Another Transjamaican day of trading with NCB Financial enduring more selling pressure

February 18, 2025 by
Transjamaican Highway took control of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday accounting for 78 percent of all shares traded and pushed the volume of stocks exchanged, sharply higher with a greater value than on Monday. At the close, the Main Market major indices, the Junior Market index and the JSE USD Market slipped resulting from prices of 31 shares rising, 45 declining and 38 ending firm, with NCB Financial closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $48 and ISP Finance closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $43.25, after hitting an intraday high of $49.42.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 441.95 points to finish at 340,223.17, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined 555.81 points to settle at 379,598.43, the JSE Main Index sank by 351.55 points to 328,099.09, the Junior Market Index lost 14.75 points to conclude trading at 3,691.31 and the JSE USD Market Index sank 1.55 points to end at 215.13.
At the close of trading on Tuesday, 105,705,078 shares were traded in all three markets, up sharply from 19,812,403 units on Monday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $253.27 million, well above the $117.53 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 373,308 shares for US$25,625 down compared to 524,976 units at US$54,479 on Monday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway 8% led with 80.01 million shares followed by Wigton Energy with 3.25 million stocks and Transjamaican Highway with 2.62 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Mailpac Group led with 4.31 million shares followed by Kintyre Holdings with 3.75 million stocks and Future Energy with 459,723 units.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.3 based on 2024-25 earnings and 19.9 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information in assisting in  decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and are grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are 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.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Combined, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ICTOP10 stocks weathered a stormy week

February 17, 2025 by
The markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange were steady in closing out last week with just marginal movements in the Main and Junior market indices, resulting in moderate moves in ICITOP10 stocks, with gains ranging from 4 percent to declines of 7 percent in the Junior Market TOP 10, with 4 percent being the biggest move in the Main Market ICTOP10.

Market movements resulted in prices of just three stocks rising and six declining in the Junior Market ICTOP10 while the Main Market ICTOP10 ended with three gains and two losses.
In the Junior Market ICTOP10, Caribbean Assurance Brokers and Limners and Bards gained 4 percent to close at $2.58 and $1.26 respectively. Elite Diagnostic and Iron Rock Insurance fell by 7 percent to $1.68 and $3.90 respectively and Cargo Handlers fell 4 percent to $11. In the Main Market ICTOP10, Key Insurance shed 4 percent to close at $2.20.
The JSE TOP10, compiled from all listed ordinary stocks on the Jamaica Stock Estate ended the week with JMMB Group dropping out with reduced earnings that were released for the nine months to December and is replaced by the Junior Market listed Kintyre Holdings (formerly iCreate).
Dolla Financial and Kintyre Holdings entered the Junior Market ICTOP10, with Jamaican Teas and Iron Rock Insurance dropping out. In the Main Market ICTOP10, Caribbean Producers returns, replacing JMMB Group following the downgrading of earnings for the current fiscal year ending in March. Dolla Financial earnings are based on 2025 projections. The forecast assumes more borrowed funds are taken on during the year to finance expansion. Kintyre Holdings reported earnings of 8 cents for 2024, the latest quarterly numbers suggest earnings should reach 25 cents per share during 2025, all things being equal. The historical performance of the company, suggests a high degree of risk is associated with an investment in the stock.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 sits at just 6, well below the market average of 14.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 stands at 8.1, more than half of the market, with an average of 13.2.
Based on the earnings estimates for 2024, the Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 270 percent by May 2025, providing better values than the Junior Market, projected to achieve a 164 percent increase for the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, there are 15 stocks with the highest values representing 29 percent of the Main Market, with PEs between 15 to 105, with an average of 31 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios and a PE of 24 for the top half of the market with the highest values and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10, 16 stocks or 33 percent of the market have PEs ranging from 15 to 32 with an average of 19 and a PE of 18 for half of the market with the highest PEs.
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 2025 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, resulting 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.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ICTOP10 stocks weathered stormy week

February 17, 2025 by
The markets of the Jamaica Stock Exchange were steady in closing out last week with just marginal movements in the Main and Junior market indices, resulting in moderate moves in ICITOP10 stocks, with gains ranging from 4 percent to declines of 7 percent in the Junior Market TOP 10, with 4 percent being the biggest move in the Main Market ICTOP10.

