The volume and value of stocks trading rose on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with the volume traded rising 15 percent and the value 34 percent more than on Thursday with all 48 listed securities trading compared with 40 on Thursday and ended with 13 rising, 23 declining and 12 unchanged but the Junior Market Index climbed 4.58 points to 3,703.49.
Investors traded 7,914,653 shares for $21,222,090, up from 6,861,944 units at $15,792,093 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 164,889 shares at $442,127, compared to 171,549 shares at $394,802 on Thursday, with the month to date averaging 478,177 units at $8,244,708 from 568,767 stock units at $10,500,876 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 509,288 units at $1,071,868.
Image Plus Consultants led trading with 1.80 million shares for 22.7 percent of total volume followed by Limners and Bards with 1.30 million units for 16.4 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy Source with 1.24 million units for 15.7 percent of the day’s trade.
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 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 one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 19 cents to $24.48, with 11 shares changing hands, AMG Packaging gained 15 cents to close at $3.09 as 11 stocks passed through the market, Caribbean Cream shed 19 cents after ending at $3.30 in an exchange of 421 stock units, Dolla Financial declined 11 cents in closing at $2.66 while exchanging 934,838 units, Dolphin Cove dropped 47 cents to end at $14.50, with 365 shares crossing the market, EduFocal lost 20 cents in ending at $2.10 and closed after 32,352 stocks changed hands, Express Catering rose 73 cents to end at $5.45 in switching ownership of 93,642 stock units, Fontana dipped 22 cents in closing at $8.10 with an exchange of 31,836 units, Future Energy Source rallied 10 cents to $4.20 after a transfer of 1,239,044 stocks, 
General Accident shed 34 cents to close at $4.71, with 7,577 shares crossing the exchange, Honey Bun lost 64 cents to close at $6.11 in trading 38,283 units, Indies Pharma popped 29 cents to $3.19 with investors transferring 7,807 stock units, ISP Finance declined $3.30 to $18.70 after trading 7,961 stock units, KLE Group climbed 17 cents in closing at $1.86 with the swapping of one unit, Knutsford Express advanced 78 cents to $11.78 as investors traded 11,914 stocks, Lasco Distributors dipped 20 cents after ending at $2.43, with 23,512 shares crossing the market, Limners and Bards dipped 28 cents in closing at $2.20 after exchanging 1,298,592 units, Main Event fell 56 cents to close at $11.70 with 9,992 shares clearing the market, 
Stationery and Office Supplies increased 13 cents to $14.15 in an exchange of 3,539 stock units and tTech lost 26 cents to end at $2.29 with a transfer of 13,291 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading drops on JSE Main Market
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 52 percent, with a 6 percent lower value than on Thursday, after trading in 62 securities compared to 55 on Thursday, with 22 rising, 28 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
A total of 5,006,796 shares were traded for $37,626,082, compared to 10,510,147 units at $39,934,059 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 80,755 shares at $606,872 versus 191,094 shares at $726,074 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 196,767 units at $889,124, compared with 228,878 units at $967,247 on the previous trading day. March had an average of 356,137 units at $3,015,416.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.32 million shares for 26.4 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.14 million units for 22.7 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 740,233 units for 14.8 percent market share.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,204.07 points to end at 369,311.56, the JSE Main Index dropped 195.10 points to 331,197.91 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.14 points to conclude trading at 76.33.
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 forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments rose $1.75 to $81 in an exchange of 26,109 shares after the price hit an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $77.05. Caribbean Cement rallied 50 cents to $59.50 with investors trading 9,116 units, First Rock Real Estate fell 85 cents to end at $11 with a transfer of 4,490 stock units, Guardian Holdings dropped $10 in closing at $485 while exchanging 245 stocks, Jamaica Producers popped 95 cents to $21.95 after trading 5,617 stocks. Kingston Properties shed 67 cents in closing at $6.40 as investors exchanged 22,951 units. Kingston Wharves dipped 60 cents to end at $30.55, with investors trading 5,849 stock units, Margaritaville gained $2.04 to close at $18.50 in trading 103 shares. 
