Rising and falling stocks shared the spotlight at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, after trading ended with activities in 56 securities compared to 60 on Monday, resulting in gains for 20 rising and fall for 21 as 15 ended unchanged, following a 55 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded valued 39 percent less than on Monday.
A total of 8,501,678 shares were traded for $53,413,585 compared to 19,055,221 units at $86,952,533 on Monday.
Trading averaged 151,816 shares at $953,814 versus 317,587 shares at $1,449,209 on Monday and month to date, an average of 216,744 units at $1,302,689, compared with 219,922 shares at $1,319,766 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.94 million shares for 46.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.29 million units for 15.2 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.03 million units for 12.1 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index drifted 1,804.90 points lower to 370,363.77, the JSE Main Index shed 1,165.52 points to end trading at 335,837.58 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.23 points to 75.44.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.4 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of the market, Caribbean Cement dropped $1.50 to end at $54.50 with shareholders swapping 30,865 shares, First Rock Real Estate lost $1.30 to close at $10, with 45,900 units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers popped $3.50 and ended at $36.50 in switching ownership of 106,122 stock units, JMMB Group advanced 30 cents in closing at $29.30 after exchanging 35,621 stocks after the stock hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $28.50, Margaritaville rose $2.44 to $17.42 after a transfer of 450 units, 
Massy Holdings drifted 50 cents lower to close at $104.50 after trading 1,755 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 50 cents in closing at $11 after 38,300 stocks cleared the market, NCB Financial fell $2 to end at $70 with an exchange of 92,711 shares. 138 Student Living gained 74 cents to end at $5.50 with a transfer of 403 shares, Pan Jamaica Group rallied $1 and ended at $52 with an exchange of 37,191 stock units, Proven Investments climbed 56 cents to $26, with 1,063 stock units crossing the market. Seprod shed $3 in closing at $72 as investors exchanged 8,428 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained 49 cents to end at $14.99 and closed with an exchange of 13,908 stock units and Wisynco Group declined $1 to close at $18 after 195,610 shares changed hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share dropped $2.90 and ended at $20 in an exchange of 49 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 7% declined $9 to close at $60 while exchanging 23 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading dives on JSE USD Market
A 98 percent fall in stocks trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Tuesday, with the market climbing above the close on Monday and resulted in the trading of six securities, down from eight on Monday and ended with prices of three rising, none declining and three ending unchanged.
Overall, 15,452 shares were traded for US$986 compared to 959,588 units at US$46,217 on Monday.
Trading averaged 2,575 shares at US$164 versus 119,949 units at US$5,777 on Monday, with a month to date average of 39,779 shares at US$2,243 compared with 41,318 units at US$2,329 on the previous day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 12.60 points to conclude trading at 212.29.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.5. The PE ratio is calculated based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts 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 one with a lower offer.
At the close, 
First Rock Real Estate USD share popped 0.5 of a cent after closing at 5 US cents, with shareholders swapping 560 shares, Proven Investments ended at 16.9 US cents after a transfer of 2,325 stock units, Sterling Investments remained at 1.68 US cents, with 5,741 stocks crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.29 of a cent to end at 1.29 US cents after closing with an exchange of 6,616 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% ended at US$1.90 with 204 shares changing hands and JMMB Group 6% increased 13 cents to US$1.20 as investors exchanged just 6 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market holding head above water
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday just managed to end above Monday’s close following a 12 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with a moderately lower value than on Monday with trading in 45 securities compared with 46 on Monday and ended with 21 rising, 20 declining and four closing unchanged as one stock closed at a one year high and two at 52 weeks’ low.
Investors traded 9,615,167 shares for $25,289,603 versus 10,918,480 units at $26,373,173 on Monday.
