The Main Market and the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange started the week with gains while the USD market slipped at the close of trading on Monday as the markets continued to remain in a consolidation mood, but trading closed with a fall in the volume and value of stocks changing hands compared to trading on Friday.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 997.95 points to end trading at 347,557.60, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 1,881.29 points to 373,005.45, the JSE Main Index rose 593.23 points to 336,049.32, while the Junior Market Index jumped 48.55 points to 3,714.30 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 2.45 points to close at 234.52.
In the preference segment of the Main Market that is not reflected in the TOP10 graphs JPS 7 percent dropped $8.61 to $31.70 and PBS 9.75% fell $1 to $107.
At the close, investors exchanged 15,538,967 shares in all three markets, down from 30,527,346 units on Friday, with the value of stocks trading on Monday amounting to $52.4 million down from $69.48 million on Friday. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors trading 353,880 shares for US$40,414, down from 506,557 units at US$55,262 on Friday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.3 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 that are payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that also show the closing volume pertaining to the bids and offers 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.
Honey Bun in ICTOP10 as Purity jumps 24%
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange recorded solid gains during the past week as the Junior Market declined but that did not show up in the ICTOP10 stocks performance as Junior Market stocks ended with gains and losses with the average gains outdoing declines while the Main Market ended with modest price changes in a week when Consolidated Bakeries (Purity) was the star performer with a 24 percent rise to $2.50.
Consolidated Bakeries
The Junior Market had one change in the TOP10 as Main Event rose 6 percent to $12.95 and moved out of the TOP10, allowing Honey Bun to return after falling out the previous week.
Other major price movements in this past week were a 4 percent rise for Everything Fresh to $1.46, a 17 percent fall to $2.15 for Lasco Distributors and 4 percent decline for Image Plus to $1.95. Trading in Image Plus never resulted in more gains during the week following the previous week’s healthy move as selling continued at the same pace as the week before while buyers seem to have pulled back.
In the Main Market, Key Insurance rose 5 percent to $3.65, while Sygnus Credit Investments fell 5 percent to $11.40 as Guardian Holdings, Berger Paints and JMMB Group declined by 4 percent to $475, $7.70 and $30.31 respectively.
Interest rates on Bank of Jamaica CDs dipped again at this past week’s auction with the average rate slipping to 8.41 percent from 8.49 percent, at the previous week’s auction, with BOJ quarantining $104 billion. At the same time the foreign exchange market enjoyed buoyant flows with more funds entering the market each day than the amount dealers sold.
Another fact worth noting is that the Junior Market has a long history, with the market starting to rise around a month before the release of quarterly results and declining shortly after results are released.
Honey Bun’s return to the TOP10 Junior Market list this past week should enjoy increased investors’ interest with an expected jump in revenues and profits for the first quarter with the Easter coming at the beginning of April versus the 17th of April last year as well as improvement of gross profit margin that slipped last year.
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 13.5, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.7 compared with the market at 11.2. The differences are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 255 percent and the Main Market TOP10 an average of 276 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 28, averaging 20, well above the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, suggesting that this may be a logical value for junior market stocks currently.
The 16 Main Market stocks with the highest value are priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 31 and 20 excluding the highest PE 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 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.
Main Market surges to close out the week
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday after the market indices surged even as the volume of stocks traded declined 13 percent and the value, 54 percent lower than on Thursday, with 58 securities trading compared to 59 on Thursday, with 20 rising, 16 declining and 22 ending unchanged.