Massy Holdings climbed $1 after ending at $91 with the swapping of 804 shares, Mayberry Investments increased 40 cents to $8 with an exchange of 10,000 units, NCB Financial lost $3.47 after ending at $71.01 as 20,912 stock units passed through the market, Salada Foods advanced 46 cents in closing at $3.99 in an exchange of 1,152 stocks. Scotia Group increased 73 cents to end at $35 after an exchange of 14,909 shares, Seprod declined $4.40 to $63.60, with 16,383 stock units clearing the market, Supreme Ventures advanced 50 cents to close at $27 in switching ownership of 244,880 units. Sygnus Credit Investments lost 40 cents to close at $11.60 as 36,446 stocks cleared the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance dropped $1.97 in closing at $11.16 after 1,087 shares crossed the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% crossing the market preference share, fell $2.90 to $19.10 t 25 units and Jamaica Public Service 7%, with 172 stock units dipping $8.17 after ending at $61.53 changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Steady JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining by 57 percent with a 14 percent lower value than on Thursday, and resulting from trading in eight securities, compared to nine on Thursday with four rising and four declining.
Overall, 299,535 shares were traded for US$25,772 compared with 694,591 units at US$29,863 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 37,442 shares at US$3,221, compared with 77,177 shares at US$3,318 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 66,592 shares at US$3,393, down from 74,634 units at US$3,440 on the previous day. March ended with an average of 172,829 units for US$12,793.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased by 0.04 points to close at 219.95.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.7. 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 two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville popped 0.24 of a cent to close at 10 US cents after exchanging 2,300 shares, Productive Business Solutions rose 7.52 cents to US$1.7365 in switching ownership of 29 units, 
Proven Investments shed 2.5 cents in closing at 16.5 US cents with 132,027 stock units clearing the market, Sterling Investments fell 0.12 of a cent to 1.87 US cents after 11,563 stocks crossed the market, Sygnus Credit Investments declined 0.04 of a cent after ending at 9.4 US cents and trading 3,131 stocks and Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.01 of a cent to 1 US cent after a transfer of 150,000 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% rallied 7.88 cents to close at US$2.20 with an exchange of 20 units and JMMB Group 6% gained 3 cents after ending at US$1.08 and closed with trading of 465 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Markets consolidating
Markets recorded gains on Tuesday following the closure of the Jamaica Stock Exchange for the long Easter weekend, commencing at the close on Thursday, with modest changes in the various market indices following moderate changes in the volume and value of stocks changing hands compared to Thursday.
Trading ended with the JSE Combined Market Index dipping 139.10 points to close at 342,939.98, the All Jamaican Composite Index slipping 1,204.07 points to 369,311.56, the JSE Main Index dropping 195.10 points to 331,197.91, while the Junior Market popping 4.58 points to 3,703.49 and the JSE USD Market Index rising 0.04 points to finish at 219.95.
In the preference section of the Main Market that is not reflected in the TOP10 graphs, Eppley 5% lost $2.90 to end at $19.10 and JPS 7% dropped $8.17 to $61.53.
At the close, investors exchanged 13,220,580 shares in all three markets, compared with 18,066,552 units on Thursday, with the value of trading on Tuesday amounting to $58.84, million from $55.7 million on the previous trading day. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 299,535 shares for US$25,772, down from 694,591 units at US$29,863 on Thursday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.6 on 2021-22 earnings and 12 times those for 2022-23 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.
Nice gains for ICTOP10 stocks, Purity returns
The Main and Junior Markets did not maintain the sharp bounce of the previous week, but most ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks ended with gains. In contrast, the Main Market ended with mostly modest losses, with 138 Student Living rising 5 percent to $5.30 and JMMB Group declining by 5 percent to $31.49, all other changes in the Main Market were two percent or less.
Dr Karlene McDonnough – Chairman of Image Consultants Ltd. The stock came in for increased demand during the week ahead of the release of full-year results.
