All markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped on Wednesday at the start of a new month as is now the monthly norm, following slippage in trading in the overall market.
Trading ended with an exchange of 19,398,419 shares down from 34,401,378 units on Tuesday, valued at $95.1 million down from $183.6 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors trading US$19,364 down from US$37,070 on Tuesday.
At the close, the Combined Market Index dropped 2,950.37 points to 351,788.74, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 3,399.97 points to close at 381,932.19, the JSE Main Market Index shed 2,544.43 points to 337,782.90, the Junior Market dropped 62.44 points to 3,995.80 and the JSE US dollar market slipped 1.96 points to close at 223.47.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 22.9 based on 2021-22 earnings and 13.9 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many 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 investment decisions by 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. 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.
All JSE Markets fall on Wednesday
Big gain for JSEUSD Market
Stocks mostly rose in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Tuesday and resulting in trading in eight securities, compared to 10 on Monday with four rising, two declining and two ending unchanged, following a 96 percent increase in the volume of stocks changing hands but with an 86 percent lower value than on Monday.
Overall, 1,121,685 shares were traded for US$37,070 compared with 571,649 units at US$267,767 on Monday.
Trading averaged 140,211 units at US$4,634 versus 57,165 shares at US$26,777 on Monday, with month to date average of 48,604 shares at US$4,865 compared with 44,293 units at US$4,876 on the previous day. December ended with an average of 39,679 units for US$1,494.
The JSE USD Equities Index gained 6.36 points to end at 225.43.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.1. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share declined 0.69 of a cent in closing at 7 US cents with a transfer of 21,828 shares, Productive Business Solutions increased 5 cents to US$1.70 after an exchange of 12,460 stock units, Proven Investments popped 0.01 of a cent to 20 US cents with the swapping of 8,932 stocks. Sterling Investments lost 0.07 of a cent to end at 1.8 US cents with an exchange of 36,993 units, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share rallied 0.01 of a cent to end at 9.51 US cents with an exchange of 20,712 stocks and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.02 of a cent to close at 0.99 of one US cent and closed with an exchange of 1,020,720 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share remained at US$11.11 in trading 27 stock units and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1, with 13 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big bounce for Junior Market on Tuesday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange surged sharply to close out the first month of 2023 positively and the JSE USD index climbed on top of Monday’s strong gains but the Main Market fell back to remain negative for the year to date.
Trading ended with an exchange of 34,401,378 shares up from 33,340,369 units on Monday, valued at $183.6 million versus $357.1 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors trading US$37,070 versus US$267,767 on Monday.
At the close, the Combined Market Index rose 532.70 points to close at 354,739.11, while the All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 405.49 points to 385,332.16, the JSE Main Market Index fell 335.82 points to 340,327.33, the Junior Market jumped 91.02 points to 4,058.24 and the JSE US dollar market climbed 6.36 points to close at 225.43.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 23 based on 2021-22 earnings and 14 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many 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 investment decisions by 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. 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.
Huge jump for JSE USD Market
The JSE USD Equities market had a solid bounce in trading on Monday, with the market index jumping 11 percent with a 20.91 points surge to end at 219.07 following a sharp 3,350 percent surge in monies entering the market on Monday and ended with a 158 percent jump the volume of stocks trading over Friday.
Trading ended with ten securities changing hands, up from six on Friday, with four rising, two declining and four ending unchanged.
Investors traded 571,649 shares for US$267,767 compared with 221,731 units at US$7,760 on Friday.
Trading averaged 57,165 units at US$26,777, up from 36,955 shares at US$1,293 on Friday, with a month to date average of 44,293 shares at US$4,876 compared with 43,489 units at US$3,507 on the previous trading day. December ended with an average of 39,679 units for US$1,494.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.2. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share dropped 0.06 of a cent in closing at 7.69 US cents with an exchange of 2,825 shares, Margaritaville rallied 1.85 cents to close at 14.17 US cents, trading 129 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced 4 cents to 59 US cents after trading of 3,009 stocks. Productive Business Solutions popped 37.5 cents to end at US$1.65 in trading 110,849 stock units, Proven Investments dipped 0.01 of a cent to 19.99 US cents and closed with an exchange of 450,043 shares and Transjamaican Highway remained at 0.97 of one US cent as investors traded 1,159 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share ended at US$11.11 as four stock units passed through the market, Eppley 6% preference share increased 10.5 cents in closing at US$1.15 after a transfer of 3 stocks, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share ended at US$1.67 with one stock crossing the exchange and JMMB Group 6% remained at US$1 with a transfer of 3,627 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Bounce for all of JSE markets on Monday
The JSE USD index surged on Monday while the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange put in another solid run as the Main Market also bounced moderately over Friday’s close to start off the week on a positive note with the volume and value of stocks traded jumped well over Friday’s trade.
Trading accounted for 33,340,369 shares up from 21,991,278 units on Friday, valued at $357.1 million up from $203.3 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors trading US$267,767 versus US$7,760 on Friday.
At the close, the Combined Market Index rose 592.92 points to close at 354,206.41, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,098.53 points to 385,737.65, the JSE Main Index advanced 345.65 points to end at 340,663.15, the Junior Market gained 29.17 points, on top of the 53.99 points rise on Friday, in finishing at 3,967.22 and the JSE US dollar market surged 11 percent with the addition of 20.91 points to close at 219.07.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 22.9 based on 2021-22 earnings and 13.8 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many 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 investment decisions by 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. 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.
Why accountants cant compute earnings per share?
The latest company to get the computation of earnings per share wrong is the last to list on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, but it is not the only one that has accountants and auditors that cannot compute earnings per share properly. The other most recent listing got it terribly wrong, not only did this happen for the interim accounts, most likely produced internally but the audited report had the wrong computation as well.

Dr. Karlene McDonnough – Chairman of Image Consultants Ltd.
The correct computation of earnings per share is so critical, with investors using it to value shares of companies. A wrong calculation can result in distorted valuation by investors placed on a stock and it only needs to be in the marketplace for a few days for enormous potential damage to be done.
The Jamaica Stock Exchange in publishing reports with woefully inaccurate earnings per share figures should place a bold note with the release of the results that there is an error in the EPS so that all investors can be aware of it upfront. This approach is recommended rather than waiting for the company to re-compute it as the release of profits is also of much import to the market. this will require a different approach by the JSE than the current practice.
Image Plus Consultants which was listed just over a week ago reported a strong increase in revenues and profits but spoilt it by reporting excessively overstated earnings per share as they used the incorrect number of shares in the computation. Rather than 29 cents per share for the quarter and $1.84, it reported the computation is 2.3 cents and 15 cents for the nine months. One on One Education did the same thing for both their audited accounts and the first quarter results, both of which were corrected this past week after it was in the public domain for several days before the revision. This publication has been critical of the boards of both companies. The latest error shows the lack of experience on behalf of the board members as well as their accountant and the stock exchange must share the blame as well.

Ricardo Allen CEO of One to One
It is one thing for a company to get the computation wrong, it is an entirely different issue for auditors to do the same. The problem is that on too many occasions this error is cropping up and the situation seems to get worse as the Junior Market listings grow.
Stock splits or stock bonuses do not result in averaging shares issued. All that is needed in such cases is to use the new number of shares in computing EPS and all past periods are to be adjusted likewise. Only when new shares are issued for a consideration of value that the time weighted average number of shares would be used.
We have written on more than one occasion that investors in Jamaica are not properly protected, the above errors are just some of the matters that need to be addressed, but like the Stocks and Securities issue and others similar, those in authority fail to move with alacrity in correcting the fault.