Trading jumped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Monday, leading to a fall in the market with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 127 percent, valued 770 percent more than on Friday and resulting in nine securities traded, compared to seven on Friday with five rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
Trading accounted for 620,736 shares for US$61,293, compared with 273,362 units at US$7,044 on Friday.
Trading on Monday averaged 68,971 shares at US$6,810, compared with 39,052 units at US$1,006 on Friday, with a month to date average of 174,793 shares at US$14,495 compared with 182,063 units at US$15,023 on the prior trading day. February ended with an average of 43,793 units for US$2,015.
The JSE USD Equities Index dived 24.22 points to end at 191.48. 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 one stock ending with a bid higher than the last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share gained 0.18 of a cent to end at 6.25 US cents, with 288,908 shares clearing the market, Margaritaville increased 0.05 of a cent after finishing at 11 US cents, while 37 stocks passed through the market, Productive Business Solutions declined 40 cents to close at US$1.35 trading 248 units. Proven Investments shed 0.5 of a cent to end at 16.5 US cents after 258,719 stock units passed through the market, Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 0.5 of a cent in closing at 9.5 US cents while exchanging 1,024 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share remained at 7.18 US cents after an exchange of 1,375 shares and Transjamaican Highway rallied 0.06 of a cent to 0.94 of one US cent, with investors transferring 70,422 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 6% preference share popped 8.88 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ high of US$1.40 as investors exchanged two stocks and Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share ended at US$1.64 after a transfer of 1 stock unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big fall for JSE USD market
Key Insurance highest ICTOP10 jumps 37%
Stocks dropped to their lowest levels this past week after falling even lower than they did to close of the previous week as investors continue to shun the market, but the time is not far off that Bank of Jamaica will begin lowering interest rates and fuel a market resurgence as they sent the clearest signal that interest rates have not only peaked but will be headed downwards this past week.
The first signs of an easing of rate came this past week with BOJ CDs rates plunging 16 percent to an average of 8.85 percent from over 10 percent where it stood for several months. Importantly, the central bank cut the stock of CDS it holds from a peak of $109.5 billion on March 3, down to $82 billion at the latest auction, far less than from mid-January to the end of February, as more than $58 billion chasing after the $18 billion that was offered last week. While this happened the foreign exchange market looks very liquid with the rate falling under $152 to one US dollar from $155 earlier in February.
Performance in the past week for the Junior Market TOP10 saw only two stocks rising and seven falling, the majority of the declining stocks registering fell by 3 percent or less. General Accident jumped 20 percent to $5.98, but the bids are not there at the close, to support the price, but selling has abated for this stock currently. Everything Fresh rose 9 percent to close at $1.55 and actually traded at $1.65 during the week. Iron Rock Insurance fell 13 percent to $2 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 6 percent to $1.90.
The Main Market TOP10 saw the highest gaining stock rising just 34 percent, after Key Insurance jumped to $3.50 and was followed by 138 Student Living with an 8 percent rise to $5.40, but Caribbean Producers dropped 8 percent to $9.07. All other movements were 3 percent or less.
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 that can improve returns.
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 13.2, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.9 compared with the market at 10.6. The differences are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 248 percent and the Main Market TOP10 an average of 274 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The Junior Market has 9 stocks representing 19 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 24, averaging 19, well above the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, suggesting that this may be a logical value for junior market stocks currently.
The Main Market 16 most valued stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 100, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest valued stocks and 18 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.
JSE USD market pulled back on Friday
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 99 percent valued being 100 percent lower than the huge trades that took place on Thursday, resulting in trading seven securities, compared to six on Thursday with none rising, five declining and two ending unchanged.
Overall, 273,362 shares were traded for US$7,044 compared with 21,983,490 units at US$1,628,700 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 39,052 shares at US$1,006 down from 3,663,915 units at US$271,450 on Thursday. The average trade month to date amounts to 182,063 shares at US$15,023 compared to 190,136 units at US$15,814 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 43,793 units for US$2,015.
The JSE USD Equities Index fell 1.66 points to end at 215.70.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.8. 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 the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share shed 0.01 of a cent to to close at 6.07 US cents after investors traded 900 shares, Margaritaville dipped 0.04 of a cent to end at 10.95 US cents with an exchange of 87 units, Proven Investments lost 0.5 of a cent to close at 17 US cents in switching ownership of 4,964 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 0.5 of a cent to end at 9 US cents with traders exchanging 3,900 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share remained at 7.18 US cents with investors transferring 858 stocks and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.06 of a cent in ending at 0.88 of one US cent in an exchange of 260,960 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% ended at US$2 with the trading of 1,693 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
More declines for Jamaican stock markets
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main and Junior Markets rose at the close of trading on Friday, but the USD market slipped lower with the volume and value of stocks traded falling compared with trading on Thursday.