The Junior Market had one change in its TOP10 list as Iron Rock Insurance and Image Plus climbed 13 percent to $2.27 and $2.03, respectively, while Main Event and Honey Bun rose 5 percent to $12.26 and $6.75, respectively, with the only sizable decline being a 9 percent fall for Tropical Battery to $1.90.
Image Plus never benefitted from any serious IPO bounce seems to be finally finding buying interest and closed the past week with 159,904 shares on the bid at $2.02, 160,746 at $2 and just over 800,000 between $1.90 and $1.95, with 25,987 stocks on offer at $2.03, 81,709 at $2.05 with one big offer of 1.72 million units at S2.50 with smaller offers before the this. There has been healthy trading in the stock recently, with trading of 824,526 units on Thursday. Trading on Wednesday saw 1,153,255 shares changing hands in the stock, with 910,000 units on Tuesday and 1.75 million shares on Monday, which seems to have cleared out a great deal of overhang in the market.
Update on interest rate developments. A number of developments taking place in the economy are worth watching. Following last week’s $35 billion Bank of Jamaica CD auction that saw the average rate coming in at 8.49 percent, this week’s auction saw an offer of $34 billion, with the average rate remaining the same as the previous week with fewer funds chasing the offered amount. 
Another positive development is the average inflation rate running at 45 percent less than the same time last year and averaging 2.4 percent per annum since November last year. Foreign exchange inflows have been strong, with the NIR growing at $66 million in February and 220 million in March, putting it at a record end of month level as initial data suggest that tourism arrivals and foreign exchange generated by that industry exceed the similar period in 2019, the last year without the impact of covid-19 negatively affecting the sector. On top of those positive developments, corporate profits are expected to enjoy a good bounce for the majority of companies for the first quarter.
The Junior Market has a long term pattern, with the market starting to rise around a month before quarterly results are due and declining shortly after results are released. This is a pattern worth noting that can be built into investment decisions to improve returns.
Consolidated Bakeries Miss Birdie Easter bun. The stock is back in the ICTOP10
Dropping from the TOP10 Junior Market list this past week was Honey Bun, but investors should expect a big 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 an improvement of gross profit margin that slipped up last year.
Returning to the TOP10 is Consolidated Bakeries in the number 3 spot. The company is projected to report a solid first quarter profit, with the Easter holidays coming at the start of April compared with April 17 last year and ensuring that mostly all Easter bun sales will be reported in the March quarter unlike 2022. The company reported a profit in 2022 a big improvement over a loss in the previous three years. ICInsider.com projects earnings of 40 cents for 2023 and 75 cents for 2024 with the company benefitting from a full recovery of the local economy and increase efficiency and reduction in borrowings. At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE
Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 13.5, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.7 compared with the market at 11.1. The differences are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 256 percent and the Main Market TOP10, an average of 271 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The Junior Market has 10 stocks representing 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 29, averaging 19, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, suggesting this may be a logical value for junior market stocks.
The 16 stocks with the highest value in the Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks and 19 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 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.
Gains for JSE Main Market stocks
Trading remained at recent low levels at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 19 percent and the value 7 percent lower than the already puny level on Wednesday, with trading in 55 securities compared to 57 on Wednesday, with prices of 19 rising, 18 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,510,147 shares were traded for $39,934,059 compared to 12,992,157 units at $42,746,105 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 191,094 shares at $726,074 compared with 227,933 shares at $749,932 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 228,878 units at $967,239, compared with 241,174 units at $1,045,725 on the previous day. March closed with an average of 356,137 units at $3,015,416.
Transjamaican Highway headed trading with 3.96 million shares for 37.7 percent of the total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.69 million units for 16.1 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm ended with 1.68 million units for 16 percent market share and QWI Investments with 1.32 million units for 12.6 percent of day’s volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,349.36 points to conclude trading at 370,515.63, the JSE Main Index increased 1,175.40 points to 331,393.01 and the JSE Financial Index rallied 0.17 points to close at 76.47.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 13.5 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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement dropped 94 cents in closing at $59 with investors transferring 2,463 shares, Eppley rallied $4.98 to $37.49 as investors exchanged 86 stock units, First Rock Real Estate gained, with $1.11 to end at $11.85 with an exchange of 42 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 46 cents to close at $13.51 with investors exchanging of 371 stocks, JMMB Group climbed $2.49 after ending at $31.49, with 9,256 stock units changing hands, Kingston 
Wharves advanced 61 cents to $31.15 w ith investors exchanging 150,000 units, Mayberry Investments declined 40 cents to close at $7.60 in switching ownership of 17,378 stocks, Proven Investments fell 60 cents in closing at $26 after 4,792 shares crossed the market, Sagicor Group increased by $1 after in ending at $48, with 10,735 stocks crossing the market, Seprod popped 99 cents to end at $68 after trading 27,037 units, Sterling Investments advanced 42 cents to $2.96 as 88,527 shares passed through the market, Supreme Ventures dipped 50 cents to close at $26.50 in trading 107,575 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments increased 40 cents in closing at $12 after an exchange of 10,840 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied $1.50 to $13.13 after a transfer of 227 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% lost $14.30 to end at $69.70 after exchanging 87 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 193 percent but valued 17 percent lower than on Wednesday and resulted in trading of nine securities, compared to six on Wednesday, with four rising, three declining and two ending unchanged.
A total of 694,591 shares were traded for US$29,863 compared with 236,678 units at US$35,767 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 77,177 units at US$3,318 compared with 39,446 shares at US$5,961 on Wednesday, with the month to date averaging 74,634 shares at US$3,440 compared to 73,490 units at US$3,495 on the previous day. trading in March averaged 172,829 units for US$12,793.
The US Denominated Equities Index rallied 9.57 points to 219.91.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.9. 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 three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share advanced 0.01 of a cent to 6.38 US cents, with 431,901 shares crossing the market, Margaritaville lost 1.72 cents to close at 9.76 US cents as investors exchanged 2 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy remained at 69.77 US cents and closed trading with 140 stocks changing hands, 
Productive Business Solutions declined 6.87 cents to US$1.6613, with an exchange of 25 stock units, Proven Investments dipped 0.5 of a cent to 19 US cents after trading 61 units, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 9.44 US cents in switching ownership of 161 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share gained 0.18 of one cent to close at 7.18 US cents with one unit passing through the market and Transjamaican Highway added 0.01 of a cent in closing at 1.01 US cents, with 262,275 stocks clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share climbed 50 cents to US$13 after an exchange of 25 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market gains
Trading fell back to more normal levels on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded diving 91 percent and the value 99 percent from Wednesday’s elevated high following a large block of Access Financial shares being traded, with trading in 40 securities compared with 42 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 15 rising, 18 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 6,861,944 shares for $15,792,093 versus 72,320,927 units at $1,687,100,183 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 171,549 shares at $394,802 versus 1,721,927 shares at $40,169,052 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 568,76 units at $10,500,876 compared with 694,868 stock units at $13,709,154 on the previous day. March averaged 509,288 units at $1,071,868.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.22 million shares for 17.8 percent of total volume, followed by EduFocal with 1.03 million units for 15 percent of the day’s trade and Image Plus Consultants with 824,526 units for 12 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 5.7 points to 3,698.91.
