326 shares at US$1,220 compared to 41,212 units at US$1,135 on the previous day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index rose 12.91 points to 237.76, with the market rising 1.6 percent for for the year to date.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.9. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
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, Margaritaville dipped 0.47 of a cent to 11 US cents with shareholders trading 26 shares, Productive Business Solutions rallied 10 cents to close at US$1.90 as 2 shares changed hands, Proven Investments ended at 17 US cents after shareholders traded 67,557 units, Sterling Investments ended at 1.9 US cents as investors swapped 205 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.38 of one cent and ended at 9.42 US cents as 30 through the market, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share gained 2.05 cents to end at 12.39 US cents with an exchange of 23 stocks and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.11 of a cent to close at 1.21 US cents in switching ownership of 20,322 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading climbs on Jamaica Stock Exchange
The JSE USD market jumped sharply at the close on Friday while the Main Market recorded modest gains but the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped towards the close after trading up with the market index clearing the 3,800 points level for most of the morning session following a moderate trading session but with an increase in value and volume of stocks traded over Thursday’s levels.
Trading ended with the JSE Combined Market Index popping 1,250.75 points to 346,914.00. The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,306.49 points to end at 371,710 .92, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,443.60 points to close at 334,870.71, the Junior Market Index shed 10.52 points in closing at 3,764.13 and the JSE USD Market Index jumped 12.51 points to 237.76.
Shares in the preference segment of the Main Market that are not in the TOP10 graphs ended with Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $7 in closing at $75.
At the close, investors exchanged 17,722,313 shares in all three markets, up from 7,982,611 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $69.9 million compared with $43.4 million on Thursday. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 88,165 shares for US$11,398 from 122,385 units at US$18,559 on Thursday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.4 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 put in 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 ICInsider.com PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide 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.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
Slippage for JSE Main Market
Trading activity dropped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 40 percent and the value 30 percent lower than on Wednesday, following trading activity in 57 securities compared to 60 on Wednesday, with 17 rising, 24 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 3,816,748 shares were traded for $33,796,305 compared to 6,353,061 units at $48,244,526 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 66,960 shares at $592,918, versus 105,884 shares at $804,075 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 253,759 units at $2,109,265, compared to 314,602 units at $2,603,161 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Wigton Windfarm was the leading traded stock, with 1.46 million shares for 38.3 percent of the volume, Transjamaican Highway followed, with 1.32 million units for 34.5 percent of the day’s trade and Caribbean Cement with 185,389 units for 4.9 per cent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,994.64 points to 373,017.41, the JSE Main Index dived 3,512.01 points to 333,427.11 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.89 points to 76.59.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last selling prices of stocks and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Carreras rallied 39 cents to $8.59 in an exchange of 99,624 shares, GraceKennedy popped $1.15 and ended at $79 after a transfer of 51,677 units, Jamaica Producers rallied 49 cents to close at $21 with the swapping of 324 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange fell 95 cents in closing at $13, with 36,510 stock units crossing the market. JMMB Group gained $1 to end at $31 as 6,996 stocks passed through the market, Margaritaville dropped $2.87 and ended at $16.13 in trading 741 units, 
Massy Holdings jumped $5.50 to end at $95 after an exchange of 3,762 stock units, NCB Financial declined $1.11 in closing at $73 with 41,486 shares changing hands. Proven Investments dipped $1.89 to $25.41 with investors trading 4,483 shares, Sagicor Group lost 50 cents to close at $50 in switching ownership of 13,572 stock units; Scotia Group rose 75 cents in closing at $34.85 with a transfer of 71,051 stocks, Supreme Ventures advanced 50 cents to $28, with 23,422 units changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed $1.39 to close at $9.51 in an exchange of 1,000 stocks.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share dropped $50 to end at $1150 as investors exchanged 150 stock units, Eppley 7.75% preference share shed 96 cents and ended at $18.54 after 442 shares were traded.
Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $22.52 in closing at $68, with 1,526 units crossing the market. JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 dropped 45 cents to close at $2.47 while exchanging 60,000 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share declined $4 to close at $100 with an exchange of 89 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Down volume for JSE USD Market
Trading slipped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 88 percent with a 27 percent more value than on Wednesday, resulting in seven securities trading, compared to nine on Wednesday, with three rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
Overall, 122,385 shares were traded for US$18,559 compared with 1,042,369 units at US$14,647 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 17,484 units at US$2,651 versus 115,819 shares at US$1,627 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 41,212 shares at US$1,135 compared to 47,363 units at US$742 on the previous day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index fell 0.47 points to 224.87.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.7. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville rose 0.07 of a cent to 11.47 US cents, with 725 shares crossing the market, Productive Business Solutions popped 5 cents to end at US$1.80 after exchanging 306 units, 
Proven Investments remained at 17 US cents after transferring 2,340 stock units. Sterling Investments ended at 1.9 US cents after exchanging 31,455 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 0.38 of a cent to 9.04 US cents after an exchange of 8,600 shares and Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.11 of a cent to close at 1.1 US cents 66,413 stocks changing hands.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% rose 16 cents to US$1.23 after trading 12,546 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market jumps on lower volumes
Declining stocks edged those rising on Thursday, with 16 rising, 18 declining and nine closed unchanged, that did not prevent the Market Index from jumping 40.23 points to 3,774.65 at the close of the Junior Market as the market moved higher throughout the day, with mostly moderate price changes, 
resulting in the volume of stocks traded falling 18 percent with the value 14 percent lower than on Wednesday with 43 securities trading compared with 46 on Wednesday.
Investors traded 4,043,628 shares for $9,615,722 versus 4,913,726 units at $11,171,881 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 94,038 shares at $223,621 down from 106,820 shares at $242,867 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 124,664 units at $304,083 compared with 134,717 stock units at $330,495 on the previous day. Trading in April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 1.78 million shares for 44 percent of the volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 313,487 units for 7.8 percent of the day’s trade and Regency Petroleum with 302,337 units for 7.5 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.5. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed based on the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, EduFocal gained 9 cents to close at $2.05 in an exchange of 24,485 shares, General Accident rose 17 cents to end at $5.10 and closed after investors exchanged 21 stocks, GWest Corporation dropped 16 cents to close at 88 cents after investors traded 6,969 stock units. 
iCreate rose 9 cents to close at $1.50 with 3,154 units changing hands, Indies Pharma popped 22 cents to $3.34 with the swapping of 101 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance declined 41 cents to $1.88 as investors exchanged 202,572 units, KLE Group increased by 42 cents to end at $2.02, with 62 shares crossing the market, Knutsford Express advanced 9 cents and ended at $11.39 after 200 stock units passed through the market, Medical Disposables climbed 7 cents to close at $5.08 with 1,100 stock units clearing the market, MFS Capital Partners fell 18 cents in closing at $3.32 with investors transferring 313,487 units, Regency Petroleum rose 8 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.65 after investors ended trading of 302,337 stocks,
Stationery and Office Supplies lost 30 cents to end at $15.50 after an exchange of 1,557 shares and tTech climbed 21 cents to $2.49 in trading 238 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading plunges again on the JSE
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied all during the day and ended trading on Thursday, markedly higher but the Main market struggled all day and ended a few thousand points lower than the close of the previous day and the JSE USD slipped moderately at the close as trading remained subdued, following a decline in the value and volume of stocks trading compared to Wednesday.
At the end of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,908.79 points after landing at 345,663.25. The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,994.64 points to close at 373,017.41, the JSE Main Index fell 3,512.01 points to 333,427.11, as the Junior Market Index jumped 40.23 points in cending at 3,774.65 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 1.21 points to 224.10.
Shares in the preference segment of the Main Market that are not in the TOP10 graphs ended with Jamaica Public Service 7% dived $22.52 in closing at $68 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dropped $50 to end at $1,150.
At the close, investors exchanged 7,982,611 shares in all three markets, down from 12,307,693 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $43.4 million compared with $59.37 million on Wednesday. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 122,385 shares for US$18,559 from 1,042,369 units at US$14,647 on Wednesday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.6 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 put in 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 ICInsider.com PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide 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.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
Profit surges at Dolla
Profit at Dolla Financial for the 2023 first quarter jumped 90 percent to $125 million before tax of $1.9 million from just $66 million last year, with aftertax profit coming in at $123 million, 128 percent higher than the $59 million in 2022, the robust outcome flowed from total income of $310 million up 110 percent over $141 million in 2022.
The revenue grew from a 161 percent increase in loans to customers of $2.3 billion from $870 million at the end of March 2022. The company lent out nearly $550 million in the March 2023 quarter.