Market movements resulted in prices of just three stocks rising and six declining in the Junior Market ICTOP10 while the Main Market ICTOP10 ended with three gains and two losses.
In the Junior Market ICTOP10, Caribbean Assurance Brokers and Limners and Bards gained 4 percent to close at $2.58 and $1.26 respectively. Elite Diagnostic and Iron Rock Insurance fell by 7 percent to $1.68 and $3.90 respectively and Cargo Handlers fell 4 percent to $11. In the Main Market ICTOP10, Key Insurance shed 4 percent to close at $2.20.
The JSE TOP10, compiled from all listed ordinary stocks on the Jamaica Stock Estate ended the week with JMMB Group dropping out with reduced earnings that were released for the nine months to December and is replaced by the Junior Market listed Kintyre Holdings (formerly iCreate).
 Financial and Kintyre Holdings entered the Junior Market ICTOP10, with Jamaican Teas and Iron Rock Insurance dropping out.
In the Main Market ICTOP10, Caribbean Producers returns, replacing JMMB Group following the downgrading of earnings for the current fiscal year ending in March. Dolla Financial earnings are based on 2025 projections. The forecast assumes more borrowed funds are taken on during the year to finance expansion. Kintyre Holdings reported earnings of 8 cents for 2024, the latest quarterly numbers suggest earnings should reach 25 cents per share during 2025, all things being equal. The historical performance of the company, suggests a high degree of risk is associated with an investment in the stock.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 sits at just 6, well below the market average of 14.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 stands at 8.1, more than half of the market, with an average of 13.2.
Based on the earnings estimates for 2024, the Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 270 percent by May 2025, providing better values than the Junior Market, projected to achieve a 164 percent increase for the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, there are 15 stocks with the highest values representing 29 percent of the Main Market, with PEs between 15 to 105, with an average of 31 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios and a PE of 24 for the top half of the market with the highest values and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10, 16 stocks or 33 percent of the market have PEs ranging from 15 to 32 with an average of 19 and a PE of 18 for half of the market with the highest PEs.
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 2025 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, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, JSE Combined, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Junior Market trading dives on Monday

February 17, 2025 by
Trading activity closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Monday, with declining 41 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, after 23 percent less funds passed through the market over Friday with trading in 46 securities up 41 on Friday and ending with prices of 14 rising, 20 declining and 12 closing unchanged.

The market closed with trading of 7,301,014 shares for $11,842,518 down from 12,380,784 stock units at $15,337,067 on Friday.
Trading averaged 158,718 shares at $257,446 well below the 301,970 stock units at $374,075 on Friday. Trading month to date, averaged 180,439 units at $298,639 that is line with 182,731 units at $302,986 on the previous day but well below an average of  350,850 shares at $615,775 in January.
Kintyre Holdings led trading with 2.01 million shares for 27.6 percent of total volume followed by Fosrich with 1.19 million units for 16.3 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 820,520 stocks for 11.2 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index shed 7.03 points to finish at 3,706.06. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close of a trading session of low trading, CAC 2000 rallied 19 cents to end at $2.34 with 1,010 shares changing hands,  Caribbean Assurance Brokers rose 21 cents to $2.79 with an exchange of 5,612 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries fell 10 cents to $1.80 with 50 shares crossing the market. Everything Fresh sank 17 cents and ended at $1.81 in switching ownership of 39,071 stock units, GWest Corporation slipped 9 cents to finish at 82 cents after an exchange of 24,722 shares, ISP Finance climbed $7.50 to close at a 52 weeks; high of $37 and closed with 3,364 stocks changing hands, following the disclosure last week that they acquired a portfolio of loans. JFP Ltd rose 6 cents to 83 cents in an exchange of 287,907 units, KLE Group gained 9 cents in closing at $1.25 with traders dealing in 400 stocks, Knutsford Express sank $1.79 to end at $11 with 7,728 shares crossing the exchange. Lasco Financial dropped 9 cents to finish at $1.51 after a transfer of 14,880 stocks, Medical Disposables advanced 29 cents and ended at $1.99 with 6,426 units changing hands, Paramount Trading increased 9 cents to close at $1.12 with a transfer of 34,171 stock units and tTech ended with 2,204 shares being traded in closing at $1.47 after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $1.16.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trading jumps on Jamaica Stock Exchange

