Following the lacklustre and ill-advised public stock offer by NCB Group, investors pushed the stock down by nearly $6 at the close after the price hit a low of $56 in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded holding steady with Tuesday with a 19 percent lower the value, after trading in 57 securities down from 62 on Tuesday, with prices of 18 rising, 20 declining and 19 ending unchanged.
The market closed with trading on Wednesday with an exchange of 10,130,721 shares with a value of 73,404,2e91 compared to 10,229,698 units at $90,771,121 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 177,732 shares at $1,287,795 compared to 164,995 units at $1,464,050 on Tuesday and for the month to date, an average of 249,583 units at $1,410,367 compared with 259,451 stocks at $1,427,202 on the prior day and May with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 2.13 million shares for 21 percent of the volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.78 million units for 17.6 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Windfarm with 1.27 million stocks for 12.5 percent of market share and Sygnus Credit Investments with 1.03 million units for 10.2 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,772.18 points to conclude trading at 354,602.80, the JSE Main Index lost 9.30 points to finish at 318,607.35 and the JSE Financial Index sank 0.30 points to end the day at 66.93.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley fell $1.95 in closing at $37 after 391 shares passed through the market, GraceKennedy skidded 53 cents to end at $75.97, with 125,518 stocks crossing the exchange, Jamaica Broilers popped 80 cents to end at $33.80 with investors swapping 429,963 shares. JMMB Group rallied 41 cents to finish at $24.51 after an exchange of 17,095 stock units, Margaritaville rose 30 cents to close at $14.80 with just one share clearing the market, Massy Holdings climbed $6 to end at $94 with investors trading 294 stocks. 
NCB Financial sank $5.48 to a 52 weeks’ low of $57.50 in switching ownership of 282,055 units, Pan Jamaica gained $2.70 to close at $49.50 with investors trading 7,417 stocks, Proven Investments rallied 82 cents to $20, with 8,677 shares changing hands. Sagicor Group advanced 48 cents to $40.38 as investors exchanged 3,019 stocks, Scotia Group dropped $1.52 to end at $43.46 after a transfer of 23,828 units, Sygnus Credit Investments popped 44 cents to finish at $11 with investors dealing in 1,031,281 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance shed 30 cents to $10.70 with a transfer of 11,299 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Omni boosts Junior Market trading
Newly listed Omni Industries boosted trading activity on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, helping with a 142 percent push in the volume of stocks traded, having a 93 percent greater value than on Tuesday following trading in 40 securities compared with 39 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 22 rising, 14 declining and four closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 25,008,612 shares for $42,711,488 compared with 10,325,850 units at $22,143,401 on Tuesday.
Trading for the day averaged 625,215 shares at $1,067,787 compared with 264,765 stocks valued at $567,780 previously. Trading for the month to date averages 225,140 stock units at $455,048 compared with 169,574 stocks for $369,946 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
The market’s latest new listing, Omni Industries led the trading with 15.80 million shares for 63.2 percent of the volume followed by Lasco Financial with 2.64 million stock units for 10.6 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 2.50 million units for 10 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index climbed sharply by 77.82 points to close trading at 3,712.88.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, AMG Packaging climbed 14 cents to close at $3.49 with 5,200 shares clearing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 17 cents to $3.60 with investors dealing in 290,969 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries increased 11 cents in closing at $2.15, with 24,161 shares crossing the market. Derrimon Trading popped 24 cents to end at $2.08 with an exchange of 188,982 stock units, Everything Fresh gained 11 cents and ended at $1.66, with 259 shares crossing the market, Express Catering rose 35 cents to finish at $4.65 with traders dealing in 154,133 units. Honey Bun advanced 10 cents to $8.30 with 6,313 stocks crossing the exchange, Image Plus rallied 19 cents to finish at $1.88 after a transfer of 37,053 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 15 cents and ended at $2.31 with investors swapping 9,522 shares. 
KLE Group increased 19 cents to close at $2.11 in an exchange of a mere 18 stock units, Lasco Financial climbed 10 cents in closing at $1.60 with investors trading 2,641,644 stocks, Omni Industries slipped 9 cents to end at $1.21, but after trading at a record high of $1.42, with an exchange of 15,800,765 units. Spur Tree Spices rose 8 cents in closing at $2.32 with investors trading 103,144 shares, Stationery and Office Supplies slipped 8 cents to $1.57 after an exchange of 233,238 units, Tropical Battery dropped 13 cents and ended at $2.16 after just 36 stocks passed through the market and tTech lost 12 cents to finish at $2.35, with a mere 6 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market bounces Main others steady
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange bounced back sharply at the close of trading on Wednesday as the Main and JSE USD markets slipped, with the number of stocks changing hands jumping, with a slightly higher value over the previous day, with newly listed Omni Industries accounting for close to half of the day’s volume, with the overall value of the trades rising over that on Tuesday and resulting in prices of 39 shares rising and 33 declining.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 542.32 points to 331,302.79, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 1,772.18 points to 354,602.80, the JSE Main Index slipped 9.30 points to finish at 318,607.35. The Junior Market Index jumped 77.82 points to close trading at 3,712.88 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped by just 0.13 points to 220.01.
