TOP 10 – main market to shine

Sagiocr Group returns to TOP 10 list

IC Insider.com said last week, the main market sits just below the critical 290,000 point mark and seems headed to break through that level, based on the shortage of supply for Scotia Group shares.
During the past week the All Jamaica Composite Index (AJI) surged to 296,779.53 during trading on Thursday.
The AJI high of the past week is just shy of the 298,000 points the report stated the cut in BOJ’s bench mark rate would translate to. Having broken through the critical 290,000 points resistance level it looks like the main market is free to move to the next resistance level around 370,000 points. The junior market on the other hand raced ahead of the main market earlier this year and is struggling currently as a number of the stocks were pushed to values well ahead of the rest of the market and have been undergoing downward adjustment. The other factor is that many investors are not looking ahead as to what earnings could be. The recent trading of Stationery and Office Supplies is a case in point. Demand fell away ahead of the release of half year results, only to climb after the company released strong growth in profit, suggesting it could be just slightly ahead of IC Insider.com’s original forecast of 40 cents per share. This is not the only case of investors currently miss pricing stocks, but time usually takes care of it.
Buying came in for Barita Investments that returned to the top list last week pushing it out of the list once more, as some buying came in for the stock even with increased selling and Sagicor Group returned to the listing having been pushed out in the prior week.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.3 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 6.9. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.2 and 13.2 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 45 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and it remains at 48 percent for the main market.

2 new entrants to TOP 10

“The biggest change to stocks this coming week may well be guided by the recent cut in interest rates, with Treasury bill rates falling and Bank of Jamaica cutting its overnight rate by 25 basis points.” That was part of last week’s opening statement for the TOP 10 stocks report by IC Insider.com.
During the week main market stocks surged to record levels on 3 days with Friday closing with the third highest daily gain in the market’s history. The main market sits just below the critical 290,000 point mark and seems headed to break through that level, based on the shortage of supply for Scotia Group shares on Friday with a closing bid of $52. The cut in BOJ’s bench mark rate would translate to the all Jamaica Composite Index climbing to 298,000 points.
At the close of last week, there were no changes to the TOP 10 Junior list but two new companies swapped places in the main market with Barita Investments returning, as investors cooled on the stock following a run up in the price following news out of the company that the directors were considering a bid to acquire majority shares. Based on the third quarter results showing unrealized investment gains more than doubling the level at the end of September last year to $1.1 billion at June, the company should see major gains going forward in this area, with falling interest rates and rising stock prices. Salada Foods fell in price to $8.50 and along with Barita pushed out Sagicor Group and Pan Jam Investment, both of which rose in price during the week.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.3 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 6.9. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.4 and 13.3 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 45 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and it remains at 48 percent for the main market.

Two financial stocks return to TOP 10

Unlike last week when there were several changes to the TOP 10 lists, this past week had just two changes, with Lasco Financial returning to the junior market and Sagicor Group to the Main market lists.
CAC 2000 dropped out of the Junior Marketlisting, allowing for the return of Lasco Financial that dropped sharply in price, to close the week at $3.40. Mayberry Investments was edged out by Sagicor Group, dropping from $34.35 to $31.75 at the close of the past week.
Former TOP main market value stock, Barita Investments moved up from $9.40 during the previous week to close at $11.60 for a gain of more than 273 percent since September last year. The most recent Initial Public Offering, Stationery and Office Supplies that exited the TOP 10 after listing in the prior week, is fluctuating between $4 and just over $5, and should undergo some amount of wide price movements until demand and supply find some balance. JMMB Group climbed to $23 on Friday before closing back at $21.45, supply has dried up for this stock and it seems to be readying to make an early exit in the next few weeks.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.5 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 7.2. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.3 and 13.2 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 42 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and it remains at 46 percent for the main market.

Major changes to TOP 10 stocks

Barita jumps TOP 10 with more than 200% gain since September 2016

Investors pushed the price of Barita Investments to $9.40 during the week and drove newly listed Stationery and Office Supplies to $5.10 after it was listed on Thursday moving both out of the top flight of stocks. In addition, four others changed places with new listings.
Barita entered the list when we started the TOP 5 back in September last year, at $3.11 and has gained more than 200 percent since then while SOS is up 154 percent from its IPO price. Both stocks have more room for growth.
tTech reported lower profit in the second quarter to June with lower revenues resulting in a lower earnings forecast for 2017 and dropped out of the top list. CAC 2000 having slipped out of the listing the prior week returned this past week and was joined by Dolphin Cove to replace the two that exited the listing.
Main market stock, Berger Paints fell during the week from $19 to trade at $16 and moved back into the listing. Moving in are Grace Kennedy, Mayberry Investments and PanJam Investment. Stocks graduating from the top flight are Seprod as the price rose during the week to $33.33 from $30, Sagicor Group moving from $31.50 to $34.35 and Salada Foods that closed at $9.50, up from $9.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 7.6 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 7.2. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.2 and 12.9 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 41 percent to the average of the market for Junior Market Top stocks and 46 percent for the main market.

