Honey Bun jumped into the Junior Market IC TOP10 this week in the sixth place, while Access Financial dropped out in a week when both of the Main and Junior markets declined in value compared to the 2023 year end close. Honey Bun rose to the ICTOP 10 following the release of the 2023 full year results, showing profit after tax rising 14 percent to $232 million, with indications that the 2024 performance should see profits hitting 80 cents per share with a PE of 8 currently.
Honey Bun sales income rose 16 percent for the fiscal year but only 8 percent in the final quarter.
t the close of the market on Friday, five Junior Market stocks gained between two and eight percent and three fell by 2 percent and 18 percent, while just two Main Market stocks rose at 2 and to four percent and seven fell by 7 percent or less.
The Main Market ICTOP10 ended with, 138 Student Living gaining 4 percent to $4.05. Declining stocks include JMMB Group down seven percent to $24.25, Pulse Investments with a six percent fall to $1.97 and General Accident down four percent to $4.66.
The Junior Market ended the week, with Lasco Manufacturing rising eight percent to $4.64, Lasco Distributors up seven percent to $4 and AMG Packaging climbing six percent to $3.20. Jamaican Teas dropped eighteen percent to $2.31, as investors seem to ignore a positive report on the group that was published in the Financial Gleaner on Friday.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.2, well below the market average of 13.4 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 292 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 189 percent over the same time frame.
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 32 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, there are 12 stocks, or 25 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 50, averaging 23, 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.
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.
Stocks fell on the JSE Main & Junior Markets
Trading on Friday ended with 39 ordinary shares declining against just 27 that gained as the Jamaica Stock Exchange suffered declines in the Main Market and the Junior Market but the JSE USD market closed higher following a rise in the volume and value of stocks trading.
At the close of trading on Friday, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 1,100.91 points to close at 335,745.66, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,528.13 points to 359,937.89, the JSE Main Index lost 1,060.72 points and wrapped up trading at 322,697.93. The Junior Market Index fell 12.12 points to end at 3,780.14 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 4.38 points to 241.69.
At the close of trading, 16,067,798 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 10,635,206 units on Thursday,
with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $60.18 million, up from $38.4 million on Tuesday and the JSE USD market closed after 13,643 shares were traded, for US$3,500 compared to 250,247 units at US$11,360 on Thursday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Transjamaican Highway with 3.35 million shares followed by Carreras with 2.22 million units, Wigton Windfarm with 1.32 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.17 million units.
In the Junior Market, One Great Studio led trading with 1.13 million shares followed by Dolla Financial with 727,676 units and Everything Fresh with 565,867 units.
At the close of the market, Main Market stocks rallying were Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbing $1.02 and ended at $38.02. First Rock Real Estate popped $1.05 to end at $8, GraceKennedy gained $1.40 in closing at $79.40,
Declining Main Market stocks include Barita Investments with a loss of $2.01 to close at $71, JMMB Group declining $1.25 to $24.25, Sagicor Group dropping $5.39 and ended at $41.60, Scotia Group skidded $1.29 in closing at $38, while Sperod sank $8 to close at $77.
In the Junior Market rising stocks include Cargo Handlers with a gain of 92 cents in closing at $14 and the only stock with a sizable loss in this market was AMG Packaging down 70 cents in ending at $3.20.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share advanced $5 to end at $1,080.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.9 on 2022-23 earnings and 14 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Junior Market slips on Friday
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped moderately at the close on Friday, following a 40 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded with a 34 percent greater value than Thursday resulting from trading in 42 securities compared with 41 on Thursday and ending with prices of 12 rising, 16 declining and 14 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 5,101,314 shares for $10,562,036 compared with 3,646,469 units at $7,879,162 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 121,460 shares at $251,477, compared to 88,938 units at $192,175 on Thursday with a month to date, average of 143,939 shares at $292,526 compared with 151,373 stock units at $306,101 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
One Great Studio led trading with 1.13 million shares for 22.1 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 727,676 units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Everything Fresh with 565,867 units for 11.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 12.12 points to close at 3,780.14.
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 two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased 30 cents to end the session at $25.50 after an exchange of just 119 stock units, AMG Packaging lost 70 cents and ended at $3.20 with a transfer of 8,081 shares, Blue Power climbed 30 cents to end at $3 with 307 stocks being traded. Cargo Handlers rose 92 cents in closing at $14 in switching owners of 1,500 units, Caribbean Flavours skidded 25 cents to close at $1.67, with 7,810 stocks crossing the exchange, Fontana fell 10 cents to $10.50 with investors swapping 127,467 units. Future Energy shed 10 cents to close at $3.50 with an exchange of 133,778 shares, Indies Pharma sank 27 cents in closing at $2.65 after the trading of 157,736 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 14 cents and ended at $4.64 in an exchange of 7,661 shares.