A total of 17,428,579 shares were traded for $38,758,141 down from 20,050,275 units at $83,836,104 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 300,493 shares at $668,244 compared with 339,835 shares at $1,420,951 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 230,842 units at $921,077, compared with 220,842 units at $957,374 on the previous day. Trading in March ended with an average of 356,137 units at $3,015,416.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 5.67 million shares for 32.5 percent of the total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 4.30 million units for 24.7 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway ended with 3.21 million units for 18.4 percent market share and JMMB Group 7.5% with 2.10 million units for 12.1 percent of the total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 3,997.53 points to 371,124.16, the JSE Main Index jumped 3,317.57 points to 335,456.09 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.83 points to finish at 76.07.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are computed based on the last selling prices of stocks and earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments declined 88 cents in closing at $79.10 in switching ownership of 32,134 shares, Berger Paints fell 77 cents to $7.70 as investors exchanged 1,570 units, GraceKennedy dropped $1.25 to close at $78.50 with investors trading 7,947 stocks, Guardian Holdings lost $15 to end at $475 after trading 41 stock units, Jamaica Stock Exchange dipped 50 cents to $13.50 after closing with trading in 158 shares, NCB Financial rallied $4.37 in closing at $74.37 in an exchange of 30,270 units, 
Pan Jamaica Group shed $1.79 after ending at $55 while exchanging 242 stock units, Proven Investments popped 64 cents to end at $26.50 after 521 stocks changed hands, Sagicor Group advanced $2.93 to $49.94 with an exchange of 50,658 units, Scotia Group declined 75 cents to close at $34.25, with 288 stock units crossing the market and Supreme Ventures fell 46 cents to close at $26.04 with a transfer of 31,087 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share increased 90 cents to end at $20 in trading 246 stocks, Eppley 7.75% preference share lost 74 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $16.20 after a transfer of one stock unit, 
Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $19.69 to $40.31, with 50 stocks crossing the exchange and JMMB Group 7% preference share rose 50 cents after ending at $2.53 with an exchange of 581 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading rises but Junior Market falters
Trading picked up modestly on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, compared with Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 17 percent valued more than on Thursday after trading in 45 securities took place down from 47 on Thursday and ended with 19 rising, 21 declining and five closing unchanged.
A total of 12,592,410 shares were traded for $30,723,595 compared with 10,803,209 units at $29,542,706 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 279,831 shares at $682,747, compared with 229,856 shares at $628,568 on Thursday, with the month to date, averaging 376,466 units at $5,249,094 compared with 390,677 stock units at $5,920,615 on the previous day. The average trade for March ended at 509,288 units at $1,071,868.
JFP Ltd led trading with 3.10 million shares for 24.6 percent of total volume followed by Mailpac Group with 2.92 million units for 23.2 percent of the day’s trade, Dolla Financial ended with 1.95 million units for 15.5 percent market share and Future Energy Source with 1.10 million units for 8.7 percent of total volume.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 20.33 points to 3,665.75.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.1. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock 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 four with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging gained 24 cents to $2.75 as investors exchanged 5,770 shares, Dolla Financial fell 17 cents after ending at $2.63 in an exchange of 1,945,805 units, Express Catering declined 50 cents in closing at $5, with 72,674 stocks clearing the market, Image Plus Consultants dipped 10 cents to close at $1.95 with investors transferring 738,384 stock units, Indies Pharma rallied 10 cents to $3.10 after 207,207 stocks crossed the market, 
ISP Finance climbed 20 cents in closing at $21.20 in trading 3,213 stock units, Knutsford Express shed 28 cents to end at $11.50 after an exchange of 37 shares, Lasco Distributors lost 29 cents after ending at $2.17 with a transfer of 14,107 units, Lasco Financial dropped 13 cents to close at $2.40 after exchanging 10,310 units, Lasco Manufacturing rose 50 cents to $4.11 in switching ownership of 10,154 stocks, Limners and Bards lost 18 cents to end at $2.21, with 1,101 shares crossing the exchange, Mailpac Group popped 14 cents after ending at $1.87 with the swapping of 2,917,967 stock units, MFS Capital Partners rose 10 cents to close at $3.48, with 88,914 units crossing the market, Spur Tree Spices advanced 17 cents in closing at $2.70 as 75,000 shares passed through the market, 
Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 90 cents to $15 and closed after an exchange of 23 stocks and tTech rallied 26 cents to $2.55, with just one stock unit changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main & USD market jump
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed out the week with gains while the USD market surged on Friday as the Junior Market traded in a narrow range Friday and slipped modestly at the close as the markets continue to be in a consolidation mood, but the market closed with a fall in the volume and value of stocks changing hands compared to trading on Thursday.
Trading ended on Friday with the JSE Combined Market Index climbing 2,909.46 points to 346,559.65, the All Jamaican Composite Index surging 3,997.53 points to 371,124.16, the JSE Main Index jumping 3,317.57 points to conclude trading for the week at 335,456.09, up over 4,000 points for the week, while the Junior Market Index dropped 20.33 points to end at 3,665.75 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 7.61 points to conclude at 236.97.
In the preference section of the Main Market that is not reflected in the TOP10 graphs JPS 7 percent dropped $19.69 to $40.31.
At the close, investors exchanged 30,527,346 shares in all three markets, down from 44,225,452 units on Thursday, with the value of trading on Friday amounting to $69.48 million from $113.3 million on the previous trading day. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 506,557 shares for US$55,262, down from 12,382,341 units at US$179,206 21,164 on Thursday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.2 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 payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that also show the closing volume pertaining to the bids and offers 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.
