West Indies Petroleum ended trading at a new high of $3.45 on a day when market activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, resulting in solid gains in the market indices as the market continued a solid start for the new year. Trading ended with an exchange of 58 securities compared with 64 on Monday, with prices of 16 rising, 24 declining and 18 ending unchanged. The market closed with a 12 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, following a 41 percent jump in value compared to Monday.
The market closed with 15,161,289 shares being traded at $89,302,685 compared to 13,515,579 stock units at $63,554,888 on Monday.
Trading averaged 261,402 shares worth $1,539,701, up from 211,181 stock units at $993,045 on Monday and month to date, an average of 213,606 units at $1,201,871, well above 191,068 shares with an average of $1,042,568 on the prior day, but below the average for December of 395,435 stock units at $4,321,753.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 8.63 million shares for 56.9 percent of the total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund, with 1.96 million stocks for 12.9 percent of the day’s trade and Innovative Energy with 1.10 million units for 7.3 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 5,349.05 points to close at 368,854.95, the JSE Main Index surged 5,611.49 points to 320,883.19 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 1.53 points to 63.78. At the close, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.6. The JSE Main and the USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2026.
At the close, Barita Investments fell $1 to $70, following trading in 4,204 shares, before the company announced the acquisition of JN Fund Managers, in a move that should boost profit. Caribbean Cement slipped 90 cents to close at $104.60 with investors dealing in 13,729 units, GraceKennedy sank $3.49 in closing at $69.01, with 59,641 stocks crossing the market. Jamaica Producers rose $1.68 and ended at $23.88, with investors exchanging 206 shares, JMMB Group declined 95 cents to end at $17.05, with 9,525 stock units changing hands, Proven Investments sank $1.29 to finish at $14.21 in trading 1,815 shares. Seprod dipped $5.71 to $78.20 after 6,847 stock units passed through the market, Supreme Ventures increased 50 cents to finish at $15.99 with investors swapping 28,385 units, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 41 cents and ended at $12 after closing with trading in 7,919 stocks and West Indies Petroleum popped 86 cents to close at a record $3.45 in an exchange of 5,973 units, with the stock jumping an incredible 590 percent since listing and now trades at a PE ratio of 69.
At the close of the market, there was buying interest for over 20 million shares, ranging from 45 cents to a high of $3.45.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% skidded 92 cents to end at $39.08, with 25 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% shed $200 in closing at $2,300 as investors exchanged 30 shares. 138 Student Living preference share rallied $36 to $250, with trading of 71 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% dropped $3.94 to close at $100.01, with investors trading 52,087 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The market closed with trading of 19,864,336 shares for $35,000,636, up from 10,026,371 stock units at $10,162,534 on Monday.
At the close, Access Financial dropped 84 cents to end at $17.61 with investors dealing in 567 shares, AMG Packaging climbed 51 cents to $2.38 in switching ownership of 10,003,023 stocks, Caribbean Cream shed 8 cents in closing at $2.09, with 285 shares crossing the exchange. Derrimon Trading declined 9 cents to finish at $1.64 in trading 1,275,811 stock units, Dolla Financial popped 23 cents and ended at $2.69, with 12,203 units crossing the market, Dolphin Cove gained $1.05 to close at $12 with investors swapping 3,699 shares. Everything Fresh rose 9 cents to $2.19 after a transfer of 409 stocks, Fontana fell 19 cents to close at $7.70 in trading of 3,239 units, Iron Rock Insurance slipped 9 cents and ended at $3.38 as investors exchanged 2,270 stock units. ISP Finance advanced $2 to finish at $17 and closed with trading in only 10 shares, Jamaican Teas sank 33 cents to end at $2.02 with traders dealing in 368,445 stock units, Jetcon Corporation rallied a solid 39 cents in closing at $1.89 after an exchange of 529,680 stocks. Knutsford Express dipped 55 cents to $11, with 611 units clearing the market,
Mailpac Group sank 15 cents to $2.45 in an exchange of 6,501 shares, Main Event increased 15 cents in closing at $7.70, with investors trading 1,380 stocks. Medical Disposables climbed 10 cents and ended at $1.20 with an exchange of 48,824 units, MFS Capital Partners skidded 8 cents to close at 36 cents after 1,892,715 stock units passed through the market, Omni Industries lost 15 cents to finish at 85 cents in an exchange of 311,597 shares. Paramount Trading rose 8 cents and ended at $1.38, with 20,271 units crossing the market, Regency Petroleum sank 13 cents to $3.72 after an exchange of 172,485 stocks, while Stationery and Office Supplies lost 7 cents to end at $1.50, with investors trading 18,054 stock units.
The market closed with an exchange of 523,207 shares for US$20,031 compared to 107,514 stock units at US$4,811 on Monday.
The winners include recently listed West Indies Petroleum, trading at a record high of $3.45, at PE ratio of 69 times 2024 earnings from continuing operations.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $200 to end up at $2,300, 138 Student Living preferred share rose $36 to $250 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% fell $3.94 in closing at $100.
There is something completely wrong with this listing. The stock is currently trading at a PE of 51 based on 2024 earnings adjusted for a one off expense, with very little supply coming on the market. Since listing, only 16,003 shares have traded to date, with the stock in heavy buying demand.
