JSE Main Market reverses early week’s loss

January 16, 2025 by
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed at the close of trading on Thursday and with the gains on Wednesday has now recovered the grounds lost on Monday and Tuesday, following trading in 62 securities compared with 59 on Wednesday, with prices of 28 rising, 14 declining and 20 ending unchanged and resulting in the volume of stocks traded declining 13 percent and the value 54 percent lower than on Wednesday, with Scotia Group trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ high of $58 and ending at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $55.24.

The market closed with trading in  12,971,604 shares for $78,127,187, down from 14,875,532 stock units at $170,956,270 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 209,219 shares at $1,260,116 compared with 252,128 stocks at $2,897,564  on Wednesday and month to date an average of 242,754 stock units at $1,761,05 compared with 246,185 shares at $1,812,300 on the previous day and with an average of 967,720 stock units at $18,390,902 in December
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 3.39 million shares for 26.1 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 2.19 million stocks for 16.9 percent of the day’s trade, Sterling Investments closed with 1.78 million stock units for 13.7 percent of the volume traded, Wigton Energy ended with 1.47 million shares for 11.3 percent of the stocks traded and Carreras with 1.08 million stock units for 8.3 percent of market trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,293.20 points to 384,974.18, the JSE Main Index gained 1,535.63 points to close at 333,759.82 and the JSE Financial Index advanced  0.82  points to end at 68.46. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, AS Bryden jumped $1.83 to end at $32 with investors trading 321 stocks, Barita Investments rose 37 cents to close at $73.98 with 2,664 shares changing hands, Caribbean Cement rallied $8.76 to $89.79 with investors trading 53,557 stocks. Carreras shed 60 cents to finish at $14 with 1,075,983 units clearing the market, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $1.99 and ended at $38 as investors exchanged 307 shares, First Rock Real Estate increased 39 cents to close at $9.49 in trading 2,542 stock units. GraceKennedy popped 70 cents to $74.70 with 22,011 units passing through the market, Jamaica Broilers skidded 49 cents and ended at $40.50 in an exchange of 43,693 stocks, Jamaica Producers gained 75 cents to finish at $24.65 in trading 502 shares. Kingston Wharves advanced 50 cents to close at $30.50 with 2,567 stocks crossing the market, Mayberry Group rose 84 cents to close at $8.40 after a transfer of 23,202 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced 62 cents to end at $9.99 with investors dealing in 5,340 stock units. Pan Jamaica rose $5.10 in closing at $55.99 with a mere 5 shares, Proven Investments climbed $3.30 to $20.80 after an exchange of 45,359 stock units, Seprod increased $1.58 to end at $85.60 with a transfer of 2,738 stocks. Sterling Investments rallied 43 cents and ended at $2.80 with 1,776,929 units crossing the exchange, Supreme Ventures gained 85 cents to close at $22 with 8,325 shares switching owners and Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 49 cents to finish at $12.01 after an exchange of 11,582 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

Carreras dominates Main Market for 2nd day

January 14, 2025 by
Carreras, buoyed by a big surge in third quarter profits and a hike in dividends is enjoying a renaissance of increased investors’ interest and ending with the stock being the dominant trade for a second consecutive day, with just under 30 percent of the day’s volume that dropped 42 percent on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday, along with a 55 percent drop in value from that on Monday, following trading in 62 securities compared with 63, with prices of 18 rising, 30 declining and 14 unchanged and resulting in a fall in market value with declines in the major Indices.