Will Barita jump TOP 10?

Barita closed at $8 on Friday.


News emerged during the past week that directors at Barita Investments was considering a bid to purchase the majority of its shares.
Investors responded immediately by removing just about all offers that were posted on the trading platform of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the stock climbed to $8 and only require a small increase to leave the top list.
Main market Berger Paints rose during the week from $18 to trade at $19 and was edged out of the top list by Pulse Investments that fell sharply in price to close with a bid of $1.75 after the price fell during the week.
Recent TOP 10 billing, NCB Financial Group that recently fell out of the top list closed the week at $94.99 in response to continued demand flowing from strong increase in nine months profit against a back drop of minimal selling of the stock.
Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) will start trading on Wednesday, August 9, when the price is expected to surge, based on the heavy over subscription at the initial public offering, with more than 1,200 applications for shares. This stock could be out of the top listing very soon.
Other junior market stocks activity, CAC 2000 fell out of the top listing and Lasco Manufacturing returned to the top listing.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 6.7 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 7.4. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.3 and 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 44 percent to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.
Stocks to watch|The stocks that investors should keep an eye on this week include, Barita Investments, JMMB Group, Stationery & Office Supplies, NCB Financial, Jetcon Corporation.

Junior Market drops 40 points

Trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Thursday with declining stocks dominating rising ones, 2 to 1 and the market index falling 40.32 points to 3,108.88.
The market ended with 1,176,216 units valued at $5,557,230 changing hands, with the index falling 6.26 points to close at 3,149.20. On Wednesday trading closed with 2,266,721 units valued at $11,726,592.
A total of 22 securities traded, versus 26 on Wednesday, with 6 stocks rising and 12 declining. Trading closed with 10 stocks having bids higher than the last traded prices and 1 closing with a lower offer.
Trading ended trading with an average of 53,464 units for an average of $252,601 in contrast to 87,182 units for an average of $451,023 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 70,323 units valued at $351,812. In contrast, July closed with average of 536,395 units at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded prices are: AMG Packaging lost 12 cents to close at $3.53 with 6,000 units changing hands, Caribbean Cream rose 35 cents to $6.85 with a 4,000 shares, Caribbean Producers close at $3.45 with a 50,009 shares, Consolidated Bakeries closed with a rise of 32 cents at $2.95 with a 980 shares, Derrimon Trading ended with a lost of 30 cents, to close at $7.50 with a 7,259 shares, Express Catering lost 30 cents to close at $4.70 with a 648,533 shares, General Accident closed at $2.90 with a 103,000 shares, Honey Bun closed at $5.50 with a 1,792 units, ISP Finance traded 5,900 shares and rose 42 cents to $18.42. Jamaican Teas with a lost of 1 cent, closed at $4.51 with a 170 shares, Jetcon Corporation ended 20 cents higher to $5.30 with a 132,075 shares, KLE Group closed at $2 with a 5,100 shares, Key Insurance closed at $3.05 with a 1,068 stock units, Knutsford Express closed at $14.90 with a 3,650 shares, Lasco Distributors fell 18 cents, to $6.70 with a 25,000 shares, Lasco Financial traded at $4.00 with a 66,575 shares after a loss of 4 cents, Lasco Manufacturing ended with a loss of 4 cents, to close at $4.33 with a 44,820 shares, Main Event eased 8 cents in closing at $5.39 with a 7,970 shares, Medical Disposables close at $5.50 with a 32,215 shares, tTech lost 50 cents and closed at $8 with a 26,000 shares, Derrimon Trading preference share fell 40 cents and closed at $2.10 with a 4,000 shares and Eppley 10% preference share close with a rise of 1 cent at $6.61 with a 100 shares.