February 17, 2025 by
Market activity ended with greater volume at a higher value than on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange compared to Friday, ending with declines in Main Market major indices rising as the Junior Market index slipped moderately and the JSE USD Market dipped. At the end of trading the prices of 36 shares rose, 50 declined and 30 remained firm.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index fell 1,096.36 points to 340,665.12, the All Jamaican Composite Index sank 962.08 points to end at 380,154.24, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,093.74 points to end at 328,450.64, the Junior Market Index dipped 7.03 points to wrap up trading at 3,706.06 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 1.76 points to finish at 216.68.
At the close of trading, 19,812,403 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 16,077,673 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Main and Junior markets amounting to $117.53 million, up from $44.35 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 524,976 shares for US$54,479 well above the 53,579 units at US$26,575 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with 5.21 million shares followed by Wigton Energy with 2.03 million stocks and NCB Financial with 1.11 million units after hitting a 52 weeks’ low of $47.
In Junior Market trading, Kintyre Holdings led with 2.01 million shares followed by Fosrich with 1.19 million stocks and Future Energy with 820,520 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dipped $4 and ended at $2,686 while  138 Student Living pref. share lost $23.85 to close at $231.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.3 based on the 2025-26 earnings and 19.9 based on the 2024-25 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major one time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are 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.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Combined, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

ISP Finance jumps 23% in 2 days

February 14, 2025 by
Shares of micro-lender ISP Finance, jumped 23 percent with a rise of $5.56 in two days to close at $29.50 on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market following an announcement of acquiring a loan portfolio. The market closed the week with a 148 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, with a 42 percent higher value than Thursday following trading in 41 securities down from 47 on Thursday and ending with prices of 17 rising, 16 declining and eight closing unchanged.

Trading ended with 12,380,784 stock units being exchanged for $15,337,067, up from 4,996,614 units at $10,823,492 on Thursday and averaged 301,970 shares at $374,075 compared with 106,311 stocks at $230,287 on Thursday. For the month to date, trading averaged 182,731 stock units at $302,986 compared to 170,354 stock units at $295,607 on the previous day and January with an average of 350,850 shares at $615,775.
At the close of the market, Kintyre Holdings had an exchange of 4.94 million shares for 39.9 percent of total volume followed by Jamaican Teas which ended with 3.28 million stocks for 26.5 percent of the day’s trade and Paramount Trading with 2.0 million stock units for 16.2 percent of the share of the market activity.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index increased 15.41 points to end at 3,713.09. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close of a week with a minor contraction in the market value, Caribbean Assurance Brokers increased 8 cents to end at $2.58 with 769 stocks passing through the market, Dolla Financial rose 11 cents in closing at $2.90 with investors trading 162,689 units, Express Catering advanced 14 cents to $3.20 with 500 shares clearing the market. Indies Pharma rose 6 cents to close at $3.37 after a transfer of 149 stock units, ISP Finance rallied $1.50 to finish at $29.50 with 9,745 shares changing hands after trading at 52 weeks’ high of $32, Jamaican Teas gained 12 cents and ended at $2.29 with a transfer of 3,277,735 stocks. JFP Ltd sank 9 cents to end at 77 cents with 18,834 stock units crossing the market, Limners and Bards climbed 6 cents in closing at $1.26 as investors exchanged 117 stock units, Lumber Depot increased 6 cents to close at $2.88 after the trading of 102,673 shares. Medical Disposables shed 11 cents and ended at $1.70 after an exchange of 26,050 units, Omni Industries sank 6 cents to end at $1 with investors trading 410,209 stocks, Paramount Trading slipped 11 cents to finish at $1.03 in an exchange of 2,003,275 stock units. Regency Petroleum fell 11 cents to $3.19 with traders dealing in 60,346 shares, Spur Tree Spices declined 9 cents to end at $1.69 with 116,921 units crossing the exchange and tTech shed 26 cents in closing at $1.47 with 300 stocks switching owners.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Junior Market rises Main Market falls