The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 2,080.97 points to close at 380,595.30, the JSE Main Index sank 1,376.79 points to conclude trading at 329,739.81 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.27 points to conclude trading at 67.01.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator is showing eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The market closed with 7,781,071 shares trading for $51,965,822 compared with 13,403,146 stock units at $115,867,880 on Monday. Trading averaged 125,501 shares at $838,158 compared to 212,748 stocks at $1,839,173 on Monday and month to date, an average of 245,543 units at $1,695,243 compared with 260,889 shares at $1,804,808 on the previous day and December with an average of 967,720 stock units at $18,390,902.
Carreras ended with an exchange of 2.27 million shares for 29.2 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Energy with 2.19 million stocks for 28.2 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.01 million stock units for 13 percent of the market share.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.5. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the Main Market, Barita Investments increased by 35 cents to $74 with 2,430 stock units changing hands, Berger Paints fell 87 cents and ended at $7.50 with a mere 166 shares passing through the market, Caribbean Cement popped $1 to end at $89 after an exchange of 5,290 stocks. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund sank $2.69 to close at $37.31 with a transfer of 352 stock units, GraceKennedy skidded 95 cents to finish at $74 with investors dealing in 27,535 stocks, Guardian Holdings rallied $10 to close at $308 with 264 units crossing the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 47 cents to $12.99 in trading 1,873 shares, Kingston Properties gained 66 cents and ended at $8.92 with 1,613 stock units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves lost $1 to end at $30.90 with trading in 5,477 shares. Massy Holdings dropped $3 in closing at $84 with an exchange of 1,571 stocks, 138 Student Living shed 49 cents to finish at $3.81 and closed with a mere one unit being traded, Pan Jamaica declined $6.85 to close at $50.12 as investors exchanged 1,703 stock units. Proven Investments climbed 80 cents to $19.60 after a transfer of 4,945 shares, Scotia Group sank 80 cents to finish at $54 with investors trading 6,145 stocks, but the supply of this stock has virtually dried with few shares on offer currently. Seprod advanced $2 and ended at $86 in an exchange of 865 units and Wisynco Group slipped 56 cents to end at $21.02 with 25,115 stock units clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dipped $6 in closing at $2,690 in an exchange of 7 shares and 138 Student Living preferred share rose $21.25 to close at $246.50 with investors swapping 6 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

Carreras grabs JSE Main Market share

January 13, 2025 by
Carreras led trading as market activity picked on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday, with the volume of stocks exchanged rising 57 percent and the value 84 percent more than on Friday, with trading in 63 securities compared with 55 on Friday, with prices of 17 rising, 28 declining and 18 ending unchanged.

The market closed with an exchange of 13,403,146 shares at $115,867,880 compared to 8,555,361 stock units for $62,855,712 on Friday.
Trading averaged 212,748 shares at $1,839,173 well ahead of the 155,552 stocks at $1,142,831 on Friday and month to date, an average of 260,889 units at $1,804,808 compared with 268,076 shares at $1,799,678 on the previous trading day and December with an average of 967,720 stocks  valued at $18,390,902.
Carreras, the volume leader traded 5.21 million shares for 38.9 percent of the days trades, followed by Wigton Energy with 2.60 million stock units for 19.4 percent of the day’s volume and Transjamaican Highway with 2.19 million units for 16.4 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 2,510.01 points to close trading at 382,676.27, the JSE Main Index dropped 2,603.40 points to settle at 331,116.60 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.45 points to wrap up trading at 67.28. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 16 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the market, AS Bryden gained $1.45 to close at $32 in an exchange of 16,047 shares, Berger Paints rose $1.01 to $8.37 with a mere 681 stocks passing through the market, Caribbean Cement shed 99 cents and ended at $88 after an exchange of 23,287 shares. Caribbean Producers sank 35 cents in closing at $8.15 after investors ended trading 578,727 stock units, Eppley fell $4 to finish at $33 as 755 shares were exchanged, Guardian Holdings slipped $11 to end at $298 with 9,295 stocks changing hands. Jamaica Producers sank 65 cents to $23.70 after an exchange of 25,235 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange dropped 86 cents to $12.52 with investors trading 6,341 stock units, Kingston Properties lost 66 cents to finish at $8.26 with 15,160 shares crossing the exchange. Kingston Wharves declined $1.25 and ended at $31.90 with investors dealing in 41,897 units, Massy Holdings rallied $3 to end at $87 with 1,324 stocks crossing the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities popped 80 cents to close at $10 with investors swapping 1,176 stock units. NCB Financial skidded 35 cents to $50.65 with 25,544 shares clearing the market, Pan Jamaica dipped 92 cents to finish at $56.97 after closing with an exchange of 1,788 units, Sagicor Group lost 60 cents and ended at $40 with 14,788 stocks switching owners. Scotia Group climbed $2.80 to close at $54.80 with investors trading 12,701 stock units, Seprod slipped $1 to end at $84 with an exchange of 12,141 shares, Supreme Ventures fell 57 cents to $22.03 with 8,699 stocks crossing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments skidded 75 cents to $12.10 with traders dealing in 132,446 units and Wisynco Group increased 56 cents to finish at $21.58 in an exchange of 77,327 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share advanced $3 and ended at $22 after a transfer of 226 shares, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $2.45 to end at $43.95 in trading 66 stocks,  138 Student Living preference share lost $38.89 in closing at $225.25 with a transfer of 63 units and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share declined $75 to close at $995 with 136 stock units crossing the exchange.

