The Main Market continued to rise in trading on Friday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange while the Junior Market and JSE USD market inched a few points higher as trading ended with the number and the value of stocks hanging hands falling compared with the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 41 shares rising and 29 declining.
At the close of trading on Friday, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed solidly by 1,293.91 points to 373,276.24, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied by 1,293.92 points to 373,276.24, the JSE Main Index popped 807.06 points to end at 335,848.38. The Junior Market Index gained 4.31 points to 3,812.89 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 0.21 points to end the day at 254.01.
At the close of the market, 13,676,383 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 45,443,191 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $74.93 million, compared with $169.49, million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 178,798 shares for US$56,398 compared to 827,138 units at US$94,452 on Thursday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.91 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.12 million units, JMMB Group ended with 1.12 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.10 million stocks.
In the Junior Market, Spur Tree Spices led trading with 904,399 shares followed by Image Plus with 904,064 units and Mailpac Group with 458,730 stock units.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Caribbean Cement increased $1.02 to end at $57, Guardian Holdings rose $19.99 to $370, Jamaica Producers gained 84 cents and ended at $23.94, Margaritaville rallied $1.14 to close at $17.48, Pan Jamaica advanced $1.01 in closing at $51.51 and Scotia Group rallied $1 to close at $46
At the close of the Main Market, Eppley shed $1 and ended at $34.99 and Massy Holdings skidded $5.50 to end at $91.50.
At the end of Junior Market trading, AMG Packaging popped 28 cents to $3, Honey Bun advanced 39 cents to close at $6.69 and tTech rose 49 cents to close at $2.49, as Consolidated Bakeries fell 23 cents and ended at $1.98, Fontana skidded 23 cents in closing at $10.25 and Paramount Trading sank 21 cents to $1.27.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share fell $32.55 and ended at $184.45 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $17.94 to $101.66.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 214. on 2022-23 earnings and 14.6 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.
Junior Market slips on Thursday
Declining stocks edged out rising ones at the close of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, following an increase in trading activity resulting from a 74 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, valued 51 percent more than for trading on Tuesday following activity in 41 securities compared with 45 on Tuesday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 16 declining and 11 closing unchanged.
The market closed trading of 6,026,066 shares for $13,427,737 compared with 3,460,585 stock units at $8,913,356 on Tuesday, following release of several results of companies for the December quarter prior to the start of trading.
Trading averaged 146,977 shares at $327,506, compared with 76,902 units at $198,075 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 209,968 units at $499,840 compared with 216,711 stock units at $518,289 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Mailpac Group led trading with 2.05 million shares for 34.1 percent of total volume followed by Image Plus with 783,408 units for 13 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 731,290 units for 12.1 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dipped 5.26 points to end trading at 3,808.58.
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 one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and five with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial popped $1.27 to close at $22.68 with investors trading 774 shares, CAC 2000 climbed 38 cents to $4.21 in an exchange of 469 units, Caribbean Flavours increased 10 cents and ended at $1.70 with investors swapping 3,038 stocks. Derrimon Trading rose 15 cents in closing at $2.06 in an exchange of 16,927 stock units, Dolphin Cove rallied 97 cents to end at $18.97 after an exchange of 7,290 shares, Elite Diagnostic advanced 8 cents in closing at $1.77 after investors traded 144,846 units. Fontana dropped 12 cents to $10.48 with an exchange of 42,236 stocks, Honey Bun sank 39 cents to end at $6.30, with 24,354 stock units crossing the market, Jamaican Teas shed 18 cents to close at $2.40 with traders dealing in 124,722 shares. Knutsford Express declined 8 cents and ended at $12.30 after a transfer of 1,785 stocks, 
Lasco Distributors gained 11 cents to $3.87 in switching ownership of 27,706 units, Lasco Financial fell 13 cents to close at $1.91 while exchanging 5,933 stocks. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 10 cents to end at $4.90 with 11,723 shares clearing the market, Limners and Bards lost 18 cents in closing at $1.47 after an exchange of 9,866 stock units, Lumber Depot skidded 12 cents to $2.20, with 185,704 units changing hands. Mailpac Group popped 19 cents to $2.38, with an exchange of 2,052,755 stocks and Medical Disposables increased 18 cents and ended at $2.70 with investors transferring 11,894 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE get no held from profit reports
A plethora of company results hit the Jamaica Stock Exchange market ahead of trading on Thursday but did little to move stock prices in any major way as investors may not have had the time to digest most of the new numbers, with some being B enough to move prices in the weeks ahead and the market closed with gains in the Main Market indices, with moderate slippage in the Junior and JSE USD markets, with the volume and value of stocks changing hands surging over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 35 shares rising and 36 declining.