Mailpac Group popped 8 cents to end at $2.12 with investors trading 86,905 stock units, Main Event declined 34 cents in closing at $14 following 237 units crossing the market, MFS Capital Partners rallied 9 cents to $2.09 with investors trading 230,370 stocks. Paramount Trading advanced 20 cents to end at $1.59 after 14,057 units crossed the market, Spur Tree Spices popped 30 cents and ended at $2.54 with traders dealing in 55,442 shares and Tropical Battery dipped 7 cents to close at $1.87 with an exchange of 137,318 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market bounces as year-end prices adjust
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 38 percent and the value 40 percent lower than Wednesday with trading taking place in 41 securities compared with 39 on Wednesday and ended with 13 rising, 15 declining and 13 closing unchanged as some prices that enjoyed a year end bounce continue to normalise.
Investors traded 3,646,469 shares for $7,879,162 compared with 5,922,564 units at $13,058,153 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 88,938 shares at $192,175, compared to 151,861 units at $334,824 on Wednesday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 151,373 stock units at $306,101 compared with 181,138 stock units at $360,415 on the previous day well off from December that closed with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
iCreate led trading with 612,599 shares for 16.8 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy with 573,561 units for 15.7 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 415,210 units for 11.4 percent market share.
At the close, 
the Junior Market Index climbed 29.96 points to finish at 3,792.26.
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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close of trading on Thursday, CAC 2000 dipped 35 cents to end at $4.50 after an exchange of 200 stock units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 10 cents to end at $2.25, with 548 shares changing hands, Caribbean Flavours advanced 25 cents in closing at $1.92 after 4,199 stocks passed through the market. Dolphin Cove rose 70 cents to close at $20 with a transfer of 33,909 units, EduFocal rallied 14 cents to end at $1.74 with 262,714 shares clearing the market, Fontana increased 52 cents in closing at $10.60 in an exchange of 83,421 stock units. 
Fosrich fell 7 cents to $2.23, with traders dealing in 68,200 units, GWest Corporation skidded 8 cents and ended at 89 cents in an exchange of 10,000 stocks, Honey Bun climbed 19 cents to close at $6.30 with investors trading 2,936 shares. Lumber Depot sank 26 cents to end at $2.39 closed after an exchange of 53,494 stocks, Mailpac Group shed 20 cents in closing at $2.04 with investors swapping 29,280 units, MFS Capital Partners dropped 21 cents to $2 after a transfer of 144,632 stock units. Paramount Trading gained 7 cents and ended at $1.39, with 27,581 shares crossing the exchange and Spur Tree Spices lost 33 cents to close at $2.24 in switching ownership of 113,129 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market falls, Juniors rise
Jamaica stocks rose on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday but overseas-based stocks pulled back, with the Main Market slipping as the Junior Market recovered some of the grounds lost on Wednesday but the JSE USD market closed lower following a drop in the volume and value of stocks trading falling.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 206.43 points to end trading at 336,846.57, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,082.80 to close at 363,466.02, the JSE Main Index fell 499.84 points to 323,758.65. The Junior Market Index climbed 29.96 points to 3,792.26 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 2.02 points to 237.31.
At the close of trading, 10,635,206 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 13,087,775 units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $38.4 million, down compared with $69.13 million on Tuesday and the JSE USD market closed after 250,247 shares were traded, for US$11,360 compared to 163,964 units at US$2,851 on Wednesday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.41 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.29 million units and QWI Investments with 888,809 units.
In the Junior Market, iCreate led trading with 612,599 shares followed by Future Energy with 573,561 units and One Great Studio with 415,210 units.
Main Market stocks rallying were NCB Financial rose $1 to close at $67.50 and Seprod rallied $2.10 in closing at $85.
Declining Main Market stocks included, GraceKennedy lost $1.75 to close at $78, Supreme Ventures declined $1.35 to $24.60 and Jamaica Broilers sank $1 in closing at $33.50.
Rising Junior Market stocks include Dolphin Cove advancing 70 cents in closing at $20 and Fontana increasing 52 cents to $10.60. There were stocks with big losses in this market.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share dropped $10 to end at $120 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share advanced $15 in closing at $1,075
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.9 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.1 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Big fall for Junior Market
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 39 percent and the value 27 percent lower than on Tuesday following trading activity in 39 securities compared with 47 on Tuesday and ended with prices 14 rising, 17 declining 
and eight closing unchanged as the market gave back all of the year end gains from Friday and more, but it still held on the majority of last weeks’ Thursday 50 points gains as the Junior Market Index dived 79.45 points to end the day at 3,762.30.
