The Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with a moderate rise in the volume of stocks trading, at a lower value than on Tuesday, resulting in the major indices of the Main Market rising, the Junior Market index slipping and the JSE USD Market index climbing. At the end of trading, the prices of 44 shares rose, 34 declined and 34 remained firm.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index rose by 1,743.86 points to 355,284.23, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 2,535.65 points to close at 404,277.43, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,880.20 points to finish at 346,484.78, the Junior Market Index lost 7.80 points to end at 3,340.68 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 5.37 points to 285.97.
At the close of trading, 18,753,096 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 17,490,274 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $92.3 million, down from $113.65 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 325,371 shares for US$17,596 compared to 319,695 units at US$18,681 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 2.40 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 1.31 million stocks and Scotia Group with 618,169 units.
In Junior Market trading, Kintyre Holdings led with 5.56 million shares, followed by Atlantic Hardware with 4.24 million stocks and Future Energy with 540,237 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share dipped $36.56 to end at $207.
The market’s PE ratio, one of the most popular measures used to value stocks, finished at 15.1. The PE ratio is calculated using projected 2026-27 earnings and 15.8 based on 2025 historical earnings, excluding major one-time income or expense.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist decision-making. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, with easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in stock markets. The chart should be used to help with decision-making, when investing around the average of a sector, not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not be inclined to overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or due to be paid and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading ended with an average of 179,775 shares worth $1,763,622, down from 243,259 stock units at $2,857,623 on Monday, compared with February, that ended with an average of 296,521 stock units at $2,650,049.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 20.3. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2026.
Sagicor Real Estate Fund increased by 95 cents to $9.44 as investors exchanged 18,604 stock units. Scotia Group climbed 55 cents to $50.50, after 422,104 shares passed through the market. Seprod lost $1 to close at $79 with investors swapping 5,424 stocks, Stanley Motta rose 37 cents to finish at $6.27, with 1,629 units crossing the market. Supreme Ventures slipped 70 cents to $16.95 with investors dealing in 1,714,084 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments declined 44 cents to close at $10.51 after a transfer of 62,473 shares.
The market closed with trading of 6,563,836 shares for $9,598,255, in a plunge from 55,411,434 units at $34,342,706 on Monday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.6, derived by dividing the last traded price of a stock by the earnings per share.
Future Energy rallied 11 cents to $3.18, following trading of 359,175 units, Honey Bun slipped 8 cents to close at $6.51 with 4,535 stocks crossing the market, Indies Pharma fell 9 cents and ended at $2.71 after an exchange of 501,274 stock units. Iron Rock Insurance dropped 38 cents to finish at $2.50 with 1,650 shares clearing the market, Lumber Depot shed 13 cents to end at $2.52 in an exchange of 25,142 stocks and Medical Disposables sank 17 cents to close at $1.16 with 8,931 units passing through the market.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied by 381.36 points to close at 353,540.37, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,358.52 points to settle at 401,741.78, and the JSE Main Index climbed by 547.55 points to 344,604.58. The Junior Market Index slipped 20.09 points to end at 3,348.48 and the JSE USD Market Index shed 2.03 points to end at 280.60.
The market’s PE ratio, one of the most popular measure used to value stocks, finished at 15.1. The PE ratio is calculated using projected 2026-27 earnings and 15.9 based on 2025 historical earnings, excluding any major one-time income or expense. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist decision-making. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, with easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Trading ended with an average of 35,522 shares at US$2,076 compared to 43,154 stock units at US$2,080 on Monday and well lower than February, that ended with an average of 95,098 units for US$6,755.