Solid profit from concrete growth
Profit at Jamaica’s sole cement producer, Caribbean Cement Company was flat in the December quarter last year, with $1.48 billion earned compared with $1.5 billion in 2021, profit for the full year to December rose a solid 24 percent to a record $5.4 billion from $4.34 million in 2021.
The improved full year results flowed from an 8.4 percent rise in sales revenue to $25.8 billion, from $23.84 in 2021. Revenues were almost flat for the December quarter at $6.15 billion against $6.04 billion in 2021.
There was a notable improvement in gross profit margin that increased to 44 percent from 41 percent in 2021 as cost of sales rose by a mere 3.3 percent to $14.5 billion from $14 billion in 2021 that includes depreciation of $1.4 billion, down from $1.45 billion in 2021 and fuel and electricity that surged 37 percent from $4.1 billion, to $5.6 billion in 2022. The net effect is that Gross profit rose 15.5 percent for the year, to $11.36 billion from $9.8 billion in 2021. The moderate rise in direct cost, “was mainly attributable to the company’s decision not to undertake its planned major maintenance during the third quarter, compared to 2021,” the company stated in the release containing the results.
Administrative expenses rose close to the rise in revenues by 14 percent to $942 million in the year from $827 million while Selling Distribution and logistics expenses rose just 4 percent to $1.74 billion from $1.67 in 2021. Included in the administrative expenses are Management fees of $200 million, up slightly from $195 million in 2021 and royalty fees of $475 million with none in 2021 and write off of $120 million for non-recoverable GCT costs with none in 2021. Personnel remuneration and benefits amounted to $2.64 billion during the year, up from $2.5 billion in 2021, but actual salaries and wages were modestly lower at $1.97 billion versus $1.98 billion in 2021.
Finance cost declined in the year to $581 million from $671 million in 2021, which include a charge of $402 million during the year and $376 million for 2021 for unwinding discount on the redemption of the preference shares. The company has fully liq uidated the debt and there should be no charge in 2023 for this item
Gross cash flow generated from operations amounted to $8.8 million and was reduced by increased working capital of $5 billion to $3.8 billion. The net cash flow provided funding for the acquisition of fixed assets costing $1.26 billion, the payment of $1.26 billion in dividends. They also paid off the balance of $1.84 billion due on preference shares to Trinidad Cement.
At the end of December, shareholders’ equity stood at $20 billion with long term borrowings at a mere $608 million.
Current assets ended the period at $7.1 billion, up from $4.3 billion in 2021 including trade and other receivables of $650 million, cash and bank balances of $575 million with $5.48 billion of inventories up from $3.44 billion in 2021. Current liabilities ended the period at $6.1 billion, down from $8.5 billion in 2021. Net current assets ended the period at $1.1 billion.
Earnings per share came in at $6.33 when compared to $5.10 in 2021. IC Insider.com forecasts $7.50 per share for the fiscal year, with a PE of 7.7 times current year’s earnings based on the price of $57.50 the stock traded at recently on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with a net asset value of $23.54 and 2.5 times book value.
The company paid a dividend of $1.53 cents for the first time in 17 years in September last year.
This cost incurred for the unwinding of the discount for the repayment of the preference shares will not recur in 2023 also the write off of non-recoverable GCT cost, countering these savings will be the annual major maintenance that was not incurred in 2022, at the same time Fuel and electricity cost should fall from the Ukraine war induced spike in worldwide oil prices that has since moderated form the peak of more than US$120 per barrel to around $80 currently.
The company outlook was summarized by management, “we will ensure that our operations remain resilient by employing sound cost management strategies in this challenging economic environment.
Additionally, we expect to have a similar or better level of productivity and efficiency of the kiln in the future on completion of our planned major maintenance in 2023. During the previous quarter, the groundbreaking of our major kiln expansion project took place. This important investment will improve the self-sufficiency of the industry in Jamaica to comfortably meet growing demand, while setting the foundation to supply other export markets, effectively strengthening the external sector of our economy and essentially the country’s growth.”
The above expansion plan projected to increase the plant capacity by up to 30 percent should be completed by the second half of 2024 and will lower the unit cost of producing cement if it leads to a sufficient increase in sales volume. That won’t take place until 2025.
The stock is selling at a discount to its normal value but seems to weight down by higher interest rates and a slowdown in activity in the construction sector, but all signs point to lower interest rates in the second half of the year and continuing for a while, as such these negative factors will soon pass. With the expansion to come on stream in 2024, the stock remains a good long term buy.
