Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 136 percent and the value 72 percent more than Thursday after investors traded
just under 27 million shares of Paramount Trading, in a total of 43 securities that were traded compared with 40 on Thursday and ended with only 12 rising, 22 declining, with nine unchanged.
Investors traded 31,163,597 shares for $55,490,400 compared with 13,232,540 units at $32,353,607 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 724,735 shares at $1,290,474, compared to 330,814 units at $808,840 on Thursday, with the month to date averaging 301,689 shares at $662,359 compared with 277,785 stock at $626,868 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 220,239 units at $459,425.
Paramount Trading led trading with 26.77 million shares for 85.9 percent of total volume, followed by Dolla Financial with 1.16 million units for 3.7 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 584,033 units for 1.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 11.26 points to close at 3,920.71.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.8, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging lost 9 cents in closing at $2.36 with shareholders swapping 14,052 stocks, Fontana shed 52 cents to end at $11.16 after an exchange of 83,539 units, Future Energy rallied 22 cents to close at $3.88 with investors dealing in 200,983 shares, GWest Corporation fell 8 cents and ended at 90 cents, with 1,000 stock units clearing the market. iCreate rose 9 cents to end at 76 cents in an exchange of 8,687 shares, Indies Pharma gained 12 cents in closing at $2.95 with investors transferring 1,532 units, 
ISP Finance dropped $4.71 to $26.78 after an exchange of 100 stocks. Jamaican Teas dipped 10 cents to close at $2.20, with 15,796 stock units crossing the market, Jetcon Corporation skidded 9 cents and ended at 90 cents while exchanging 32,552 shares, Knutsford Express declined 17 cents to end at $12 with investors trading 802 stocks, Lasco Financial popped 10 cents to $2 with 5,866 units crossing the exchange. Lasco Manufacturing increased 11 cents to $5, with 12,589 stock units changing hands, Lumber Depot lost 8 cents and ended at $2.80 with a transfer of 154,283 shares, Mailpac Group climbed 10 cents to end at $2.30 after closing with an exchange of 109,180 units. Main Event fell 25 cents to close at $13.75 with investors trading 2,500 stocks, 
Medical Disposables lost 5 cents in trading 10,656 shares to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.75 and tTech declined 33 cents to $1.87, without 3,799 stock units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading rises on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
The value of stocks traded declined on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but the volume surged from the levels on Thursday and ended with the JSE Main Market and the JSE USD rising as the Junior Market index closed down but remained above the 3,900 points mark for a second day.
The rise of Main Market indices was pushed mainly by Guardian Holdings, up $29, Massy Holdings with the rise of $8.80, Pan Jamaica with $3.46, followed by Sagicor Group, adding $1.29 to Thursday‘s price and Caribbean Cement, up $1.27.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index added 3,257.76 points to close at 330,149.24, while the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 168.58 points to settle at 346,820.31, the JSE Main Index increased 3,589.20 points to 315,399.16. The Junior Market Index slipped 11.26 points to 3,920.71 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 0.42 points to settle at 226.02.
Investors traded 36,643,282 shares in all three markets, up from 22,006,435 stock units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded slipped on the Junior and Main markets to $87 million from $98 million on Thursday. The JSE USD market ended trading after 31,673 shares were traded, for US$7,572 compared to 218,678 units at US$7,411 on Thursday.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $9 to end at $2890 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share increased $4.25 to close at $125.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 23.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.2 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 in the local stock market successfully. 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 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.
Profit at Dolla jumps 59% in Q3
Microlender Dolla Financial reported results for the quarter ending September, with profit rising a solid 59 percent to $102 million after tax, from $70 million in the prior year’s September quarter and a profit of $328 million for the nine months to September a b 74 percent increase over the $188 million generated in 2022 for the similar period.
Profit for the September quarter was marginally lower than the June quarter. Still, revenues from loans of $300 million in the September period were slightly higher than the $294 million in the June quarter.
