Everything Fresh and Guardian Holdings continue to head the ICInsider.com TOP10 in a week when the Main Market fell 2.7 percent and the Junior Market dropped a hefty 7.8 percent and reversed all the gains of the previous week, but the Investors Choice bid-offer Indicator is flashing positive signals for both markets on Monday.
Guardian Holdings has a commanding lead over its next rival by almost 100 points, but Everything Fresh likely gain of 344 percent is just above Caribbean Assurance at 333 percent, but the latter is currently far more appealing, with the stock selling at a PE of a mere 7 times 2022 earnings and 4.6 times 2023. Everything Fresh PE based on 2022 earnings is at a much higher 17 and 4.5 based on projected 2023 earnings.
Earnings season had two companies in ICInsider.com TOP10 reporting very strong results that augur well for a full year’s profit.

Caribbean Assurance Brokers is selling at a PE of just 7 based on historical earnings.
Scotia Group reported a net income of $3.4 billion for the quarter that ended January 2023, an increase of $2.2 billion or 173 percent over the prior year period as loans the primary driver of profits increased a solid 18.8 percent to $237 billion while deposits grew only 7.7 percent to $4.05 billion and resulted in net interest income surging $2.6 billion as interest expenses actually declined. These results suggest ICInsider.com forecast for $5 per share may be a bit light with solid prospects that earnings of $5.50 seem possible. It noted that overall comprehensive profit shows a loss of $1 billion after accounting for pension obligations of $9.5 billion and other items of gains.
Jamaica Broilers continues to churn out strong growth in profits with their nine months results more than double that of the prior year while the January quarter is up 27 percent to $1.5 billion as revenues climbed a solid 20 percent after finance cost nearly doubled. With the tourism industry back to normal the company should get a further boost for the rest of 2023. ICInsider.com forecast for $6 per share for the current fiscal year from continuing operations seem well within reach and could be exceeded making it a solid buy for the long haul.

Scotia Group had a significant increase in profits for the January 2023 quarter.
Performance in the past week was mixed for the Junior Market TOP10 but was far better than the near 8 percent fall by that market, with only three stocks rising of which two rose by 2 percent or less. Iron Rock Insurance gained 15 percent this past week to $2.30 after falling 13 percent the previous week. Lasco Distributors fell 6 percent to $2.64, followed by AMG Packaging and Stationery and Office Supplies which fell by 3 percent to $2.51 and $14.50, respectively.
The Main Market TOP10 performed worse than the overall market with only two stocks gaining and six declining. Jamaica Broilers rose 6 percent to $38 as investors warmed to the stock following release of outstanding results, with the price having a far way to run, while JMMB Group a clear winner for the long term, put on just 2 percent to close at $31.01. Key Insurance fell 7 percent to $2.61 followed by a 5 percent for NCB Financial and 138 Student Living to $72 and $5.20 respectively.
There are no new additions in either market to the ICTOP10 this past week.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.5, well below the market average of 13.3, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.1 compared with the market at 11.3. The differences are important indicators of the level of likely gains of ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 238 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 274 percent to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The Junior Market has 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 25, averaging 19.7, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16.
The Main Market 16 highest valued stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 98, with an average of 30 and 22 excluding the highest valued stocks and 20 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Price changes resulted in Paramount Trading,
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.5, well below the market average of 13.9, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.1 compared with the market at 11.8. The differences are important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 240 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 284 percent to May 2024, now that TOP10 stocks earnings are based on 2023 profits.
ICTOP10 has only one new addition this week, in the Junior Market TOP10 and none in the Main Market, following major volatility in price movements in the listings.
Earnings per share for Elite Diagnostic was revised down to 28 cents per share for the current year, following a small loss of $7 million in the December quarter, even as revenues rose a solid 20 percent or $30 million over the same quarter in 2021, resulting in the stock dropping out of the ICTOP10, to be replaced by Tropical Battery that is returning after a short absence.
The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 17 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 109, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest valued stocks and 21 for the top half excluding the highest valued stocks.
In closing out the week, Lasco Distributors rose 6 percent to $2.75, while Tropical Battery gained just 4 percent to $2.40. Iron Rock Insurance fell 15 percent to $2.03, the only declining stock above one percent.
The Junior Market is projected to rise by 220 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 288 percent to May this year. The primary concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before the full interest of investor start to show.
ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
At the end of the week,
Tropical Battery returns to ICTOP10 after a one week absence,
The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 90, with an average of 27 and 22 excluding the highest valued stocks and 27 for the top half excluding the highest valued stocks.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 14.7, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.6 versus the market at 12.8, important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks currently. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 208 percent and the Main Market TOP10 an average of 275 percent, to May this year. The major concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before full interest of investor start to show.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
All other movements in the Junior Market TOP10 were 3 percent or less. The Main Market Berger Paints popped 12 percent to $10.60, followed by a 9 percent rise for
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
Iron Rock Insurance jumped 19 percent to $2.40, Lasco Manufacturing gained 13 percent to $4.55 and Paramount Trading climbed 11 percent to $2.20, after release of strong second quarter results that showed continued improvement in profit, jumping 212 percent for the half year to $149 million. Caribbean Cream reported improving results but the overall profit was light and the stock fell 20 percent to $3.20, Lasco Financial shed 8 percent to $2.60 and General Accident slipped 7 percent to $4.71. All other movements in the Junior Market TOP10 were 3 percent or less. The Main Market only major mover was Berger Paints with an 11 percent loss to $9.50.
The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 104, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest valued stocks and 27 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
With the latest results, Knutsford’s 2023 fiscal year earnings have been adjusted to $1 per share and putting the stock on target for at least $20 this year, at the close there were only a few stocks on offer for sale.
Junior Market TOP10 were 3 percent or less and similarly for the JSE Main Market TOP10.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. Accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
The Junior Market is projected to rise by 231 percent and the Main Market TOP10, an average now of 278 percent, to May 2023.
ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.