Stocks closed higher and the end of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, after a 57 percent jump in the volume of stocks changing hands as the value more than doubled at 116 percent more than on Tuesday after trading in only 42 securities compared with 47 on Tuesday and ended with rising and declining stocks sharing 16 each as 10 closed unchanged.
Investors traded 11,018,178 shares for $34,448,601, up from 7,029,208 units at $15,932,727 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 262,338 shares at $820,205 compared to 149,558 shares at $338,994 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 320,328 units at $3,913,128 compared to 325,801 stock units at $4,205,044 on the previous day, with the average value much higher than March with an average of 509,288 units at $1,071,868.
MFS Capital Partners led trading with 3.07 million shares for 27.9 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 1.21 million units for 10.9 percent of the day’s trade and Image Plus Consultants with 921,409 units for 8.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 18.27 points to close at 3,730.55.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.5. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded price in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com 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 declined 52 cents to $2.60 with investors transferring 5,000 shares, Caribbean Cream dipped 19 cents to end at $3.30 in trading 6,323 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries advanced 35 cents to close at $2.42, with 4,118 units crossing the market. EduFocal fell 17 cents after ending at $2.05 while exchanging 518,313 stock units, Future Energy Source lost 10 cents to $4.06, with 672,600 shares changing hands,
General Accident gained $1.31 in closing at $6 after an exchange of 35,881 stocks. GWest Corporation popped 12 cents to $1.04 with 2,001 stock units clearing the market, Honey Bun dropped 15 cents to end at $6.32 after a transfer of 3,088 stocks, KLE Group rallied 19 cents to close at $2.06 with investors trading 101 units. Knutsford Express shed 70 cents to $11 with 18,214 shares crossing the market, Lasco Distributors lost 21 cents after ending at $2.19 in an exchange of 569,604 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing declined 15 cents to close at $4 with trading in 25,306 stocks. Main Event rose 47 cents to $13.27 in switching ownership of 53,571 units,MFS Capital Partners fell 18 cents to end at $3.31, with 3,074,181 stocks crossing the exchange. 
Regency Petroleum increased 19 cents in closing at a record high of $2.49 after exchanging 728,168 shares, Spur Tree Spices climbed 17 cents to $2.80 with the swapping of 1,205,767 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 65 cents after ending at $14.50 in an exchange of 594 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Transjamaican dominates JSE USD market
Heavy trading in shares of Transjamaican Highway lifted the volume of stocks changing hands by 1,409 percent valued 348 percent more than on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Wednesday, with the stock price jumping to a record high of $1.30 and resulted in trading of five securities, compared to six on Tuesday with four rising and one unchanged.
Market activity resulted in an exchange of 1,049,056 shares for US$18,330 up from 69,500 units at US$4,092 on Tuesday.
Trading Wednesday averaged 209,811 units at US$3,666 versus 11,583 shares at US$682 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 270,272 shares at US$6,627 compared with 275,148 units at US$6,866 on the previous trading day. March averaged 172,829 shares for US$12,793.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 2.23 points to 242.88.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.4. 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 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share remained at 6 US cents after 1,449 shares were traded, Proven Investments rallied 0.05 of a cent to end at 17.99 US cents after 28,959 stock units crossed the market, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 0.14 of a cent to close at 9.44 US cents in trading 1,147 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share advanced 1.37 cents to 10.57 US cents with the swapping of just one unit of the stock and Transjamaican Highway climbed 0.2 of a cent to end at a 52 weeks’ high of 1.30 US cents after investors exchanged 1,017,500 units in reaction to positive 2022 full year results that points to increased profits in 2023.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading climbs on JSE Main Market
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 138 percent, valued 43 percent more than on Tuesday, with 56 securities trading compared to 56 on Tuesday, with 18 rising, 22 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 19,169,248 shares were traded for $107,354,551, up from 8,067,288 units at $74,863,539 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 342,308 shares at $1,917,046, versus 144,059 shares at $1,336,849 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 227,033 units at $1,025,770, compared with 215,806 units at $938,967 on the previous day. March closed with an average of 356,137 units at $3,015,416.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 6.94 million shares for 36.2 percent of total volume as the price hit a record high of $1.76 and was followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.34 million units for 22.6 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 2.89 million units for 15.1 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 2,286.40 points to 369,887.60, the JSE Main Index dropped 3,351.63 points to 331,310.13 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.79 points to finish at 76.09.
