The Jamaica Stock Exchange ended trading on Wednesday with all three Main market gaining indices rising at the close, with the Combined Index climbing 2,582.90 points to close at 401,411.93, the All Jamaican Composite Index Jumped 4,746.65 points to close at 439,468.85 and the JSE Main Index 3,384.50 points to end at 389,024.39 while the Junior Market dived 65.96 points to 4,189.32.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 22.1 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.7 times those for 2022-23 at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
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 make use of 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 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.
Junior Market drops & recovery for Main Market
No stock gained on JSE USD market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange, US dollar market, closed on Tuesday, with the volume of shares trading climbing 26 percent but with a 49 percent fall in value compared to Monday as five securities traded, compared to seven on Monday with none rising, three declining and two ending unchanged.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index gained 0.33 points to end at 203.87.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 14. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
Overall, 233,145 shares traded for US$5,842 compared to 185,493 units at US$11,351 on Monday. Trading averaged 46,629 units at US$1,168 versus 26,499 shares at US$1,622 on Monday, with the month to date averaging 43,504 shares at US$4,214 versus 43,385 units at US$4,330 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 87,719 units for US$9,318.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling prices and two stocks with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share lost 0.7 of a cent to end at 7.23 US cents after trading 9,537 shares, Proven Investments ended at 23.32 US cents in exchanging 8,547 units, Sterling Investments fell 0.12 of a cent in closing at 2.17 US cents, with 4,270 stocks crossing the exchange. Sygnus Credit Investments USD share shed 0.78 of one cent to 12.11 US cents, trading 10,818 shares and Transjamaican Highway remained at 0.88 of a US cent in switching ownership of 199,973 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Decline for JSE Main Market
Market activity ended on Tuesday, with the volume of shares trading climbing 48 percent and the value of stocks traded marginally higher than on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks just edged out those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 3,613.87 points to settle at 434,722.20, the JSE Main Index declined 1,925.82 points to end at 385,639.89 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.83 points to 92.83.
Trading ended with 60 securities compared to 55 on Monday, with 22 rising, 21 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.8. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending in August 2022.
Overall, 20,758,716 shares were exchanged for $260,240,162, up from 14,043,689 units at $254,824,567 on Monday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.65 million shares for 32 percent of total volume, followed by JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028, with 2.83 million units for 13.6 percent of the day’s trade. Wigton Windfarm traded 2.04 million units for 9.8 percent market share, Pulse Investments ended with 1.85 million units for 8.9 percent market share and JMMB Group closed with 1.31 million units for 6.3 percent market share.
Trading on Tuesday averages 345,979 units at $4,337,336, versus 255,340 shares at $4,633,174 on Monday and month to date an average of 612,243 units at $7,121,049, compared to 627,343 units at $7,278,916 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose 50 cents in closing at $93 while exchanging 213,440 shares, Berger Paints advanced 40 cents to close at $12 after 5,948 units crossed the exchange, Eppley climbed 70 cents to end at $42 in switching ownership of 326 stock units. First Rock Capital rallied 75 cents in ending at $12.25 after exchanging 11,005 stocks, Jamaica Producers fell $1.45 to $22.55 trading 16,428 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange shed $1.45 to close at $17.50 after trading 142,389 units. JMMB Group gained 30 cents to close at $43.30 with 1,307,470 stocks crossing the market, Kingston Properties dropped 50 cents in ending at $9, with 969 shares changing hands, Kingston Wharves popped $1 in closing at $40 in trading 2,121 units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy increased $1.73 to end at $100 after exchanging six stocks, Palace Amusement climbed $45 to $1045 with just one share clearing the market, PanJam Investment lost $1.55 to end at $64.50 with the swapping of 969,825 stock units. 
Portland JSX rallied $2.40 to close at $11.50, trading 5,000 shares, Proven Investments declined $2.50 and ended at $33 in an exchange of 16,907 stocks and Sagicor Group shed 70 cents to $57.30 in exchanging 203,858 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share lost $3 in closing at $19 with an exchange of 500 units, Eppley 7.75% preference share dropped 30 cents to $20.10, with 2,762 stocks crossing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% Preference share declined $7 to close at $100 after exchanging 10,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Record close for Junior Market, up 24% in 2022
The Junior Market Jamaica Stock Exchange hit a new intraday high immediately on opening at 4,292.32 points but ended lower at a record close of 4,255.28 after trading closed on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded falling 77 percent and the value slipping 75 percent from Monday’s trades.
