Trading jumped sharply on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with a 608 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, after a sharp jump of 565 percent in value compared with Wednesday and resulting in trading in 43 securities down from 46 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 13 rising, 18 declining and 12 unchanged.
Trading ended with an exchange of 32,133,533 shares for $65,285,279 up from 4,540,074 units at $9,824,488 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 747,291 shares for $1,518,262, compared with 98,697 units at $213,576 on Wednesday with a month to date, average of 222,732 units at $520,887 compared with 185,449 stocks at $449,999 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Derrimon Trading controlled trading with 22.64 million shares for 70.4 percent of the total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 2.25 million units for 7 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 1.85 million units for 5.8 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index sank 21.66 points to end the day at 3,781.60, to be down 1.7 percent for the year.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
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 the market, Access Financial skidded $1.08 to $21.60 with investors trading 1,003 stock shares, AMG Packaging gained 62 cents and ended at $3.70 after an exchange of 85,009 stocks, Blue Power rose 41 cents in closing at $3.32 with an exchange of 849 stocks. CAC 2000 lost 68 cents to close at $3.83 in an exchange of 4,411 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 25 cents to end at $2.36 with investors transferring 1,000 shares, Express Catering dipped 19 cents in closing at $3.80, with 154,568 stock units crossing the market. Future Energy fell 10 cents to $3.60 with investors swapping 184,342 stocks, 
KLE Group shed 58 cents to close at $1.90 after an exchange of 20,285 units, Knutsford Express sank 30 cents and ended at $12 with a transfer of 6,466 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing increased 36 cents to end at $5.45, with 753,346 units crossing the market as the supply of the stocks has sharply declined with only five offers to sell less than 80,000 shares on the board at the close. Limners and Bards popped 12 cents in closing at $1.62 with traders dealing in 3,128 shares, Regency Petroleum dripped 10 cents to $2.10, with 980,532 stock units changing hands, Stationery and Office Supplies declined 8 cents to close at $1.75 in trading 300,607 shares and tTech shed 46 cents and ended at $2.02 after a transfer of 9,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading climbed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
Rising stocks dominated trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday as the Junior Market JSE USD market slipped and the main market rose as trading ending with the number and value of stocks changing hands rising, and resulting in prices of 40 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped by 1,228.47 points to 347,834.49, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,322.38 points to 373,257.19, the JSE Main Index rose 1,512.16 points to end at 335,574.30 points. The Junior Market Index skidded 21.66 points to end trading at 3,781.60 and the JSE USD Market Index sank 5.50 points to culminate at 255.20.
At the close of trading, 57,568,397 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 38,865,018 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $110.86 million, up from $80.9 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 310,053 shares for US$11,086 compared to 497,176 units at US$96,746 on Wednesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm trading 16.47 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 3.44 million units, Palace Amusement ended with 1.62 million stock units, Transjamaican Highway closed with 1.17 million stocks and General Accident with 1.0 million units.
In the Junior Market, Derrimon Trading led trading with 22.64 million shares followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 2.25 million units and Jamaican Teas with 1.85 million stock units.
At the close of trading, the Main Market listed, Caribbean Cement increased $3.90 to end at $59.90, Jamaica Producers popped $1 to close at $23, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 99 cents to $10. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose $1 and ended at $91, Sagicor Group advanced 80 cents in closing at $43.80, Scotia Group rallied $1 to $46, Seprod popped $1.95 in closing at $82.95 and Supreme Ventures declined 83 cents to end at $25.20.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Guardian Holdings lost $5.80 to end at $363.20, Jamaica Broilers dropped 97 cents in closing at $33.03, NCB Financial shed $1 to end at $67.50
At the end of Junior Market trading, AMG Packaging gained 62 cents and ended at $3.70, Blue Power rose 41 cents in closing at $3.32, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 25 cents to end at $2.36 and Lasco Manufacturing increased 36 cents to end at $5.45. In the meantime, Access Financial skidded $1.08 to $21.60, CAC 2000 lost 68 cents to close at $3.83, Express Catering dipped 19 cents in closing at $3.80, KLE Group shed 58 cents to close at $1.90, Knutsford Express sank 30 cents and ended at $12 and tTech shed 46 cents and ended at $2.02.
In the preference segment, no stock traded with a notable price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.4 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.4 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information 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.