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 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.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and eight with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments popped $2.05 to $79.10 after 62,840 shares passed through the market, Caribbean Cement rallied 60 cents to end at $59.10, with 10,054 units changing hands, Eppley fell 79 cents in closing at $36.50 after a transfer of 276 stock units, Guardian Holdings dropped $10 to close at $475, with 5,213 stocks crossing the market. 
Jamaica Producers dipped $1 after ending at $21, after 106,910 shares passed through the market, Jamaica Stock Exchange gained 65 cents to end at $14.15 in trading 53,190 units, Kingston Wharves declined $2.75 to $31 with a transfer of 2,136 stock units, NCB Financial lost $2.99 to close at $71.50 while exchanging 82,898 stocks. Sagicor Group shed $2 in closing at $49, after 9,582 stock units switched owners, Scotia Group increased 97 cents to end at $34.99 as investors exchanged 194,297 shares, Seprod climbed $3.30 to end at $67 with investors transferring 6,342 stocks. Supreme Ventures lost 93 cents to end at $26.50 with an exchange of 16,835 units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance declined 85 cents to close at $9.30 with 10,185 stocks clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose $4.65 to $35.65, with 57 units crossing the exchange, 
JMMB Group 7% preference share dropped 60 cents to $1.93 after an exchange of 1,473 stock units and 138 Student Living preference share shed $3.08 after ending at $74 and trading 42 stock units and Transjamaican Highway 8% fell 41 cents in closing at $3.09 with an exchange of 25,095 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior & USD market rise Main Market falls
The JSE USD the Junior Markets recorded gains at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday but the Main Market declined after trading closed with an increase in the volume and value of stocks changing hands compared to trading on Tuesday.
Trading ended after the JSE Combined Market Index shed 2,960.06 points to end at 343,284.33, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,286.40 points to 369,887.60, the JSE Main Index dropped 3,351.63 points to close at 331,310.13, while the Junior Market Index rose 18.27 points to 3,730.55 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 2.43 points to 243.07.
In the preference segment of the Main Market that is not reflected in the TOP10 graphs 138 SLVR fell $3.08 to $74 and JPS 7 percent rose $4.65 to $35.65.
At the close, investors exchanged 31,232,072 shares in all three markets, up from 14,512,825 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $141.76 million up from $89.69 million on Tuesday. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 1,049,056 shares for US$18,330, up from 69,500 units at US$4,092 on Tuesday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 12.4 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 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.
Consolidated Bakeries turnaround
Consolidated Bakeries seems to be on the mend, with 2023 looking like the year it finally comes into its own having posted the first full year profit in 2022, the first since 2018, with sales exceeding the billion mark for a second consecutive year and the third time in four years.
Anthony Chang, Managing Director of Consolidated Bakeries
Purity, a name the company is also well known by, reported profit in three of the four quarters last year with profit in the first two quarters as well as in the December 2022 quarter but reported a $14.5 million loss in the third quarter even with revenues in that quarter being the same as the final quarter at $323 million.
The improved 2022 profit performance evolved from a 26.5 percent rise in revenues to $1.37 billion for the full year above the $1.079 billion in 2021 with profit after taxation coming in at $14 million compared to an $18 million loss in 2021. Pretax profit was even more impressive being $17.7 million versus a loss of $21.7 million in 2021 resulting in a $38 million turnaround.
The improved results show up in a strongly transformed financial position resulting in an enhanced working capital position even as sales surged, with a buildup of cash and reduction in borrowed funds.