At the close of trading on Thursday, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 549.45 points to close at 347,570.91, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,143.26 points to 371,982.32, the JSE Main Index climbed 634.96 points to end trading at 335,041.32. The Junior Market Index shed 5.26 points to end at 3,808.58 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 1.80 points to cease trading at 253.80.
At the close of trading, 45,443,191 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 16,492,495 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $169.49 million, up from $62.80 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 827,138 shares for US$94,452 compared with 180,495 units at US$53,094 on Tuesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Transjamaican Highway led trading with 26.75 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.84 million units and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 3.64 million stock units.
In the Junior Market, Mailpac Group led trading with 2.05 million shares followed by Image Plus with 783,408 units and One Great Studio with 731,290 units.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Barita Investments climbed 92 cents to end at $71.10, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $2.50 in closing at $40, JMMB Group rose $2.95 to close at $27, Margaritaville rallied $1.48 in closing at $16.34, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy increased $14.50 and ended at $91, NCB Financial climbed $1 to end at $69.75, Proven Investments popped $2.02 to close at $24.97.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Guardian Holdings declined $17.99 and ended at $350.01, Massy Holdings skidded $2.50 and ended at $97
At the end of Junior Market trading, Access Financial popped $1.27 to close at $22.68, CAC 2000 climbed 38 cents to $4.21 Dolphin Cove rallied 97 cents to $18.97, and Medical Disposables increased 18 cents and ended at $2.70. with the major losing stocks being Honey Bun that sank 39 cents to end at $6.30, Jamaican Teas shedding 18 cents to close at $2.40, Limners and Bards losing 18 cents in closing at $1.4 and Mailpac Group popping 19 cents to $2.38.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined 90 cents in closing at $6, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $5.25 to close at $48.25 and 138 Student Living preference share popped $3 to $217.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.5 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 plunges on Junior Market
Trading dropped sharply on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday, with a decline of 71 percent in the volume of stocks traded, following a 65 percent fall in value compared with Monday’s trading, resulting in 45 securities changing hands compared with 42 on Monday and ending with prices of 10 stocks rising, 26 declining and nine closing unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 3,460,585 shares for $8,913,356 down from 11,955,696 units at $25,250,753 on Monday.
Trading averaged 76,902 shares for $198,075 compared to 284,659 units at $601,208 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 216,711 stock units at $518,289 compared to 235,325 stock units at $560,921 on the previous day and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Tropical Battery led trading with 847,958 shares for 24.5 percent of total volume followed by One Great Studio with 346,363 units for 10 percent of the day’s trade and Indies Pharma with 292,036 units for 8.4 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index sank 19.52 points to wrap-up trading at 3,813.84.