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

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

Big gains for Junior Market ICTOP10 stocks

January 11, 2025 by
Bulls cooled their heels this past week allowing for a fall in the Main and Junior Market with the former slipping 0.9 percent and the latter dipping half of a percent for the week, resulting in notable price changes in the Junior Market but modest changes in the Main Market.

Just two stocks fell and 8 rose in the Junior Market ICTOP10 during the week, reversing last week’s adverse movement of just two rising and 8 falling. The performance of the Main Market ICTOP10 resulted in three stocks gaining while four declined. The All JSE TOP10, compiled from all listed ordinary stocks on the JSE, had two changes. JMMB Group returns to the All JSETOP10 following a week’s absence along with Caribbean Producers, replacing the Junior Market, Access Financial and AMG Packaging.
Guardian Holdings with the potential to gain 436 percent continues to hold the number one spot in the market with 138 Student Living at number 2 in the All JSE ICTOP10 for a seventh week. Elite Diagnostics holds the number one spot in the Junior Market TOP10 followed by Caribbean Cream and Iron Rock Insurance.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10, Iron Rock Insurance fell 7 percent to $4 and was the only stock with a notable loss. The biggest winner is Lumber Depot recovering from the loss of the previous week in jumping 27 percent to $2.64, AMG Packaging riding a wave of positive news about expansion surged 22 percent to $3.42, Caribbean Assurance climbed 12 percent to end at $2.80, Access Financial rose 11 percent to $17.01, but continues to struggle under relatively heavy selling pressure and will require positive third quarter results to help alleviate it and Express Catering popped 8 percent to $3.25.
In Main Market ICTOP10 activity, Berger Paints shed 14 percent to close at $7.36, Key Insurance dropped 10 percent to $2.20, Caribbean Producers and Scotia Group lost 5 percent to $8.50 and $52 respectively.
JMMB Group returns to the Main Market ICTOP10, replacing Lasco Distributors and the Junior Market ICTOP10 list lost Lumber Depot with Jamaican Teas coming in as the replacement.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at just 5.4, well below the market average of 15 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 8, more than half of the market, with an average of 13.
Based on the earnings projected for 2024, the Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 284 percent by May 2025, providing better values than the Junior Market, which has the potential to achieve a 163 percent increase over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, there are 16 stocks with the highest values representing 31 percent of the Main Market, with PEs between 15 to 105, with an average of 30 and 21 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 are 12 stocks, 25 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 32 with an average of 21 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: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Main Market trading plummets

January 10, 2025 by
Main Market trading plummeted on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, as the market gained strength from rising prices, following the volume of stocks exchanged declined 69 percent and the value 78 percent lower than on Thursday, resulting from trading in 55 securities from 61 on Thursday, with prices of 20 rising, 23 declining and 12 ending unchanged.

