Investors pumped vastly more money into the Main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with Jamaica Broiler, PanJam Investment and Seprod commanding the bulk of the funds, resulting in slightly more shares than on Tuesday but all market indices declined at the close of the market.
At the close of trading, the market ended with an exchange of 27,399,448 shares in all three markets, up from 26,376,227 units, with a value of $839.28 million, up solidly from $286 million previously traded. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging shares for US$14,617 compared to US$5,401 on Tuesday.
The JSE Combined Market Index dropped 1,435.72 points to 344,658.46, the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 2,054.55 points to 374,358.38, the JSE Main Index shed 1,507.91 points to end at 331,439.19, the Junior Market slipped 3.33 points to 3,864.40 and the JSE USD Market Index shed 0.85 points to end at 231.30.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 19.3 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.5 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.
Big surge in money entering JSE
Low level trading for JSE USD Market
Trading was steady on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Tuesday, with little change in the volume of stocks changing hands having a 33 percent lower value than Monday, and resulting in five securities being traded, compared to seven on Monday with two rising, no declining and three ending unchanged.
Overall, 48,512 shares were exchanged for US$5,401 compared to 48,673 units at US$8,035 on Monday.
Trading averaged 9,702 units at US$1,080 versus 6,953 shares at US$1,148 on Monday, with a month to date average of 8,605 shares at US$3,103 compared with 8,422 units at US$3,440 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 43,793 units for US$2,015.
The JSE USD Equities Index gained 1.58 points to end at 232.15.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.8. 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 two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Productive Business Solutions gained 0.1 of a cent to end at US$1.90, with investors exchanging 14 shares,
Proven Investments remained at 18.5 US cents after 17,747 stocks changed hands, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share ended at 9.8 US cents with 17,431 stock units crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway ended at 0.96 US of a cent in trading 13,300 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share rallied 30 cents to close at US$12.40 after exchanging 20 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading picks up on JSE Main Market
The volume of stocks traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday surged 140 percent with 125 percent greater in value than on Monday, from the trading in 57 securities compared to 56 on Monday, with 26 rising, 15 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 21,485,881 shares were exchanged for $273,787,529 versus 8,954,820 units at $121,663,893 on Monday.
Trading averaged 376,945 units at $4,803,290 up from 159,908 shares at $2,172,570 on Monday and month to date, an average of 191,544 units at $2,417,068 compared to 145,396 units at $1,823,117 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 183,599 units at $2,160,070.
JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 led trading with 10.47 million shares for 48.7 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.81 million units for 17.7 percent of the day’s trade, Jamaica Broilers with 2.06 million units for 9.6 percent and Massy Holdings with 1.87 million units for 8.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 2,901.00 points to close at 376,412.93, the JSE Main Index declined 1,239.98 points to 332,947.10 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.88 points to 78.11.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 13.7 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement lost 75 cents in closing at $57.75 trading 2,269 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $5 to $45 with a transfer of 5 stock units, GraceKennedy declined $2.92 to $82.07 as investors traded 42,157 stocks. Guardian Holdings climbed $25 to close at $509 after an exchange of 168 units, Jamaica Broilers popped 45 cents to $36.50 after switching ownership of 2,057,508 shares, JMMB Group fell $1.47 to $30.53 after a transfer of 21,342 stocks. 
Key Insurance lost 10 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2.70 following the trading of 1,016 shares. Kingston Wharves shed $1.06 after ending at $32 in swapping of 36,090 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dipped $9 in closing at $70 after investors exchanged 41 stock units, NCB Financial gained 65 cents to close at $73.65 after 20,065 units passed through the market. Palace Amusement lost 58 cents to end at $3.10 in an exchange of 104,053 stocks, Proven Investments rose $2.25 to $28.50 with investors transferring 6,840 shares, Scotia Group lost 25 cents in ending at $34.50 after switching ownership of 79,694 stock units. Seprod advanced $3.39 in closing at $69.89 in trading 12,573 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 25 cents to end at $12.60 with the swapping of 12,579 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $13.07 to close at a new record high of $63.50 as investors exchanged 1,758 stocks and JMMBGL 7.25% preference shares traded 226 shares and gained 20 cents to land at a 52 weeks’ high of $4.53.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading drops but Junior Market gains
Trading activities closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday with the volume of stocks traded declining 29 percent and the value 33 per cent lower than on Monday resulting from 46 securities trading compared with 44 on Monday and ended with 18 rising, 18 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
A total of 4,841,834 shares were traded for $12,339,863 versus 6,861,401 units at $18,364,945 on Monday.
Trading averaged 105,257 shares at $268,258 compared with 155,941 units at $417,385 on Monday with the month to date averaging 180,731 units at $463,199 compared to 200,126 stock units at $513,295 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 1.40 million shares for 29 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery with 414,819 units for 8.6 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal with 394,202 units for 8.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 10.03 points to close at 3,867.73.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.7. 