Volume dips as most Junior stocks trade

Trading in the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday with 84 percent of the ordinary listings being active and ending with declining stocks dominating rising ones almost 2 to 1 leading to a small fall in the market index.
At the close the volume of stocks and value of stocks traded, fell by a half of Monday levels.
The market ended with 2,266,721 units valued at $11,726,592 changing hands, with the index falling 6.26 points to close at 3,149.20. On Monday, trading closed with 4,581,201 units valued at $21,905,678.
A total of 26 securities traded, versus 22 on Monday, with 8 stocks rising and 13 declining. Trading closed with 4 stocks having bids higher than the last traded prices and 1 closing with a lower offer.
Trading ended trading with an average of 87,182 units for an average value of $451,023 in contrast to 208,236 units for an average value of $995,713 on Friday. In contrast, July closed with averages of 536,395 units valued at $1,905,441 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, stocks trading and their last traded price are Access Financial Services closing with a loss of 50 cents at $46, in trading 1,127 units, AMG Packaging rose 15 cents to close at $3.65 with 125,763 units changing hands, CAC 2000 fell 50 cents with 5,000 shares trading to end at $6.50, Cargo Handlers ended trading with 6,910 shares to close at $13.20. Caribbean Cream ended trading at $6.50 with a 35 cents loss, after trading 26,650 shares, Caribbean Producers added 10 cents to close trading with 141,875 units, at $3.45, Consolidated Bakeries rose 1 cent and ended with 74,146 units changing hands, at $2.63. C2W Music had 70,000 units changing hands, to close at 38 cents, after falling 1 cent, Derrimon Trading declined by 20 cents to end at $7.80 after with 27,119 shares changing hands. Recently listed Express Catering ended at $5 with 292,114 shares changing hands, after the company announced a dividend of 0.917 US cent per share, General Accident closed trading with 2,000 shares at $2.90, Honey Bun fell 6 cents with 208 shares changing hands at $5.50, ISP Finance closed $2 higher with 9,418 units changing hands at $18, Jamaican Teas rose 2 cents, trading 23,819 shares to close at $4.52, Jetcon Corporation traded 47,084 shares to end at $5.10, after slipping 10 cents, Key Insurance traded 8,535 units to close at $3.05 after losing 80 cents, KLE Group ended at $2 with 6,000 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express lost 5 cents in trading 5,799 shares to end at $14.90, Lasco Distributors closed with a rise of 8 cents at $6.88, after trading 261,741 units, Lasco Financial lost 16 cents and ended with 26,052 shares changing hands at $4.04, Lasco Manufacturing rose 4 cents and ended with 42,634 shares trading at $4.37, Main Event eased 3 cents to close with 10,971 shares trading at $5.47, Medical Disposables dropped 45 cents in closing at $5.50 with 1,023,000 units trading, Paramount Trading ended with 15,500 units changing hands at $2.50, Sweet River rose 2 cents, ending with 7,494 units changing hands at $3.52 and tTech lost 50 cents in trading 5,762 units to close at $8.50.

NCB & Express Catering drop out

NCB Financial Group jumped to $80 on Friday & exited the top 10.

Shares of Express Catering were in strong demand during the week, with price closing at $5.20 for gains of 247 percent from the initial public issue price of $1.50. At the close of the week the stock was out of the TOP 10 and so was NCB Financial Group with the price climbing to a record $80, at the close on Friday. 
Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) will not start trading until August 9, when it is expected to surge in price based on the heavy over subscription of 3.5 times oversubscribed with more than 1,200 applications.
Trading in the past week returned to a bullish mood, with the Jamaica Stock Exchange main market index hitting new highs on Thursday and Friday. The trend is expected to continue this coming week as investors react to some new results.
Caribbean Flavours and CAC 2000 that fell out of the top listing at the end of the prior week return this week with the exit of Express Catering , Lasco Financial that rose to $3.80 and Caribbean Cream that returned to $7.
The only movement in and out of the TOP 10 in the main market were Salada Foods coming in as NCB dropped out with gains in the price in the past week.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is down at 7 with SOS in at a PE of 5 times 2017 earnings. The PE for the main market TOP 10, holds at 7.3. The average PE for the overall main market, remains at 13 and 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 42 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 44 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.
NCB Financial and Express Catering the two stocks IC Insider.com listed as our market watch make gains during the past week. NCB has clearly broken out from a triangle of consolidation and seems to be heading higher. Express Catering could possibly rise higher but appears to be fully valued at a PE of 20 currently.

Express Catering volumes settling?