Revenues climbed 30 percent in the March quarter, from $291 million last year, to $378 million and rose a stronger 42 percent in the June quarter to $342 million from $241 million in 2021. At the same time gross profit margin that tends to hover around 39 percent rose to 42 percent in the second quarter, from 38 percent in 2021. For the six months, revenues were up 35 percent to $720 million from $532 million in 2021 while gross profit rose 41 percent to $292 from $207 million. The Easter period provides added revenues for the company, resulting in the first half of the year producing higher revenues and profit than the second half.
In the first quarter, profit before tax rose 61 percent to $14.5 in 2022, from $9 million last year and is up 200 percent in the second quarter to $13.5 from a loss of $13.4 in 2021. For the half year pretax profit surged 735 percent to $28 million from a $4.4 million loss in 2021.
The company generated a gain on other comprehensive income from investments of $783,279 for 2022 and $6.3 million for 2021.
Administrative and other expenses rose by just 6 percent to $266 million from $250 million in 2021. Selling and Distribution expenses increased by a robust 33.4 percent to $203.4 million in 2022 over that of 2021 with $152.5 million. Depreciation rose 8 percent to $35.6 million from $33 million in 2021. Finance cost jumped sharply to $16.3 million from $11.7 million in 2021.
The company’s finances are looking much better in 2022 than in 2021. Operations for the half year generated gross cash flow from operations of $118 million after changes in working capital, allowing it to fund the acquisition of fixed assets amounting to $63 million to end the year with an increase in cash of $57 million.
Consolidated Bakeries Miss Birdie Easter bun.
Shareholders’ equity stood at $697 million, while Long term borrowings ended the period at $136 million and short term loans at $51 million, representing a $47 million reduction from December 2021 and resulting in cash and bank balances and investments rising to $99 million, from $90 million at the end of December 2021. Current assets ended the period at $293 million, with trade and other receivables standing at $115 million, compared to $110 million in 2021. Inventories rose moderately to $79 million from $67 million in 2021. Current liabilities ended at $237 million, up from $175 million at the end of December 2021 and net current assets ended at $56 million compared with $93 million at the end of the previous year.
In the past the big concern was the ability of the company to hold on to the profit made in the first six months in the second half of the year, this changed in 2022 as revenues benefitted from increased volume sales as the company made headways into new areas as well as some new products. In an interview with Managing Director, Anthony Chang in 2022, he stated that while new products helped sales, in some cases traditional products found new takers in areas of the country where demand was not as strong in the past. Chang also stated that they are now benefiting from some changes made in personnel that is delivering improved results, he also indicated expansion of the distribution channel into smaller stores while consolidating business in the bigger stores. They also placed focus on cost by employing a cost accountant.
Retooling played an important role in the gains but Chang say this is a work in progress. According to him, bread at one stage in the past accounted for 90 percent of sales, was in direct competition with the market leader and had low profit margin, but it took time to make the shift as new machinery was needed to effect the change to new products, that needed machinery for packaging these products. The company has been adding to fixed assets as a part of the drive to have the right machines and in the quantity required to churn out new products.
Based on the above ICInsider.com projects this year’s earnings per share of 40 cents and 75 cents for 2024 with the company benefitting from full recovery of the local economy and increased efficiency and reduction in interest cost as borrowings decline.
The company has a net book value of $3.07. If achieved, the PE ratio currently would be 6.3, based on the price of $2.50 the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Friday.
Half year profit jumps 122% at One on One
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.93 million shares for 33.2 percent of total volume, on Monday up from just 374,488 shares being traded on Friday, following the release of half year’s results, showing increased revenues of 47 percent to $153 million from $104 million in 2022 while the second quarter revenues rose more slowly at 17.5 percent to $72.6 million from $61.8 million.
Profit before tax jumped 122 percent in the half year to $19.7 million from $8.9 million in 2022, but with slightly lower profits in the second quarter of $7.4 million compared with $14.6 million in 2022 as administrative costs jumped much faster than revenues by 51.6 percent in the quarter to $47 million from $31 million in 2022 and 54 percent for the half year from $60 million to $92 million.