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks incorporate the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com 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 four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 29 cents to close at $22.05 trading 111 shares, Caribbean Cream gained 20 cents to end at $3.50 after an exchange of 13 stocks, Caribbean Flavours popped 24 cents to $1.49 with the swapping of 253,425 units. Consolidated Bakeries dipped 18 cents in closing at $2.25 after a transfer of 15,359 stock units, Dolphin Cove shed 37 cents in ending at $16.49 with 16,062 units changing hands, EduFocal lost 12 cents to settle at $2 in switching ownership of 394,202 stocks.
Fontana popped 10 cents to close at $8.70 as investors exchanged 50,897 stock units, Future Energy Source gained 10 cents in closing at $4.60 after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $4.31 after 326,091 shares were traded, Honey Bun rose 60 cents to $7.10 after 7,672 units passed through the market. Iron Rock Insurance gained 30 cents in ending at $2.30 with investors transferring 4,742 stocks, Knutsford Express rose 83 cents to finish at $11.83 with the swapping of 8,727 shares, Lasco Distributors gained 27 cents to settle at $2.80 in exchanging 13,979 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing fell 43 cents to $4.04 with a transfer of 7,893 stocks, Paramount Trading popped 32 cents ending at $2.39 in transferring 400 units, Regency Petroleum dipped 19 cents in closing at $2.01 after clearing the market with 1,403,304 shares. 
Tropical Battery shed 12 cents ending at $2.15 with an exchange of 414,819 stock units and tTech fell 19 cents to $2.41 in trading 30,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Solid trading gains for JSE markets
The Jamaica Stock Exchange markets traded mixed at the close of trading on Tuesday with Junior and USD markets gaining moderately and the Main Markets declining as trading levels jumped sharply over that on Monday.
At the close of trading, the market ended with an exchange of 26,376,227 shares in all three markets, up from 15,864,894 units, with a value of $286 million, up solidly from $140 million previously traded. Trading on the JSE USD market ended with investors trading shares for US$5,401 compared with US$8,035 on Monday.
The JSE Combined Market Index dropped 1,061.92 points to 346,094.18, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,901.00 points to 376,412.93, the JSE Main Index slipped 1,239.98 points to close at 332,947.10, the Junior Market rose 10.03 points to 3,867.73 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 1.58 points to end at 232.15.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 19.5 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.6 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.
Volume rises values fall on JSE Main Market
Trading levels picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday over that on Friday with the volume of stocks traded rising 20 percent, with a modestly lower value than on Friday, after 56 securities changed hands compared to 58 on Friday, with 16 rising, 28 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
A total of 8,954,820 shares were exchanged for $121,663,893 versus 7,443,601 units at $130,741,691 on Friday.
Trading averaged 159,908 units at $2,172,570 versus 128,338 shares at $2,254,167 on Friday and month to date, an average of 145,396 units at $1,822,938 compared to 140,698 units at $1,709,999 on the previous trading day. February closed with an average of 183,599 units at $2,160,070.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.54 million shares for 28.3 percent of total volume followed by Jamaica Broilers with 2.19 million units for 24.4 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.55 million units for 17.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 3,144.18 points to 379,313.93, the JSE Main Index shed 1,878.30 points to close at 334,187.08 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.01 points to 78.99.
The PE Ratio, a formula used to ascertain 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 14 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments slipped 6 cents to a 52 weeks’ closing low of $78.94 after trading 90,188 shares, Berger Paints lost 40 cents to settle at $9 with 4,390 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement fell $2.96 to end at $58.50 with a transfer of 694 stocks Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $5 to finish at $40 in exchanging 5,161 stock units. First Rock Real Estate lost 58 cents in closing at $12.10 after the trading of 1,426 units, Guardian Holdings dropped $25.99 to $484 after a transfer of 137 stock units, Jamaica Producers advanced 78 cents to close at $21.78 with the swapping of 12,192 shares. JMMB Group popped $1.49 in closing at $32 after investors traded 23,111 units, Kingston Properties fell 58 cents ending at $6.57 in switching ownership of 11,255 stocks,
Kingston Wharves fell $2.14 to $33.06 in an exchange of 2,821 units. Mayberry Investments shed $1.27 to end at $8.98 with 7,875 shares changing hands, NCB Financial dipped $2.49 to $73 after 18,540 stock units passed through the market, Palace Amusement lost 82 cents to end at $3.68 with the swapping of 756,211 stocks. PanJam Investment gained 55 cents in closing at $57.05 in trading 2,706 units, Proven Investments fell $2.65 after ending at $26.25 as investors exchanged 9,563 stock units, Sagicor Group declined $1.03 to $52.97 in switching ownership of 26,935 shares. Salada Foods rose 46 cents to end at $4 with investors transferring 3,204 stocks, Seprod fell $1.39 to $66.50 with an exchange of 4,965 stocks, Stanley Motta rallied 63 cents to $5.44 trading 495 shares and Supreme Ventures shed $1.20 to close at $24.60 after 74,008 units passed through the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share dropped $99 in closing at $1,101 with 40 stock units clearing the market, Eppley 7.50% preference share dropped 98 cents to $5.65 with a transfer of 28,715 stocks. 
Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $2.43 to another record high of $50.43 after exchanging 1,000 stock units and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $450 to end at $2550 trading 25 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading drops on Junior Market
Trading declined on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday with a 45 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded following a 40 percent fall in value compared to Friday, with 44 securities trading compared with 45 on Friday to close with 11 rising, 19 declining and 14 unchanged.
A total of 6,861,401 shares were exchanged for $18,364,945 versus 12,468,915 units at $30,380,321 on Friday.
Trading averaged 155,941 shares at $417,385 compared to 277,087 units at $675,118 on Friday, with the month to date averaging 200,126 stock units at $513,295 down from 214,527 shares at $544,555 on the previous trading day. Trading in February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 1.86 million shares for 27 percent of total volume followed by Image Plus Consultants with 597,091 units for 8.7 percent of the day’s trade and Caribbean Flavours with 488,856 units for 7.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 34.86 points to settle at 3,857.70.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.7. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com projected earnings for companies with their financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power declined 9 cents to end at $2.35 with a transfer of 856 shares, Caribbean Flavours shed 22 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.25 with an exchange of 488,856 stocks, Derrimon Trading lost 9 cents closing at $2.11 with the swapping of 411,920 stock units. Dolla Financial dipped 16 cents ending at $2.70 with an exchange of 478,414 units, Dolphin Cove popped $1.71 to close at $16.86 in switching ownership of 49,237 shares, Express Catering gained 54 cents in closing at $5.54 with 9,276 stocks changing hands, Future Energy ended at a 52 weeks’ low of $4.50 after 251,909 shares were traded with a fall of 3 cents. 
Honey Bun fell 70 cents after ending at $6.50 in an exchange of 288,610 stock units, JFP Ltd lost 10 cents to close at $1.60 after 120,180 units passed through the market, Knutsford Express fell 80 cents to $11 after investors traded 10,000 units. Lasco Distributors dipped 28 cents to $2.53 as investors transferred 31,822 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 17 cents in closing at $4.47 in trading 73,884 stock units, Lumber Depot lost 9 cents to close at $2.31 in switching ownership of 55,047 shares. Main Event declined $1.39 to end at $11 after a transfer of 44,915 units, Medical Disposables rallied 29 cents to $5.14 after an exchange of 568 shares, MFS Capital Partners rose 20 cents to $3.80 with the swapping of 68,831 stocks. 
Paramount Trading shed 28 cents to finish at $2.07 after an exchange of 30,600 stock units and Regency Petroleum advanced 24 cents to $2.20 with a transfer of 1,860,754 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading down on JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks changing hands declining 54 percent with the value 14 percent lower than on Friday, resulting from trading of seven securities, compared to eight on Friday with prices of two rising, three declining and two ending unchanged leading to the JSE USD Equities Index losing 1.93 points to end at 230.57.
Overall, 48,673 shares were traded for US$8,035 down from 105,350 units at US$9,368 on Friday.
Trading averaged 6,953 units at US$1,148 versus 13,169 shares at US$1,171 on Friday, with a month to date average of 8,422 shares at US$3,440 compared with 8,869 units at US$4,137 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 43,793 units for US$2,015.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.8. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com earnings for companies with their financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped 2.33 cents to 69 US cents with an exchange of 51 shares, 
Proven Investments shed 0.5 of a cent to end at 18.5 US cents with an exchange of 8,600 units, Sygnus Credit Investments J$ share dipped 0.01 of a cent to close at 10.2 US cents with the swapping of 550 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments USD share lost 0.19 of a cent in closing at 9.8 US cents as 4,400 stock units passed through the market and Transjamaican Highway rallied 0.06 of a cent to 0.96 US of one US cent with 29,938 stocks clearing the market.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$2.01 after a transfer of 58 shares and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.09 with a transfer of 5,076 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Slippage for all JSE markets
All three of the Jamaica Stock Exchange markets slipped at the close of trading on Monday but signs are emerging that the markets may have bottomed out with a number of the stocks moving up to new price ranges as supplies start to recede quietly, with the volume and value of stocks traded declining form Friday’s levels.
At the close, the market ended with an exchange of 15,864,894 shares in all three markets, down from 20,017,866 units, with a value of $140 million, compared with $161.1 million previously traded. Trading on the JSE USD market resulted in investors exchanging shares for US$8,035 compared to US$9,368 on Friday.
The JSE Combined Market Index fell 2,073.61 points to 347,156.10, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 3,144.18 points to 379,313.93, the JSE Main Index lost 1,878.30 points to end at 334,187.08, the Junior Market Index dipped 34.86 points to 3,857. 70 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 1.93 points to end at 230.57.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 19.5 based on 2021-22 earnings and 12.6 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.
3 new ICTOP10 stocks after week’s gains
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.
