The Main Market gained 1.3 percent and the Junior Market 2.4 percent over the previous week, the first sign that stocks may be coming back to life, following the end of earning season with a mixed bag of results and the sounding of prospects for a better period ahead, with cost pressures that existed last year in stockpiling supplies to meet demand that squeezed margins have started to recede, with the promise of higher profit margins ahead.
Everything Fresh tops ICTOP10
The period saw many companies reporting solid gains in profit that investors are yet to award with better prices than the results demand, which is not expected to last for long as supplies of many stocks have been declining in recent weeks.
ICTOP10 has three new additions to the Junior Market TOP10 while the Main Market remains steady.
The week closed with rising stocks dominating the Junior Market TOP10. Paramount Trading fell 9 percent in the prior week, led rising stocks this past week, with a gain of 18 percent to $2.35, followed by Main Event, put on 15 percent to land at a new high of $12.39, Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing rose 8 percent to $2.81 and $4.30, respectively. Iron Rock Insurance fell 13 percent to $2.08 and Tropical Battery dipped 4 percent to $2.20.
Six stocks rose in the Main Market TOP10, with 138 Student Living rising 10 percent to $5.50, the price of Jamaica Broilers rose 9 percent to $36 as investors warmed to the stock following release of outstanding second quarter numbers and the price having a long way to run. Caribbean Producers, that is undervalued, rose 6 percent to $10 as selling pressure eased somewhat.
Price changes resulted in Paramount Trading, Main Event and Lasco Manufacturing exiting the Junior Market TOP10 and replaced by AMG Packaging, Everything Fresh and Stationery and Office Supplies.
AMG Packaging enjoyed improved profit margin in the November quarter compared with that in 2021, even as sales fell slightly in the latest quarter to November, which augurs well for increased profit in the current year, with revenues projected to rise in the year with more business opportunities as the economy continues to grow at a healthy pace. Everything Fresh and Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) earnings reflect that for the current year. Everything Fresh now heads the Junior market TOP10, having reported profit for an entire year in 2022 for the first time since they released a depressed $16 million profit in 2018. Profit came in at $48 million before tax for 2022, a modest change from $47 million reported for the nine months to September after finance costs rose 43.5 percent in the December quarter over the nine months to September. With 2023 setting up to be the strongest tourist season since 2019, the company is set to see a big jump in business from that sector and profit in 2023, that should see the company earned 30 cents per share, that is why it is in ICTOP10. SOS posted record profits for 2022 with a 169 percent increase before tax from a 55 percent jump in revenues. Of note are a 35 percent increase in fourth quarter revenues and a deal struck with a company in Trinidad to cross sell products that should add to revenues in 2023 and push earnings to $2 per share for the year. With improving profits and shrinking supplies outside of the TOP 10 shareholders, who control 91 percent of the issued shares, the stock is setting up for a stock split that cannot be far off and, when given, will catapult the stock price upwards.
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 13.9, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.1 compared with the market at 11.8. The differences are important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 240 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 284 percent to May 2024, now that TOP10 stocks earnings are based on 2023 profits.
The Junior Market has 13 stocks representing 27 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 26, averaging 19.5, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 12 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest valued stocks and 21 for the top half excluding the highest valued 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.
The volume of stocks changing hands rose 101 percent, valued 77 percent lower than on Thursday, resulting from trading in eight securities traded, similar to trading on Thursday with four rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
Sygnus Credit Investments USD share fell 0.01 of a cent to end at 9.99 US cents in switching ownership of 42 stock units and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.05 of a cent to close at 0.9 of one US cent after an exchange of 58,470 stock units.
A total of 7,443,601 shares were traded for $130,741,691 versus 11,506,995 units at $127,421,242 on Thursday.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.9 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.
Mayberry Investments rose $1.75 in closing at $10.25 after an exchange of 143,406 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $18 to end at $79 with 100 stock units changing hands, NCB Financial rallied $1.99 to $75.49 as investors exchanged 28,900 stocks. Palace Amusement lost $2.20 to close at $4.50 after trading 603,232 stocks, PanJam Investment dipped 60 cents ending at $56.50 after investors transferred 439 shares, Proven Investments gained $1 in closing at $28.90 after exchanging 5,160 units. Sagicor Group popped 65 cents to close at $54 with the swapping of 16,081 stock units, Salada Foods fell 45 cents to end at $3.54 after 4,000 stocks changed hands, Scotia Group popped 70 cents to close at $34.75 as investors traded 231,052 shares, Seprod advanced $5.84 to $67.89 with a transfer of 8,737 units and Sygnus Credit Investments lost 44 cents in closing at $12.24 in switching ownership of 32,719 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% climbed $9.77 to end at a record $48 as 1,766 shares passed through the market.