At the close of trading, 35,215,094 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 20,644,795 units on …day, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $116.12 million, compared to $112.91 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 75,761 shares for US$14,761 compared to 89,247 units at US$3,105 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Financial Fund led trading with 2.13 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.78 million units, Wigton Windfarm with 1.27 million stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments with 1.03 million shares.
In Junior Market trading, newly listed Omni Industries led trading with 15.80 million shares followed by Lasco Financial with 2.64 million units and Future Energy with 2.50 million stocks.
There were no preference shares with notable price changes.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.4 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them 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 net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading plunges on JSE Main Market
Market activity fell on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday, with a 66 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded valued at 50 percent less than on Monday, with trading in 62 securities up from 59 on Monday, with prices of 19 stocks rising, 22 declining and 21 ending unchanged.
The market closed on Tuesday with 10,229,698 shares being trading at $90,771,121 down from 30,398,621 units at $182,144,563 on Monday.
Trading averaged 164,995 shares at $1,464,050 compared with 515,231 units at $3,087,196 on Monday and month to date, an average of 259,451 units at $1,427,202 compared with 276,041 units at $1,420,730 on the previous day and May that closed with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Palace Amusement led trading with 1.72 million shares for 16.8 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 1.56 million units for 15.3 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.47 million units for 14.4 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 975.19 points to 356,374.98, the JSE Main Index gained 526.71 points to cease trading at 318,616.65 and the JSE Financial Index sank 0.79 points to conclude trading at 67.23.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden increased $3.65 to end at $37.65 and closed with 9 stocks being traded, Berger Paints sank $1.49 in closing at $8.65, with just 683 units crossing the market, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.95 to $62.45 after trading 6,611 shares. GraceKennedy rose $1.49 and ended at $76.50 with investors dealing in 4,750 stock units, Jamaica Broilers rallied 99 cents to finish at $33 after an exchange of 536,323 shares, JMMB Group dropped $1.39 to close at $24.10 in trading 181,690 stocks. 
Kingston Properties popped 48 cents to $8.48 after exchanging 645 units, Lasco Manufacturing gained 51 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.46 with investors trading 277,458 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced $3 to finish at $95 with an exchange of just 2 shares. NCB Financial rose $1.08 and ended at $62.98, with 230,609 stock units clearing the market, Pan Jamaica shed $3.20 to close at $46.80 after a transfer of 4,209 units, Proven Investments climbed 63 cents to end at $19.18 after 1,226 stocks passed through the market. Sagicor Group fell $2.08 in closing at $39.90 with an exchange of 182,205 shares and Seprod increased $1 to $80, with 152,622 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share popped 84 cents to end at $19.99, with 20 stock units crossing the exchange. 138 Student Living preference share dropped $28.18 and ended at $159.70 with investors swapping 46 units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% lost $2.69 to finish at $112.31, with 133 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Omni Industries lists on Junior Market
The number of listed Junior Market stocks rose by one at the start of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with Omni Industries, the latest Initial Public Offer to het the market being listed and commenced trading, ending with 3.9 million changing hands with the price rising 30 percent on the first day of trading.
Trading resulted in a 121 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands, with 120 percent greater value than Monday, following trading in 39 securities, similar to Monday and ending with prices of 11 rising, 22 declining and six closing unchanged. Investors traded 10,325,850 shares for $22,143,401 up from 4,681,030 units at $10,064,255 on Monday.
Trading averaged 264,765 shares at $567,780 compared with 120,026 units at $258,058 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 169,574 units at $369,946 compared with 154,665 stock units at $338,960 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Omni Industries led trading with 3.90 million shares for 37.8 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy with 1.33 million stocks for 12.8 percent of the day’s trade, Dolla Financial ended with 1.15 million units for 11.2 percent market share and Fosrich with 1.04 million units for 10 percent of total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dropped 44.47 points to end trading at 3,635.06.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of trading, Cargo Handlers advanced $1.35 to finish at $13.26 with investors swapping 134 shares, Caribbean Cream popped 25 cents and ended at $4, with 3,123 stocks crossing the exchange, Derrimon Trading sank 16 cents to $1.84 with investors transferring 202,435 units. Everything Fresh lost 14 cents to end at $1.55 after an exchange of 4,560 stock units, Express Catering rallied 9 cents in closing at $4.30 after the trading of 147,601 shares, Fontana increased 89 cents to close at $9 after exchanging 328,629 stocks. 
