Trading closed Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, with a rise in the value and volume of stocks that were exchanged, compared to Thursday. At the close, the major indices of the Main Market fell, while the Junior Market index and the JSE USD Market rose. At the end of trading, the prices of 40 shares rose, 37 declined and 35 remained firm.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index declined 1,177.17 points to finish at 386,768.27, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,339.96 points to end at 457,055.65, the JSE Main Index fell by 1,369.81 points to 380,688.34, the Junior Market Index rose 18.47 points to end at 3,173.32 and the JSE USD Market Index rallied 1.53 points to settle at 283.17.
At the close of trading, 15,871,465 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 9,582,236 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $167.8 million, up from $159.35 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 189,615 shares for US$12,029 compared to 85,869 units at US$27,494 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Sagicor Select Financial Fund led with 3.57 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 1.76 million stocks and Transjamaican Highway with 1.41 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Woodcats International led with 751,701 shares, followed by Spur Tree Spices with 474,455 stocks and RA Williams with 325,606 units.
In Main Market ordinary share activities, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy jumped $11.95 to finish at $38.95, Guardian Holdings rallied $2.07 and ended at $379.99, Jamaica Producers popped $1.45 in closing at $21.50, Margaritaville climbed $1.35 to close at $10.36 and Eppley increased $1.25 to end at $33.75.
Among the top losers, Massy Holdings shed $5.95 to close at $73.00, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund lost $1.99 and ended at $39.00, Scotia Group slipped $1.23 to $70, GraceKennedy fell $1 to $83.00 and NCB Financial dipped by 92 cents in closing at $74.08.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rallied $4.95 to close at $35, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climb $49, to close at $2,199, while 138 Student Living preferred share climbed $3.50 and ended at $205.
In the Junior Market, Blue Power gained 23 cents in closing at $3.28, Honey Bun advanced 18 cents to finish at $7.18, Atlantic Hardware rose 17 cents and ended at $1.75, Jamaican Teas advanced 14 cents to close at $2.19, Consolidated Bakeries popped 10 cents to end at $1.60, Mailpac Group climbed 10 cents in closing at $2.40 and Regency Petroleum increased 10 cents to end at $4.20. Among the top losers, Cargo Handlers dropped 49 cents and ended at $15.00, Caribbean Cream declined by 15 cents to close at $4.25, Spur Tree Spices skidded by 15 cents to finish at $1.31, Fontana dropped 11 cents and ended at $6.10 and Express Catering shed 7 cents to end at $2.91.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 13.6 and 17.8 based on 2025 historical earnings. Major one-off income or expenses are excluded from earnings where applicable. The PE ratio is one of the most used measures in valuing shares. It is calculated by dividing the stock price by earnings per share. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in the stock market. The chart should be used to help in decision-making, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or due to be paid and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index ends with a gain of 2,070.56 points to 387,945.44, while the All Jamaican Composite Index increased 196.43 points to 455,715.69, the JSE Main Index climbed by 1,660.35 points to conclude trading at 382,058.15, the Junior Market Index climbed by a solid 67.30 points to 3,154.85 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 4.55 points to 281.64.
Among the top losers, Margaritaville dropped $1.99 to end at $9.01, First Rock Real Estate shed $1.61 in closing at $7.31, Caribbean Cement fell by $1.38 and ended at $113.50, Eppley slipped $1.25 to close at $32.50 and General Accident fell 99 cents to finish at $7.00.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 2,226.12 points to 385,874.88, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied by 2,464.48 points to end at 455,519.26, the JSE Main Index rose 2,565.74 points to 380,397.80, the Junior Market Index dipped by 31.64 points to 3,087.55 and the JSE USD Market Index increased 9.23 points to conclude trading at 286.19.
Among the losing stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell by $1.50 to close at $39.50, Sygnus Credit Investments dropped 67 cents to $10.06, NCB Financial shed 50 cents to close at $72.00, Stanley Motta dipped 39 cents to $7.00 and Barita Investments lost 35 cents and ended at $73.95.
MFS Capital Partners ended the week with a gain of 21.28 percent to be the leading stock rising, but Limners and Bards was the weakest, in falling 12.5 percent. Caribbean Cream was the sixth-best performing stock, following solid second quarter results, reported after the close of the market on Thursday, with profit before tax amounting to $152 million for the half-year, and earnings per share coming in at 18 cents for the second quarter, up from 12 cents in the first quarter. The shares responded positively to the results, triggering the circuit breaker. In the process, it traded at $4.19. Looking ahead, the twelve-month forecast compiled by ICInsider.com projects earnings of 55 cents per share, with the stock set to rise by 186 percent over the next twelve months to $11. The stock has so far gained 84 percent for the year to date.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers is projected to rise 476 percent. The insurance broker’s shares had lost ground over the past year, so the forecast implies a substantial recovery. Express Catering is forecast to gain 267 percent, placing it third on the list. Express operates restaurants at Sangster International Airport, so its outlook is closely tied to a rebound in passenger traffic and tourism.
Among the top five winning companies for the week, MFS Capital Partners topped the list, after rising 21.28 percent. R.A. Williams Distributors was next with a gain of 20.31 percent, Paramount Trading advanced by 18.18 percent. Dolphin Cove rallied by 16.42 percent, while Consolidated Bakeries rose to the top five with a gain of 15.11 percent. See chart for the top 10.