On a day of below-average trading, that closed with an exchange of 13,515,579 shares at $63,554,888 compared to 9,985,799 stock units at $64,681,027 on Friday.
At the close on a day of mostly negative price changes, AS Bryden sank $2.36 to finish at $31, with 2,238 shares clearing the market, Barita Investments rose $1.15 and ended at $71 after a transfer of 1,189 stock units, Berger Paints fell 86 cents to $5.34 after trading of 7,652 shares. Carib Cement dropped 50 cents to $105.50, after 9,625 stock units passed through the market, First Rock Real Estate climbed 41 cents to $10.50, with investors swapping 800 units, GraceKennedy sank 47 cents in closing at $72.50, with 30,701 shares crossing the market. Jamaica Producers skidded $1.68 to $22.20 with a transfer of 878 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 92 cents to end at $11 as investors exchanged 49,819 stocks, JMMB Group declined $1.20 in closing at $18, with 36,205 stock units crossing the market. Margaritaville shed 44 cents to close at $11.54 with investors dealing in 85 shares, Mayberry Group popped 66 cents and ended at $7.66 in an exchange of 606 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $2 to finish at $45, with 67 units changing hands.
NCB Financial slipped 75 cents to $39 with an exchange of 55,965 stock units, Pan Jamaica advanced $6 to end at $51, after closed with 3,509 shares changing hands, Proven Investments sank 49 cents in closing at $15.50 with investors trading 982 stock units. Scotia Group dropped 55 cents and ended at $52.45 after an exchange of 42,504 units, Seprod rallied 71 cents to close at $83.91 with investors trading 12,109 stocks, Supreme Ventures lost $1 to finish at $15.49 after an exchange of 1,583,115 units and West Indian Petroleum increased 64 cents and ended at a record high of $2.59 in trading a mere one share.
The market closed with an exchange of 107,514 shares for US$4,811, down from 202,981 stock units at US$8,951 on Friday.
The market closed with trading of 10,026,371 shares for $10,162,534, down from 11,000,282 stock units at $15,771,112 on Friday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.8, derived by dividing the last traded price of a stock by the earnings per share. ICInsider.com compiles the PE ratios in this report for companies with their financial year ending around August 2026.
Honey Bun slipped 22 cents in closing at $6.88 with a transfer of 2,223 shares, ISP Finance rallied $3.53 to end at $15 as investors exchanged 16 stock units. Jamaican Teas popped 12 cents to finish at $2.35 after 100,398 shares passed through the market, KLE Group sank 25 cents and ended at 80 cents with investors dealing in 7,042 units, Lumber Depot dipped 6 cents to close at $2.74 after closing with 119,564 stocks changing hands. Mailpac Group increased 18 cents to $2.60, with 60,074 stock units crossing the market, Main Event fell 15 cents to close at $7.55 with traders dealing in 4,600 shares, Medical Disposables skidded 20 cents in closing at $1.10, after 16,668 stocks crossed the exchange and Spur Tree Spices lost 8 cents to finish at $1.05, with 102,819 units changing hands.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 4,265.80 points to 325,472.58, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 3,694.26 points and ended at 363,505.90, the JSE Main Index plunged by 4,212.23 points to end at 315,271.70, the Junior Market Index fell 33.09 points to 3,348.78 and the JSE USD Market Index lost 3.03 points to settle at 211.05.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 15.6 based on 2026-27 earnings and 16 based on 2025-26 historical earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
The market closed with an exchange of 9,985,799 shares for $64,681,027 compared to 138,255,200 stock units at $802,340,940 on Wednesday.
At the close of the first day trading in 2026, Barita Investments shed $5.90 in closing at a 52 weeks low of $69.85 after an exchange of 2,504 shares, Caribbean Cement sank $1.50 to end at $106, after the trading of 5,487 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rose 40 cents to close at $47.15 with an exchange of 555 units. First Rock Real Estate dropped 87 cents to finish at $10.09, with 3,963 shares crossing the exchange, Guardian Holdings rose $2.40 and ended at $344.90 with traders dealing in 103 stock units, JMMB Group lost 75 cents to end at $19.20 in an exchange of 87,839 shares. Kingston Wharves rallied $4.49 in closing at $36.49 with investors trading 1,991 stock units, Mayberry Group skidded 90 cents to $7, after 18,733 stocks passed through the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities sank 49 cents to close at $8.51 as investors exchanged 143 units. NCB Financial popped $3.75 and ended at $39.75 after it closed with 125,392 shares changing hands, Pan Jamaica dropped $6 to end at $45 with investors swapping 775 stock units, Proven Investments increased $2.24 to finish at $15.99, with an exchange of 3,579 stocks.
Sagicor Group fell 48 cents and ended at $41, with 83,824 units crossing the market, Seprod shed 78 cents to $83.20 after trading of 8,205 stocks, Supreme Ventures dipped $3.07 to end at $16.49 after a transfer of 1,605,332 units. Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 72 cents in closing at $12.40 with investors trading 25,837 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained $1.15 to close at $13 in switching ownership of 1,930 stock units, West Indian Petroleum rose 64 cents to finish at a record high of $1.95 after an exchange of only one share and Wisynco Group advanced 46 cents and ended at $19.96 with a transfer of 83,839 stock units.