Future Energy slipped 13 cents to $3.24, with 1,325,841 units crossing the market, Honey Bun climbed 39 cents to finish at $8.20 with an exchange of 10,827 stock units, Image Plus fell 21 cents to $1.69 following trading of 52,063 shares. Jetcon Corporation skidded 21 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of 66 cents in an exchange of 26,451 stocks, JFP Ltd dropped 7 cents in closing at $1.13 after 14,211 units passed through the market, KLE Group shed 34 cents to close at $1.92 after a transfer of 1,000 stock units. Knutsford Express declined by 65 cents to $10.65 with investors dealing in 1,234 shares, Lasco Financial dipped 14 cents and ended at $1.50 in switching ownership of 2,606 stock units, Limners and Bards fell 19 cents in closing at $1.51 with investors trading 1,089 stocks. Main Event dropped 49 cents to finish at $12.50 with 2,772 units clearing the market, Omni Industries rose 30 cents to close at a record high of $1.30 with traders dealing in 3,903,111 shares, Paramount Trading sank 12 cents to end at $1.13 in an exchange of 7,762 units and tTech gained 29 cents to end at $2.47 with an exchange of 10,258 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading dipped on JSE as Omni lists
Shares of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the latest initial public offer of stocks were listed on the Junior Market on Tuesday and jumped 30 percent in closing at $1.30, with investors trading 3.9 million shares declined in trading on Tuesday as the Junior Market declined. The Main market eked out a modest rise but the JSE USD market closed lower as trading ended with the number and the value of stocks changing hands falling, resulting in prices of 39 shares declining and 28 rising.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 189.22 points to close at 330,760.47, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 975.19 points to wrap up trading at 356,374.98, the JSE Main Index popped 526.71 points to end the day at 318,616.65. The Junior Market Index dropped 44.47 points to 3,635.06, with FESCO dropping in the morning session to a 52 weeks’ low of $2.50, with an average price of $2.90 and would have had a major pull on the index. The JSE USD Market Index fell 2.98 points to lock up trading at 220.14.
At the close of trading, 20,644,795 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 35,226,914 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $112.91 million, well below the $192.21, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 89,247 shares for US$3,105 compared to 147,490 units at US$59,542 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Palace Amusement led trading with 1.72 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 1.56 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.47 million stocks.
In Junior Market trading, Omni Industries led trading with 3.90 million shares followed by Future Energy with 1.33 million units, then Dolla Financial with 1.15 million shares and Fosrich with 1.04 million units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share dipped $28.18 and ended at $159.70 with investors swapping 46 units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% lost $2.69 to finish at $112.31
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.1 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.2 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them 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 net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading picks up on JSE Main Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed lower on Monday, following an 8 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, value 84 percent more than on Friday, with trading in 59 securities compared with 58 previously and ending with prices of 17 stocks rising, 23 declining and 19 ending unchanged after Berger Paints and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund both traded at 52 weeks’ high.
The market closed with trading of 30,398,621 shares for $182,144,563 compared with 28,048,957 units at $98,812,380 on Friday.
Trading averaged 515,231 shares at $3,087,196 compared to 483,603 units at $1,703,662 on Friday and month to date, an average of 276,041 units at $1,420,730 compared with 228,041 units at $1,086,304 on the previous trading day and May that closed with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 8.40 million shares for 27.6 percent of total volume followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 5.63 million units for 18.5 percent of the day’s trade. Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 4.89 million units changing hands for 16.1 percent market share, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund closed with 2.47 million units for 8.1 percent of the market volume, Palace Amusement had an exchange of 1.58 million units for 5.2 percent of the market and Transjamaican Highway 1.33 million units for 4.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 3,400.86 points to 357,350.17, the JSE Main Index shed 2,739.68 points to 318,089.94 and the JSE Financial Index skidded 0.90 points to end the day at 68.02.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.3. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden declined by $2.50 to $34 after 227 stock units passed through the market, Berger Paints increased $1.88 to end at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $10.14 after the price hit an intraday high of $11.98 and closed with an exchange of 12,690 shares, Caribbean Cement lost $2 in closing at $60.50 with investors dealing in 106,126 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $1.24 to end at $38.76, with 3,609 stocks changing hands, First Rock Real Estate sank 80 cents and ended at $9.20 with a transfer of 14,773 shares, Jamaica Broilers skidded $1.74 to finish at $32.01 after an exchange of 40,457 stock units. 
