Trading dropped back to more recent norms on Tuesday, following a big jump in trading over the previous two days on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with a 96 percent decline in the volume and value of stocks traded, with 96 percent lower than Monday following activity in 41 securities, down from 45 on Monday and ending with prices of 13 rising, 16 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of just 4,554,464 shares for only $9,496,646 compared with 118,786,848 units at $248,220,254 on Monday.
Trading averaged 111,084 shares at $231,626, down from 2,639,708 units for $5,516,006 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 657,577 units at $1,409,339 compared with 715,177 stocks at $1,533,469 on the previous day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
Fosrich led trading with 1.16 million shares for 25.5 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 665,331 stock units for 14.6 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 591,969 units for 13 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index declined 11.73 points to end at 3,673.59.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 11.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging gained 15 cents to finish at $3.50 as investors exchanged a mere 522 stock units, CAC 2000 skidded 46 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $3.38 after trading 706 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 7 cents to close at $3.38 after 11,248 stocks passed through the market. Consolidated Bakeries fell 12 cents to end at $2.06, with 5,502 units crossing the exchange, EduFocal shed 9 cents in closing at 84 cents in switching ownership of 176,940 stocks, Fontana declined 40 cents and ended at $8.40, with 5,557 units crossing the market. 
Fosrich slipped 7 cents to $2.06 with a transfer of 1,161,056 shares, Honey Bun increased 24 cents and ended at $7.85 after an exchange of 7,414 stock units, Indies Pharma climbed 18 cents to close at $2.70 with 303 shares clearing the market. Jamaican Teas rose 20 cents in closing at $2.25 in an exchange of 134,960 units, Jetcon Corporation dipped 12 cents to end at 87 cents after closing with an exchange of 556 stocks, Medical Disposables rallied 43 cents to finish at $2.28 with investors trading 436 stock units. MFS Capital Partners lost 15 cents and ended at $1.11, with 274,374 shares crossing the market and Tropical Battery advanced 13 cents to $2.25 after a transfer of 38,098 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Markets mostly fall on Tuesday
The JSE USD market closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a moderate increase in the market index, the Main and Junior Markets declined in trading on Tuesday as the Junior Market closed moderately lower and the Main market with a larger decline as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands falling, compared with the previous day, resulting in prices of 28 shares rising and 38 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,991.49 points to 328,761.07, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 3,652.53 points to wrap up trading at 352,843.23, the JSE Main Index shed 3,035.29 points to close at 316,244.88. The Junior Market Index dipped 11.73 points to end at 3,673.59 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.23 points to 233.95.
At the close of trading, 36,121,615 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 295,800,813 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $271.59 million, well below the $811.40 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 73,669 shares for US$5,026 compared to 193,327 units at US$18,349 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 led trading with 17.0 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.60 million units, Massy Holdings with 1.40 million stock units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.17 million units.
In the Junior Market, Fosrich led trading with 1.16 million shares followed by Dolla Financial with 665,331 and JFP Ltd with 591,969 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $5.40 to close at $42.60.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 on 2023-24 earnings and 12.7 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them 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 net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable 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.
JSE USD Market inched higher
The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended trading on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks exchanged declining 62 percent with a 73 percent lower value than on Monday, resulting in trading in nine securities, compared to six on Monday with prices of one rising, three declining and five ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 73,669 shares for US$5,026 compared to 193,327 units at US$18,349 on Monday.
Trading averaged 8,185 units at US$558 versus 32,221 shares at US$3,058 on Monday, with a month to date average of 31,924 shares at US$2,973 compared with 35,546 units at US$3,341 on the previous day and April that ended with an average of 35,401 units for US$2,453.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased 0.23 points to wrap-up trading at 233.95.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.1. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy skidded 1 cent and ended at 60 US cents after an exchange of 120 stock units, Proven Investments popped 0.41 of one cent to 13.5 US cents with a transfer of 2,000 shares, Sterling Investments ended at 1.6 US cents, with trading of 2,418 units.
Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.3 of a cent to end at 7.7 US cents after a transfer of 6,503 stocks and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.01 of a cent in closing at 2.02 US cents with traders dealing in 61,599 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share ended at US$1.20 in an exchange of 164 stocks, JMMB Group 5.5% closed trading at US$1.64, with 729 shares crossing the market, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share ended at US$11.05 with an exchange of 86 units and Sygnus Credit Investments US 8% ended at US$10.60 after 50 shares passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Transjamaican big trade day
Transjamaican Highway ended the trading of 172 million shares to dominate market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded in the overall market surging 998 percent, valued 307 percent more than on Friday, with trading in 57 securities down from 62 on Friday and ending with prices of 18 stocks rising, 24 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 176,820,638 shares trading for $563,186,691 well up from a total of 16,107,185 units at $138,294,154 on Friday.
Trading averaged 3,102,116 shares at $9,880,468 compared to 259,793 units at $2,230,551 on Friday and month to date, an average of 477,055 units at $2,121,121 compared with 167,265 units at $1,205,421 on the previous day and April that closed with an average of 680,802 units at $3,619,595.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 172.15 million shares for 97.4 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.87 million units for 1.1 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 686,809 units for 0.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 299.17 points to end the day at 356,495.76, the JSE Main Index climbed 718.15 points to 319,280.17 and the JSE Financial Index advanced 0.29 points to 68.13.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.4. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments climbed 99 cents in closing at $71.03 after exchanging 10,688 shares, Berger Paints rose $1.46 to a 52 weeks’ high of $8.70 with investors swapping 1,003 stocks, following the release of solid first quarter results last week, Caribbean Producers advanced 80 cents to finish at $9 after 101,195 shares changed hands. Eppley popped $2.49 and ended at $39.50 as investors exchanged 10 stock units, General Accident sank 35 cents to close at $6.64 with 16,764 shares clearing the market, GraceKennedy dropped $2 to end at $74 with an exchange of 6,706 units. Kingston Properties lost $1.28 to $7.13, with 21,438 stocks crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing fell 33 cents to finish at $5.14 with investors dealing in 31,861 stock units, NCB Financial gained 50 cents and ended at $64.50 with a transfer of 76,433 shares. 
Pan Jamaica rallied $1.80 to end at $47 after 2,944 stock units crossed the exchange, Portland JSX skidded $1.36 in closing at $7.69 in trading 8,987 stocks, Sagicor Group increased by 71 cents to close at $40.90 after 14,523 units passed through the market. Scotia Group climbed 65 cents to $43.15 in an exchange of 146,309 stocks, Seprod shed 98 cents to close at $76.02 with traders dealing in 9,579 units, Stanley Motta declined 90 cents and ended at $6.58 after an exchange of 1,023 shares. Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped $1.36 to finish at $10.53 with investors trading 2,324 stock units and Wisynco Group slipped 50 cents to end at $20 after a transfer of 82,268 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
A second big trading day for Fosrich
Fosrich accounted for nearly 94 percent of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, following the trading of 117 million with the volume and the value of stocks traded, were moderately lower than the heightened levels on Friday with trading taking place in 45 securities compared with 43 previously and ending with prices of only eight rising, a massive 28 declining and nine closing unchanged.
The market ended with exchange of 118,786,848 shares for $248,220,254 compared with 121,305,240 units at $259,384,829 on Friday.