Helping with the results was a fall in direct cost that fell 27 percent from $16.3 million to $11.85 in the first quarter and a fall from $28.7 million to $26.8 million for the six months. Gross profit jumped 33.6 percent in the second quarter to $60.7 million from $45.5 million and jumped 68 percent from $75.5 million in the half year to $126.7 million.
Selling expenses climbed from $3.3 million in the quarter to $9 million and from $6.5 million in the half year to $17.7 million in 2023. Finance cost fell to $873,172 in the second quarter down from$3.9 million in 2022 and fell from $6 million for the 2022 half year to $2.4 million in 2023.
Earnings per share amounts to 0.9 cents for the half year. the company ended with cash funds at $185 million, up from the $45 million in February 2022. Receivables spiked to $144 million, representing almost 6 months of sales revenue, up from $88 million at the end of August 2022.
The company provided a Q3 Outlook: “as we move into Q3, we are optimistic about the growth and opportunities across all our divisions. The launch of OneAcademy and the continued expansion of our government and business divisions will drive our performance in Q3. Additionally, our investments in people, systems, content development, and AI will continue to yield results as we position One on One as a regional and global leader in the Ed-Tech space.”
Trading in the stock continues to be healthy with 1.17 million shares on Tuesday, with the last traded price at $1.15 after trading up to $1.19, with bids to buy 1.26 million at $1.15 and 460,888 on offer at $1.17.
Fall in Main Market on Tuesday
Trading activity led to a decline in the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 14 percent and the value jumping 90 percent more than on Monday, following trading in 56 securities compared to 57 on Monday, with prices of 18 rising, 22 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 8,067,288 shares were traded for $74,863,538 against 9,372,400 units at $39,505,39 on Monday.
Trading averaged 144,059 shares at $1,336,849 versus 164,428 shares at $693,077 on Monday and month to date, an average of 215,806 units at $938,967 compared with 223,548 units at $896,036 on the previous day. March closed with an average of 356,137 units at $3,015,416.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 4.16 million shares for 51.6 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.61 million units for 20 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% due 2028 ended with 329,594 units for 4.1 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 831.45 points to conclude trading at 372,174.00, the JSE Main Index declined 1,387.56 points to 334,661.76 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.05 points to 76.88.
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 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dropped $2.05 in closing at $77.05 after an exchange of 1,038 shares, Caribbean Cement rose $1 to end at $58.50 in switching ownership of 238,261 stocks, GraceKennedy declined $1.99 to $78 with a transfer of 325,898 stock units, 
Guardian Holdingss hed $10 after ending at $485, with 4,682 units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves rallied $3.23 to close at $33.75, with 5,998 shares clearing the market, Margaritaville advanced $3.23 to $18.23 as 200 units passed through the market, Massy Holdings fell $4 after ending at $91, with 7,249 stocks changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 60 cents to $11.17 while exchanging 714 stock units,NCB Financial gained $2.99 to close at $74.49 after an exchange of 109,813 stocks, Pan Jamaica Group dipped 90 cents in closing at $53.90, with 5,758 stock units crossing the exchange, Portland JSX climbed 68 cents to close at $11.46 in trading 14 shares, Proven Investments lost $1.44 to end at $25.88 with the swapping of 2,001 units, Sagicor Group increased $1.10 after ending at $51 and an exchange of 29,820 units, Seprod lost $7.30 in closing at $63.70 as investors exchanged 12,566 shares, 
Supreme Ventures popped 63 cents to $27.43 with investors transferring 161,016 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed $1.64 to end at $10.15 with an exchange of 1,013 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share gained $3.82 after ending at $20.02, with a mere two shares changing hands and Jamaica Public Service 7% declined 70 cents in closing at $31 after exchanging 522 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD Market closes higher on Tuesday
Trading dipped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 80 percent valued 90 percent less than on Monday, and resulting in the trading of six securities, up from three on Monday with four rising, no declining and two ending unchanged.
Overall, 69,500 shares were traded for US$4,092 compared with 353,880 units at US$40,414 on Monday.