The market closed with the trading of 8,555,361 shares with a value of $62,855,712 down from 27,432,042 stock units valued at $280,889,896 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 155,552 shares at $1,142,831 a drop from 449,706 stocks at $4,604,752 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 268,076 stock units at $1,799,678 compared with 284,939 shares at $1,898,115 on the previous day and December with an average of 967,720 stock units at $18,390,902.
Wigton Energy led trading with 2.01 million shares for 23.5 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway that ended with 1.44 million stocks for 16.9 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.01 million stock units for 11.8 percent of the overall volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 2,396.34 points to wrap up trading at 385,186.28, the JSE Main Index gained 1,694.68 points to end at 333,720.00 and the JSE Financial Index increased 0.68 points to end the day at 67.73. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the Main Market, Carreras increased 41 cents to $14.60 with investors trading 183,376 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed 88 cents to $13.38 after a transfer of 9,841 stock units, Kingston Properties rose 42 cents to finish at $8.92 after the trading of 2,330 shares. Mayberry Group gained 44 cents and ended at $8.44 with 14,579 stock units clearing the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities skidded $2.60 to end at $9.20 in trading 30,264 shares, Pan Jamaican rose $6.87 to close at $57.89 with 174 units crossing the market. Proven Investments sank 42 cents to $19 as investors traded 1,014 stocks, Sagicor Group shed 38 cents and ended at $40.60 with 28,379 stock units crossing the market, Scotia Group advanced $1.30 to close at $52 with 415,924 shares switching owners. Seprod declined 70 cents to $85 with traders dealing in 36,298 stock units and Wisynco Group fell 48 cents to finish at $21.02 with 95,659 stocks changing hands.

In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% dipped $1.50 to end at $41.50 in an exchange of 652 stock units. Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rallied $265 to close at $2,696 with investors dealing in a mere one share and 138 Student Living preferred share rose $9.14 to $264.14 with only one stock passing through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

Palace leads trading on JSE Main Market

January 9, 2025 by
Palace Amusement led trading with 38 percent of the volume on Thursday following the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market, with the volume of stocks traded rising 240 percent and the value 253 percent more than on Wednesday, following the trading of 61 securities compared with 59 on Wednesday, with prices of 20 rising, 31 declining and 10 ending unchanged.

QWI Investments traded at a 52 weeks’ closing high of 98 cents and AS Bryden and Sons traded at an intraday 50 weeks’ low of $29.01.
The market closed with 27,432,042 shares trading for $280,889,896, up from 8,067,093 stock units at $79,460,205 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 449,706 shares for $4,604,752 up from 136,730 stocks at $1,346,783 previously and month to date, an average of 284,939 stock units at $1,898,115 compared to 252,094 shares at $1,358,557 on the previous day and an average of 967,720 stock units at $18,390,902 in December.
Palace Amusement was the most heavily traded with 10.40 million shares for 37.9 percent of total volume followed by Jamaica Producers with 4.15 million stock units for 15.1 percent of the day’s trade, Victoria Mutual Investments contributed 2.71 million stocks for 9.9 percent market share, Transjamaican Highway chipped in with 2.57 million units for 9.4 percent market share, Wisynco Group delivered 2.05 million stock units for 7.5 percent of the market trade and Wigton Energy ended with 1.06 million stocks for 3.9 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 109.32 points to wrap up trading at 382,789.94, the JSE Main Index skidded 742.17 points to close trading at 332,025.32 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.14 points to finish trading at 67.05. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 12 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the trading activity, Berger Paints dropped $1.01 and ended at $7.36 with investors trading a mere 163 stock units, Caribbean Cement lost $2.49 to close at $89 after an exchange of 7,506 units, Eppley popped $1 to end at $37 with 2,436 shares clearing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied $5.50 to close at $40 after an exchange of 124 stock units, First Rock Real Estate rose 44 cents to close at $9 with 1,173 shares crossing the market, GraceKennedy dipped $2.90 to finish at $75 with an exchange of 124,240 units. Guardian Holdings fell $1 to $309 with 64,339 stocks exchanging owners, Jamaica Broilers climbed 50 cents to end at $41.30 with investors dealing in 4,264 stock units, Jamaica Producers increased 35 cents to $24.35 with 4,150,415 shares passing through the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange slipped 89 cents and ended at $12.50 with 6,988 units switching owners, Massy Holdings sank $2 to close at $84 with investors trading 105,968 stocks, Mayberry Group skidded 40 cents to finish at $8 with 1,750 stock units crossing the exchange. Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced 44 cents and ended at $11.80 in trading 693 shares, Pan Jamaican sank $5.62 to $51.02 with 753 stock units being traded, Sagicor Group gained $3.33 to finish at $40.98 in an exchange of 1,004,314 stocks. Scotia Group shed $1.30 to close at $50.70 with traders dealing in 56,885 units, Seprod rose $1.30 to close at $85.70 after a transfer of 1,706 shares and Supreme Ventures declined 41 cents to end at $22.59 with 64,867 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% advanced $1 in closing at $43 in an exchange of 1,125 units, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% sank $264 to $2,431 with investors swapping only 2 stocks, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share skidded $48 to end at $1,070 with a transfer of 22 units and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% lost 35 cents to close at $104.65 as investors exchanged 3,208 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