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 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 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 paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading drops on Junior Market
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday, with a 48 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 60 percent lower value than Tuesday with trading in 46 securities as was the case on Tuesday and ended with prices of 18 rising, 19 declining and nine closing unchanged, with KLE Group ending at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $2.48.
The Junior Market trading ended on Wednesday with 4,540,074 shares at $9,824,488 versus 8,723,426 units at $24,310,202 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 98,697 shares at $213,576 compared with 189,640 units at $528,483 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 185,449 units at $449,999 compared with 192,588 stock units at $469,455 on the previous day and more than January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Dolla Financial led trading with 1.06 million shares for 23.3 percent of the total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 837,365 units for 18.4 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal with 373,478 units for 8.2 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index rose 8.29 points to conclude trading at 3,803.26.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging advanced 34 cents to $3.08 with an exchange of just one share, Cargo Handlers rose 90 cents and ended at $14, with 842 stocks crossing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 27 cents to close at $2.11 with investors dealing in 4,001 shares. Caribbean Cream rallied 12 cents in closing at $3.89 in an exchange of 6 stock units, Consolidated Bakeries shed 19 cents to end at $2.01 with traders dealing in 101 shares, Dolla Financial sank 14 cents to $2.70 as investors exchanged 1,059,407 units. Dolphin Cove increased 30 cents to end at $18.80 after a transfer of 119 stocks, EduFocal climbed 10 cents in closing at $1.45 with 373,478 stock units clearing the market, Express Catering popped 9 cents to close at $3.99 while exchanging 124 shares. Fontana dipped 15 cents and ended at $9.79, with 17,099 units passing through the market, Future Energy gained 8 cents to $3.70 in trading 51,568 stocks, 
Honey Bun rose 25 cents and ended at $6.70, with 2,250 stock units crossing the market. Indies Pharma climbed 18 cents in closing at $2.75 with investors trading 42,965 shares, Iron Rock Insurance fell 42 cents to close at $2.10 in an exchange of 375 units, ISP Finance increased by 50 cents to end at $31.50, with 22,796 stock units changing hands. Lasco Distributors popped 13 cents to $4 after an exchange of 23,090 shares, Limners and Bards dropped 12 cents to close at $1.50 with investors swapping 38,046 shares, Mailpac Group gained 13 cents and ended at $2.30 in switching ownership of 74,668 stock units. Main Event skidded 65 cents in closing at $13.55 after an exchange of 1,401 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 18 cents to end at $1.83 following the trading of 143,479 units and Tropical Battery declined 10 cents to $2.40 after an exchange of 260,861 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market drops Junior & USD markets rise
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped in trading on Wednesday as the Junior Market JSE USD market inched moderately higher as trading ended with the volume and value of stocks changing hands falling, compared with the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 38 shares rising and 43 declining.
At the close of trading on Wednesday, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 3,094.00 points to 346,606.02, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 3,659.77 points to close at 371,934.81, the JSE Main Index dropped 3,376.48 points to lock up trading at 334,062.14. The Junior Market Index popped 8.29 points to 3,803.26 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 1.15 points to 260.70.
At the close of trading, 38,865,018 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 53,603,621 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $80.9 million, sharply down from $409.6 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 497,176 shares for US$96,746 compared to 328,443 units at US$47,111 on Tuesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with 25.74 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.10 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.86 million stock units.
In the Junior Market, Dolla Financial led trading with 1.06 million shares followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 837,365 units and EduFocal with 373,478 stock units.
At the close of trading on the Main Market Pan Jamaica advanced $3.40 in closing at $51.40 to be the sole major gaining ordinary stock.
The Main Market, Berger Paints shed 77 cents and ended at $5.85, Caribbean Cement lost $3.50 to $56, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $1.74 to end at $38.26, Jamaica Stock Exchange sank 90 cents in closing at $9.10, Kingston Wharves dropped 72 cents to close at $31.98, Sagicor Group declined 90 cents to close at $43, Scotia Group fell $2.40 and ended at $45 and Seprod dipped $1.50 to $81.
At the end of Junior Market trading, AMG Packaging advanced 34 cents to $3.08, Cargo Handlers rose 90 cents and ended at $14, Dolphin Cove increased 30 cents to end at $18.80, Honey Bun rose 25 cents and ended at $6.70, ISP Finance increased 50 cents to end at $31.50, while Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 27 cents to close at $2.11, Iron Rock Insurance fell 42 cents to $2.10 and Main Event skidded 65 cents in closing at $13.55.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share gained $27.44 in closing at $118.45.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.4 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.5. times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information 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.