A new record high for the JSE Junior Market.
Some 42 securities traded compared to 43 on Monday, with 17 rising, 18 declining and seven closing unchanged as the Market Index rose 49.92 points to close with a rise of 24 percent year to date at 4,255.28 or just under six percentage points from the gains for all of 2021.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 22.3. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
A total of 16,783,104 shares traded for $59,357,222, down sharply from 71,534,884 units at $242,214,271 on Monday. Mailpac Group led trading with 4.38 million shares for 26.1 percent of total volume, followed by EduFocal, 2.85 million units with 17 percent of the day’s trade, JFP Limited chipped in with 2.24 million units for 13.3 percent market share. Future Energy Source traded 1.49 million units accounting for 8.9 percent market share, Spur Tree Spices closed with 1.15 million units for 6.8 percent market share and Tropical Battery exchanged 1.06 million units, with 6.3 percent market share.
Trading averaged 399,598 shares at $1,413,267 in contrast to 1,663,602 shares at $5,632,890 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 674,163 units at $2,468,019 compared to 688,614 units at $2,523,532 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial advanced $1 to end at $20 with an exchange of 12,124 shares, AMG Packaging rose 19 cents to close at $2.99 after exchanging 6,298 stock units, Blue Power fell 84 cents in closing at $3.31 after trading 5,780 stocks. Caribbean Assurance Brokers rallied 19 cents to $2.48 in switching ownership of 3,500 units, Caribbean Cream dropped 12 cents to $5.10 in exchanging 889 stocks, Dolphin Cove popped $1.10 to end at $26.60 after 57,848 stock units changed hands. Elite Diagnostic climbed 11 cents to $2.92 after trading 96,277 units, Express Catering shed 10 cents ending at $6, with 146,676 shares crossing the market, Fosrich lost 15 cents to close at $16.35 with 54,691 stocks changing hands. Honey Bun rose 10 cents in closing at $9.80 in an exchange of 32,300 stock units, KLE Group declined 45 cents to close at $2.35 after exchanging 6,122 units, Lasco Financial lost 30 cents in ending at $3.20, with 219,550 shares crossing the exchange. Lasco Manufacturing declined 15 cents in closing at $5.60, with 597,490 stocks clearing the market. 
Mailpac Group shed 28 cents to close at $3.25 while exchanging 4,377,356 units, Main Event gained 40 cents to end at $8.90, with 11,273 shares crossing the market. Spur Tree Spices dropped 19 cents to close at $3.70, trading 1,149,011 stock units, SSL Venture fell 32 cents to $1.65 with the swapping of 502 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies shed 52 cents ending at $7.03 with 14,668 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market hits record high as Main Market drops
The Jamaica Stock Exchange ended trading with the Junior Market closing at a new record high of 4,255.28 after it opened trading at a record high of 4,292.32 but drifted down from there to the record close.
The Main Market lost ground on Tuesday, after rising for two days and ended, with the Combined Index dropping 1,359.74 points to close at 398,829.03, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 3,613.87 points to 434,722.20 and the JSE Main Index declined 1,925.82 points to end at 385,639.89.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 21.8 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.6 times those for 2022-23 at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
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 make use of 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 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.
More gains than losses for JSE USD market
Trading on Monday ended with the volume of shares changing hands rising 338 percent with 43 percent higher value than on Friday, at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, resulting in more stocks rising than falling.
A total of seven securities traded, up from eight on Friday, with two rising, one slipping and four ending unchanged, leading the JSE US Denominated Equities Index to fall 2.09 points to 203.54.
A total of 185,493 shares traded for US$11,351 compared to 42,365 units at US$7,920 on Friday.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 14.2. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
Trading averaged 26,499 units at US$1,622, compared to 5,296 shares at US$990 on Friday, with a month to date average of 43,385 shares at US$4,330 versus 44,338 units at US$4,483 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 87,719 units for US$9,318.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and three stocks with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share lost 0.02 of a cent in closing at 7.93 US cents after an exchange of 2,998 shares, Margaritaville remained at 16 US cents after exchanging 30 stock units, Proven Investments ended unchanged at 23.32 US cents in exchanging 16,534 units. Sterling Investments popped 0.02 cents to close at 2.29 US cents in trading 6,688 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share finished at 12.89 US cents with 42,006 units clearing the market and Transjamaican Highway finished at 0.88 of one US cents after exchanging 116,483 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% preference share climbed 0.01 of a cent to close at 99.02 US cents in switching ownership of 754 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market rises
Market activity ended on Monday, with the volume of shares traded declining by 36 percent, but with the value jumping 26 percent higher than on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market as rising stocks exceeded those declining.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 2,588.02 points to end at 438,336.07, the JSE Main Index climbed 1,301.75 points to 387,565.71 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.15 points to settle at 93.66.