February 14, 2025 by
Trading closed Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a fall in the volume of stocks exchanged, carrying a lower value than on Thursday, resulting in the Junior Market index rising, the Main Market major indices falling and the JSE USD Market slipping at the end of trading with the prices of 35 shares rising, 45 declining and 27 remaining firm.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index declined 582.12 points to conclude trading at 341,761.48, at the same time the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,208.34 points to settle at 381,116.32, the JSE Main Index shed 724.33 points to end trading at 329,544.38, while the Junior Market Index climbed 15.41 points to 3,713.09 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 1.14 points to finish at 218.44.
At the close of trading, 16,077,673 shares were exchanged in all three markets, sharply down from 114,183,228 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to a mere $44.35 million, a big fall from $258.89 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 53,579 shares for US$26,575 compared to 172,951 units at US$8,636 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway led with just 890,136 shares followed by Wigton Energy with 466,547 stocks and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 276,656 stock units.
In Junior Market trading, Kintyre Holdings led with 4.94 million shares followed by Jamaican Teas with 3.28 million stocks and Paramount Trading with 2.0 million units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share gained $2.25 to finish at $19.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.6 based on 2024-25 earnings and 19.7 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all the ordinary shares listed on Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major one-time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are 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.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Combined, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Energy stocks lead Junior Market trades as ISP jumps $3.96 to $28

February 13, 2025 by
On a moderate day of trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange petroleum operator accounted for the biggest share of the trading, with Regency Petroleum, accounting for 18 percent of the day’s trade with Future Energy delivering another 11 percent on Thursday with trading activity ending with a 56 percent increase in the volume of stocks traded, with 48 percent higher value than on Wednesday following trading in 47 securities up from just 42 on Wednesday and ending with prices of 21 rising, that includes ISP Finance with a jump of $3.96 on news of the purchase of a loan portfolio from Jamaica National. A total of 17 stock units declined and nine closed unchanged.

The market closed with trading of 4,996,614 shares for $10,823,492 up from 3,211,827 units at $7,290,865 on Wednesday. Trading averaged 106,311 shares at $230,287 much better than the 76,472 stocks at $173,592 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 170,354 units at $295,607 but below the 179,004 stock units at $304,429 on the previous day and well below that for January with an average of 350,850 shares at $615,775.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 881,108 shares for 17.6 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy which ended with 566,301 stock units for 11.3 percent of the day’s trade and RA Williams with 560,000 stocks for 11.2 percent of the volume traded.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index fell 5.64 points to end at 3,697.68. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.2, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for financial years ending around August 2025.
At the close of a day of improved trading, with many of the stocks traded involved small quantities, AMG Packaging rallied 19 cents to $3.20 with investors trading 1,937 stock units, Blue Power increased 26 cents in closing at $5.54 with 41,121 shares changing hands, CAC 2000 sank 30 cents to close at $2.15 with a transfer of 84 units. Cargo Handlers dipped 10 cents to finish at $11 with 11 stocks crossing the market, Consolidated Bakeries sank 20 cents and ended at $1.90 with traders dealing in 611 units, Dolphin Cove declined 10 cents to end at $19.60 with 15,573 shares crossing the market. Express Catering shed 14 cents in closing at $3.06 with investors trading 15,265 stock units, Fontana popped 13 cents to $9.23 with 62,148 stocks clearing the market, Future Energy dropped 12 cents to close at $3.38 after a transfer of 566,301 shares. GWest Corporation advanced 6 cents to end at 91 cents with 551 units passing through the market, Honey Bun rose 7 cents and ended at $8.10 with 2,285 stocks being traded, Indies Pharma fell 28 cents to finish at $3.31 after an exchange of 1,115 stock units. Iron Rock Insurance slipped 29 cents to $3.90 with investors dealing in just 4 shares, ISP Finance gained $3.96 to close at $28 in an exchange of 3,652 stock units, following a release form the company that they acquired a loan portfolio, KLE Group lost 9 cents and ended at $1.16 with investors swapping 138 units. Paramount Trading climbed 12 cents in closing at $1.14 with 18,813 stocks crossing the exchange, Regency Petroleum rose 12 cents to end at $3.30 with 881,108 stock units switching owners, Spur Tree Spices rallied 8 cents to finish at $1.78 after an exchange of 46,816 stocks and tTech skidded 27 cents and ended at $1.73 in trading 300 shares.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Trading rises, Main Market gains, Juniors dip