Trading averaged 213,670 shares at $561,991 compared to 237,358 shares at $573,330 on Monday, with the month to date averaging 232,896 units at $615,218 compared to 233,887 stock units at $617,962 on the previous day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Fosrich led trading with 2.26 million shares for 23.5 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 1.40 million units for 14.5 percent of the day’s trade and Lasco Distributors with 885,161 units for 9.2 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index popped 4.97 points to close at 3,762.62.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years 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, AMG Packaging dipped 26 cents to end at $2.64 as investors exchanged 6,005 shares, CAC 2000 rallied $1.10 to close at $7.10 in switching ownership of 6,451 units, Cargo Handlers rose 75 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $17.50 after an exchange of 11,300 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 12 cents in closing at $2.57 after 323,317 stocks changed hands. Caribbean Cream rallied 20 cents and ended at $3.20 with an exchange of 50 stock units, Caribbean Flavours increased 8 cents to $1.48 in an exchange of 9 units, Consolidated Bakeries rose 10 cents to close at $2.30 after a transfer of 125,334 stocks, Dolphin Cove popped 49 cents in closing at $15.45 with shareholders swapping 28,133 shares, Elite Diagnostic dropped 18 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $2.20, with 48,123 stocks clearing the market. Everything Fresh gained 8 cents to end at $1.80 while exchanging 154,617 units, 
Fontana lost 8 cents in ending at $9.40 with investors transferring 109,966 shares, Fosrich declined 29 cents to $2.40 after 2,255,770 stock units changed hands. Future Energy Source fell 19 cents to $3.92 in an exchange of 325,599 stock units, Indies Pharma popped 15 cents in closing at $3.30 after trading 131,851 units, Iron Rock Insurance advanced 28 cents to $2.16 after 5 shares passed through the market, ISP Finance climbed $3.83 to $23.98 after 2,092 stocks passed through the market. Knutsford Express rose 23 cents and ended at $11.52 after investors traded 20,220 stocks, Lasco Distributors rallied 34 cents to end at $3.09 with 885,161 stock units crossing the market, following full year’s results showing earnings of 38.5 cents per share, up from 29 cents in 2022. Lasco Financial declined 10 cents in closing at $2.35 in trading 454,503 units, following the release of full year results showing a fall from 24 cents per share to 16.7 cents. Main Event increased 40 cents to close at $14.65 with a transfer of 6,950 shares,
Medical Disposables dipped 66 cents to a 52 weeks’ low of $4.14 after 750 stock units crossed the market, Paramount Trading shed 10 cents to close at $2.09 in trading 25 shares and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 42 cents in closing at $15.16 in switching ownership of 417 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market drops Juniors rise
The Jamaica Stock Exchange ended with mixed trading on Tuesday, with Junior Market having a second consecutive day when the index closed just higher than the prior day and the JSE USD market also closed higher, but the JSE Main market lost grounds, following a fall in trading from Monday’s levels.
The JSE Combined Market Index shed 1,042.09 points to 347,802.27, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,804.90 points to close at 370,363.77, the JSE Main Index fell 1,165.52 points to end trading at 335,837.58, the Junior Market Index managed to hold on a gain of just 4.97 points to close at 3,762.62 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 13.05 points to end at 212.29.
Shares in the preference segment of the Main Market not in the TOP10 graphs ended with Eppley 5% preference share dropping $2.90 to end at $20 and Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $9 to close at $60.
At the close, investors exchanged just 17,543,277 shares in all three markets, down from
30,833,189 units on Monday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $73.68 million from $112.47 million on Monday.
Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 15,452 shares for US$986 compared to 959,588 units at US$46,217 on Monday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 17.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.4 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.
Increased trading hits JSEUSD Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar Market had another chunk of the index chopped off on Monday, with the volume of stocks changing hands surging 354 percent and valued 172 percent more than on Friday, resulting in the trading of eight securities, compared to seven on Friday with two rising, three declining and three ending unchanged.
Investors traded 959,588 shares for US$46,217 compared with 211,505 units at US$16,972 on Friday.
Trading averaged 119,949 shares at US$5,777 versus 30,215 units at US$2,425 on Friday, with a month to date average of 41,318 shares at US$2,329 compared to 36,727 units at US$2,127 on the previous trading day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index lost 10.51 points to end at 199.69.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.2. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts 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 one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share fell 0.5 of a cent and ended at 4.5 US cents as 11,871 shares passed through the market, Margaritaville ended at 9.01 US cents while exchanging 570 units, 
Proven Investments rose 0.9 of a cent to 16.9 US cents, with 233,554 stock units clearing the market, but only after trading at a 52 weeks’ intraday low of 13.6 cents. Sterling Investments ended at 1.68 US cents after trading 4,057 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 0.86 of one cent to 11.01 US cents, with 100 shares crossing the exchange, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share lost 0.1 of a cent in closing at 11 US cents after an exchange of 100 units and Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.3 cents to 1 US cent in trading 708,836 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.07 and with 500 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading up prices down on JSE Main Market
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Monday, led to 36 percent more stocks trading at a slightly higher value than on Friday, with trading in 60 securities compared to 53 on Friday, with the market closing with prices of 22 stocks rising, 27 declining and 11 ending unchanged. 
A total of 19,055,221 shares were traded for $86,952,533 compared to 14,037,627 units at $85,583,051 on Friday.