Trading averaged 2,639,708 shares at $5,516,006, compared with 2,821,052 units at $6,032,205 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 715,177 stock units at $1,533,469 up from 463,421 stock units at $1,012,497 on the previous trading day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
Fosrich led trading with 111.13 million shares for 93.6 percent of total volume, down from 117 million on Friday followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 3.52 million stocks for 3 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 1.76 million units for 1.5 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index sank 43.17 points to end the day at 3,685.32 after falling 106 points in two days. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator closed with a highly positive ratio that points to a big rally on Tuesday.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 11.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial climbed $1.25 to close at $21.10 with investors trading 11 shares, AMG Packaging shed 15 cents to end at $3.35 in switching ownership of 20,155 stocks, Blue Power fell 8 cents and ended at $3.63 after the trading of 15,244 shares. Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 21 cents to end at $3.31, with 27,025 stock units crossing the market, Derrimon Trading sank 13 cents in closing at $1.87, with investors trading 1,003 shares, Dolla Financial skidded 7 cents to finish at $2.66 with 457,648 stock units changing hands. Honey Bun lost 29 cents to end at $7.61 after 4,674 stocks passed through the market, Indies Pharma dropped 20 cents to end at $2.52 with investors dealing in 5,516 units, ISP Finance dipped $1.49 to $28.01, with 102 stocks crossing the exchange.
Jamaican Teas slipped 32 cents to close at $2.05 with traders dealing in 1,755,759 shares, JFP Ltd lost 7 cents to finish at $1.13 as investors exchanged 35,746 stock units, KLE Group shed 29 cents and ended at $1.91 with 1,500 units clearing the market. Lasco Financial declined 7 cents to $1.62 with an exchange of 26,531 stocks, Limners and Bards sank 18 cents to finish at $1.26, with 1,870 shares crossing the market, Mailpac Group rose 6 cents and ended at $2.06 with investors transferring 72,869 stock units. Main Event slipped 44 cents to close at $13 after an exchange of 6,480 units, Medical Disposables fell 43 cents in closing at $1.85 with investors trading 34,744 shares, MFS Capital Partners dipped 17 cents to end at $1.26 after a transfer of 265,589 stock units.
One Great Studio skidded 7 cents in closing at 86 cents after 204,846 stocks passed through the market, ONE on ONE Educational dropped 10 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of 75 cents after an exchange of 3,519,161 units, Spur Tree Spices lost 9 cents to finish at $2.30 with a transfer of 456,263 shares. Tropical Battery shed 21 cents and ended at $2.12 in an exchange of 190,796 units and tTech gained 19 cents to close at $2.20 in an exchange of 146 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading surged on JSE USD Market
Trading surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with a 680 percent rise in the volume of stocks exchanged with a 2,396 percent jump in value compared with Friday, resulting in trading in six securities compared to five on Friday with prices of one rising, three declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 193,327 shares for US$18,349 compared to 24,785 units at US$735 on Friday.
Trading averaged 32,221 units at US$3,058 versus 4,957 shares at US$147 on Friday, with a month to date average of 35,546 shares at US$3,341 compared with 35,922 units at US$3,373 on the previous day and April that ended with an average of 35,401 units for US$2,453.
The US Denominated Equities Index slipped 2.73 points to close at 233.75.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.2. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share ended at 4.7 US cents in an exchange of 1,611 shares, Proven Investments remained at 13.09 US cents with investors dealing in 26,639 stocks, 
Sterling Investments climbed 0.09 of a cent to end at 1.6 US cents in switching ownership of 500 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments sank 0.5 of one cent in closing at 8 US cents after exchanging 96,400 stock units and Transjamaican Highway declined 0.13 of a cent and ended at 2.03 US cents with 63,384 shares crossing the market.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share fell 7 cents to finish at US$1.20 following trading of 4,793 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Tansjamaican & Fosrich dominate JSE trading
Transjamaican Highway closed with 172 million shares being traded and Fosrich, with 111 million shares pushed market activity sharply higher on Monday compared with trading on Friday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. At the close of trading the Main Market squeezed out a modest gain, with the Junior Market suffering a second day of sizable loss and the JSE USD market closed moderately lower as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands jumping sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 25 shares rising and 51 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 387.57 points to end at 331,752.56, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 299.17 points to close at 356,495.76, the JSE Main Index advanced 718.15 points to finish trading at 319,280.17. The Junior Market Index skidded 43.17 points to wrap-up trading at 3,685.32 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 2.81 points to end trading at 233.72.