Trading in Express Catering shares declined sharply lower on the Junior Market on Friday, with just 1,663,796 units trading compared to 71,508,426 units traded on Thursday. The stock climbed 60 cents to close at a record of $5.20 with 368,228 on the offer at the closing price.
There is still a large number of bids to buy the stock in the high $4 range up to $5. At this price its valued at 20 times estimated 2018 earnings. Based on the behaviour of investors in Main Event it could well be pushed higher and then settle back lower, only time will tell.
Trading elsewhere on the Junior Market remained subdued on Friday with 3,193,325 shares changing hands valued at $14,765,053, from 72,244,997 shares valued at $309,765,128 traded on Thursday. At the close, the market index rose 36.68 points to 3,163.11.
Twenty (20) securities traded, versus 21 on Thursday with 7 stocks gaining and 3 declining and closed with 3 stocks having bids higher than the last traded prices and 4 closing with lower offers.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average of 159,666 units for an average value of $738,253 in contrast to 3,440,238 units for an average value of $14,750,720 on Thursday. The average volume and value for the month to date amounts to 552,021 units valued at $1,948,762 compared to 571,639 units valued at $2,009,287 previously. In contrast, June closed with averages of 395,969 units valued at $1,799,200 for each security traded.
At the close of the market, Access Financial Services closed at $46.50 in trading 500 units, AMG Packaging fell 25 cents and closed at $3.50 with 4,000 units changing hands, Cargo Handlers ended trading 5,612 shares to close at $13.20, Caribbean Cream ended trading at $7, after trading 41,257 shares, Caribbean Producers shed 14 cents to close trading with 24,986 units, at $3.25, General Accident added 20 cents, closing trading with 340,315 shares at $2.90, ISP Finance closed with 6,633 units changing hands at $16, Jamaican Teas rose 20 cents in trading 655,573 shares to close at $4.25, Jetcon Corporation traded 200,930 shares to end at $5.05, after gaining 8 cents, Key Insurance traded 16,750 units to close at $3.85 after rising 80 cents, KLE Group ended at $2 with 30,044 shares changing hands, Knutsford Express traded 9,497 shares to end at $15 Lasco Financial rose 25 cents and ended with 46,624 shares changing hands at $3.80, Main Event gained 10 cents to close with 127,049 shares trading at $5.60, Paramount Trading rose 4 cents and ended with 3,000 units changing hands at $2.99, tTech traded 6,500 units to close at $9.60 and Eppley 9.5% preference share jumped $1.10 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $7.20, with 645 units trading.

Express Catering enters TOP 10

Ian Dear, Managing Director of Express Catering

Trading started in Express Catering shares on Friday on the Junior Market, with the stock enjoying strong demand up to the $3 level. New information obtained this past week from the prospectus resulted in the earnings for this company being upgraded and it is included in the TOP stocks.
Importantly for Express Catering, the prospectus states that effective at the end on of May, the contract that gave rise to the payment of management fees was cancelled. The amount, the equivalent to 9 percent of revenues or roughly US$1.4 million will no longer be paid and should go towards boosting the bottom-line, and should result in the earnings per share around J$0.26 cents for 2018 fiscal year. The change means it is now a part of the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks. With the strong demand for the stock, it should spend just a short time in the list. The same out turn seems likely for Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) once it starts to trade, with the IPO being nearly 4 times oversubscribed with more than 1,000 applications received for the 52 million shares.
With the initial public offers now out of the way, trading in the secondary markets saw more energy in the past week than for the previous two, with some stocks that were weak before, finding buying at the lower prices.
ISP Finance price rose to $14 after falling to $11 during the past week, but big declines in the prices of AMG Packaging and Caribbean Cream pushed out ISP as well Caribbean Flavours and CAC 2000 out of the top listing.
The only movement in and out of the TOP 10 in the main market were Sagicor Group that spent just one week a short while ago, coming back, as Cable & Wireless dropped out with a big gain in the price in the past week of 17.5 percent.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is down at 6.6 with SOS in at a PE of 5 times 2017 earnings. The PE for the main market TOP 10, holds at 6.7. The average PE for the overall main market, remains at 13 and 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 45 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.
Last week IC Insider indicated that two stocks to watch were Cable & Wireless with the price around support level and NCB Financial with very limited number of stocks currently being offered. Both stocks bounced with the former rising over 17 percent to 94 cents and NCB rising to $75 from $71.50. Active supply for NCB is very low currently and technical chart suggests a big break out for it very soon. NCB is to be watched for a possible break towards $80 and Express Catering to well over $3.