Trading averaged 317,587 shares at $1,449,209 compared with 264,861 shares at $1,614,775 on Friday and month to date, an average of 219,922 units at $1,319,766, compared to 214,516 units at $1,312,602 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 264,549 units at $1,409,410.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 9.46 million shares for 49.7 percent of total volume followed by Stanley Motta with 3.01 million units for 15.8 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 1.85 million units for 9.7 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 503.63 points to end at 372,168.67, the JSE Main Index slipped 58.12 points to 337,003.10 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.25 points to 75.21.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.3 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $3.29 and ended at $40.40 with a transfer of 6,165 shares, First Rock Real Estate popped 93 cents to $11.30 in an exchange of 281 stocks, GraceKennedy rose 50 cents to $79, with 70,283 units crossing the exchange, Jamaica Broilers shed $3 to $33 while exchanging 50,785 stock units. Jamaica Producers declined 48 cents to end at $20.50 after 37,428 units crossed the market, JMMB Group lost $1.35 to end at $29 after 326,812 stock units passed through the exchange, Kingston Wharves dipped 40 cents and ended at $30.60 as investors exchanged 2,658 shares, Margaritaville dropped $3.43 in closing at $14.98 after trading 22 stocks, 
Massy Holdings advanced $5 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $105, with 3,524 shares crossing the market, with the price still around 11 percent lower than in Trinidad. Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 50 cents to $10.50 after a transfer of 171,230 shares, NCB Financial rose $2 and ended at $72 with investors transferring 50,904 units, 138 Student Living dipped 84 cents to close at $4.76 after trading 28,560 stocks, Pan Jamaica Group shed $2.99 to end at $51 with 2,058 stock units clearing the market. Portland JSX gained $1.45 to close at $10.70 in an exchange of 35 stocks, Proven Investments rose 34 cents to $25.44 with an exchange of 2,022 shares, Sagicor Group fell 49 cents in closing at $50.01, with 2,042 units changing hands, Seprod traded 61,632 shares at $75 after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $79.80. Stanley Motta lost 44 cents to close at $5.20 after an exchange of 3,011,831 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied $1.50 to end at $14.50 after exchanging 2,734 shares and 
Wisynco Group declined 50 cents to close at $19 with shareholders swapping 162,231 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share fell 74 cents and ended at $19 in trading 472 units and Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $9 to close at $69 in switching ownership of 4,655 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market stocks close higher
Rising stocks beat out losers at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, aided by a 14 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded at a 7 percent increase in value over Friday and resulting in the trading of 46 securities compared with 42 on Friday as market activity ended with prices 21 stocks rising, 16 declining and nine closing unchanged.
Investors traded 10,918,480 shares at $26,373,173, up from 9,582,877 units at $24,717,734 on Friday.
Trading averaged 237,358 shares at $573,330 compared to 228,164 shares at $588,517 on Friday. Trading month to date averaged 233,887 units at $617,962 compared to 233,694 stocks at $620,445 on the previous trading day. April closed with an average of 266,661 units at $2,583,503.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 5.01 million shares for 45.9 percent of total volume Caribbean Flavours followed with 998,112 units for 9.1 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 646,165 units for 5.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index climbed 7.48 points to settle at 3,757.65.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging climbed 25 cents to $2.90 after exchanging 1,723 shares, Cargo Handlers increased 25 cents to $16.75, with 583 stocks changing hands, Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 19 cents and ended at $2.69 after a transfer of 66,182 units, Caribbean Cream dipped 19 cents to end at $3, with 385 stock units crossing the market. Caribbean Flavours rallied 18 cents in closing at $1.40 after 998,112 stocks passed through the market, Derrimon Trading advanced 8 cents to close at $2.07 with an exchange of 525,248 stock units, Dolphin Cove declined 54 cents in closing at $14.96 as investors exchanged 787 units, EduFocal fell 27 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.66 with 109,767 shares clearing the market. 
Express Catering popped 17 cents and ended at $5.11 after an exchange of 2,556 stock units, GWest Corporation rose 12 cents to $1.01 in an exchange of 8,564 units, Honey Bun increased 8 cents to close at $6.67 after investors traded 12,478 shares, Indies Pharma rose 12 cents to $3.15 with an exchange of 6,162 stocks. ISP Finance dropped $5.85 to $20.15 with investors trading 600 stock units, Jamaican Teas shed 8 cents to end at $2.10 with shareholders swapping 75,747 units, Lasco Distributors gained 25 cents and ended at $2.75, with 77,002 stocks changing hands, Lasco Manufacturing popped 10 cents in closing at $4.10 in switching ownership of 163,401 shares, Main Event lost 25 cents to end at $14.25 in an exchange of 2,411 units. Paramount Trading climbed 11 cents to $2.19 in trading 429 stocks, 
Regency Petroleum shed 8 cents and ended at $2.85 with a transfer of 198,751 shares, Spur Tree Spices advanced 11 cents to close at $2.64, with 5,012,865 stock units crossing the exchange and Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 60 cents to close at $15.58 after exchanging 5,327 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Consolidation for JSE Markets
The Jamaica Stock Exchange traded in a narrow band on Monday, with the Junior Market closing just higher than at the end of trading on Friday but the JSER Main market and JSE USD market slipped lower, following a modest pickup in trading over Friday’s levels.