Trading averaged 11,583 units at US$682, down from 117,960 shares at US$13,471 on Monday, with a month to date average of 275,148 shares at US$6,866 compared to 303,387 units at US$7,528 on the previous day. March ended with an average of 172,829 units for US$12,793.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased by 6.12 points to close at 240.64.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.9. 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 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share ended at 6 US cents after an exchange of 48,393 shares, Proven Investments gained 1.86 cents to close trading at 17.94 US cents with an exchange of 832 units, Sterling Investments ended at 2 US cents after 11,912 stocks crossed the exchange, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 0.3 of a cent after ending at 9.3 US cents and trading 7,667 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share increased 2.02 cents in closing at 9.2 US cents in trading 672 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% climbed 2 cents to end at US$1.10 and closed with 24 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Steady trading for JSE Junior Market
Stocks just edged lower in trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 21 percent and the value 24 percent more than on Monday following trading in 47 securities similar to Monday and ended with 19 rising, 17 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 7,029,208 shares for $15,932,727 compared with 5,812,729 units at $12,880,143 on Monday.
Trading averaged 149,558 shares at $338,994 compared to 123,675 shares at $274,046 on Monday, with the month to date, averaging 325,801 units at $4,205,044 compared to 346,614 stock units at $4,661,588 on the previous day. March closed with an average of 509,288 units at $1,071,868.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 1.29 million shares for 18.3 percent of total volume followed by JFP Ltd with 1.18 million units for 16.8 percent of the day’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 1.17 million units for 16.7 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed just 2.02 points to finish at 3,712.28.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.3. 
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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging popped 47 cents to close at $3.12 with an exchange of 20,615 shares, Cargo Handlers climbed 50 cents to $14 after 43 stock units crossed the market, Consolidated Bakeries fell 43 cents to $2.07 as investors transferred 30,858 units, EduFocal advanced 19 cents in closing at $2.22, following an exchange of 55,995 stocks, Express Catering lost 16 cents to end at $5.59 after exchanging 19,317 stock units, General Accident declined 35 cents to $4.69 in switching ownership of 10,000 shares,
GWest Corporation shed 12 cents to end at 92 cents in trading 7,176 units, Honey Bun gained 17 cents after ending at $6.47, with an exchange of 2,398 stocks, iCreate increased 16 cents to close at $1.59, with 118,218 stocks changing hands, ISP Finance rose $1.49 in closing at $21 with the swapping of 200 units, Jetcon Corporation rallied 24 cents to $1.30 as 102,293 shares passed through the market, KLE Group gained 17 cents to close at $1.87 with 159 stock units clearing the market, Knutsford Express price increased 70 cents in closing at $11.70 after 26,178 stocks were traded, Lasco Distributors dipped 18 cents in ending at $2.40 after a transfer of 59,283 shares, Lasco Manufacturing fell 15 cents to $4.15 in an exchange of 57,213 stock units, 
Main Event shed 25 cents after ending at $12.80, with an exchange of 19,904 units and Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 85 cents to end at $15.15 as investors exchanged a mere 140 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main & Junior Markets fall as USD market jumps
The JSE USD Market was the only one of the three markets to record gains at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with the Junior Market just inching lower while the Main Market indices falling moderately after trading closed with a fall in the volume, with the value of stocks changing hands rising compared to trading on Monday.
Trading ended after the JSE Combined Market Index shed 1,313.21 points to close trading at 346244.39, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 831.45 points to 372,174.00, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,387.56 points to conclude trading at 334,661.76, while the Junior Market Index slipped a mere 2.02 points to 3,712.28 and the JSE USD Market Index climbed 6.12 points to close at 240.64.
In the preference segment of the Main Market that is not reflected in the TOP10 graphs, Eppley 7.75 percent rose $3.82 to $20.02.
At the close, investors exchanged 14,512,825 shares in all three markets, down from 15,538,967 units on Monday, with the value of stocks trading amounting to $89.69 million up from $52.4 million on Monday. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 69,500 shares for US$4,092 down from 353,880 units at US$40,414 on Monday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 19.1 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 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.