At the end of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index fell by 2,322.32 points to 383,648.76, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 2,601.32 points to 453,054.78, the JSE Main Index lost 2,341.03 points to finish at 377,832.06, the Junior Market Index slipped by 11.70 points to finish at 3,119.19 and the JSE USD Market Index popped 1.79 points to settle at 276.96.
Among the top losers, GraceKennedy declined by $3 to finish at $82.00, AS Bryden fell $2.70 and ended at $16.00, Scotia Group slipped $1.38 and ended at $70.12, Caribbean Cement lost 85 cents to end at $114.00 and Pan Jamaica shed 78 cents to close at $45.00.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed by 1,218.72 points to close at 385,971.08, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 493.78 points to end at 455,656.10, the JSE Main Index gained 1,027.18 points to finish at 380,173.09, the Junior Market Index rallied 32.97 points to settle at 3,130.89 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded by 0.68 points to conclude trading at 275.17.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Access Financial rallied $1.87 to finish at $20.98, Caribbean Cream advanced 55 cents and ended at 52 weeks closing high of $3.85, Jamaican Teas rose 19 cents in closing at $2.19, Dolla Financial climbed 16 cents to close at $3.68, Paramount Trading increased 14 cents to end at $1.04 and Everything Fresh climbed 14 cents and ended at $1.85. Among the top losers, Regency Petroleum skidded by 13 cents to finish at $4.05, Limners and Bards fell 10 cents and ended at 98 cents, Future Energy dipped by 8 cents to close at $3.60, Image Plus lost 5 cents to end at $1.75 and Lasco Financial dipped 5 cents in closing at $1.50.
Elsewhere, trading closed after a 53 percent drop in the quantity of stocks traded, carrying a 45 percent lower value compared with Thursday, following trading in 38 securities, compared with 40 on Thursday and ending with prices of 16 rising, nine falling and 13 closing firm, resulting in a tidy gain for the market index.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.4. ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios derived by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal years ending around August 2027.
Jamaican Teas rallied 19 cents to end at $2.19 with investors dealing in only 2 shares. Jetcon Corporation rose 1 cent to close at a 52 weeks high of $5.19 after an exchange of 38,523 shares, Lasco Financial skidded 5 cents to finish at $1.50, after 8,549 stock units passed through the market, Limners and Bards fell 10 cents and ended at 98 cents in an exchange of 141,131 stocks, MFS Capital Partners rose 10 cents in closing at 57 cents, with a mere 1 unit clearing the market. Paramount Trading climbed 14 cents to close at $1.04 in trading 82 shares, RA Williams increased by 8 cents to end at 77 cents with a transfer of 905,109 stocks and Regency Petroleum dipped by 13 cents to finish at $4.05, after 11,253 units passed through the market.
The market closed with trading of 9,001,420 shares for $18,200,038, compared with 4,951,523 units at $9,364,927 on Wednesday.
ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios, derived by dividing the last stock price by earnings per share for companies with the fiscal year ending around August 2027.
Image Plus skidded 6 cents and ended at $1.80 with investors swapping 1,562,382 units, Jamaican Teas dropped 16 cents to end at $2 after an exchange of 3,943,420 stock units. Jetcon Corporation increased 29 cents to close at $5.18 with a transfer of 127,834 shares, Knutsford Express climbed 6 cents to $8.51, with 64,081 stock units crossing the exchange, Paramount Trading declined by 15 cents to finish at 90 cents in switching owners of 1,059 units. Regency Petroleum advanced 12 cents and ended at $4.18 after a transfer of 16,969 stocks and Spur Tree Spices dropped 5 cents to finish at $1.35 in trading 47,982 shares.
At the end of market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 1,107.60 points to close at 384,752.36, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 2,779.94 points to 455,162.32, the JSE Main Index popped by 1,121.64 points to 379,145.91, the Junior Market Index inched 4.90 points higher to settle at 3,097.92 and the JSE USD Market Index fell 0.55 points to finish at 275.85.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Cargo Handlers advanced 50 cents to end at $15.50, Jetcon Corporation rallied by 29 cents to close at a 52 weeks high of $5.18, Everything Fresh popped 13 cents to $1.71, Regency Petroleum rose by 12 cents to $4.18 and Express Catering gained 10 cents to close at $2.99. Among the losers, Jamaican Teas fell by 16 cents and ended at $2.00, Caribbean Cream dipped 15 cents to $3.30, Paramount Trading slipped 15 cents to close at 90 cents, CAC 2000 fell 12 cents to end at $1.03 and AMG Packaging lost 10 cents to finish at $1.72.
The market closed with an exchange of 4,951,523 shares for $9,364,927, well up from 1,700,662 stock units at $3,195,077 on Tuesday.
ICInsider.com computes the PE ratios by dividing the last traded stock price by earnings per share for companies with fiscal years ending around August 2027.
Main Event rallied 49 cents and ended at $3.80 after an exchange of 4,417 stocks, Paramount Trading rose 6 cents, in closing at $1.05, with investors trading 111,912 units. Regency Petroleum lost 9 cents to end at $4.06 after switching ownership of 90,935 shares, Spur Tree Spices gained 5 cents to finish at $1.40 after trading of 112,938 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies rallied by 5 cents and ended at $1.60, with only 2,167 shares changing owners.