Trading ended after the JSE Combined Market Index rose 14.28 points to close at 348,844.36, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 503.63 points to close at 372,168.67, the JSE Main Index dipped 58.12 points to 337,003.10, the Junior Market Index managed to hold on a gain of 7.48 points to end at 3,755.65 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 10.96 points to end at 199.24.
Stocks in the preference segment of the Main Market not included in the TOP10 graphs ended with Jamaica Public Service 7% jumping $9 to close at $69.
At the close, investors exchanged 30,833,189 shares in all three markets, up from 23,826,160 units on Friday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $112.47 million from $110.3 million on Friday. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 959,588 shares for US$46,217 compared to 211,505 units at US$16,972 on Friday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 17.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.4 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.
Insurance companies head ICTOP10
The JSE Main Market gained more than 7,000 points in the past week, but the Junior Market just closed a few points north of the prior week’s close, resulting in sizable changes in both markets’ ICTOP10 as insurance companies head TOP10.
Elsewhere the only other news of note was the passing of the Chairman and majority owner of the Lasco companies, the addition of two new directors at ISP Finance and the Bank of Jamaica issue of $35 billion in 28 days CDS with investors offering to buy just $35.24 billion, BOJ took up less than the amount offered with $34.45 billion being sterilized the amount offered and moved the total amount of CDs outstanding to a record $111.45 billion up from $109 billion the week before. The average interest rate climbed back above 8 to 8.24 percent.
Investors are nibbling at stocks that seem to be the market signal being sent, with gains in some of the ICTOP10 listings. Notable amongst them are Caribbean Assurance Brokers with solid buying interest between $1.88 and $2.09 but limited selling above $2.50, Caribbean Producers (CPJ), Dolphin Cove Massey Holdings, Transjamaican, and Wisynco have started to look positive. Supplies of some stocks are being quietly sucked out of the market and setting the stage for a sustained rally sometime down the road. Investors should look to July as an important month that could trigger a change in mood as investors anticipate second quarter results.
Action in the markets this past week resulted in four ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks recording significant losses of 6 to 26 percent, with only 2 with 4 percent gains. Everything Fresh dropped out of the TOP10 and iCreate returns after a brief absence. Main Market stocks were mixed, with one noted loss and two gains of note.
Stocks rising in the ICTOP10 Junior Market are Everything Fresh and One on One, which increased 4 percent to $$1.72 and $1.15, respectively. Iron Rock Insurance dropped 26 percent to $1.85, Consolidated Bakeries shed 10 percent to $2.19, while Dolphin Cove and Lasco Distributors lost 6 percent to end at $15.50 and $2.50, respectively.
The price of Main Market listed Transjamaican rose 6 percent to close at $2.02, Caribbean Producers popped 5 percent in closing at $9.54 and Key Insurance fell 14 percent to $3.15.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.9, well below the market average of 13.5. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 252 per cent, by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 93, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks and 19 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.8 compared with the market at 10.9. There are 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 25, averaging 19, which is well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently. Junior 
Market is projected to rise by 265 percent to May 2024.
The differences between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 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, 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.
JSE USD market inched higher on Friday
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 48 percent but valued 45 percent less than on Thursday, resulting in a rise in the market index, following trading in seven securities, compared to six on Thursday with two rising, two declining and three ending unchanged.
A total of 211,505 shares were traded for US$16,972 compared to 142,507 units at US$31,099 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 30,215 units at US$2,425 compared with 23,751 shares at US$5,183 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 36,727 shares at US$2,127 compared with 37,077 units at US$2,111 on the previous day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The US Denominated Equities Index rose 3.83 points to close at 210.66.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.3. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings, forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share added 0.6 of a cent to end at 5 US cents with 
1,133 shares being traded, Margaritaville dipped 0.34 of a cent to 9.01 US cents after trading 1,430 stocks, Proven Investments ended at 16 US cents, with 95,323 stock units crossing the market. Sterling Investments ended at 1.68 US cents with an exchange of one unit, Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 0.88 of one cent to close at 10.15 US cents in exchanging 51 shares and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.1 of a cent to close at 1.3 US cents in switching ownership of 113,517 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 6% preference share remained at US$1.40 while exchanging 50 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