Jamaica Producers fell 53 cents and ended at $22.01 with 900,385 stocks clearing the market, Kingston Properties dipped 48 cents to $8 after a transfer of 11,968 units, Margaritaville dropped $1.65 to close at $14.30 in switching ownership of 3,753 shares. NCB Financial shed $1 to finish at $61.90 after an exchange of 28,435 stock units, Proven Investments sank $2.44 in closing at $18.55 with investors swapping 6,750 stocks, Sagicor Group popped $1.98 to end at $41.98, with 8,580 units crossing the market. Scotia Group advanced 34 cents in closing at $44.75 with an exchange of 540,060 shares, Seprod lost $1 to end at $79 and closed with an exchange of 100,666 units and Stanley Motta skidded 30 cents to close at $7 in an exchange of 1,616 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rose 70 cents to end at $7.29 with investors trading 535 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Down day for Junior Market
Activities on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Monday, with a 17 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a slightly higher value than Friday resulting from trading in 39 securities, down from 42 on Friday and ending with prices of 10 rising, 20 declining and nine closing unchanged, with the market Index slipping to close out the day.
The market closed with trading of 4,681,030 shares for $10,064,255 up from 4,006,350 units at $9,943,397 on Friday.
Trading averaged 120,026 shares at $258,058 compared with 95,389 units at $236,748 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 154,665 units at $338,960 compared to 161,098 stock units at $353,985 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
JFP Ltd led trading with 981,369 shares for 21 percent of the total volume followed by Express Catering with 676,059 units for 14.4 percent of the day’s trade and Derrimon Trading with 495,470 units for 10.6 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 19.53 points to wrap up trading at 3,679.53.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.5, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined 51 cents to $19.49 in trading 163 shares, Blue Power increased 15 cents and ended at $3.20 with 5,033 units crossing the market, Cargo Handlers lost $2.04 to finish at $11.91 after an exchange of 900 stocks. Consolidated Bakeries slipped 13 cents in closing at $2.05 with 4,200 stock units clearing the market, Derrimon Trading fell 10 cents to close at $2 with investors dealing in 495,470 shares, Dolphin Cove skidded 69 cents to end at $21.81 in trading of 6,721 stock units. Future Energy climbed 7 cents to $3.37 after an exchange of 203,189 stocks, Honey Bun sank 19 cents to end at $7.81 with a transfer of 4,976 units, 
Knutsford Express dipped 20 cents in closing at $11.30 after 5,673 shares passed through the market. Lasco Financial popped 12 cents to finish at $1.64 with traders dealing in 2,279 stock units, Lumber Depot shed 12 cents and ended at $2.67 in an exchange of 5,759 units, Medical Disposables gained 9 cents to close at $2.28 with investors transferring 207,498 stocks. MFS Capital Partners dropped 14 cents to $1.20 after 196,207 shares crossed the market, Regency Petroleum sank 7 cents in closing at $2.14 in an exchange of 33,069 stock units and tTech declined 29 cents to end at $2.18 with investors swapping 507 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated
Decline for JSE markets
Falling prices pushed down all three Jamaica Stock Exchange markets in trading on Monday as trading ended with the number and value of stocks changing hands rising over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 44 shares falling and only 22 rising.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,762.38 points to 330,571.24, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 3,400.86 points to 357,350.17, the JSE Main Index sank 2,739.68 points to 318,089.94. The Junior Market Index lost 19.53 points to conclude trading at 3,679.53 and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 0.93 points to wrap up trading at 223.12.
At the close of trading, 35,226,914 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 32,074,516 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $192.21 million, well above the $108.76 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 147,490 shares for US$59,542 compared to 20,041 units at US$2,072 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 8.40 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 5.63 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund closed with 4.89 million stock units, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund traded 2.47 million units, Palace Amusement ended with 1.58 million shares and Transjamaican Highway with 1.33 million units.
In Junior Market trading, JFP Ltd led trading with 981,369 shares followed by Express Catering with 676,059 units and Derrimon Trading with 495,470 shares.
In the preference segment, no stocks closed with a notable price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most used measure to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 times those for 2024-25 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them 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 net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Price volatility low in ICTOP10
Volatility was low in ICTOP10 in the past week with the highest price change coming in at 6 percent, following moderate declines in the Junior Market and the Main Market
The Junior Market ICTOP10, Iron Rock Insurance climbed just 4 percent to $2.18. Caribbean Cream fell 6 percent to $3.75 followed by Access Financial, down 5 percent to $20.
In the Main Market, Margaritaville and Palace Amusement rose by 6 percent to close at $15.95 and $1.06 respectively and Key Insurance fell 4 percent to $2.39. Of note is that Berger Paints fell 3 percent to close at $8.26, trading at a 52 weeks’ high of $10.10 on Friday as the stock closed with a big gap between buyers and sellers.
Lasco Financial was the only new addition to the ICTOP10 for the week replacing Edufocal that was suspended from trading during the week for not meeting the financial statement filing.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 14.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.8, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.6.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 292 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 209 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 103, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 11 stocks, or 24 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 47, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The average PE in the top half of the market is 17 and is possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks, currently.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 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 on or around May 2025 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.