After provision for loan impairment losses, net interest income climbed 65 percent to $243 million in the quarter, from $150 million in the prior year and by 75 percent to $724 million for the nine months versus $414 million in 2022.
Administrative costs climbed faster than revenues, with a jump of 83 percent for the quarter to $150 million and the nine months by 92 percent to $420 million.
Loans receivable net of provision for loss amount to $2.6 billion, an increase of $1.5 billion or 125 percent over September 2022, and grew by just $69 million over the June quarter. Funds borrowed amount to $1.85 billion and increased $100 million over the June quarter. Funds on hand are almost $147 million, with most available for lending.
The company needs to take on additional debt to maintain the hectic growth in the loan portfolio and profitability going forward. The significant acquisition of shares in the company by Mayberry Investments and Supreme Venture should provide them with a constant potential source of funding to maintain the growth in the loan portfolio, supportive of an annual increase in profits going forward.
According to the company’s commentary on the results, “business loans accounted for 82 percent of the total loan portfolio, while personal loans accounted for the remaining 18 percent. Secured loans constituted 81 percent of the portfolio, with unsecured loans making up the remaining 19 percent. The collateralised loan strategy has proven instrumental in maintaining the loan portfolio quality, with non-performing loans holding steady at 9 percent, remaining within budgeted expectations and below the sector average.”
As of September, shareholders’ equity stood at $938 million, up from $715 million at the end of September last year.
Profit resulted in earnings per share of 4 cents for the quarter and 13 cents for the year to date. IC Insider.com computation estimates earnings of 20 cents per share for the fiscal year ending December 2023, with a PE of 12.8 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $2.56, the stock traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market. The PE ratio compares with an average of 10.9 for the Junior Market but less than 19.5 times the top 9 stocks. Net asset value ended the period at 38 cents, with the stock selling at 6.6 times book value.
Junior Market pops on increased trading
Trading picked up solidly on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded climbing 51 percent and the value jumping 61 percent over Wednesday levels after dealings in 40 
securities compared with 43 on Wednesday and the Junior Market Index popping 38.47 points to end at 3,931.97, just 1.4 percent down for the year to date, with the prices of 15 stocks rising, 10 declining and 15 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 13,232,540 shares for $32,353,607, solidly up from 8,746,352 units at $20,082,467 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 330,814 shares at $808,840 compared to 203,404 shares at $467,034 on Wednesday, with the month to date averaging 277,785 units at $626,868 compared with 274,843 stocks at $616,772 on the previous day. Trading in September closed with an average of 220,239 units at $459,425.
Jamaican Teas led trading with 5.99 million shares for 45.2 percent of total volume and was followed by Dolla Financial with 3.81 million units for 28.8 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal with 875,847 stock units for 6.6 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial climbed 50 cents to end at $25 in an exchange of 30,132 shares, Blue Power shed 22 cents to $2.71, with 20,014 units changing hands, Dolla Financial ended trading of 3,811,220 shares and gained 7 cents in closing at $2.56. EduFocal skidded 14 cents to close at $2.39 while exchanging 875,847 stock units, Elite Diagnostic rallied 12 cents and ended at $1.89, with 46,915 stocks crossing the exchange, Express Catering dipped 9 cents in closing at $4.50 as investors exchanged 4,242 stocks. 
Honey Bun increased 15 cents to $6.46 with stakeholders exchanging 28,974 units, iCreate dropped 11 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ closing low of 67 cents with dealers trading 102,782 stock units, JFP Ltd lost 14 cents to close at $1.47 after an exchange of 14,838 shares. Lasco Manufacturing rose 29 cents and ended at $4.89 and closed after an exchange of 15,887 units, Main Event popped 45 cents in closing at $14 with shareholders swapping a mere 388 shares, Paramount Trading gained 9 cents to close at $1.69, with a mere three stocks crossing the market and Regency Petroleum advanced 13 cents in closing at $2.25 in switching ownership of 156,350 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading rises on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
The value of stocks traded rose on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, but the volume slipped marginally from the levels on Wednesday but the market closed mixed on Thursday, with the JSE USD and the Junior markets closing higher, but the Main Market finished lower.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 1,272.78 points higher to close at 326,891.48, the All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 951.42 points to settle at 346,651.73, the JSE Main Index lost 1,727.61 points to close at 311,809.96. The Junior Market Index rallied 38.47 points to 3,931.97 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 0.77 points to settle at 225.60.