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 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 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 paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Rising stocks dominate Junior Market
Stocks mostly rose at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with prices of 23 rising, 11 declining and 12 closing unchanged with nearly all stocks on the market traded result in 46 securities changing hands compared with 47 on Monday, following a 55 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, with a 65 percent greater value than on Monday and ending with.
The market ended trading on Tuesday with 8,723,426 shares for $24,310,202 up from 5,643,750 stock units at $14,776,971 on Monday.
Trading averaged 189,640 shares at $528,483 compared to 120,080 units at $314,404 on Monday with the month to date, ending with an average of 192,588 units at $469,455 compared with 192,852 stock units at $464,162 on the previous day and January ending with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Future Energy led trading with 2.09 million shares for 24 percent of the total volume followed by Fosrich with 1.13 million units for 13 percent of trading, ONE on ONE Educational ended with 1.02 million units for 11.7 percent market share and Lasco Distributors with 1.02 million units for 11.6 percent of the total volume.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 2.07 points to end the day at 3,794.97.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose 8 cents to close at $22.68 as investors traded just one stock, AMG Packaging lost 35 cents to end at $2.74 after a transfer of 5,955 units, Cargo Handlers declined 90 cents to close at $13.10 after investors traded 1,063 shares. Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 25 cents to $2.38 after 21,855 stock units passed through the market, Caribbean Cream popped 42 cents to $3.77 with an exchange of 4 shares, Express Catering increased 10 cents to $3.90, with 52,915 units changing hands. Jamaican Teas popped 10 cents in closing at $2.50 with a transfer of 161,220 stocks, 
KLE Group rose 8 cents to $2.47 with investors swapping 178,198 stock units, Lasco Financial sank 11 cents to close at $1.88 in an exchange of 62,675 shares. Lasco Manufacturing rallied 14 cents and ended at $5.09 with investors trading 661,103 stocks, Limners and Bards popped 12 cents to $1.62 after exchanging 12 units, Mailpac Group dipped 16 cents and ended at $2.17 with investors dealing in 141,373 stock units. Main Event climbed 10 cents to close at $14.20 while exchanging 1,595 shares, Medical Disposables rose 8 cents to end at $2.68 after trading 1,262 units and Paramount Trading gained 8 cents in closing at $1.48 in an exchange of 8,330 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Bulls prowling around the Jamaica Stock Exchange
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange continued its bullish run and gained over 5,000 points in trading on Tuesday as the Junior Market JSE USD market popped moderately higher as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands along with the value surging sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 48 shares rising and 29 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 5,205.70 points to 349,700.02, the All Jamaican Composite Index surged 4,271.57 points to 375,594.58, the JSE Main Index jumped 5,531.32 points to 337,438.62. The Junior Market Index rose 2.07 points to 3,794.97 and the JSE USD Market Index increased 3.87 points to settle at 259.55.
At the close of trading, 53,603,621 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 31,242,143 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $409.6 million, up from $171.6 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 328,443 shares for US$47,111 compared to 610,533 units at US$78,231 on Monday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Transjamaican Highway led trading with 21.31 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 9.22 million units, GraceKennedy was next with 2.78 million stock units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund ended with 2.55 million shares, Wisynco Group closed with 2.41 million units and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 1.09 million stock units.
In the Junior Market, Future Energy led trading with 2.09 million shares followed by Fosrich with 1.13 million units, ONE on ONE Educational with 1.02 million stock units and Lasco Distributors with 1.02 million shares.
At the close of trading on the Main Market Barita Investments rallied $1.09 to close at $70.99, Berger Paints rose 82 cents to $6.62, Guardian Holdings popped $9 to end at $369, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed $1 to $10, Kingston Wharves increased $2.53 in closing at $32.70, Massy Holdings gained $6.85 and ended at $96.86, Scotia Group rose $1.40 to close at $47.40, Stanley Motta rallied 99 cents and ended at $6.99, Sygnus Real Estate Finance increased $1.55 to close at $11.40
The major declining Main Market stocks include Jamaica Producers shed $1.02 and ended at $22.08, Mayberry Jamaican Equities sank 85 cents to end at $9.25, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell $1 to close at $90, Pan Jamaica lost $3.40 in closing at $48 and Seprod declined $1.21 to end at $82.50.