Transjamaican grabs half of Main Market trades

January 8, 2025 by
Transjamaican Highway grabbed the bulk of shares traded on Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday but failed to drive the overall volume traded higher at the close of the market, resulting in a 69 percent decline in the volume changing hands with a slightly lower value than on Tuesday, resulting from trading in 59 securities down from 62 on Tuesday, with prices of 20 stocks rising, 26 declining and 13 ending unchanged.

The market closed with the trading of 8,067,093 shares at $79,460,205, well below the 26,059,234 stock units at $82,370,790 on Tuesday. Trading averaged 136,730 shares at $1,346,783 compared to 420,310 stocks at $1,328,561 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 252,094 units at $1,358,557, down from 279,650 shares at $1,361,369 on the previous day and December with an average of 967,720 stock units at $18,390,902.

Transjamaican Highway was the lead trade with 3.77 million shares for 46.7 percent of total the  volume followed by Wigton Energy with 1.61 million stocks for 20 percent of the day’s trade and Massy Holdings with 501,936 stock units for 6.2 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index sank 1,392.44 points to end at 382,899.26, the JSE Main Index dipped 1,037.13 points to 332,767.49 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.14 points to settle at 66.91. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 15 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 10 with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of the JSE Main Market, Berger Paints climbed $1.12 to end at $8.37 with 2,312 stocks crossing the exchange, Carreras declined 79 cents to close at $14.20 with 234,979 units changing hands, Eppley sank $1.40 to $36 after an exchange of 189 shares. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund shed 97 cents to close at $34.50 with 800 stock units passing through the market, First Rock Real Estate lost $1.33 and ended at $8.56 in an exchange of 1,300 shares, General Accident increased 35 cents to finish at $6.10 with 958 stock units being traded. GraceKennedy popped $2.90 and ended at $77.90 with a transfer of 23,486 units, Jamaica Producers skidded 65 cents to $24 to close with the trading of 24,118 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 45 cents to end at $11.36 with 402 shares switching owners. Pan Jamaica rallied $5.64 to close at $56.64 with traders exchanging 3,421 units, Sagicor Group dropped $2.35 to finish at $37.65 in an exchange of 20,207 stocks, Scotia Group sank $2 to close at $52 after the trading of 22,322 stock units. Supreme Ventures rose 82 cents to $23 after an exchange of 5,502 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 50 cents to close at $12.90 with investors trading 17,783 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $1.95 and ended at $42 with 78 units clearing the market and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $29.75 to finish at $255 with investors trading a mere 9 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

Wigton Energy powers up JSE Main Market

January 7, 2025 by

Wigton Energy captures more than half of all shares traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 97 percent and the value 24 percent lower than on Monday, with trading in 62 securities compared with 63 on Monday, with prices of 21 stocks rising, 24 declining and 17 ending unchanged.

