Trading surged on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with the volume and value of stocks changing hands leaping sharply over the previous trading day, with Fosrich being the market leader with over 117 million shares, resulting in prices of 32 shares rising and 41 declining as the Main Market closed moderately lower, the Junior Market dropped sharply but the JSE USD market rose at the close of the week.
At the close of trading, 137,437,210 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up sharply from 13,481,892 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets jumped to $397.68 million, well above the $63.38 million that was exchanged on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed trading of 24,785 shares at US$735 down from 727,558 stock units at US$21,301 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.66 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 4.11 million stock units, Transjamaican Highway ended with 2.24 million units and JMMB Group with 1.05 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Fosrich led trading with 117.31 million shares followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 1.35 million stocks and Mailpac Group with 541,231 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $5.40 to end at $48.
At the close, the JSE Combined Market Index dived 1,769.31 points to finish trading at 331,364.99, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 624.47 points to close at 356,196.59, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,389.45 points to end at 318,562.02. The Junior Market Index skidded 62.76 points to 3,728.49 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 3.15 points to settle at 236.53.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.6 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.
Omni Industries latest IPO
Omni Industries Limited and existing shareholders will offer up to 500 million ordinary shares to the public with the offer opening Friday May 17, with Friday, May 31 being the scheduled closing.
Half of the total issue or 250 million shares are new with an equal number to be sold by existing shareholders, bringing the total issued shares to 2.5 billion units and the shareholders’ equity capital to over $900 million.
Profit before tax was $180 million for 2023, up from $174 million in 2022 and $121 million in 2021. The first quarter interim results to March this year, show flat revenues and slightly lower profits at $103 million pretax versus $123 million in 2023. The earnings come out at 8 cents per share based on 2023 figures, putting the PE at just over 12, a shade below the junior Market average of 12 3 and an indication of minimal upside in the short run.
At least 120,931,383 participating ordinary shares are available for subscription by the public and up to 379,068,617 shares are for Reserve Share Applicants.
The company is based in Spanish Town the principal activities are the manufacturing and sale of PVC pipes, conduits, horses, fittings and plastic warehouse items.
The stock is slated for the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange and if listed will partially restore the total listings on that market but only to 47, after three companies migrated to the main Market this year.
NCB Capital Markets is the brokers for the issue.
Rising stocks push up Junior Market
Rising stocks trumped those declining at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with trading in 42 securities compared with 41 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 19 rising, 12 declining and 11 unchanged, following a 272 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with 235 percent higher value than Wednesday.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 6,736,179 shares for $12,893,338 up from just 1,811,654 units at $3,852,277 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 160,385 shares at $306,984, compared with 44,187 units at $93,958 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 126,617 units at $295,396 compared with 121,141 stock units at $293,517 on the previous day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
Mailpac Group led trading with 3.33 million shares for 49.4 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 1.03 million stocks for 15.2 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 610,100 units for 9.1 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rallied 30.89 points to end at 3,791.25.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.3, 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 seven with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power dropped $1.04 to finish at $3.16 after investors ended trading 8,931 shares, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rallied 62 cents to $3.82 after a transfer of 128,172 shares as investors continued to respond to the release of full year results at the end of last week, Caribbean Cream declined 20 cents to end at $4.01 with traders dealing in 205 units. Derrimon Trading increased 14 cents in closing at $2 with an exchange of 54 stocks, Dolphin Cove sank $1.02 to close at $19.98 with 2,437 units clearing the market, Fontana popped 15 cents to end at $8.95 as investors exchanged 50,181 shares. Future Energy lost 8 cents to close at $3.40, with 114,350 stock units changing hands, GWest Corporation dipped 9 cents in closing at 92 cents with an exchange of 1,592 stocks, 
Honey Bun dropped 41 cents and ended at $7.50, with 3,749 shares crossing the market. Jamaican Teas shed 12 cents to close at $2.40 with investors trading 610,100 stock units, Jetcon Corporation rose 12 cents to finish at 99 cents with just 10 units crossing the exchange, JFP Ltd gained 9 cents to end at $1.23 with investors trading 5,703 stocks. Lasco Financial popped 9 cents to $1.69 in an exchange of 51,826 units, Limners and Bards advanced 20 cents to close at $1.46 with investors dealing in 20,669 shares, Lumber Depot rose 12 cents in closing at $2.82 in switching ownership of 43,480 stock units and MFS Capital Partners gained 15 cents to end at $1.52 after an exchange of 343,490 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Recent profit results ignite stocks
Some recent company results excited investors who pushed prices of the stocks to trigger the circuit breaker, with Berger and Caribbean Assurance Brokers, with recent outstanding results being pushed higher in trading to record gains of 26.7 and 16 percent respectively at the close on a day when the Main and Junior Market Indices rose and the JSE USD fell as trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose on Thursday with the number and the value of stocks traded rising over the previous day, resulting in prices of 37 shares rising and 31 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 636.15 points to 333,134.30, the All Jamaican Composite Index fell 990.72 points to 356,821.06, the JSE Main Index popped 439.08 points to 319,951.47. The Junior Market Index rallied 30.89 points to end at 3,791.25 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 3.12 points to end the day at 233.38.