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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.24 to close at $21.41 with investors dealing in a mere 76 stock units, AMG Packaging shed 24 cents to close at $2.71 in an exchange of 1,265 shares, CAC 2000 declined 68 cents to end at $3.83 with traders dealing in 526 units. Caribbean Flavours lost 10 cents in closing at $1.60, with 2,000 stocks crossing the market, Consolidated Bakeries increased 11 cents and ended at $2.21 with investors trading 2,000 shares, Dolphin Cove skidded 32 cents to $18 and closed with an exchange of 7,149 units. Elite Diagnostic sank 12 cents in closing at $1.69 after a transfer of 19,333 stocks, Everything Fresh dipped 18 cents and ended at $1.52 in trading 13,655 stock units, Fontana climbed 28 cents to close at $10.60 after 52,304 shares passed through the market. Honey Bun rose 19 cents to end at $6.69 with investors transferring 768 stocks, Indies Pharma fell 8 cents in closing at $2.60 in an exchange of 292,036 units, ISP Finance dropped $6.33 to $25.02 with 16 stock units clearing the market. Jamaican Teas rallied 9 cents and ended at $2.58 with a transfer of 111,114 shares, 
Lasco Distributors fell 22 cents to close at $3.76 after an exchange of 86,350 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing popped 14 cents to end at $5 after trading 166,322 stocks. Limners and Bards gained 10 cents in closing at $1.65 with an exchange of 6,102 units, Lumber Depot fell 18 cents to $2.32, with 110,547 shares crossing the market, Mailpac Group advanced 9 cents to end at $2.19 with investors exchanging 86,500 stock units, ahead of the company announcing the acquisition of MyCart Express, a Jamaican based courier service company. Main Event dipped 13 cents to close at $14.79 in switching ownership of 248 stocks, Medical Disposables sank 20 cents and ended at $2.52, with 262 stock units crossing the exchange, Spur Tree Spices shed 8 cents to $2.32 with investors swapping 200,107 shares and Tropical Battery declined 15 cents in closing at $2.55 after exchanging 847,958 units after the company reported a solid 45 percent growth in their first quarter profit.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The JSE Main & Junior markets fall
The Main and the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange lost ground in trading on Tuesday as the JSE USD market inched moderately higher as trading ended with the volume and the value of stocks changing hands falling, compared with the previous day and resulted in the prices of 30 stocks rising and 42 declining.
At the close of trading, the Combined Market Index shed 524.55 points to close at 347,021.46, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 93.57 points to 370,839.06, the JSE Main Index sank 377.08 points to close at 334,406.36. The Junior Market Index fell 19.52 to 3,813.32. The JSE Main & Junior markets rose 0.21 points to 255.60.
At the close of trading, 16,492,495 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 47,975,821 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $62.80 million, from $164.28 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 180,495 shares for US$53,094 compared to 452,800 units at US$59,221 on Monday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with a leading trade of 4 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 3.94 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.83 million stocks.
In the Junior Market, Tropical Battery led trading with 847,958 shares followed by One Great Studio with 346,363 units and Indies Pharma with 292,036 shares.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Barita Investments dipped $1.02 to $70.18, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.99 in closing at $55.99, Eppley popped $1.99 to $35.99, Guardian Holdings rose $8 to $368, Pan Jamaica increased $1.08 to end at $51.20, Seprod rallied $1 to $83 and Supreme Ventures increased $1.97 and ended at $26.50.
The major declining Main Market stocks are Eppley Caribbean Property Fund that fell $2.50 to close at $37.50, JMMB Group shedding $1.39 in closing at $24.05 and Kingston Wharves dropping $2.40 and ending at $28.10.
At the end of Junior Market trading, Fontana climbed 28 cents to close at $10.60, with the major losing stocks being Access Financial down $1.24 to close at $21.41, AMG Packaging shedding 24 cents to $2.71, CAC 2000 declining 68 cents to end at $3.83, Dolphin Cove skidding 32 cents to $18 as ISP Finance dropped $6.33 to $25.02.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $5.80 to end at $43 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share declined $16 to $1,284.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.2. 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.
Junior Market slips on Monday
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with a 25 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with a 30 percent lower value than Friday and ended with trading in 42 securities compared with 40 on Friday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 15 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
The market ended trading on Monday as 11,955,696 shares changed hands at $25,250,753 down from 15,974,371 units at $35,900,988 on Friday.