At the close of trading, 295,800,813 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up sharply from 137,437,210 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $811.40 million, well above the $397.68, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 193,327 shares for US$18,349 compared to 24,785 units at US$735 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 172.15 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.87 million units and Carreras with 686,809 stock units
In the Junior Market, Fosrich led trading with 111.13 million shares for 93.6 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 3.52 million units for 3 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 1.76 million units
In the preference segment, no stock traded with a notable price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2023-24 earnings and 12.3 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them 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 net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable 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.
60% explosion for ICTOP10 stock of the week
Caribbean Assurance Brokers (CAB) surged a solid 60 percent at the close of the week, confirming ICInsider.com projections that placed it at the top of the ICTOP10 Junior Market list for the week. The stock which traded as high as $3.80 in the week, closed at $3.52 and still has much more to do, with ICInsider.com projecting earnings at 65 cents per share for this year.
Based on closing bids and offers for CAB, the price could pull back, with most buyers still trying to get stocks below $3. The first quarter results expected this week could change that, also expected are results for the majority of companies.
There are no new listings for the ICTOP10 Junior Market for the week but in the Main Market, Berger Paints returns to the ICTOP10, for the first time since August, last year, now with projected earnings of $1.60 for the current year following solid profit in the first quarter. The newly reported figures suggest that last year’s bad results may be behind it for now.
The stock jumped 45 percent in the week and ended with 13,461 units on offer at $7.23 with the rest at $11.50 and above, but it had weak buying interest at the close. Berger replaces Lasco Manufacturing which drops out of the TOP10, with a rise in price.
General Accident and Lasco Manufacturing jumped 8 percent to close at $6.99 and $5.47 respectively, in the Main Market IC TOP10, while Margaritaville rose 5 percent to $1 and Palace Amusement dropped 6 percent to $1.02. 
Junior Market ICTOP10 witnessed a 9 percent fall in tTech to close at $2.01, with Access Financial ending with a loss of 6 percent in closing at $19.85.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.2, well below the market average of 12.6 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.5, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.3.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 290 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 217 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 29 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 91, with an average of 25 and 20 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 20 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 12 stocks, or 26 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 43, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. 
The average PE in the top half of the market is 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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 on or around May 2025 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, resulting 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.
Profit surged 89% at NCB Group
Profit surged 89 percent at NCB Financial for the six months to March from a combination of higher revenues and reduced costs in some areas, driving profit 74 percent higher in the March quarter to $5.6 billion compared with the same period in 2023, with $3.2 billion and surged for the half year to March with $8.7 billion, from $4.6 billion in 2023.
Net interest income rose to $9.4 billion in the second quarter of this year, from $8.2 billion in the prior year’s second quarter and for the six months, jumped 15.6 percent to $18.85 billion from $16.3 in the 2023 half previous half year. Net fee and Commission income went from $5.3 billion in the $6 billion in March 2024 quarter and from $11 billion in the half year in 2023 to 12.5 billion in the current year.
Credit impairment losses jumped sharply to $1.9 billion in the March quarter from $1.2 billion last year to $2.77 billion in the half year, compared with $2.4 billion in 2023. Dividend income amounted to just $171 million in the March 2024 quarter, down from $488 million in the previous year. The half year is essentially flat, at $1.26 million. Insurance activities delivered profits of $11 billion for the latest quarter, up from $9.3 billion in the previous year. For the half year it surged to $25.2 billion from $16.7 billion in the comparative period in 2023.
Operating expenses slipped to $21.76 billion in the March 2023 quarter from $22.8 billion the previous year and for the half year rose to $47.9 billion from $45.8 billion in 2023. The major contributing factor to cost savings is staff costs, which fell from $14.3 billion in the 2023 March quarter to $13 billion this year and dropped to $26.6 billion for the six months, from $27.5 billion in 2023.