Investors traded 22,006,435 shares in all three markets, marginally down on the 22,396,453 stocks on Wednesday. The value of stocks traded rose on the Junior and Main markets to $98 million from $88.4 million on Wednesday. The JSE USD market ended trading after 218,678 shares were traded, for US$7,411, compared to 194,347 units at US$314,203 on Wednesday.
In the preference, segment had no stocks with notable price changes.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 23.1 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.2 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 in the local stock market successfully. 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 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 jumps on Junior Market
Trading picked up on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 49 percent and the value 65 percent more than Tuesday, with 43 securities trading compared with 42 on Tuesday and ended with 14 rising, 22 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 8,746,352 shares for $20,082,467, up from 5,882,396 units at $12,191,518 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 203,404 shares at $467,034, compared to 140,057 shares at $290,274 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 274,843 units at $616,772 compared with 279,374 stock units at $626,269 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 220,239 units at $459,425.
EduFocal led trading with 3.11 million shares for 35.5 percent of total volume, followed by Dolla Financial with 1.46 million units for 16.7 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 910,539 units for 10.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index skidded 27.93 points to close at 3,893.50.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Blue Power rose 23 cents and ended at $2.93 in switching ownership of 1,994 shares, CAC 2000 dropped 94 cents in closing at $4, with 2,166 units clearing the market, Cargo Handlers skidded 9 cents to close at $14.40 in an exchange of 500 stocks, Caribbean Cream shed 56 cents to end at $4.10 as investors exchanged a mere 35 stock units. EduFocal rallied 19 cents to $2.53 with shareholders swapping 3,105,393 stocks, Elite Diagnostic advanced 17 cents to $1.77, with 125,048 stock units changing hands, Express Catering gained 29 cents to close at $4.59 with traders dealing in 500 shares, Fontana popped 30 cents and ended at $11.68 with investors transferring 96,758 units. 
Honey Bun lost 15 cents to end at $6.31 with investors trading 1,573 shares, Indies Pharma dipped 20 cents in closing at $2.80, with just one stock crossing the market, Jetcon Corporation increased 11 cents to end at 99 cents with 2,508 units crossing the exchange, JFP Ltd climbed 13 cents and ended at $1.61 with an exchange of 910,539 stock units. Knutsford Express declined 8 cents in closing at $12.17 in trading 6,676 shares, Lasco Distributors fell 11 cents to close at $4.20 in an exchange of 34,351 units, Lasco Financial fell 10 cents to $1.90 with a transfer of 27,229 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing dropped 32 cents to $4.60 and closed after 53,000 stocks changed hands. Limners and Bards declined 21 cents in closing at $2.01, with 16,492 stock units crossing the market, 
Lumber Depot rallied 28 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $2.88 after exchanging 70,551 shares and Main Event skidded 45 cents and ended at $13.55 after an exchange of 21,078 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading bounced on Jamaica Stock Exchange
Trading bounced on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday from the depressed levels on Tuesday when just 13.3 million shares changed hands valued at a mere $30 million, but the market closed mixed on Wednesday, with the JSE USD Market inching higher and broke six consecutive days of decline with Main Market inching lower, while the Junior Market slipped to close just under the 3,900 mark.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 740.51 points higher to close at 328,164.26, the All Jamaican Composite Index popped 309.44 points to 347,603.15, the JSE Main Index shed 524.74 points to conclude trading at 313,537.57. The Junior Market Index declined 27.93 points to conclude trading at 3,893.50 and the JSE USD Market Index, after falling for the sixth consecutive days, advanced 2.49 points to end trading at 224.83.