At the end of Junior Market trading, Caribbean Assurance Brokers advanced 25 cents in closing at $2.38, Caribbean Cream popped 42 cents and ended at $3.77, while AMG Packaging lost 35 cents to $2.74, Cargo Handlers declined 90 cents to end at $13.10.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share fell $1.83 in closing at $5.64 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share shed $10.65 to $91.01.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.4 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information 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.
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 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 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 paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Falling stocks dominates Junior Market
Trading closed on Monday, with all stocks being active, except for suspended iCreate at the close of the Junior Market on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with the volume of stocks traded rising 32 percent following a 30 percent rise in the value compared to Friday with trading in 47 securities up from 42 on Friday and ending with prices of 13 rising, 24 declining and 10 closing unchanged.
Trading closed on Monday after 5,643,750 shares were exchanged for $14,776,971 up from 4,262,868 units at $11,405,667 on Friday.
Trading averaged 120,080 shares at $314,404, compared with 101,497 units at $271,563 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 192,852 units at $464,162 compared with 200,192 stock units at $479,266 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Stationery and Office Supplies was the traded stock with 1.46 million shares followed by Regency Petroleum with 685,156 units and Image Plus with 493,784 units for 8.7 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 19.99 points to end at 3,792.90.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging climbed 9 cents to end at $3.09 in switching ownership of 15,563 shares, Blue Power declined 50 cents in closing at $2.85 after an exchange of 434 units, CAC 2000 rose 30 cents to $4.51, after hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $3.02 with investors dealing in just 4 shares. Cargo Handlers shed 59 cents and ended at $14 after 713 stocks passed through the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 27 cents in closing at $2.13 with investors swapping 64,750 shares, Caribbean Cream skidded 55 cents to $3.35 in an exchange of 100,615 stocks. Consolidated Bakeries advanced 22 cents to close at $2.20 after trading 61 units, Dolphin Cove fell 47 cents to $18.50 while exchanging 862 stock units, Express Catering sank 19 cents to $3.80 with a transfer of 148,713 shares. Fontana dipped 25 cents and ended at $10 as investors exchanged 297,440 stock units, Honey Bun dropped 24 cents to $6.45, with 2,369 stocks crossing the market, ISP Finance popped $5.98 to end at $31 after exchanging 1,978 units. 
Lasco Distributors fell 13 cents in closing at $3.87 after 18,025 stocks crossed the market, Lasco Financial increased 14 cents to close at $1.99 in an exchange of 1,296 units, Limners and Bards sank 12 cents and ended at $1.50 with investors transferring 5,295 shares. Lumber Depot rallied 15 cents to $2.45 and closed after investors traded 1,165 stock units, Main Event dipped 66 cents to end at $14.10 with investors trading 4,053 shares, Medical Disposables lost 10 cents in closing at $2.60 with an exchange of 10 units. Paramount Trading gained 13 cents to close at $1.40 with 5,607 stocks clearing the market and Stationery and Office Supplies skidded 19 cents and ended at $1.61 with traders dealing in 1,463,420 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on Jamaica Stock Exchange
Trading climbed sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday with trading in the Main Market dominating the volume and value of stocks that were exchanged and resulted in the Main and Junior Markets declining but the JSE USD market inched moderately higher as trading ended with the value and the number of stocks changing hands rising sharply over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 29 shares rising and 46 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 3,871.23 points to 344,494.32, the All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,953.23 points to end at 371,323.01, the JSE Main Index dived 3,941.08 points to 331,907.30. The Junior Market Index dipped 19.99 points to culminate at 3,792.90 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.67 points to end the day at 255.68.
At the close of trading, 31,242,143 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 13,676,383 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $171.6 million, up from $74.93, million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 610,533 shares for US$78,231 up from 178,798 units at US$56,398 on Friday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Carreras led trading with 10.07 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 7.44 million stock units, JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.91 million stocks and Transjamaican Highway with 1.76 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Stationery and Office Supplies led trading with 1.46 million shares followed by Regency Petroleum with 685,156 units and Image Plus with 493,784 stocks.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Barita Investments sank $1.50 to $69.90, Caribbean Cement rose $2.20 to $59.20, Eppley increased $3.51 and ended at $38.50, Kingston Wharves gained $1.42 to $30.17, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced $1.10 to end at $10.10, but Guardian Holdings dropped $10 to close at $360, Jamaica Producers shed 84 cents in closing at $23.10, Jamaica Stock Exchange declined 90 cents and ended at $9, Massy Holdings dipped $1.49 in closing at $90.01, Stanley Motta sank $1 and ended at $6 and Sygnus Real Estate Finance skidded $1.40 to close at $9.85.
