Market activity ended on Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with the volume of stocks traded declining 13 percent with a 54 percent lower value than on Tuesday and ended with 4 stocks declining for every 3 rising after 8,303,766 shares were exchanged for $47,547,654 versus 9,560,292 units at $102,831,242 on Tuesday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 332.58 points to 437,611.11, the JSE Main Index slipped 219.82 to 383,330.79 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.15 points to 91.39.
Trading ended with 52 securities compared to 55 on Tuesday, with 18 rising, 24 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years, ending up to the close of August 2023.
Trading on Wednesday averages 159,688 units at $914,378 compared to 173,823 shares at $1,869,659 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 254,965 units at $3,126,148, compared to 264,006 units at $3,336,024 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.38 million shares for 28.7 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.95 million units for 23.4 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.06 million units for 12.8 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints shed $1 to end at $11 after trading 25,240 shares, Caribbean Cement declined $3.79 to $61.01 in trading 19,460 units, Caribbean Producers rallied 80 cents to $14.50, with 85,170 stocks changing hands. Eppley dropped $5.95 to $40 after exchanging 203 stock units, GraceKennedy climbed $1.25 to close at $107 after 79,803 units crossed the market, Guardian Holdings lost $3.98 to end at $506.12 in an exchange of 845 shares. Jamaica Broilers increased 44 cents to $26.49 with an exchange of 6,807 stock units, Kingston Wharves rose $2.05 to close at $39 while trading 1,477 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell $2.10 in closing at $13 with 259,339 units changing hands. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced $12.94 in ending at $107.95 after trading 10 shares, 138 Student Living declined 30 cents in closing at $4.76 in exchanging 794 stock units, Palace Amusement lost $90 in ending at $820 with the swapping of 5 stocks. PanJam Investment popped 29 cents to $65.29 after exchanging 607 units, Portland JSX rallied $1.41 to close at $10.84 with 1,728 stocks clearing the market, Salada Foods fell 45 cents to end at $5.15 trading 7,136 shares. 
Scotia Group dropped 33 cents ending at $37.03 after 30,234 stock units crossed the market, Seprod advanced 37 cents to end at $71.40 in switching ownership of 3,155 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 70 cents to $14.80 after trading 144,255 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed $1.52 in closing at $14 with the swapping of 2,200 shares and Victoria Mutual Investments increased 25 cents to close at $5.57 with 36,803 stock units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Volume up, prices down on JSE USD market
Trading picked up on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 32 percent, with a more than doubling in the value that rose 120 percent more than on Tuesday, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, resulting in more stocks falling than rising at the close.
A total of six securities traded, compared to five on Tuesday with two rising, four declining and no ending unchanged. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index fell 1.02 points to 217.95.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.1. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with their financial year ending, up to August 2023.
Overall, 118,104 shares were traded, for US$34,212 up from 89,436 units at US$15,551 on Tuesday. Trading averaged 19,684 units at US$5,702, compared to 17,887 shares at US$3,110 on Tuesday, with month to date average of 89,891 shares at US$4,494 versus 95,583 units at US$4,396 on the previous day. May averaged 47,916 units for US$3,528.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and two stocks with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share shed 0.4 of a cents to end at 7 US cents with the swapping of 28,483 shares, Proven Investments rallied 0.97 of one cent in ending at 25.99 US cents after trading 5,000 units, Sterling Investments advanced 0.25 of a cent to 2.17 US cents, as 250 stocks changed hands. Sygnus Credit Investments USD share declined 0.19 of a cent to close at 12.2 US cents while exchanging 275 stock units and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.07 of a cent in closing at 0.91 of one US cent in an exchange of 54,096 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% lost 4 cents to close at US$1.01 after trading 30,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Dolla gives a sparkle to Junior Market
The listing of Dolla Financial on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday resulted in a 32 percent increase from the IPO price of $1 as the stock hit the maximum permitted for the day at $1.32, with only 63,940 shares trading, with a massive demand to buy. At the close of trading, there were 45 million units on the bid at $1.32 and just over 30 million at $1.30, with less than 300,000 on the offer below $2.
Trading closed on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 15 percent with 12 percent lower value than on Tuesday as 39 securities traded down from 43 on Tuesday, with 15 rising, 18 declining and six closing unchanged. Dolla traded at a new high and SSL Venture Capital traded at an intraday high of $2.99. The Junior Market Index fell 21.05 points to 4,077.96.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 12.3. 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.
A total of 7,761,840 shares traded for $32,254,673 compared to 9,168,150 units at $36,711,654 on the Tuesday. Trading averaged 199,022 shares at $827,043 in contrast to 213,213 shares at $853,759 on Tuesday, with the month to date, averaging 233,291 units at $967,191 compared to 236,550 units at $980,523 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 376,907 units at $1,638,631.