At the close of trading, 13,481,892 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 8,017,130 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $63.38 million, much more than the $45 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 727,558 shares for US$21,301 compared to 193,096 units at US$13,524 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.96 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.54 million units and Carreras with 904,952 stocks.
In the Junior Market, Mailpac Group led trading with 3.33 million shares followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 1.03 million units and Jamaican Teas with 610,100s shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% declined $5.40 to $42.60.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.6 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.
Junior Market trading drops
Trading plunged on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with an 87 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded, accompanied by an 89 percent drop in value compared to Tuesday and ended with trading in 41 securities down from 45 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 16 rising, 16 declining and nine closing unchanged.
The market closed trading of 1,811,654 shares for $3,852,277 down sharply from 14,317,132 units at $36,679,561 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 44,187 shares at $93,958, down from 318,158 units at $815,101 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 121,141 units at $293,517 compared to 135,614 stock units at $331,049 on the previous day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
Fosrich led trading with 353,541 shares for 19.5 percent of total volume followed by One Great Studio with 270,376 units for 14.9 percent of the day’s trade and Stationery and Office Supplies with 228,034 stocks for 12.6 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 1.72 points to end at 3,760.36.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.6, 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, AMG Packaging lost 7 cents in closing at $3.35 after closing with an exchange of 8,961 shares, Blue Power climbed 37 cents to a 52 weeks’ high of $4.20 in an exchange of 24,010 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 40 cents to finish at $3.20 with 39,788 shares changing hands. Caribbean Cream rallied 20 cents and ended at $4.21 after 67 stock units crossed the exchange, Express Catering slipped 17 cents to close at $3.80 after a transfer of 45,672 shares, Fontana sank 13 cents to end at $8.80 with investors trading 71,686 stocks. 
GWest Corporation increased 6 cents to $1.01 with an exchange of 15 units, Jamaican Teas popped 12 cents and ended at $2.52 after 35,008 stock units passed through the market, JFP Ltd dipped 13 cents to end at $1.14 in an exchange of 90,394 shares. Lasco Financial fell 9 cents in closing at $1.60 with investors swapping 7,700 stock units, Limners and Bards declined 26 cents to finish at $1.26 in switching ownership of 7,248 stocks, Main Event gained 43 cents to close at $13.43 with investors transferring 1,001 units. OneonOne fell 5 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 84 cents following the trading of 159,607 shares, Spur Tree Spices advanced 10 cents to $2.41 after investors ended exchanging 8,839 shares and Tropical Battery popped 8 cents in closing at $2.37, with 69,100 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Modest trading on Jamaica Stock Exchange
The markets closed trading with modest changes in the major indices following lower trading activity compared with Wednesday as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, with a lower value than the previous day, resulting in prices of 40 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index slipped a mere 54.85 points to 332,498.14, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,083.37 points to end the day at 357,811.78, but the JSE Main Index dipped 44.74 points to close trading at 319,512.39. The Junior Market Index fell 1.72 points to 3,760.36 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.71 points to end at 236.50.
At the close of trading, 8,017,130 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 22,556,104 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $45 million, well below the $105.36 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 193,096 shares for US$13,524 compared to 111,519 units at US$25,798 on Tuesday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.25 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 690,330 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments with 505,038 units.
In Junior Market, Fosrich led trading with 353,541 shares followed by One Great Studio with 270,376 stocks and Stationery and Office Supplies with 228,034 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share advanced $18 to $218 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% climbed 99 cents to end at $109.99.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.7 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.