Trading ended with 55 securities compared to 58 on Friday, with 21 rising, 17 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.5. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 14,043,689 shares were exchanged for $254,824,567 versus 21,999,538 units at $202,058,389 on Friday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 4.01 million shares for 28.5 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.35 million units for 23.8 percent of the day’s trade, Barita Investments with 1.81 million units for 12.9 percent market share, 
Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 1.11 million units changing hands for 7.9 percent market share.
Trading averages 255,340 units at $4,633,174 compared to 379,302 shares at $3,483,765 on Friday and month to date, an average of 627,343 units at $7,278,916, compared to 647,742 units at $7,423,996 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 392,520 units at $3,199,976.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose $1.54 to $92.50 with 1,811,036 shares clearing the market, Berger Paints shed 40 cents to $11.60 in trading 110 units, Caribbean Cement rallied $2.19 to $70.19 after exchanging 91,367 stocks. Caribbean Producers fell 34 cents in closing at $14.16 a market 16fter trading 8,612 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund increased 49 cents to $41.49 in switching ownership of 1,966 shares, First Rock Capital fell 50 cents to $11.50, with 15,759 stocks crossing the exchange. GraceKennedy gained 49 cents to close at $104 in exchanging 151,194 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange advanced $1 in closing at $18.95, with 113,023 stock units changing hands, Kingston Wharves declined 95 cents to end at $39 while exchanging 15,325 shares. 
Massy Holdings popped 98 cents in ending at $101.97 after exchanging 44,682 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $1.73 to $98.27 with 630 stocks changing hands, NCB Financial fell $1.48 to end at $112.52 with the swapping of 10,122 units. Sagicor Group climbed $2 in closing at $58 trading 158,254 units, Scotia Group declined 63 cents to close at $34.02 after trading 34,797 stock units and Seprod climbed 35 cents in ending at $57.95 in an exchange of 117,996 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Jamaica’s stock market in a good place
The stock market cannot be looked at in isolation from what is taking place in the wider economy, John Jackson said in an address he made recently to the Kiwanis Club of Kingston on the state of the Jamaican Stock Market. There are many positives occurring that could have a good impact on stocks and the stock market but there are a few negatives taking place currently he stated.
Jackson went on to list a series of positives and negatives about the market and the economy. The economy is bouncing back from the major dislocations caused by the closure of the country’s borders in March 2020, resulting in the closure of the important tourism sector and billion dollar loss of inflows. That seems to be behind us now, although not fully based on traffic passing through the two international airports that were lagging behind 2020 and 2019 up to February this year, there are sounds that there may be big improvements in the March numbers. Remittances had record increases, well over the inflows for 2019 in both 2020 and 2021, with the latter up by $1.1 billion over 2019 flows to hit the US$3.5 billion mark.
Employment is at record levels, bettering the pre-pandemic high. The tourism industry was not at full employment when those numbers were compiled, so the situation will be even better when the next set of figures are released up to March, this year. The construction sector is enjoying record performance and absorbing quite a bit of the previously unemployed but higher interest rates could slow down the growth in the sector. 
There is continued expansion in the BPO sector that is employing a large number of Jamaicans and pulling US dollars into our coffers.
Inflation has risen sharply worldwide and Jamaica has not been spared the impact, resulting in the Bank of Jamaica hiking interest rates sharply from an artificial low up to August last year.
On the positive side, central government has reduced debt to GDP below 100 percent and that is freeing up resources to spend on badly needed capital improvement as well as in social areas that were neglected for decades, with a target of 60 percent of GDP by 2026.
Against the above economic developments and the hope that the Ukraine war and inflation will not derail positive economic benefits for Jamaica, the future of the stock market is good, as economic policy favours low interest rates and growth in GDP that will be positive for profits and stock prices. It should be noted that the number of investors has swollen from just fifty thousand to over 200,000 over the past four years. That growth is creating a broader and more liquid market for investors.