Lasco Manufacturing led trading with 3.70 million shares, amounting to 47.7 percent of total volume, followed by JFP Limited with 625,870 units for 8.1 percent of the day’s trade and Lumber Depot with 347,052 units for 4.5 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging shed 31 cents in closing at $3.63 after exchanging 23,419 stock units, Cargo Handlers climbed $1.04 to $12.10 in an exchange of 200 stocks. Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 9 cents to $2.25, with 12,559 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream rallied 18 cents to close at $4.98 with the swapping of 44 units, Derrimon Trading fell 8 cents to close at $2.62 after exchanging 81,968 shares. Dolla Financial gained 32 cents to end at $1.32 after trading 63,940 shares, EduFocal increased 54 cents to $2.68, with 147,161 stocks crossing the market, Elite Diagnostic advanced 9 cents to $3.30 in switching ownership of 74,123 stock units, Everything Fresh lost 7 cents to $1.18, with 114,173 units crossing the market. Express Catering dropped 9 cents to end at $5.90 and closed after an exchange of 500 stock units, Fontana popped 27 cents in ending at $10 with 78,205 shares changing hands, Fosrich rose 17 cents to $28.40 in trading 72,972 stocks. Future Energy Source fell 20 cents to $5.70, with 289,981 units clearing the market, Indies Pharma shed 27 cents in closing at $3.25 after exchanging 312,575 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance lost 30 cents to close at $3 with an exchange of 982 stocks. JFP Limited climbed 7 cents in closing at $1.45 after an exchange of 625,870 shares, KLE Group dropped 28 cents to $2 while exchanging 1,968 units, Knutsford Express popped 99 cents to $8 after trading 47 stocks. Lasco Distributors declined 26 cents to close at $3.10 after 107,491 stock units changed hands, Lasco Manufacturing lost 30 cents to end at $4.50 in trading 3,703,579 shares, Limners and Bards increased 12 cents in closing at $2.92 in an exchange of 106,850 stock units. 
Lumber Depot rallied 13 cents to $3.26 in exchanging 347,052 shares, Main Event fell $1.30 to $7.50, trading 8,679 stocks, Medical Disposables declined 74 cents to close at $6.26 and closed with 8,300 units changing hands. Stationery and Office Supplies advanced $1.45 to end at $12.45 after 106,374 stock units passed through the market and Tropical Battery rose 11 cents to close at $2.63 in switching ownership of 130,376 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Dolla Financial gains 32% on debut
Dolla Financial was listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Wednesday, with the price hitting the maximum permitted for the day at $1.32, up 32 percent from the IPO price of $1 with trading in only 63,940 shares after the online trading platform frooze up for some time preventing investors from interacting with the market for almost an hour. At the close of trading, there were 45 million units on the bid at $1.32, and just over 30 million at $1.30, with less than 300,000 on the offer below $2.
At the close of trading, the Main and USD Indices, Junior Market and the USD market all slipped moderately, with the JSE Combined Index falling 394.65 points to 395,090.66.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 332.58 points to 437,611.11, the JSE Main Index fell 219.82 points to 383,330.79, and the Junior Market index slipped 21.05 points to 4,077.96 and the SE USD market index dipped 1.02 points to close at 217.95.
Investors exchanged 16,183,710 shares in all markets, with the value of stocks traded in the Main and Junior Markets amounting to a mere $79.8 million and in the JSE USD market, US$$34,212.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 23.6 based on 2021-22 earnings and 13.2 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need a series of measures and pertinent information to successfully navigate the many investment choices 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 with decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational investment decisions by investing in stocks that are 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 take emotions out of the investment decision 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. It 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 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 payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that show the closing volume for the bids and offers.
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.
Stock split to lift Fosrich to 3rd largest
Fosrich proposed 10 to 1 stock split will lift the issued shares to the third highest in Jamaica with 5 billion shares and make by far the company with the largest number of issued shares on Junior Market if shareholders approve the split as proposed.
Only Wigton Windfarm with 11 billion issued shares and Transjamaican Highway with 12.5 billion will be ahead of Fosrich. The next closes will be Sagicor Group with 3.9 billion issued shares.
Shareholders of Fosrich at the Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on June 21 will consider increasing the authorised share capital of the company from 512,821,000 to 15 billion by the creation of an additional 14,487,179,000 ordinary shares.
The shareholders are asked to approve the splitting of issued shares into 10 units with effect from the close of business on July 6. If approved will result in the total issued shares being increased to 5,022,755,550 ordinary shares of no par value.”