Trading up, market down for JSE majors
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 55 percent and the value 72 percent more than on Wednesday, following trading in 59 securities similar to trading on Wednesday and ended with 25 rising, 24 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
A total of 20,050,275 shares were traded for $83,836,104 compared to 12,894,594 units at $48,653,770 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 339,835 shares at $1,420,951 versus 218,552 shares at $824,640 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 220,842 units at $957,374, compared with 200,493 units at $878,096 on the previous day. March closed with an average of 356,137 units at $3,015,416.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 8.60 million shares for 42.9 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.19 million units for 15.9 percent of the day’s trade, QWI Investments ended with 2.73 million units for 13.6 percent of market share, Carreras closed with 1.60 million units for 8 percent of the market trades, Sagicor Select Financial Fund had an exchange of 1.27 million units for 6.3 percent of trading and Stanley Motta with 1.01 million units for 5.1 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 1,167.97 points to finish at 367,126.63, the JSE Main Index declined 1,446.13 points to conclude trading at 332,138.52 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.65 points to settle at 75.24.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and 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, Caribbean Cement lost $2.45 to end at $57.50 with an exchange of 7,041 shares, Eppley popped $3.91 to $37.46 with investors transferring 639 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $3.50 in closing at $44 in trading 367 units, 
Jamaica Producers rose $1.35 to $22 with 8,440 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 50 cents after ending at $14 after 208 stock units passed through the market, JMMB Group rose 81 cents to $30.31 after an exchange of 56,000 shares, Kingston Wharves advanced $3.30 in closing at $33.80 with the swapping of 23,660 units, Margaritaville rallied 49 cents to close at $18.49, with 105 stocks crossing the exchange, Massy Holdings rallied $1 to $100, with investors trading 4,289 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 49 cents to end at $11.49 in an exchange of 350 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $11.25 to $86.25 after a transfer of 115 stock units, NCB Financial dipped $4 in closing at $70 after investors exchanged 168,649 shares, Pan Jamaica Group increased $2.79 after ending at $56.79 and closed with 207 stock units changing hands, Proven Investments shed $1.47 to close at $25.86 in switching ownership of 29,014 units, Sagicor Group dropped 49 cents to end at $47.01 with a transfer of 18,707 stocks, Seprod declined $1.45 to close at $62.05 in an exchange of 4,492 shares and Supreme Ventures fell 40 cents in closing at $26.50 after an exchange of 16,770 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share lost $2.19 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $16.56 with 490 units clearing the market and Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $10 in ending at $60, with 116 stock units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway 8% rose 25 cents to 52 weeks’ high of $2.67 after just 5 shares were traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior market trading jumps, but index falls
Trading increased on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 68 percent and the value 66 percent more than on Wednesday with trading occurring in 47 securities, up from 45 on Wednesday and ended with 18 rising, 18 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 10,803,209 shares for $29,542,706 up from 6,413,927 units at $17,798,049 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 229,856 shares at $628,568 compared with 142,532 shares at $395,512 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 390,677 units at $5,920,615 versus 419,861 stocks at $6,880,948 on the previous day. The average trade in March ended at 509,288 units at $1,071,868
Tropical Battery led trading with 5.18 million shares for 47.9 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy Source with 1.39 million units for 12.8 percent of the day’s trade and Image Plus Consultants with 582,408 units for 5.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 12.49 points to finish at 3,686.08.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. 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 indicators hows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging dipped 54 cents to $2.51 in trading 335 shares, CAC 2000 rallied 45 cents to close at $6, after just 230 stock units passed through the market, Dolphin Cove increased 60 cents after ending at $14.94 and trading 72,483 stocks, EduFocal climbed 20 cents to end at $2.20 after a transfer of 219,613 units, Express Catering dropped 44 cents in closing at $5.50, with 2,682 stocks crossing the market, 
Fontana fell 20 cents to $8.10 and closed with 57,034 shares changing hands, Fosrich popped 15 cents in closing at $2.70 while exchanging 157,464 stock units, Indies Pharma declined 17 cents to close at $3 in an exchange of 121,947 units, ISP Finance shed 20 cents in ending at $21 after switching ownership of 56 units, Knutsford Express gained $1.08 to end at $11.78 with an exchange of 50,517 stocks, Lasco Distributors hit an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $2.15 before advancing 14 cents to close at $2.46 after an exchange of 96,858 stock units, Lasco Financial rose 13 cents in closing at $2.53 with investors transferring 800 shares, Lasco Manufacturing lost 39 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.61 in an exchange of 190,085 stocks, Lumber Depot dropped 16 cents after ending at $2.20, with 191,079 shares crossing the exchange, Mailpac Group shed 15 cents to close at $1.73 46,388 with stock units changing hands, 
Main Event gained 59 cents to $12.89 with a transfer of 98,742 units, Paramount Trading popped 20 cents to close at $2.37, with 51 shares clearing the market and Spur Tree Spices dipped 10 cents in closing at $2.53 as investors exchanged 207,356 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Consolidating Jamaica Stock Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange remains in a consolidation mood on Thursday with the market indices recording modest to moderate changes at the close of trading as investors await market moving developments to move prices in one direction or another as they await first quarter results for the majority of companies and Bank of Jamaica interest rate moves, but the market enjoyed a rise in the volume and value of stocks changing hands compared to trading results on Wednesday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 1,463.69 points to 343,650.19, the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,167.97 points to 367,126.63 after trading opened with the index up at 374,014.47 points, the JSE Main Index shed 1,446.13 to 332,138.52, the Junior Market Index lost 12.49 points to close at 3,686.08 after opening at 3,740 points in the morning session and the JSE USD Market Index rose 0.92 points to close at 229.36.