A total of 12,468,915 shares were exchanged for $30,380,321 compared with 9,243,451 units at $25,870,454 on Thursday.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.8. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Honey Bun lost 9 cents in ending at $7.20 with a transfer of 1,649 units, Indies Pharma shed 29 cents in closing at $2.75 with the swapping of 295,573 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance dipped 30 cents to $2 after 10,340 shares passed through the market. ISP Finance climbed $5.35 to $26.35 in switching ownership of 2 stocks, JFP Ltd rallied 10 cents in closing at $1.70 after 20,001 units were traded, Main Event rose 39 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $12.39 in exchanging 66,710 stock units. MFS Capital Partners popped 10 cents to close at $3.60 with a transfer of 19,024 units, Paramount Trading rallied 16 cents to $2.35 after an exchange of 6,451 stocks, Spur Tree Spices lost 10 cents to end at $2.65 with 40,398 stock units changing hands. Stationery and Office Supplies rose 97 cents to $14.95 in switching ownership of 1,904 shares and 
Tropical Battery dipped 16 cents to end at $2.20 trading 126,960 stock units.
At the close of trading, the market ended with an exchange of 20,017,866 shares in all three markets, up from 20,802,746 units, with a value of $161.1 million, compared with $153.2 million previously traded. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging shares for US$9,368 compared to US$40,981 on Thursday.
The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
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.
A total of 11,506,995 shares were exchanged for $127,421,242 versus 5,390,205 units at $37,625,972 on Wednesday.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 57 cents to $14.55 with 8,700 stocks changing hands, JMMB Group dropped 71 cents to $31.18 with a transfer of 52,761 stock units. Mayberry Investments rallied 69 cents to end at $8.50 with an exchange of 219,534 stock units, NCB Financial shed $2 in closing at $73.50 after trading 16,302 shares, 138 Student Living rallied 49 cents to $5.50 after a transfer of 38,968 stocks. PanJam Investment gained 58 cents to end at $57.10 in exchanging 2,387 units, Proven Investments popped 40 cents to $27.90 as investors traded 212 stocks, Scotia Group dipped 70 cents to $34.05 after a transfer of 38,513 units. Seprod declined $4.95 to close at $62.05 as investors exchanged 109,920 shares and Wisynco Group popped 41 cents in ending at $18.01 with the swapping of 95,604 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% continues to defy gravity in advancing $8.23 to a new record high of $38.23 with 1,720 units changing hands and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $3.45 to end at $77.45 in trading 158 stock units.
Overall, 52,300 shares were traded for US$40,981 compared with 46,332 units at US$44,807 on Wednesday.
Sterling Investments gained 0.11 of a cent to end at 2 US cents with an exchange of 432 stock units. Sygnus Credit Investments USD share ended at 10 US cents while exchanging 98 stocks and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.01 of a cent to end at 0.95 of one US cents with 494 units clearing the market.
A total of 9,243,451 shares were exchanged for $25,870,454 compared with 7,248,801 units at $17,264,479 on Wednesday.
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Future Energy Source fell 15 cents to end at $4.60 in switching ownership of 553,438 shares. Honey Bun lost 11 cents to end at $7.29 with the swapping of 4,888 units, Iron Rock Insurance rose 30 cents to $2.30 with 5 stock units changing hands, JFP Ltd lost 10 cents to close at $1.60 trading 645,983 stock units. Lasco Distributors gained 9 cents in closing at $2.79 with a transfer of 1,200 shares, Lumber Depot popped 18 cents to end at $2.43 after 79,209 units passed through the market, MFS Capital Partners dipped 31 cents to $3.50 in switching ownership of 544,484 stocks. Paramount Trading advanced 14 cents to $2.19 in transferring 2,009 units, 
Stationery and Office Supplies gained 20 cents to close at $13.98 with an exchange of 13,011 stocks and tTech rose 10 cents to $2.65 after 5 shares cleared the market.
The JSE USD market closed with an exchange of US$40,981 for shares traded compared with US$44,807 on Wednesday.
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.
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.
A total of 5,390,205 shares were traded for $37,625,972 down from 15,655,244 units at $89,795,027 on Tuesday.
The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios combine the last traded price and earnings per share forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Guardian Holdings dropped $9.50 to end at $500.50 after investors traded 134 shares, Jamaica Broilers shed 75 cents to close at $35.75 with the swapping of 26,083 stock units, Jamaica Producers dipped $2.41 to $20.31 after an exchange of 8,604 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange shed 72 cents to $13.98 with investors transferring 7,620 stock units, JMMB Group rallied $1.38 in ending at $31.89 after an exchange of 20,197 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose $13.10 to $97 trading 10 shares. NCB Financial advanced $2.89 to end at $75.50 in switching ownership of 12,797 stocks, 138 Student Living lost 49 cents to close at $5.01 with a transfer of 508 stock units, Palace Amusement declined $1.05 in closing at $6.70 as investors swapped 33,208 shares. PanJam Investment shed 58 cents in closing at $56.52 with 1,032 units clearing the market, Proven Investments popped 48 cents to $27.50 in an exchange of 5,212 stock units, Sagicor Group fell $1.02 to close at $52.97 with 16,208 shares changing hands.
Seprod advanced $3.75 to end at $67 exchanging 624 stocks and Stanley Motta shed 74 cents ending at $4.90 with the swapping of 30,567 units.