The Company is requesting authorisation to issue up to 126 million shares by way of a Rights Issue to existing stockholders and or the public, on terms to be decided by the directors.
The company expanded into the manufacturing of PVC pipes and the repairs of transformers, resulting in a big surge in revenues and profits that helped in fueling the stock price to a high of $38 this year from just $7.20 a year ago.
Or the quarter to March this year revenues jumped a solid 64 percent to $900 million and profit surged 314 percent to $159 million, with earnings per share of 32 cents.
JSE Main Market pulls back on Tuesday
Stocks mostly fell on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, after an exchange of 55 securities down from 59 on Monday, with 30 declining and only 16 rising and nine ended unchanged as the volume of stocks traded slipped 11 percent and the value of funds chasing stocks fell 78 percent from Monday.
Trading ended with the All Jamaican Composite Index falling 2,221.13 points to 437,943.69, the JSE Main Index slipping 1,733.32 points to 383,550.61 and the JSE Financial Index declined 0.29 points to 91.24.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.4 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on ICInsider.com’s forecasted earnings for companies with financial years ending up to the close of August 2023.
Investors exchanged 9,560,292 shares for $102,831,242, down from 10,717,973 units at $468,094,270 on Monday. Trading averaged 173,823 units at $1,869,659, compared to 181,661 shares at $7,933,801 on Monday and month to date, an average of 264,006 units at $3,336,024, compared to 274,067 units at $3,499,615 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 238,645 units at $3,561,016.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.68 million shares for 28 percent of total volume, followed by Carreras with 1.19 million units for 12.5 percent of the day’s trade and Mayberry Jamaican Equities with 1.11 million units for 11.6 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped $3.90 to $64.80 after trading 4,579 shares, Caribbean Producers shed 60 cents to end at $13.70 after an exchange of 135,144 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost 74 cents to end at $42.76, with 3,637 stocks crossing the exchange. Guardian Holdings fell $1.90 to $510.10 after trading 290 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped 25 cents to close at $18.10 after exchanging 5,734 stock units, JMMB Group lost 99 cents in closing at $42.01 while trading 605,310 stocks. Key Insurance fell 35 cents to $3.83 in an exchange of 25,371 shares, Kingston Properties advanced 44 cents to $7.95, with 1,339 units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves dropped $2.05 in ending at $36.95 after exchanging 1,441 stock units. Margaritaville shed $2.10 to close at $20.50, with 4,000 units changing hands, Massy Holdings declined $1.49 in closing at $92.51 with 4,696 stocks clearing the market, Mayberry Investments rallied 90 cents to close at $11.40 with an exchange of 153,246 shares. Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 40 cents to $15.10, with 1,105,805 units changing hands, 138 Student Living climbed 30 cents to $5.06 in trading 801 stock units, PanJam Investment dropped $1 to $65 in switching ownership of 9,327 stocks. 
Portland JSX fell $1.37 to $9.43 with the swapping of 478 shares, Pulse Investments popped 39 cents in closing at $3.40 after trading 667,922 stock units, Salada Foods declined 40 cents to $5.60 after exchanging 8,385 shares on its long way back into the $4 range before too long. Seprod shed 96 cents to end at $71.03, with 27,430 stocks crossing the market, Stanley Motta lost 35 cents to $5.15 in trading 19,928 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained $1.42 to close at $15.52, with 283 units clearing the market and Wisynco Group dropped 78 cents to end at $19 in an exchange of 489,872 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Slippage for the JSE USD market
The volume of stocks trading jumped 176 percent with the value surging 278 percent above trading on Monday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Tuesday, resulting in five securities traded, down from seven on Monday with one rising, three declining and one ending unchanged.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index lost 1.51 points to close at 218.97.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.3. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending, up to August 2023.
Overall, 89,436 shares traded, for US$15,551 compared to 32,360 units at US$4,111 on Monday. Trading averaged 17,887 units at US$3,110, compared to 4,623 shares at US$587 on Monday, with the month to date average of 95,583 shares at US$4,396 versus 101,214 units at US$4,489 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 47,916 units for US$3,528.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one ended with a bid higher than the last selling prices and two stocks with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share dropped 0.1 of a cent in ending at 7.4 US cents with the swapping of 102 shares, Proven Investments fell 1.23 cents to 25.02 US cents in an exchange of 58,051 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share rallied 0.39 of one cent to close at 12.39 US cents with 3,284 units crossing the exchange and Transjamaican Highway ended unchanged at 0.98 US cents after trading of 27,998 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% declined 3 cents to end at US$1.05, with one unit changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Dolla list Wednesday
The shares of Dolla Financial that was the subject of an Initial Public Offering will be listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Wednesday morning after increasing the number of shareholders to 14,981 as a result of the IPO.