In the preference section of the Main Market that is not reflected in the TOP10 graphs, Eppley 7.25% fell $2.19 to end at $16.56 and JPS 7 percent popped $10 to $60.
At the close, investors exchanged 44,225,452 shares in all three markets, up from 19,384,296 units on Wednesday, with the value of trading on Thursday amounting to $113.3 million up from $64.8 million on the previous trading day. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 12,382,341 shares for US$179,206, up from 282,987 units at US$21,164 on Wednesday. Transjamaica Highway accounted for 13.148 million units valued at US$143,262, with the price hitting US$1.25 at the close.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.1 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 payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that also show the closing volume pertaining to the bids and offers 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.
Trading picks up for JSE Main Market
Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 158 percent and the value 29 percent more than on Tuesday, following trading in 59 securities down from 62 on Tuesday, with 20 rising, 26 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 12,894,594 shares were exchanged for $48,653,770 up from 5,006,796 units at $37,626,082 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 218,552 shares at $824,640, versus 80,755 shares at $606,872 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 200,493 units at $878,096, compared to 196,767 units at $889,124 on the previous day. March closed with an average of 356,137 units at $3,015,416.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 4.72 million shares for 36.6 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.06 million units for 16 percent of the day’s trade, Stanley Motta ended with 2.01 million units for 15.6 percent market share and QWI Investments with 1.52 million units for 11.8 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,016.96 points to 368,294.60, the JSE Main Index increased 2,386.74 points to 333,584.65 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.44 points to close at 75.89.
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 incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments declined $1.30 in closing at $79.70 after a transfer of 49,873 shares, Berger Paints rallied 53 cents to $8.48 after an exchange of 13 units, Caribbean Cement advanced 45 cents to close at $59.95 with an exchange of 2,002 stock units, Eppley dipped $3.93 after ending at $33.55 with the swapping of 486 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $3.42 to end at $40.50 in an exchange of 640 stocks, Guardian Holdings rallied $5 after ending at $490 in an exchange of 222 stock units, Jamaica Broilers fell 98 cents to end at $35.50 after trading 34,040 shares, Jamaica Producers shed $1.30 to $20.65 while exchanging 4,285 units, JMMB Group dropped $2.28 to close at $29.50 in trading 10,295 stock units,
Kingston Properties gained 60 cents in closing at $7, with 36,697 units changing hands, Margaritaville shed 50 cents to end at $18 after closing with an exchange of 4,732 shares, Massy Holdings popped $8 after ending at $99, with 2,848 stocks crossing the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 60 cents in closing at $11 in switching ownership of 16,091 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose $4 to close at $75 with investors transferring 1,699 shares, NCB Financial climbed $2.99 to $74, with 28,178 stocks crossing the market, Pan Jamaica Group fell $1.94 to $54 after an exchange of 11,508 units, Proven Investments increased $1.38 to close at $27.33 as 7,570 shares passed through the market, Sagicor Group declined 50 cents after ending at $47.50 with a transfer of 85,383 stock units, Salada Foods dropped 43 cents in closing at $3.56, with 9,951 stocks crossing the exchange and Sygnus Real Estate Finance gained 66 cents to end at $11.82 with 2,923 units clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.50% preference share dropped $50 to $1200 as investors exchanged 82 shares, Eppley 7.75% preference share fell $2.96 to close at $16.94 with an exchange of 2,500 units and Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $11.53 in ending at $50, with 170 stock units crossed the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
