The Main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange jumped sharply on Monday, following declines on Wednesday to Friday but the Junior Market and the JSE USD Market closed slightly lower at the end of a moderate trading session.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped 4,488.68 points to close at 341,020.08 the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 3,886.72 points to 364,321.23, the JSE Main Index surged 4,887.95 points to 327,418.41, the Junior Market Index slipped 7.88 points to 3,879.91, as the JSE USD Market Index slipped 1.17 points to close a 241.01.
Preference shares with notable price movements but are not in the Main Market TOP10 graphs is Jamaica Public Service 7% that fell $7 in closing at $49.
At the close, investors exchanged 30,498,415 shares in all three markets up from 20,598,279 shares on Friday. The value of stocks trading in the Junior and Main markets was $95.3 million, up from $73.7 million on Friday. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 764,260 shares for US$20,272 compared to 992,059 units at US$15,037 on Friday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.5 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous 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 decisions when 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 and 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 paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
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.
Kremi heads ICTOP10 after gaining 22%
The performance this past week in the Junior and the Main Market diverged significantly the Junior Market recorded gains in the week and put it back at early March levels this year while the main market declined further continuing negative performance since the beginning of June and is now back at August 2018 levels and is providing investors with a great opportunity to add some of these stocks to their early Christmas shopping at bargain prices.
The Junior Market has broken through the downward-sloping resistance line of the wedge. The Junior Market reclaimed the 3,800 handle last week and is close to retaking the 3,900 level shortly, with the market set for a big rally in the second half of the year a position supported by technical analysis of the market. The Main Market seems to be weighed down by concerns relating to inflation and interest rates, if so the reading is wrong as inflation is well under control and interest rates will start dropping before the year ends.
Against the background, the Junior Market recorded gains for six stocks during the week with iCreate jumping 26 percent to $1.20, Caribbean Cream moving up 22 percent to $3.89 and Edufocal putting on 6 percent to end the week at $1.89 hey worst performer was Iron Rock Insurance down 7 percent to $2 and General Accident fell 5 percent to $5, while One and One lost 3 percent to close the week at $1.04.
The Main Market had one price movement of note with Transjamaican rising 13 percent to close the week at $2.39. Declining are 138 Student Living down 11 percent to $4.60, Guardian Holdings, with a loss of 7 percent to $450.01 and Caribbean Producers lost 5 percent to end the week at $9.48.
Transjamaican moved out of the Main Market TOP10, with a gain of 27 percent since entering the TOP10 and 35 percent since it was added to Stocks to Watch at $1.77 in April, is replaced by Caribbean Cement, with projected earnings of $6.50 notwithstanding for the first quarter profit and in the Junior Market, Edufocal moved out while Everything Fresh returns after a brief absence to the TOP10 with the price having fallen to $1.50.
Transjamaican, although out of the top 10 has much more room to grow with the potential for an additional 200% increase in the stock price. A look at the order book for Transjamaican suggests that demand is likely to overwhelm supply over the next two to three weeks with a likely price target then of $3. Even then the potential dividend yield that could be 8 percent at that price could result in the price going higher.
Recent developments for some stocks – Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing increased dividends to 10 cents and 12 cents respectively, with both to be paid in July, while Stationery and Office Supplies hit a record high in the week at $24 but closed the week at $20 for a 17 percent gain for the year. The stock is now a prime candidate for a stock split. Earnings for Berger Paints were adjusted down to $1 per share for 2023.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.8, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 254 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 98, with an average of 29 and 20 excluding the highest PE stocks, 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.8 compared with the market at 11.1. There are 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PE from 15 to 42, averaging 21 that are well above the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently. Junior Market is projected to rise by 270 percent to May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation is an important indicator of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
In the market generally, Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and in the process gradually reducing the supply of several stocks that are attractively priced as the market moves toward the summer months, the start of the stock market year.
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.
ICTOP10 stocks are likely to 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.
Trading gains for the JSE USD Market
Trading picked up on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended with a 2,914 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands valued at 159 percent more than on Thursday, resulting in the trading of 11 securities compared to five on Thursday with six rising, two declining and three ending unchanged.
A total of 992,059 shares were traded for US$15,037 compared to 32,918 units at US$5,796 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 90,187 units at US$1,367 versus 6,584 shares at US$1,159 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 69,154 shares at US$2,171 compared with 65,984 units at US$2,292 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased 4.90 points to finish at 242.16.
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 between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share advanced 1 cent to close at 5.5 US cents with 58 shares being traded, Margaritaville climbed 3.09 cents to end at 11.11 US cents with investors trading 35 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied 5 cents to 60 US cents, with 11 stock units crossing the exchange. Proven Investments remained at 16 US cents after 1,150 stocks passed through the market, Sterling Investments declined 0.41 of a cent to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 1.59 US cents after investors traded 274,980 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.99 cents to close at 10.99 US cents with investors transferring 35 stocks. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share shed 0.01 of a cent in closing at 10.99 US cents after a transfer of 35 stock units and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.02 of a cent to end at 1.44 US cents with stakeholders exchanging 715,660 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 6% preference share ended at US$1.40 after exchanging 71 stocks, JMMB Group 5.75% increased 24 cents to end at US$2.14 with a transfer of 2 units and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.18 in an exchange of 22 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Drop in trading for JSE USD Market
Trading activities dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 89 percent and the value by 83 percent compared to Wednesday and resulted in trading of five securities, compared to seven on Wednesday and ended with the price of one rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
Investors exchanged 32,918 shares with a value of US$5,796 compared with 289,060 units at US$34,073 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 6,584 shares at US$1,159 versus 41,294 units at US$4,868 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 65,984 shares at US$2,292 compared to 70,352 units at US$2,375 on the prior day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index shed 2.75 points to 237.27.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.6. 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 between November 2023 and August 2024.
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 of trading, Proven Investments ended at 16 US cents after an exchange of 1,935 shares, Sterling Investments rose 0.1 of a cent to 2 US cents with a transfer of 950 stocks, Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.03 of a cent and ended at 1.42 US cents after an exchange of 29,600 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share slipped 30 cents to close at US$12.50, with 402 stock units changing hands and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.18 after traders exchanged 31 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.