The stock offered to the market at $1 each was heavily oversubscribed, with investors getting around four percent on average of the shares applied from the Public Pool. This publication expects moderate trading on the opening day with the price set to hit $1.30 but should see pretty spirited trading on Thursday when the price could well exceed the usual 30 percent one day limitation for price movement.
Around 40,000 applicants were received for the issue, of 500 million shares, information gleaned from persons close to the issue. The trading symbol will be Dolla, the same as the name.
Rise in Junior Market
Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Tuesday, with 13 percent more stocks traded and a 17 percent rise in the value, over that on Monday as 43 securities trading versus 44 on Monday with 19 rising, 17 declining and seven closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 25.80 points to settle at 4,099.01.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 12.7. 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.
A total of 9,168,150 shares were traded for $36,711,654 compared to 8,135,173 units at $31,415,140 on the Monday. Trading averaged 213,213 shares at $853,759 versus 184,890 shares at $713,980 on Monday, with the month to date, averaging 236,550 units at $980,523 compared to 239,285 units at $995,375 on the previous trading day. May closed with an average of 376,907 units at $1,638,631.
Mailpac Group led trading with 1.07 million shares for 11.7 percent of total volume followed by Indies Pharma with 1.01 million units for 11.1 percent of the day’s trade and Express Catering with 940,863 units for 10.3 percent market share.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging gained 24 cents to close at $3.94 in trading 13,615 shares, Blue Power increased 9 cents to $3.79 after trading 151 units, CAC 2000 climbed 20 cents to close at $7.60 with traders snapping up 678,371 stocks, following the release of strong second quarter results on Monday. Cargo Handlers lost $1.04 to end at $11.06 in exchanging 1,357 stock units, Derrimon Trading fell 9 cents in closing at $2.70, with 324,143 units clearing the market, Dolphin Cove shed 24 cents to close at $15.21 in an exchange of 19,356 stocks. EduFocal dropped 60 cents in ending at $2.14, with 538,308 shares changing hands, Elite Diagnostic declined 9 cents to $3.21 while exchanging 2,198 stock units, Express Catering rallied 39 cents to $5.99 after exchanging 940,863 stocks. Fosrich rose 93 cents to $28.23 with an exchange of 93,045 shares, Future Energy Source advanced 10 cents in ending at $5.90 after switching ownership of 572,671 stock units, Indies Pharma popped 42 cents to close at $3.52, with 1,013,500 units crossing the market after the company release robust second quarter results. Iron Rock Insurance gained 30 cents to $3.30 after just 2 shares were exchanged, Jamaican Teas popped 10 cents to end at $3.07 and closed with an exchange of 381,683 units, KLE Group rose 29 cents in closing at $2.28 while exchanging 251 stock units.
Knutsford Express dropped $1.49 in closing at $7.01, with 3,398 stocks crossing the exchange, Lasco Manufacturing shed 20 cents to $4.80 with the swapping of 5,799 shares, Limners and Bards lost 10 cents to close at $2.80 after exchanging 189,951 units. Mailpac Group declined 7 cents to end at $2.72 with an exchange of 1,074,382 stock units, Paramount Trading fell 15 cents to $1.75 after trading 14,714 stocks, Spur Tree Spices shed 8 cents to end at $3.47, with 262,932 stock units crossing the market. SSL Venture increased 58 cents in ending at a 562 weeks’ high of $2.77, with 824,288 stocks crossing the market, Tropical Battery lost 18 cents in closing at $2.52, with an exchange of 252,143 shares and tTech gained 9 cents to close at $3.69, with 1,874 units changing hands.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share dropped 14 cents to $1.02 in trading just one stock unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE markets in consolidation mode
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday ended in consolidation mode with moderate movements in market indices as investors sit on the sideline until closer to the major release of results towards the end of July when the first set should start appearing. At the close of trading, the Main and USD Indices fell and Junior Market rose moderately, with the JSE Combined Index falling 1,393.72 points to close at 395,485.31.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,221.13 points to 437,943.69, the JSE Main Index fell 1,733.32 points to 383,550.61, the Junior Market index rose 25.80 points to 4,099.01 and the SE USD market index slipped 1.51 points to close at 218.97.
Investors exchanged 18,817,878 shares in all markets, with the value of stocks traded in the Main and Junior Markets amounting to $139.50 million and in the JSE USD market, US$15,551.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 22.9 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.6 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need a series of measures and pertinent information to successfully navigate the many investment choices 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 with decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational investment decisions by investing in stocks that are 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 take emotions out of the investment decision 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 listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It 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 payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that show the closing volume for the bids and offers.
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.