Trading averaged 284,659 shares at $601,208 compared to 399,359 units at $897,525 on Friday with trading month to date, averaging 235,325 units at $560,921 up from 228,325 stock units at $555,204 that was previously traded and January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 5.46 million shares, Mailpac Group with 1.44 million units and One Great Studio with 1.10 million stock units for 9.2 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index dropped 14.17 points to lock up trading at 3,833.36.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for their financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Cargo Handlers rose 9 cents in closing at $14.59 after 3,000 units passed through the market, Consolidated Bakeries sank 11 cents to $2.10 with investors dealing in 304 stocks, Dolla Financial fell 10 cents to end at $2.90 t with 175,289 shares clearing the market. Dolphin Cove fell 66 cents and ended at $18.32 after an exchange of 3,094 stock units, Elite Diagnostic rallied 17 cents to close at $1.81 with 541,872 shares crossing the market, Fontana shed 18 cents to $10.32 with investors transferring 123,834 stocks. Indies Pharma lost 11 cents in closing at $2.68 in switching ownership of 42,921 units, 
Knutsford Express gained $1 and ended at $12.38 after an exchange of 960 stock units, Lasco Distributors popped 8 cents to end at $3.98 in an exchange of 27,000 shares. Limners and Bards skidded 14 cents to close at $1.55, with investors trading 29,784 stocks, Main Event dropped 8 cents to $14.92 with a transfer of 5,780 units, MFS Capital Partners dipped 9 cents and ended at $2.20 with 18,441 stock units changing hands. Spur Tree Spices advanced 15 cents to close at $2.40 with investors trading 101,446 shares and Tropical Battery climbed 30 cents to end at $2.70 after a transfer of 378,410 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Two Lasco companies head to JSE Main Market
Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing will be graduating to the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, effective Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
The companies state in their report to investors and posted on the Jamaica Stock Exchange stated that the exchange approved to graduate to the Main Market.
The Lasco companies were some of the early listings on the Junior Market in 2010, with a listing on October 12, 2010.
In the first year of listing on the Junior Market, Lasco Manufacturing generated revenues of $2.97 billion and a profit of $401 million after tax and reported for the nine months to December last year, revenues of $9.24 billion and profit of $1.7 billion, with Shareholders’ equity climbing to $12.3 billion from $830 million at the end of March 2011.
Lasco Distributors reported revenues of $6.76 billion and a profit of $306 million after tax for the year to March 2011 and generated revenues of $21.86 billion for the nine months to December last year and profit of $1.2 billion, with Shareholders’ equity climbing to $9.25 billion from $727 million at the end of September 2010.
Values slip on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with slippage in values in all markets and ended with QWI Investments leading trading with nearly 38 percent of the volume traded that exceeded trading on Friday in the overall market with the jumping sharply over trading on Friday, resulting in prices of 31 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of trading on Monday, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 563.01 points to close at 347,546.01, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 775.69 points to cease trading at 370,745.49, the JSE Main Index shed 467.96 points to culminate at 334,783.44. The Junior Market Index fell 14.17 points to conclude trading at 3,833.36 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 0.80 points to 255.39.
At the close of trading, 47,975,821 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 31,165,012 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $164.28 million, up from $120.9 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 452,800 shares for US$59,221 compared to 72,092 units at US$2,833 on Friday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by QWI Investments led trading with 13.42 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 8.98 million units for 25.3 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 5.22 million units, Mayberry Group with 1.31 million stock units, Carreras with 1.26 million shares and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.04 million units.
In the Junior Market, Derrimon Trading led trading with 5.46 million shares, Mailpac Group with 1.44 million units and One Great Studio with 1.10 million stocks.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Barita Investments increased by 93 cents to $71.20, Kingston Wharves popped $2.50 to end at $30.50, Massy Holdings gained $1 and ended at $100
In the Main Market, Eppley declined $4.50 to end at $34, Guardian Holdings shed $8 to close at $360, Jamaica Producers dropped $1.45 in closing at $23.55, JMMB Group fell 94 cents to close at $25.44, Scotia Group lost $1 to end at $44.50, Supreme Ventures dipped $1.17 in closing at $24.53.
At the end of Junior Market trading, Knutsford Express increased $1 and ended at $12.38 and Tropical Battery climbed 30 cents to end at $2.70 but Dolphin Cove was down 66 cents to $18.32.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share increased 90 cents in closing at $18.90, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $1.80 and ended at $48.80 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share advanced $210 to close at $1,300.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.2 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.
ICTOP10 reaping from bullish market
The start of a bull market is appearing with the Jamaica Stock Exchange moving higher, partially helped by rising profits of some companies, as a result, the USD market is solidly in the black for 2024 to date, with a rise of 11 percent while the Main Market sits with a gain of 2.9 percent and the Junior Market is now back at the 2023 end of year level on Friday, but just below. At the same time two listings reported nine months results reflecting improving profit that should help the stock prices in the weeks ahead.