CAB dominates Junior Market on Tuesday
Caribbean Assurance Brokers (CAB) dominated trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, helping to push the volume of stocks traded up 444 percent, valued 514 percent more than market activity on Monday, from trading in 45 securities up from 43 on Monday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 20 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
The market closed with trading of 14,317,132 shares at $36,679,561 with Caribbean Assurance accounting for 63 percent of the volume traded, with the overall trading comparing with 2,632,539 stock units at $5,970,320 on Monday.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers led trading with 9.03 million shares for 63.1 percent of total volume followed by MFS Capital Partners with 1.96 million units for 13.7 percent of the day’s trade and Spur Tree Spices with 960,813 units for 6.7 percent market share.
Trading averaged 318,158 shares at $815,101 compared with 61,222 units at $138,845 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 135,614 units at $331,049 compared to 88,131 stock units at $205,139 on the previous day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dropped 21.65 points to conclude trading at 3,762.08.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.6, 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 four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased $1.31 and ended at $21.12 with investors swapping 226 shares, AMG Packaging skidded 39 cents to $3.42 in switching ownership of just 11 stocks, Blue Power climbed 31 cents to close at $3.83 with investors transferring 3,529 shares. CAC 2000 lost 45 cents in closing at $3.84 after investors ended trading 1,951 stock units, Cargo Handlers popped 97 cents to end at $13 after a transfer of just one share, Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 6 cents to finish at $2.80 with investors gobbling up 9,029,844 units. Caribbean Cream declined 20 cents to $4.01 closed with an exchange of just one stock, Consolidated Bakeries shed 13 cents to end at $2.05 in an exchange of 505 stock units, Derrimon Trading sank 19 cents in closing at $1.83, with 38,175 shares changing hands. Dolphin Cove rose 97 cents and ended at a 52 weeks’ high of $21 with a transfer of 29,377 stock units, 
Fontana rallied 33 cents to finish at $8.93 after 74,373 units passed through the market, Future Energy gained 10 cents to close at $3.45 with an exchange of 41,805 stocks. Honey Bun dipped 10 cents to $7.90 with 54,138 shares clearing the market, Indies Pharma fell 8 cents and ended at $2.62 after an exchange of 4,832 units, ISP Finance dropped $1 in closing at $29.50 in trading 100 stock units. Jetcon Corporation slipped 12 cents to close at 87 cents, with 14,233 stock units crossing the market, JFP Ltd rose 11 cents to end at $1.27 after investors exchanged 16,164 shares, KLE Group fell 38 cents to finish at $1.92, with 27,557 stocks crossing the market. Mailpac Group climbed 7 cents to $2.10 in an exchange of 10,789 units, Main Event fell 69 cents in closing at $13 with traders dealing in 128,495 stock units, MFS Capital Partners shed 11 cents to end at $1.33 after 1,958,225 shares passed through the exchange. Spur Tree Spices dropped 18 cents and ended at $2.31 with investors trading 960,813 units and Tropical Battery gained 17 cents to close at $2.29 after an exchange of 9,455 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market slips on lower trading
Trading fell on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with a 4 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with 16 percent lower value than on Friday, with trading in 43 securities as was the case on Friday and ended with prices of 16 rising, 17 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
Trading closed with 2,632,539 shares for $5,970,320, down from 2,755,767 units at $7,072,014 on Friday.
Trading averaged 61,222 shares at $138,845 compared with 64,088 units at $164,465 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 88,131 units at $205,139 compared to 97,032 stock units at $227,067 on the previous trading day and April with an average of 204,118 units at $439,599.
Tropical Battery led trading with 682,451 shares for 25.9 percent of total volume followed by Lumber Depot with 368,183 stock units for 14 percent of the day’s trade and Caribbean Assurance Brokers with 227,450 units for 8.6 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 19.58 points to 3,783.73.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.7, 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 four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.33 to end at $19.81 after investors traded 1,000 stocks, AMG Packaging advanced 41 cents in closing at $3.81, with 20,780 units crossing the market, Blue Power popped 22 cents to $3.52 with investors transferring 38,886 shares. Cargo Handlers sank 82 cents to close at $12.03 with 4,159 stock units crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 54 cents to finish at $2.74 with investors trading 227,450 shares, with investors responded positively to the full year results for 2023, Caribbean Flavours increased 12 cents and ended at $1.70 after exchanging 1,110 units. Dolla Financial rose 5 cents to $2.80 with a transfer of 131,922 stocks, Express Catering rallied 19 cents to end at $3.97 after 12,812 stock units passed through the market, Fontana shed 38 cents in closing at $8.60 with traders dealing in 29,601 shares. 