At the end of Junior Market trading, Blue Power declined 50 cents in closing at $2.85, CAC 2000 rose 30 cents to $4.51, Consolidated Bakeries advanced 22 cents to close at $2.20 and ISP Finance popped $5.98 to end at $31. At the close Blue Power declined 50 cents to $2.85, Cargo Handlers shed 59 cents and ended at $14, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 27 cents to close at $2.13, Caribbean Cream skidded 55 cents to $3.35, Express Catering sank 19 cents in closing at $3.80, Fontana dipped 25 cents and ended at $10, Honey Bun dropped 24 cents to $6.45, Main Event dipped 66 cents to end at $14.10 and Stationery and Office Supplies skidded 19 cents to $1.61.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rallied $1.59 and ended at $7.47 and 138 Student Living preference share rose $5.55 to close at $190.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.9 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.3 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information 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.
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 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 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 paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
ISP Finance & Guardian join ICTOP10
The performance of the Jamaica Stock Exchange in the near term is expected to be influenced by the pile of results dumped on the market in the past week, with varying degrees of success. Based on results for the December quarter, Caribbean Producers’ earnings were adjusted down to $1.15 per share, resulting in the stock falling out of the TOP10, with Guardian Holdings replacing it and ISP Finance entering the Junior Market listing in replacing Elite Diagnostic following the release of full year earnings, with ICInsider.com projected earnings per share of $4 for ISP for 2024.
For a second consecutive week, the Junior Market ended with minimal price changes, ranging from 4 percent and less and none with a negative price movement, while the Main Market had only two stocks with negative price changes, with Pulse Investments, the highest with a fall of 7 percent to $1.85 and 138 Student Living slipping 3 percent, while Margaritaville popped 18 percent to close at the week at $17.48, Caribbean Producers rose 6 percent to $9.64 following the release of nine months results that saw profit for the second quarter rising 17.6 percent to US$2 million but with the six months results, down marginally to US$3.28 million versus $3.35 million in 2022. Key Insurance rose 5 percent to $2.31 and Palace Amusement gained 4 percent to close at $1.25 following news of a sold-out opening night for the Marley movie that nearly doubled that of the highly successful Black Panther.
For the full list of weekly percentage changes for the ICTOP10 stocks, check the attached charts that now carry a column of the weekly percentage price movements.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.4, well below the market average of 13.7 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.3 just over half of the market, with an average of 13.4.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 279 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 177 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 14 of the most highly valued stocks representing 29 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 110, with an average of 30 and 24 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 17 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 13 stocks, or 27 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 45, averaging 21, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
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 2024 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.
Junior Market rallied on Friday
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with a 29 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded at a 15 percent lower value than Thursday, following trading in 42 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 21 rising, 14 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 4,262,868 shares for $11,405,667 compared with 6,026,066 units at $13,427,737 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 101,497 shares at $271,563, compared to 146,977 units at $327,506 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 200,192 units at $479,266 down from 209,968 stocks at $499,840 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Spur Tree Spices led trading with 904,399 shares followed by Image Plus with 904,064 units and Mailpac Group with 458,730 stocks for 10.8 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index gained 4.31 points to culminate at 3,812.89.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial declined by 8 cents to end trading at $22.60 after a transfer of 4,253 stocks, AMG Packaging popped 28 cents to close at $3 with investors trading 26,000 units, Consolidated Bakeries fell 23 cents and ended at $1.98, with 120,000 shares passing through the exchange. Fontana skidded 23 cents in closing at $10.25 with a transfer of 166,963 stock units, Honey Bun advanced 39 cents to close at $6.69 after investors ended up trading 16,191 shares, 
KLE Group rose 14 cents to $2.39 after exchanging 92 stocks. Knutsford Express gained 8 cents in closing at $12.38, with two units crossing the market, Lasco Distributors rallied 13 cents and ended at $4 in trading 22,865 stock units, Limners and Bards increased 15 cents to end at $1.62 after 853 shares passed through the market. Lumber Depot popped 10 cents to close at $2.30 while exchanging 196,403 units, Paramount Trading sank 21 cents to $1.27 with traders dealing in 2,814 stocks and tTech rose 49 cents to close at $2.49 in an exchange of just one stock unit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.