Administrative expenses jumped by 110 percent to $124 million from $59 million in 2022, while Interest expense surged 285 percent to $50 million from just $13 million in 2022 following increased loan funding of $1.6 billion by 232 percent from $481 million at the end of March last year.
Profit for 2023 equates to 6 cents in earnings per share. ICInsider.com is forecasting 40 cents per share for the year, partially on the assumption that there will be an increase in loan funding to facilitate increased lending to customers and maintain the rapid loan expansion. This is likely to push the stock into the $8 region. However, the PE ratio is 7 times current year’s earnings, with the stock price at $2.79 that it traded at on the Junior Market on Wednesday. With no additional loan funding, profits should end the year at 35 cents per share or just under $900 million.
Profit for the quarter pushed shareholders’ equity to $794 million.
Trading surged on JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks changing hands surging 2,391 percent with the value jumping 677 percent more than on Tuesday, resulting from trading activity in nine securities as was the case on Tuesday as traded ended with prices of six stocks rising, no declining and three ending unchanged.
A total of 1,042,369 shares were exchanged for US$14,647 compared to 41,840 units at US$1,885 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 115,819 shares at US$1,627 compared with 4,649 shares at US$209 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 47,363 shares at US$742, with 13,136 units at US$300 on the previous day. April ended with an average of 394,241 shares for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 0.01 points and concluded trading at 225.31.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.8. The PE ratio is computed using the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings computed by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share ended trading at 6.2 US cents after 11 shares changed hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced 1 cent to 59 US cents, with 2 stocks crossing the exchange. Proven Investments climbed 0.56 of one cent in closing at 17 US cents after investors traded 1,646 stock units, Sterling Investments increased 0.29 of a cent and ended at 1.9 US cents with a transfer of 38,413 units. 
Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.36 of one cent to end at 9.42 US cents and closed trading with 157 stock units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.09 of a cent to end at 1.21 US cents after a transfer of 1,000,871 stocks.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share popped 40 cents to end at US$13.15 after an exchange of 2 units, JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$2 in switching ownership of 1,242 shares and JMMB Group 6% after ending at US$1.07 and closed with 25 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for JSE Main Market
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 75 percent and the value 87 percent lower than on Tuesday, with 60 securities trading compared to 58 on Tuesday, with 17 rising, 20 declining and 23 ending unchanged.
A total of 6,353,061 shares were traded for $48,244,526 down from 25,780,894 units at $362,794,152 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 105,884 shares at $804,075, compared with 444,498 shares at $6,255,072 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 314,602 units at $2,603,161 versus 423,498 units at $3,541,814 on the prior day. Trading in April ended with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.52 million shares for 39.6 percent of the total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 667,300 units for 10.5 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 598,682 units for 9.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,468.88 points to conclude trading at 375,012.05, the JSE Main Index jumped 2,312.81 points to end at 336,939.12 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.07 points to 77.48.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded stock prices and earnings forecasted ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023. Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments fell 96 cents in closing at $78 following an exchange of 26,572 shares, Caribbean Cement lost $2.89 to end at $54.01 with 230,824 stocks clearing the market, following the release of first quarter results showing a sharp fall in profits after direct operating cost surged with the plant undergoing annual scheduled repairs. Guardian Holdings gained $20 to end at $, with 42 units changing hands, 
Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed 65 cents to $13.95 with the swapping of 231 stock units, Mayberry Investments shed 45 cents to close at $7.50 in trading 43,199 units. 138 Student Living increased 30 cents to $5.40 with an exchange of 4,238 stock units, Pan Jamaica Group dropped $2.33 to $54.10, with 1,656 stocks crossing the market, Proven Investments popped $1.80 to close at $27.30 with a transfer of 2,178 shares. Sagicor Group dropped $1.50 to $50.50 after 43,226 stock units crossed the market, Scotia Group declined 70 cents in closing at $34.10 after an exchange of 75,093 units, Seprod rose $6.61 and ended at $71.62 after 3,322 shares were exchanged. Stanley Motta rallied 75 cents to $5.56 after a transfer of 20,752 stocks and Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced 70 cents in closing at $10.90 in an exchange of 2,801 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $18.48 to end at $90.52 in switching ownership of 624 units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75%preference share rose $9 to close at $104 after exchanging 2 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated