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 and ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years 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 five with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging popped 26 cents in closing at $2.94 after trading 50 shares, Cargo Handlers lost 31 cents in ending at $12.99 after 306 stocks passed through the market, Consolidated Bakeries dropped 15 cents to $2.01 trading 15,293 units, EduFocal increased 38 cents to close at $2.30 with the swapping of 1,029,901 stock units, Express Catering dipped 28 cents to end at $4.72 after exchanging 24,493 stocks, 
Fosrich rose 10 cents in closing at $2.61 in an exchange of 656,117 shares, Future Energy Source declined 11 cents to end at $4.10, with 540,987 stock units crossing the market, General Accident advanced 10 cents to $5.05 with 2,000 units crossing the exchange, Indies Pharma fell 29 cents to $2.90 and closed after investors swapped 119,732 units, ISP Finance shed $1.99 to close at $22 with one stock changing hands, Knutsford Express dipped 78 cents to $11, with 2,000 shares crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing gained 9 cents in closing at $4.10 as investors exchanged 1,500 stock units, 
Mailpac Group rallied 12 cents to close at $1.84 with 96,082 stocks clearing the market and Paramount Trading climbed 20 cents to end at $2.40 after a transfer of 212,994 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for all three JSE Markets
Markets recorded gains ahead of the long Easter weekend break, on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the Main Market leading the way, with the market index climbing over 1,000 points while the Junior Market and the JSE USD market closed slightly higher.
Trading ended with the JSE Combined Market Index popping 1,147.93 points to 343,075.79, the All Jamaican Composite Index rising 1,349.36 points to close at 370,515.63, the JSE Main Index gaining 1,175.40 points to settle at 331,393.01, while the Junior Market rose 5.72 points to close at 3,698.91 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 9.57 points to end at 219.91.
In the preference section of the Main Market that is not reflected in the TOP10 graphs, JPS 7 percent dropped $14.30 to $69.70.
At the close, investors exchanged 18,066,552 shares in all three markets, compared with 85,549,341 units on Wednesday, with the value of trading on Thursday amounting to just $55.7, million down sharply from $1.73 billion on the previous trading day. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging 694,591 shares for US$29,863, down from 303,705 units at US$35,767 on Wednesday.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.7 on 2021-22 earnings and 12.1 times those for 2022-23 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.
Access pushes Junior Market trading
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded surging 1,828 percent and the value 20,493 percent more than on Tuesday as a result of Proven Investments switching ownership within the group for the near 68 million Access shares it owns, following trading in 42 securities compared with 43 on Tuesday, with 13 rising, 20 declining and nine closing unchanged.
Investors traded 72,320,927 shares for $1,687,100,183 compared with 3,751,282 units at $8,192,766 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 1,721,927 shares at $40,169,052, compared to 87,239 shares at $190,529 on Tuesday with a month to date, average of 694,868 units at $13,709,154 compared to 181,338 stock units at $479,205 on the previous day. March closed with an average of 509,288 units at $1,071,868.
Access Financial led trading with 67.86 million shares for 93.8 percent of total volume followed by Image Plus with 1.15 million units for 1.6 percent of the day’s trade and Mailpac Group with 758,453 units for one percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 8.01 points to end at 3,693.19.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11. 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 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined 37 cents to $24.67, with 67,861,430 shares clearing the market, AMG Packaging shed 38 cents after ending at $2.68 in trading 5,010 stocks, CAC 2000 dipped $1.60 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $5.50 after 177 stock units changed hands, 
Caribbean Assurance Brokers gained 8 cents to close at $1.98, with 104,624 units crossing the exchange, Caribbean Flavours popped 19 cents to $1.25 as investors traded 1,000 units, Consolidated Bakeries rallied 15 cents to end at $2.16 after 61 units crossed the exchange, EduFocal declined 8 cents to $1.92 as 5,477 units passed through the market, Indies Pharma gained 33 cents to $3.19 with the swapping of 4,625 stocks, JFP Ltd dropped 8 cents to close at $1.70 after an exchange of 18,104 units, Lasco Distributors advanced 25 cents to $2.63 after an exchange of 12,859 shares, Limners and Bards dropped 11 cents in closing at $2.49, with 29,437 stock units changing hands, Mailpac Group fell 20 cents to end at $1.72 with an exchange of 758,453 stocks, Main Even rose 36 cents to close at $12.27 after exchanging 41,536 stock units, 
MFS Capital Partners climbed 14 cents to $3.52 with investors transferring 6,363 units and Stationery and Office Supplies lost $1.67 to close at $14.02 in an exchange of 12,000 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