Future Energy fell 19 cents and ended at $3.35 in an exchange of 91,397 stock units, Indies Pharma gained 8 cents to finish at $2.70 with a mere 8 stocks clearing the market, Jamaican Teas slipped 8 cents to close at $2.45 in an exchange of 66,021 units. JFP Ltd lost 16 cents to close at $1.16 with investors trading 126,818 shares, Lasco Financial rose 9 cents to finish at $1.69 after an exchange of 26,938 stocks, Mailpac Group dipped 8 cents to $2.03 with trading of 29,036 units. Paramount Trading declined 5 cents to close at $1.45 after a transfer of 10,916 stock units, Regency Petroleum climbed 8 cents to end at $2.20, with 11,394 shares changing hands, Spur Tree Spices increased 6 cents to $2.49 with an exchange of 18,341 stock units. Tropical Battery skidded 21 cents to $2.12 with investors swapping 682,451 units and tTech popped 6 cents and ended at $2.26 in switching ownership of 118 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading rises on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
Trading activity picked up moderately on the Jamaica Stock Exchange but resulted in modest declines the markets with trading ending with the number of stocks changing hands rising, after the value of stocks traded jumped over the previous trading day, with NCB Financial contributing with the highest value with the market closing with prices of 33 shares rising and 42 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 262.85 points to end at 333,763.14, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 486.01 points to 358,584.22, the JSE Main Index lost 131.88 points to wrap up trading at 320,662.11. The Junior Market Index fell 19.58 to 3,873.73 and the JSE USD Market Index inched 0.07 points lower to 236.37.
At the close of trading, 14,070,427 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 7,495,887 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $94.57 million, well over the $73.15, million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 492,062 shares for US$57,344 compared to 107,250 units at US$8,800 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.41 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 2.64 million stock units, QWI Investments chipped in with 1.21 million units and General Accident with 1.03 million stock units.
In Junior Market trading, Tropical Battery led trading with 682,451 shares followed by Lumber Depot with 368,183 stocks and Caribbean Assurance Brokers with 227,450 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share dropped $1.50 to finish at $18.50, Jamaica Public Service 7% increased $6.42 to close at $48.93 and 138 Student Living preference share slipped $18 to finish at $200.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 22 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.5. 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.
New ICTOP10 addition to explode
After a prolonged hiatus, the local general insurance Main Market listed, General Accident came to life during the week and hit a series of 52 weeks’ highs, to close at $6.50, with a rise of 8 percent. The company closed with few stocks on offer, a feature over the past few weeks. The price could get ignited in the coming weeks following better than expected audited results for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 that were revised upward from previously reported numbers.
General Accident spreading wings
General Accident originally reported $0.39 per share in earnings for 2023 based on in-house numbers and released audited accounts with earnings of $0.52 per share, with that for 2022 revised to $0.71 from $0.53 previously reported in the audited 2022.
The 2022 results now reflect the impact of IAS17 which requires insurance companies to report income and expenses dramatically differently from the previously used format.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers (CAB) a former 2023/24 ICTOP10 company, reported solid gains in profit for 2023 compared to 2022. Earnings were downgraded when the company reported disappointing third quarter numbers. The latest audited results show the company earning $0.47 per share in line with ICInsdier.com’s projection before the release of the third quarter results with a fall in revenues and profit. The compared reported earnings per share of $0.30 in the previous year. The change in the 2023 results along with increased projections for 2024 resulted in the company returning to the TOP10 with projected earnings of $0.65, with the potential to report gains in the stock price of 500 percent.
CAB replaces Dolphin Cove after closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $20.03. Coming into the Main Market ICTOP 10 is Lasco Manufacturing with projected earnings for the current fiscal year ending March 2025 of $0.85 per share replacing Pulse Investments.
The main market top 10 saw Margaritaville falling 15 percent to $14.25 during the week followed by JMMB Group down 7 percent to $23.60, while Palace Amusement rose 6 percent to $1.08. Junior Market ICTOP10 witnessed an 8 percent gain in Edufocal to close at $0.96, with losses in Iron Rock Insurance of 12 percent to close at $2.20 and a 6 percent contraction in the price of AMG Packaging to $3.40.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 13.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.9 over half of the market, with an average of 12.7.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 284 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain just 207 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 103, with an average of 31 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 19 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 45, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The average PE in the top half of the market is 17, possibly the lowest fair value 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 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.