Investors traded 22,396,453 shares in all three markets, up from 13,288,537 stock units on Tuesday. The value of stocks traded fell on the Junior and Main markets to $88.4 million, up from $30.29 million on Tuesday. The JSE USD market ended trading after 194,347 shares were traded, for US$314,203, compared to 212,100 units at US$6,287 on Tuesday.
In the preference segment had no stocks with notable price changes.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 23.2 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.2 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 in the local stock market successfully. 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 only going too far from it if 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 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 blast through the 3,900 mark
Investors pushed the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange to close above what has become the challenging 3,900 mark on Tuesday, following trading in 42 securities compared with 43 on Monday and ended with 17 rising, 18 declining and seven closing unchanged, with the volume of
stocks traded falling 58 percent and the value 55 percent lower than Monday.
Investors traded 5,882,396 shares for $12,191,518, down from 14,063,733 units at $27,307,285 on Monday.
Trading averaged 140,057 shares at $290,274, compared with 327,064 units at $635,053 on Monday, with trading for the month to date averaging 279,374 units at $626,269 compared with 288,574 stock units at $648,457 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 220,239 units at $459,425.
Dolla Financial led trading with 1.59 million shares for 27.1 percent of total volume, followed by EduFocal with 532,433 units for 9.1 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 432,993 units for 7.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index rose 38.66 points to close at 3,921.43.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 10.9, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial dipped 50 cents in closing at $24.50 as investors exchanged 791 shares, Blue Power skidded 23 cents to end at $2.70 with shareholders swapping 400 units, Cargo Handlers gained $1.54 and ended at $14.49 with investors dealing in 203 stock units. Dolphin Cove gained 15 cents in closing at $16.15, with eight stocks crossing the market, Everything Fresh advanced 24 cents to $1.64, with 213,077 shares changing hands. Express Catering fell 31 cents and ended at $4.30 after a transfer of 1,700 stocks, Fontana rallied 27 cents to $11.38 and closed with an exchange of 8,483 stock units, Future Energy popped 10 cents to close at $3.70 after the passage through the market of 126,635 units. 
Honey Bun climbed 12 cents in closing at $6.46 with investors trading 11,214 shares, iCreate rose 8 cents to end at 80 cents, with 20,004 stocks crossing the market, ISP Finance rose $4.71 to close at $31.49 in trading 29 units. Knutsford Express rallied $1.14 and ended at $12.25 after an exchange of 1,193 stock units, Lasco Manufacturing shed 8 cents in closing at $4.92 with investors transferring 1,702 stock units, Limners and Bards increased 46 cents to end at $2.22 with traders dealing in 112,596 shares. Lumber Depot popped 9 cents to $2.60, with 19,929 units crossing the exchange, Mailpac Group declined 9 cents to end at $2.28, with 358,514 stocks clearing the market, MFS Capital Partners gained 9 cents to close at $2.10 in an exchange of 227,983 shares. 
Paramount Trading dropped 14 cents and ended at $1.56 with stakeholders exchanging 12,000 units, Spur Tree Spices lost 8 cents in closing at $2.06 after 48,634 stock units changed hands and Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 17 cents to $1.79 while exchanging 255,208 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
AMG 2023 profit slips, watch 2024
Profits fell slightly at AMG Packaging, producers of carton boxes, in the 2023 fiscal year to August to $94 million, but a close look shows the 2023 performance to be better than that for 2022, with the current year’s figures including a one off charge, plus vastly increased taxation than in the previous year.
AMG Packaging
Profit after tax declined from $105 million in the previous year, but this is after taxation climbed from $18 million to $39 million in the current year and a one off charge of $11 million, with revenues coming out at $1 billion in the current year, up from $996 million in 2022. Revenues for the fourth quarter were $230 million, down 12 percent from $257 million, management indicated that the reduction represented reduced production for one month—profit after tax ended at $19 million, down from $25 million in the previous year. The 2023 profit was declined by the abovementioned charge related to credit taken from 2017 to 2021 for payroll taxes not allowed for Junior Market companies. Had this not been the case, profit would have been higher than in the prior year, ending at $30 million instead of the lower figure reported.