Trading averaged 243,259 shares at $2,857,623 after plunging from 687,045 stock units at $3,926,804 on Friday and February, with an average of 296,521 stock units at $2,650,049.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments rose 48 cents to $69.50 in trading 3,425 shares, Caribbean Cement sank $3 to finish at $107 with 12,939 units crossing the exchange, Carreras slipped 66 cents to end at $21.50 with trading of 5,110,119 stocks. Eppley Caribbean Property fell 39 cents to close at $45.50 after traders exchanged 643 shares, Jamaica Producers dipped 40 cents to end at $23 after an exchange of 22,319 stock units, JMMB Group declined $1.53 to $16.85 with 51,420 shares passing through the market. Margaritaville climbed 61 cents to $13.44 after an exchange of 758 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell 50 cents and ended at $44 with 11 stocks clearing the market, NCB Financial skidded $1.31 to finish at $42.42 in an exchange of 154,739 stock units. Pan Jamaica popped $2.80 in closing at $49.80 with investors trading 1,295 shares, Portland JSX rallied 57 cents to end at $8.57 with an exchange of 907 units,
Proven Investments shed 95 cents to close at $12.05 with 2,686 stocks crossing the market. Sagicor Real Estate Fund dropped 53 cents to end at $8.49 as investors exchanged 8,703 stock units and Seprod increased by 50 cents and closed at $80 after a transfer of 6,918 shares.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index lost 2,562.29 points to 353,159.01, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 4,021.38 points to close at trading at 400,383.26, the JSE Main Index sank 2,641.27 points to 344,057.03, the Junior Market Index slipped 4.89 points to end at 3,368.57 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.23 points to conclude trading at 282.63.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $5.95 to close at $37, 138 Student Living preferred share increased by $2.70 and finished at $244, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% popped $20 to $1,200 and Sygnus Credit Investments 10% dropped $1.92 to $107.
The market closed with a mere 388,389 shares traded for US$18,723 compared to 966,680 stock units at US$50,432 on Friday.
For the 2025 fiscal year, revenues climbed a respectable 14 percent to $2.22 billion, up from $1.95 billion in 2024, with profit increasing a solid 34 percent to $170 million over the $127 million in 2024. Earnings per share amount to 6.8 cents and 5.3 cents in 2024.
The operations generated $220 million in cash flows and $171 million after changes in working capital, but $219 million went into Property, Plant and Equipment that expanded by 37 percent to $603 million, from $441 million in 2024.
Trading averaged 687,045 shares at $3,926,804, up from 231,722 stocks at $1,480,456 on Thursday. For the month to date, an average of 296,521 shares at $2,650,049, were traded slightly more than 274,845 shares at $2,579,183 on the preceding day and January with an average of 271,336 stock units at $2,043,022.
At the close of the market, Barita Investments fell 98 cents to $69.02 after trading 2,559 shares. Carreras rose $1.16 to $22.16 in trading 77,514 shares, following the company announced a 40 cents interim dividend for April. Eppley popped $1.92 to $33.92, after switching ownership of 5,058 shares. First Rock Real Estate climbed $1.39 to $9.70 in trading of 1,333 stock units, GraceKennedy rose $2.25 to finish at $72.25 in an exchange of 46,325 units, Guardian Holdings skidded $16.50 to close at $350 with investors trading 10,082 shares. JMMB Group gained $1.03 to $18.38 with 303,048 stock units changing hands, Kingston Properties climbed 40 cents to $10 in trading 1,563 stocks, Kingston Wharves increased $1.05 in closing at $34.85 with 13,713 units crossing the exchange. Massy Holdings popped 50 cents and ended at $74.50 with a transfer of 432 shares, Mayberry Group increased 50 cents to finish at $6.50 after traders swapped 1,617 stock units, NCB Financial climbed $1.23 to close at $43.73 with 259,130 units crossing the market.
Pan Jamaica sank $3.84 to $47 in an exchange of 104,327 stocks, Sagicor Group rose 75 cents to close at $40.75 with investors trading 114,116 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund rallied $1.10 to end at $9.02 after a transfer of 523,068 stock units. Seprod lost 50 cents in closing at $79.50 with 8,494 stocks clearing the market and Wisynco Group advanced 64 cents and ended at $23.14 after an exchange of 69,913 units.