During the week new results were released to the market, with mostly positive profit outcomes that should aid the prices of stocks going forward as the results help to lay a foundation for prices in the short term as this provides investors with a better sense of valuations of these companies. There will be more releases this week as the deadline date for their release is this week for companies that have not opted for 60 days publication of audited accounts.
Earnings were revised downwards by a few cents for Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing, following the release of nine months results, that show continued growth in profits.
Last week IC Insider.com reported Scotia Group and TransJamaican Highway that traded at 52 weeks’ high they now seem to have topped out for a while, with both undervalued with quite some room to run for 2024. Scotia has an undisclosed amount on offer at $46.
The past week ended with minimal price changes for Junior Market stocks but the Main Market threw up a few, with General Accident rising 12 percent to close at $5.30, followed by JMMB Group up 10 percent to $26.38 and Caribbean Producers up 4 percent to $9.09 as Margaritaville dropped 15 percent to $14.86 and Palace Amusement lost 8 percent to close at $1.20.
As was the case for the previous week the markets closed with no addition to the ICInsider.com TOP 10 stocks.
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 5.3, well below the market average of 13.7 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.,5 just over half of the market, with an average of 13.6
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 287 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 169 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 30 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 18 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 22, 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.
Near wipe out at Junior Market
Investors pushed the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange solidly into the black in early morning trading Friday, but with the market pulled back in the dying moments of the afternoon session to close fractionally lower than the 2023 close after a 174 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded, 
after 204 percent more money entered the market than Thursday with trading in 40 securities compared with 42 on Thursday and ending with prices of 13 rising, 15 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 15.02 points to lock up trading at 3,847.53 just below the 3,848.33 points close for 2023 and could be moving into positive territory sooner than later.
The market closed trading with an exchange of 15,974,371 shares for $35,900,988 up from 5,836,386 units at $11,800,314 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 399,359 shares at $897,525, compared with 138,962 units at $280,960 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 228,325 units at $555,204 compared to 201,600 stock units at $501,717 on the previous day and up from January with an average of 175,081 units at $401,738.
Derrimon Trading led trading with 7.31 million shares for 45.7 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 2.62 million units for 16.4 percent of the day’s trade, 
Tropical Battery closed with 1.38 million units for 8.6 percent market share after the price hit an 52 weeks’ intraday high of $2.70 but closed the day lower and Mailpac Group with 1.18 million units for 7.4 percent of total volume.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6, based on the 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 just two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging increased 30 cents to end at $2.90, with 2,500 shares crossing the exchange, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 33 cents to $2.42 in trading 4,084 shares, Caribbean Cream popped 40 cents to $3.90 after an exchange of 1,326 units. Derrimon Trading declined 9 cents and ended at $1.90 after 7,306,028 stocks passed through the market, Dolla Financial advanced 19 cents to close at $3 in an exchange of 2,620,637 shares, 
Fontana rose 25 cents to $10.50 with traders dealing in 11,370 stock units. Indies Pharma gained 9 cents in closing at $2.79 after a transfer of 82,718 stocks, Jamaican Teas fell 9 cents to close at $2.50 with 176,090 stock units clearing the market, KLE Group shed 17 cents and ended at $2.25 after an exchange of 3,459 shares. Knutsford Express dropped $1.01 to end at $11.38 with investors transferring a mere 145 units, Lasco Distributors lost 20 cents to close at $3.90 in switching ownership of 31,747 stocks, Limners and Bards rallied 39 cents to close at $1.69 as investors exchanged 30,459 stock units. Lumber Depot dipped 10 cents and ended at $2.50 with a transfer of 40,612 shares, Mailpac Group sank 9 cents in closing at $2.10 while exchanging 1,176,745 stock units, MFS Capital Partners increased 18 cents to end at $2.29 with investors dealing in 225,405 stocks and Spur Tree Spices skidded 20 cents in closing at $2.25, with 120,480 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.