February 13, 2025 by
Trading closed Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a big rise in the volume of stocks exchanged, following a big trade in Transjamaican Highway 8% with 10 million units changing hands as the value of the day’s trade rose well over that on Wednesday. The market closed with the major indices Main Market rising, the Junior Market and the JSE USD Market indices declining. At the end of trading the prices of 47 shares rose, 41 declined and 32 remained firm.

At the close of the market, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 851.53 points to 342,343.60, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 1,489.03 points to end at 382,324.66, the JSE Main Index rallied 932.79 points to 330,268.71, the Junior Market Index slipped 5.64 points to finish at 3,697.68 and the JSE USD Market Index dropped 14.41 points to 219.58.
At the close of trading, 114,183,228 shares were exchanged in all three markets, well above the 10,243,857 stock units on Wednesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amount0 to $258.89 million, up from $67.19 million on the previous day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 172,951 shares for US$8,636 compared to 127,825 units at US$3,803 on Wednesday.
In Main Market activity, Transjamaican Highway 8% led with 100.07 million shares followed by JMMB Group 7.25% preference share due 2024 with 3.59 million stocks and Transjamaican Highway with 3.40 million units.
In Junior Market trading, Regency Petroleum led with 881,108 shares followed by Future Energy with 566,301 stocks and RA Williams with 560,000 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share dropped $2.25 to close at $17, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $4 to end at $44 and 138 Student Living preference share sank $75 to $255.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to value stocks, ended at 13.7 based on 2024-25 earnings and 19.7 based on 2023-24 historical earnings. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the other more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making. The PE ratio chart covers all the ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange and grouped by industry, allowing for an ease in comparing stocks within a sector and the overall market. The earnings per share (EPS) and PE ratios are based on 2024 and 2025 actual or projected earnings, excluding any major one-time income or expense.
Pertinent information is required to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the sector average, 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 incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends that are paid or are 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.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Combined, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Acquisition doubles ISP Finance

February 13, 2025 by
Micro financier, ISP Financial Services has more than doubled its size by acquiring the principal balance of a loan portfolio of approximately $1.2 billion. The acquisition more than doubles the company’s loan portfolio of just over $1 billion at the end of September last year net of provision for loan losses, pushing it to $2.2 billion.

The terms of the acquisition were not stated in the release by ISP at the close of the day on Wednesday but ICInsider.com has been reliably informed that the acquisition took place using a combination of internal and external funding which a portion of the principal deferred to be paid at some time in the future.

Last year’s annual general meeting scheduled to be held on November 21, 2024, was postponed until January, this targeted date has been pushed back, but no doubt will be held drown about March or April. The portfolio is acquired from a large Jamaican owned banking group. ISP had stated in 2021 that they were in discussions to acquire a portion of the loan portfolio of Micro lender, Mundo Finance but that deal was never materialized.
The current acquisition is likely to double revenues that stood at $520 million in 2023 and were 9 percent higher for the nine months to September last year to $400 million with $118 million generated in the September quarter. The acquisition could push profits sharply higher and also with the benefit of economies of scale. Profit for the nine months last year was up 66 percent to $55 million. IC Insider.com estimates that profits could exceed $2 per share or more in a full year of operation if all goes well.

At the end of September 2024, ISP equity capital was $641 million, with borrowings of $520 million. This recent acquisition stretched the capital base considerably with the debt to capital ratio out of line with acceptable levels, accordingly, ICInsider.com expects the company at the upcoming annual general meeting to have shareholders approve an increase in the share capital with the possibility that the stock could be split ahead of a likely return to the capital market to raise fresh equity capital to needed to normalize the capital base and to fund growth in the loan portfolio.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results, General Business News Tagged With: , , , ,