Investors traded 5,922,564 shares for $13,058,153 compared with 9,655,336 units at $17,937,572 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 151,861 shares at $334,824 compared to 205,433 units at $381,650 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 181,138 units at $360,415 compared with trading in December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
Lasco Financial led trading with 2.96 million shares for 49.9 percent of total volume followed by AMG Packaging with 557,050 units for 9.4 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 492,557 units for 8.3 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.5, 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, Access Financial fell $2.29 to close at $25.20 in an exchange of 42 stock units, AMG Packaging surged $1.50 to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $3.90 after investors ended trading 557,050 shares, Blue Power shed 40 cents in closing at $2.67 with an exchange of 999 units. Cargo Handlers declined $1.84 and ended at $13.08, with 301 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 10 cents to end at $2.15 with a transfer of 471 units, Fosrich sank 11 cents to $2.30 after exchanging 313,872 stocks. 
Indies Pharma rose 17 cents to close at $2.92 in trading 20 shares, Jamaican Teas dipped 32 cents and ended at $2.27, with 24,377 stocks crossing the exchange, Lasco Manufacturing shed 14 cents in closing at $4.50 with investors transferring 1,946 shares. Lumber Depot climbed 26 cents to end at $2.65 in exchange of 502 units, Main Event increased $1.20 in closing at $14.34 with investors dealing in 1,640 stocks, Paramount Trading skidded 33 cents to $1.32 while trading 7,293 stock units and Spur Tree Spices popped 21 cents to close at $2.57 with 52,780 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Pull back for JSE Main & Junior Markets
The Main Market and Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange gave back some of the gains garnered over the past few trading sessions but the JSE USD market closed higher for the second day of trading as the overall trading levels in the markets pulled back from those of Friday and Tuesday, with the market weighed down by more big falling prices than those rising.
At the close of trading, 13,087,775 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 21,294,970 units on Tuesday,
with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $69.13 million, down compared with $81.4 million on Tuesday and the JSE USD market closed after 163,964 shares were traded, for US$2,851 compared to 51,389 units at US$5,071 on Tuesday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 1.78 million shares for 25.4 percent of total volume followed by Jamaica Stock Exchange with 1.43 million units for 20.4 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 637,525 units.
In the Junior Market, Lasco Financial led trading with 2.96 million shares, followed by AMG Packaging with 557,050 units and One Great Studio with 492,557 units.
At the close of the market, Main Market stocks rallying were AS Bryden, with a gain of $3.01 to $33.11, Seprod climbing $2.91 to $82.90, Wisynco Group up $1.25 to close at $22.30.
Declining Main Market stocks included, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund skidded $3 to end at $37, Caribbean Cement lost $1.82 and ended at $57.66, NCB Financial down $1.50 and ended at $66.50 and Scotia Group up $1 to $38.50.
Rising Junior Market stocks include AMG Packaging advancing $1.50 to $3.90 and Main Event increasing $1.20 in closing at $14.34. Falling stocks include Access Financial down $2.29 to close at $25.20 and Cargo Handlers declining $1.84 to end at $13.08.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 4,040.80 points to 337,053.00, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 5,765.35 points to lock up trading at 362,383.22, the JSE Main Index lost 3,566.78 points to end at 324,258.49. The Junior Market Index dropped 79.45 points to conclude trading at 3,762.30 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 1.52 points to settle at 239.33.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share popped $3.99 to $22.99.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.7 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.1 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Junior Market slips into 2024
Trading started the new year with the market slipping moderately as market activity ended on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with an 83 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded with an 87 percent lower the value than Friday and resulted from trading in 47 securities compared with 46 on Friday and ended with 15 rising, 25 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 9,655,336 shares for $17,937,572, down from 58,141,717 units at $143,291,459 on Friday.
Trading averaged 205,433 shares at $381,650, compared with 1,263,950 units at $3,115,032 on Friday compared with December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 2.46 million shares for 25.5 percent of total volume followed by One Great Studio with 1.59 million units for 16.5 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 665,397 units for 6.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index declined 6.58 points to finish at 3,841.75.