Growth in tourism expected in 2019
The Junior Market is at record levels surpassing the record high of 3,665 points in August 2019, since then, the market closed at over 4,200 points but the Main Market continues to lag and is still below the March 2020 level just before the collapse of stock prices.
In the past, investors were pulled into the market only to see it fall out of bed. This time will be different for some time to come due to cutting of the fiscal deficit, with more to come and a vast improvement in the balance of payments. These will allow for more consistency in policies and less volatility in the market. The market is also more diversified with a wider array of choices than in years gone by.
Investors should remember that the two critical factors driving stocks are interest rates and profits. Rising profits and stable interest rates will ultimately drive stock prices higher. The reverse is true. The key is to buy companies with consistent profit growth, as that demonstrates good management.
Profits for most companies released recently have been good with many of the stocks undervalued. Investors need good information to assist them in buying stocks.
Investors who want to buy stocks should favour undervalued stocks and stay away from ones selling well ahead of the average of the market, using the PE ratio as a guide. They should focus on companies that have a good record of consistent growth to make for a successful investment. Use the market data put out by ICInsider.com on earnings, PE ratios, net asset value and dividend payments as a guide in selecting stocks, these are proven to work that is why our Top10 stock selection delivered a 64 percent growth for Junior Market stocks in 2021.
Surge in Junior Market trading
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange hit a new intraday record high in early trading on Monday, with the market index rising to 4,236.63 points within a minute of the opening, but it just failed to hold on to the record with a loss of just 0.42 points to settle at 4,205.36, after the volume of stocks traded surged 209 percent and the value jumped 189 percent over Friday’s levels.
At the close, 43 securities traded compared to 44 on Friday and ended, with 17 rising, 13 declining and 13 closing unchanged. Lasco Manufacturing and Tropical Battery traded at 52 weeks’ highs.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 22.5. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
Some 71,534,884 shares traded for $242,214,271 up from 23,122,693 units at $83,802,194 on Friday. Spur Tree Spices led trading with 51.23 million shares for 71.6 percent of total volume. EduFocal traded 5.43 million units for 7.6 percent of the day’s trade. JFP Limited contributed 3.73 million units for 5.2 percent market share. Tropical Battery chipped in with 3.45 million units for 4.8 percent market share and Lumber Depot ended with 2.63 million units for 3.7 percent of total shares traded.
Trading averaged 1,663,602 shares at $5,632,890 in contrast to 525,516 shares at $1,904,595 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 688,614 units at $2,523,532 compared to 633,084 units at $2,346,443 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and five with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined $1 to end at $19, trading 1,010 shares, CAC 2000 shed 20 cents in closing at $7.50, in swapping 10,688 units, Cargo Handlers rose 15 cents to close at $11.95 after exchanging 1,500 stock units. Caribbean Cream advanced 10 cents to $5.22 after 703 stocks crossed the exchange, Dolphin Cove lost $1.20 in ending at $25.50 after 68,615 stock units were traded, EduFocal fell 23 cents to $3.30 in an exchange of 5,432,988 stocks. Elite Diagnostic dropped 19 cents to close at $2.81 in exchanging 119,389 shares, Express Catering climbed 10 cents after ending at $6.10, with 660,849 units clearing the market, Fontana declined 25 cents to $10 in trading 172,837 units. Future Energy Source gained 18 cents to end at $6.68, with 754,139 stocks changing hands, Jetcon Corporation lost 13 cents in closing at $1.04, with 704,605 shares crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing rose 75 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $5.75 in switching ownership of 119,232 stock units. 
Main Event fell 45 cents to end at $8.50 while exchanging 32,291 shares, Paramount Trading popped 27 cents to close at $1.72 after finishing trading 1,801 stocks, Spur Tree Spices rallied 23 cents to $3.89 with 51,227,729 stock units crossing the market. Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 52 cents to $7.55 with an exchange of 2,570 units and tTech increased 17 cents in closing at $4.22 after an exchange of 191 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market record slips Main Market climbs
The Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with the Junior Market trading at a new record in the early morning session at 4,236.63 but failed to hold on to close at another record high after slipping 0.42 points to end at 4,205.36.
The Main Market continue to recover from last week’s loss, with, the Combined Index rose 1,215.01 points to close at 400,188.77, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 2,588.02 points to 438,336.07 and the JSE Main Index rose 1,301.75 to end at 387,565.71.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 21.9 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.6 times those for 2022-23 at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
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 make use of 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 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.