A loss of $3.4 billion is reflected in other comprehensive income in the March 2024 quarter compared with a surplus of $5.7 billion, with the six month period ending up with a loss of $1.2 billion compared to a surplus of $28.3 billion in 2023, effective reducing the quarterly overall profit to $1.4 billion compared to $5.2 billion in 2023 and for six months $7.7 billion versus $20.9 billion in the previous year that is attributable to the NCB Group shareholders.
While most eyes are on the profit statements, the results shown by the various segments are of critical import as they show details of revenues and profit for each segment, enabling investors to have greater insight into the overall results.
Results for the six months show the Consumer and Small Business Enterprise segment generating revenues from outsiders of $21.5 billion, up 17.5 percent from $18.3 billion in 2023 and net segment income of $7 billion in 2024, up 23 percent versus $5.7 billion in 2023. Payment Services delivered a solid 85 percent rise in revenues to $17.2 billion in 2024 with a net position of $4.5 billion in the 2024 half year up from $9.3 billion in revenues in 2023, with net results of $3.4 billion, before internally allocated costs.
Corporate and Commercial banking had a 7 percent growth in revenues to $8 billion and net segment results of $4 billion compared with revenues of $7.5 billion in 2023 as net results surged sharply over $1.18 billion in 2023. Treasury and Correspondent banking generated revenues of $11.77 billion up from $10.58 billion with a net position of $6.9 billion in 2024 compared with $5 billion. Wealth, Asset Management and Investment Banking generated a 38 percent growth in revenues of $14.85 billion and a net position of just $1.17 billion in 2024, with revenues of $10.7 billion in 2023 and net results of $3.5 billion. Life and Health Insurance and Pension Fund management produced a 32 percent increase in revenues to $58.58 billion in 2024 as net results surged to $15.5 billion compared with revenues of $44.4 billion in 2023 with net segment results of $5.76 billion while General Insurance accounted for revenues of $37.7 billion, up 27 percent over 2023 and net results of $3 billion compared with 2023, with revenues of $29.7 billion and profit of $4.3 billion.
NCB declared a dividend of 50 cents to be paid in June.
Loans grew moderately by 6 percent from $595 billion in March 2023 to $633 billion in 2024 while investment securities moved by 9 percent from $763 billion to $833 billion this year. Customer deposits grew 6 percent to $755 billion. Shareholders’ equity ended the period at 160 billion, up from $138 billion at the end of March 2023. Earnings per share for NCB Financial grew from $1.39 to $2.36 for the quarter and from $1.99 in the 2023 half year to $3.68. ICInsider.com projects earnings for the full year to September at $8.50 with a PE of 7.5 well below the market average of 12.6 at the last traded price of $64 on Friday. NCB is selling at a premium to Scotia Group with a lower PE of 6 times 2024 earnings and pays a dividend that provides a much better yield of 4 percent versus 3 percent for NCB. With NCB relative overvaluation compared with its nearest competitor, the current APO is going to provide added supply of shares on the market that is likely pressure the stock price for some time.
Shareholders on record on May 27 are set to receive a dividend of 50 cents per share payable on June 10.
Trading plunges on JSE USD Market
Trading activity plunged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with a 97 percent drop in the volume of stocks exchanged with a 97 percent dive in value compared with Thursday, resulting in trading in five securities, similar to trading on Thursday with the price of one rising, one declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 24,785 shares for a mere US$735 down sharply from 727,558 units at US$21,301 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 4,957 units at US$147 versus 145,512 shares at US$4,260 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 35,922 shares at US$3,373 compared with 39,147 units at US$3,709 on the previous day and April that ended with an average of 35,401 units for US$2,453.
The US Denominated Equities Index advanced 3.12 points to 236.49.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.3. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ending with a higher bid than the last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share ended trading at 4.7 US cents after investors exchanged 1,992 shares, Proven Investments closed at 13.09 US cents with an exchange of 9 stocks and Transjamaican Highway advanced 0.01 of a cent to 2.16 US cents with an exchange of 22,756 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share ended at US$1.27 after 15 stock units passed through the market and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% shed 14 cents to end at US$10.01 as investors exchanged 13 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