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 popped $2.49 in closing at $27.49 after 5 units passed through the market, AMG Packaging skidded 62 cents to $2.40 after trading 23,184 stocks, Blue Power increased 41 cents to close at $3.07, with 973 shares clearing the market. Caribbean Flavours fell 25 cents to end at $1.67 with investors swapping 16,000 stock units, Derrimon Trading climbed 8 cents and ended at $1.93, with 56,341 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove rose $1.27 to $19.37 in an exchange of 1,635 units. Fontana dipped 19 cents in closing at $10.01, with 26,660 stocks crossing the market, 
Fosrich sank 19 cents and ended at $2.41 with investors trading 566,382 stock units, Future Energy shed 25 cents to close at $3.69 after exchanging 665,397 shares. GWest Corporation advanced 9 cents to end at 97 cents with 5,360 stock units crossing the market, Honey Bun lost 29 cents in closing at $6.11 with traders dealing in 9,717 units, following the release of full year results showing a 15 percent rise in profits to $232 million or 49 cents per share, Image Plus declined 13 cents to $1.92 while exchanging 24,853 stocks. Indies Pharma dropped 34 cents to end at $2.75 in trading 247,531 units, ISP Finance jumped $2.49 and ended at $31.49 after an exchange of 11 stock units, Jamaican Teas fell 21 cents to close at $2.59 with investors dealing in 338,041 shares. Jetcon Corporation shed 9 cents to $1 in an exchange of 38,592 stock units, 
JFP Ltd declined 16 cents and ended at $1.38 after it closed with an exchange of 504,995 shares, Lasco Distributors rallied 25 cents to end at $4 as investors exchanged 172,225 stocks. Lasco Financial increased 16 cents in closing at $2.10 in switching ownership of 157,155 units, Lasco Manufacturing climbed 33 cents to close at $4.64, with 437 stock units crossing the exchange, Lumber Depot sank 28 cents to $2.39 with investors transferring 82,830 shares. Main Event dropped 76 cents to end at $13.14 after a transfer of 2,176 units, ONE on ONE Educational lost 10 cents in closing at $1 with a transfer of 551,012 stocks, Regency Petroleum skidded 28 cents to close at $2.20 with an exchange of 340,150 stock units. Spur Tree Spices dipped 40 cents and ended at $2.36 after investors traded 388,474 shares and Tropical Battery popped 10 cents to $2 after an exchange of 155,094 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stock prices fall but JSE rises to start 2024
The Main Market and USD Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed to start the new year at the close on Tuesday but the Junior Market slipped modestly following b gains on Friday, with trading dropping sharply from the year close on Friday, notwithstanding the gains in the market, trading ended with declining dominating those rising on the first day of the year.
At the close of trading, 21,294,970 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 107,792,193 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $81.4 million, down from $952.3 million on Friday. The JSE USD market closed after 51,389 shares were traded for US$5,071 compared to 367,867 units at US$23,662 on Friday.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund was the dominant trade in the Main Market, with 3.15 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.45 million units and Ciboney Group, 1.98 million units. In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 2.46 million shares followed by One Great Studio with 1.59 million units and Future Energy, 665,397 stock units.
At the close of trading, Main Market stocks rallying were Guardian Holdings jumping $49.98 and ended at $399.98, Eppley popping $2.04 to close at $38.04, Scotia Group up $1.10 and ended at $39.50 and Massy Holdings advancing $1 to end at $91.
Declining Main Market stocks included AS Bryden, with a decline of $3.01 and ended at $30.10, Barita Investments falling $3.98 to $73, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $2.10 to $40, JMMB Group skidded $1 to $25, NCB Financial lost $1.99 to $68, followed by Sagicor Group skidding $2.50 to $47, Seprod declining $2.51 to end at $79.99 and Supreme Ventures shedding $2 in closing at $25.
Rising Junior Market stocks include ISP Finance and Access Financial up $2.49 each and Dolphin Cove up $1.27. Falling stocks include Main Event dropping 76 cents, AMG Packaging skidding 62 cents and Spur Tree Spices with a fall of 40 cents.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index jumped 1,935.67 points to close at 341,093.80, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,130.72 points to 368,148.57, the JSE Main Index increased 2,125.48 points to end at 327,825.27. The Junior Market Index lost 6.58 points to end at 3,841.75 and the JSE USD Market Index gained 6.62 points to culminate at 237.81.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share dropped $3 to $19.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Junior Market slips in 2023 as 19 stocks rose
Investors owning Junior Market stocks would be fortunate if they held most of the 19 best performing stocks in that market in 2023, if they held the TOP10 stocks from the start of 2023, they would have picked up gains ranging from 13 percent to a high of 65 percent, plus dividends in some cases.
Junior Market stocks fared better than their Main Market counterparts with 19 or 40 percent of listings recording gains during the year and 29 or 60 percent declining. ISP Finance was the leading Junior Market stock after gaining 65 percent for the year followed by Main Event up 55 percent, Regency Petroleum added 47 percent to the price at the commencement of the year, while Knutsford Express put on a solid 45 percent and Dolphin Cove 39 percent, in addition, the company paid dividends amounting to $1.60 during the year thus raising the total returns to 51 percent.
Declining Junior Market stocks were headed by the managerially and financially troubled iCreate down 65 percent,
Elite Diagnostic struggling to overcome machine failures, declined by 46 percent, Medical Disposables suffered a fall of 44 percent as profit collapsed in 2023, helped by increased finance costs. CAC2000 fell 43 percent and 2022 highflyer, Fosrich dropped 38 percent. Advertising and public relations firm Limners and Bards fell 38 percent, money transfer and micro lender, Lasco Financial dropped 33 percent and petroleum distributor Future Energy a 2022 high flying stock retreated with a loss of 28 percent.