At the close of trading, JPS 7% preference shares jumped $50 to an unrealistic record high of $$00 after investors exchanged 1,295 shares, with an exchange of 16,410,081 shares in all three markets, compared with 43,111,953 units, with a value of $82.4 million, in contrast to $101.4 million on the previous trading day. JSE USD market closed with investors trading 273,362 shares for US$7,044 compared to just 21,983,490 units at US$1.63 million on Thursday.
The JSE Combined Market Index climbed 1,499.50 points to close at 334,072.41, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 861.71 points to 363,092.98, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,262.43 points to 322,420.29, the Junior Market gained 34.78 to end at 3,629.45 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 1.66 points to close at 215.70.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 18.2 based on 2021-22 earnings and 11.7 times those for 2022-23 at the close of trading.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate many 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. It 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.
Profit bolted 45% at Derrimon in 2023
Profit popped 45 percent higher in 2022 at Derrimon Trading Company to $580 million for shareholders, following a mere 3.8 percent rise in revenues to $18.4 billion from $17.74 billion in 2021 and following a fall in cost of sales to $13.78 billion from $14.34 billion in 2021 resulting in gross profit rising a solid 36 percent to $4.6 billion from just $3.4 billion, with profit margin climbing to 25.2 percent from just 19.2 percent in 2021.
Sales revenue fell in the final quarter compared with 2021, with $4.6 billion generated in the December 2022 quarter, down from $5.6 billion in 2021, as segment data shows the wholesale and retail segment suffering a $1.8 billion decline for the year to $8.4 billion. “We took deliberate strategic steps to focus more on our retail business that has greater margins and improves cash flows,” Derrick Cotterell, Managing Director, advised ICInsder.com in response to a question about the reasons for the lower sales in the December quarter. He continued to indicate that “going forward, there will be more focus on brands with a higher margin and less on bulk products.” He said it does not mean they are getting out of the bilk products.
Other operating income includes rental, $82 million from a gain on acquiring a subsidiary, management fees and dividend. Debt recovery generated $237 million in 2022, up from $104 million in 2021.
Operating and administrative expenses rose 28.7 percent to $2.995 billion in 2022 from $2.33 billion in the previous year. Sales and distribution expenses increased by a hefty 71 percent to $689 million from $402 million in 2021. The shift in focusing on retail business is also based on increased borrowing costs, with interest rates having risen sharply in the country and forcing attention on improving cash flows to keep borrowings down and, by extension, interest cost. Finance costs more than doubled to $464 million from $231 million in 2021.
Going forward, the group will benefit from opening a supermarket in May Pen in the last quarter, which Cotterell says is doing very well.
Gross cash flow brought in $1.25 billion, which was used to fund increased working capital of $720 million, capital expenditure amounted to $1.47 billion that was partially financed by loans inflows net of repayment of $600 million.
At the end of December, shareholders’ equity stood at $6.1 billion, with long term borrowings at $4.7 billion and short term at $476 million. Current assets ended the period at $7.3 billion inclusive of trade and other receivables of $2.2 billion, cash and bank balances of $900 million. Current liabilities ended at $4.3 billion and net current assets at $2.9 billion.
Earnings per share came out at 12.8 cents for the year, up from 9.4 cents in 2021. IC Insider.com forecasts 16 cents per share for 2023, with a PE of 14 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $2.10, the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market.
The company did not pay a dividend during the year and ended with a net asset value at the end of the year at $1.22, with the stock selling at 1.73 book value.
First Rock steals the show on the JSE USD market
An unusually large block of 19.35 million First Rock Real Estate shares passed through the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Thursday, at the same time 2.63 million shares trading in Proven Investments driving the volume of stocks changing hands in the market and value sharply higher than Wednesday following trading in five securities, compared to seven on Wednesday with three rising and two declining.
Overall, 21,983,490 shares were traded for US$1,624,041 up from 193,894 shares for US$13,133 on Wednesday.
Trading on Thursday ended with an average of 4,396,698 shares at US$324,808, up sharply from 32,316 shares at US$2,189 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 191,682 shares at US$15,905 compared with 13,503 units at US$2,816 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 43,793 units for US$2,015.
The JSE USD Equities Index popped 1.22 points to end at 217.36.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.2. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share slipped 0.42 of a cent to end at 6.08 US cents in an exchange of 19,350,000 shares, Proven Investments rose 1 cent to 17.5 US cents, with 2,631,050 stocks clearing the market. Sterling Investments rose 0.022 cents to close at 2 cents after trading just 5 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments slipped 0.05 cents to 09.5 US cents after 250 units crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.04 of a cent to close at 0.94 of one US cent with a transfer of 1,800 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.