In addition, taxation for the quarter was $11 million versus $5 million in the prior year, even as profit was lower. Pretax profit of $30.5 million in the final quarter would have been $41 million, excluding the one off charge versus $29.5 million, reflecting a solid 39 percent improvement and the full year $144 million compared with $123 million for an increase of 17 percent.
The company benefitted from the reversal of impairment losses and foreign exchange gains amounting to $4.5 million in the fourth quarter and $3 million for the twelve months, this compares with a loss of $5.4 million in 2022 for both the final quarter and the full year.
Even as revenues fell in the final quarter, gross profit rose to $79 million from $75 million in the previous year as the cost of sales declined 17 percent in the period from $183 million to $152 million. Gross profit jumped to $312 million from $273 million for the year to August, with cost of sales falling just 3 percent from $723 million to $700 million. Management Discussion and Analysis report stated that the reduction in manufacturing cost “was due mainly to the increase in efficiencies in our production processes.” From all indications, the new machine, installed before the start of the 2023 fiscal year, resulted in improved performance, with lower labour costs that flowed from operating one shift instead of two and reduced overtime. Working one shift would also reduce energy costs in using the machines.
New addition to the factory
Administrative costs were well contained at $27 million for the quarter, which was similar to that of 2022, but it grew 17 percent to $111 million for the year from $95 million in the previous year. Finance cost was relatively stable, coming in just around $2 million for the quarter and $8 million for the full year versus $8.7 million in the previous year. Depreciation climbed to $11 million from $8.4 for the quarter and $43 million from $30 million last year.
The operations generated Gross cash flow of $176 million and ended with increased funds for the year at $174 million after significant changes in working capital primarily relating to a reduction in amounts tied up in inventories and paying down amounts due to creditors.
Current assets ended the period at $590 million compared with $639 million in 2022. Trade and other receivables amount to $137 million, inventories amount to $156 million, down from $394 million in 2022 and cash and bank balances ended at $297 million. Current liabilities ended the period at $120 million. Net current assets ended the period at $469 million.
At the end of the year, shareholders’ equity amounts to $1.28 billion, up from $1.18 billion in 2022, with long term borrowings at $77 million, down from $81 million in 2022 and short term at $14 million, which is similar to the amount due at the end of 2022 fiscal year.
Earnings per share for the quarter was 4 cents and 18 cents for the year. IC Insider.com computation projects earnings of 40 cents per share for the fiscal year ending August 2024, with a PE of 6 times current year’s earnings based on the price of $2.35 the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Monday. Net asset value ended the period at $2.50, with the stock selling at a slight discount to book value.
JSE Main and Junior Market climb on Tuesday
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Is well down on trading on Tuesday with just 13.3 million shares changing hands valued at just over $30 million, but the market closed higher than the close on Monday, with the Main Market and the Junior Market climbing solidly but the JSE USD Market slipped for a 6th consecutive day.
At close, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 2,615.44 points higher to 328,904.77, while the All Jamaican Composite Index rose just 262.79 points to 347,293.71, the JSE Main Index jumped 2,426.08 points to close at 314,062.31. The Junior Market Index surged 38.66 points to settle at 3,921.43 and the JSE USD Market Index declined for a sixth consecutive day after dipping 0.75 points to 222.34.
Investors traded 13,288,537 shares in all three markets, up from 21,002,315 stock units on Monday. The value of stocks traded fell on the Junior and Main markets to $30.29 million from $62.5 million on Monday. The JSE USD market ended trading after 212,100 shares were traded, for US$6,287, down from 1,287,632 units at US$32,552 on Monday.
The preference segment had no stocks with a notable price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 22.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.3 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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 only going too far from it if 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 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.