Trading ended with Carreras and Sagicor Select Manufacturing Funds closing at 52 weeks’ highs and Sterling Investments and QWI Investments trading at intraday 52 weeks’ highs.
The market closed with 26,059,234 shares trading for $82,370,790 compared with 13,256,994 stock units at $108,850,117 on Monday. Trading averaged 420,310 shares at $1,328,561 compared to 210,428 stocks at $1,727,780 on Monday and month to date, an average of 279,650 units at $1,361,369 compared with 232,510 shares at $1,372,365 on the previous day and December with an average of 967,720 stock units at $18,390,902.
Wigton Energy led trading with 14.10 million shares for 54.1 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 5.20 million stock units for 20 percent of the day’s trade, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund ended with 1.67 million stocks for 6.4 percent of the market volume, JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 closed with 1.35 million units for 5.2 percent market share and QWI Investments with 1.01 million shares for 3.9 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 1,216.87 points to wrap up trading at 384,291.70, the JSE Main Index rallied 893.50 points to 333,804.62 and the JSE Financial Index slipped 0.40 points to settle at 67.05. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 15.5. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close, Barita Investments fell 40 cents to close at $73.60 with investors trading 509 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced 51 cents to $91.50 with 697 stocks crossing the market, Carreras rose 69 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $14.99 with investors swapping 612,858 shares. Eppley climbed $4.80 to finish at $37.40 and ended up closing after 2,156 stock units changed hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $1.53 and ended at $35.47 with 59 shares clearing the market, General Accident sank 36 cents to end at $5.75 with investors dealing in 30,605 stock units. GraceKennedy shed $2.95 to end at $75 in an exchange of 45,074 units, Jamaica Broilers increased $1.73 to finish at $40.99 with traders dealing in 33,971 stocks, JMMB Group popped 50 cents and ended at $21.40 after a transfer of 78,173 shares.  Lasco Manufacturing rallied 40 cents to end at $8 with 214,975 stock units crossing the market, NCB Financial gained 48 cents to close at $51 with investors trading 87,010 stock units, Pan Jamaica declined $3 to close at $51 after an exchange of 11,613 units. Sagicor Group sank $1 to $40 with a transfer of 8,249 stocks, Scotia Group rose $1.50 to close at $54 after trading 27,388 units, Supreme Ventures skidded $1.52 and ended at $22.18 with an exchange of 32,736 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments lost 55 cents to end at $12.40 with 48,443 stock units passing through the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance slipped 38 cents to close at $9.90 with trading in 612 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share dropped $3.37 to finish at $19 with a mere 2 units crossing the exchange and 138 Student Living preference share fell $2.75 to $225.25 with 51 stocks switching owners.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

Mixed fortunes for ICTOP10 stocks

January 6, 2025 by
Bulls displayed their power into the New Year, pushing the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange higher for the year to date and 1.6 percent for the past week. The Junior Market slipped by a mere 10 points for the week and dipped 0.5 percent for the year to date.

The week’s movement resulted in just two stocks rising and 8 falling, with five suffering big losses in the Junior Market ICTOP10. The performance of the Main Market ICTOP10 was in sharp contrast to the Junior Market, as five stocks gained and only two declined. The All JSE TOP10, compiled from all listed ordinary stocks on the JSE, had two changes. Key Insurance returns to the All JSETOP10 following a week’s absence and Access Financial returns, replacing JMMB Group and Pulse Investments, with earnings for both revised downward, following the release of September results.
Guardian Holdings with the potential to gain 433 percent continues to hold the number one spot with 138 Student Living at number 2 in the All JSE ICTOP10 for a seventh week. Elite Diagnostics holds the number one spot in the Junior Market TOP10 followed by AMG Packaging and Caribbean Cream.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10, Iron Rock Insurance was the only stock with a noteable gain, with the price rising 19 percent to $4.29. Lumber Depot dropped 22 percent to $2.08, Caribbean Flavours dived 14 percent to end trading  at $1.20, Caribbean Assurance shed 13 percent to end at 2.51 and Express Catering fell 11 percent to $3.01.
JMMB Group and Pulse Investments both fell from the Main Market ICTOP10 and were replaced by Lasco Distributors and Caribbean Producers. There are no changes to the Junior Market ICTOP10 listing.
In Main Market ICTOP10 activity, Margaritaville rallied 14 percent to $14.20, Key Insurance gained 13 percent after ending at $2.44, Berger Paints gained 10 percent to close at $8.55 and could go higher in the coming weeks with limited supplies on offer under $12 and also has limited buying interest, QWI Investments rose 8 percent to 86 cents and seems poised to move higher this coming week, with stock on offer being limited below $1and Scotia Group rose 4 percent to $54.50. Pulse Investments dropped 8 percent to $1.08.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at just 5.6, well below the market average of 14.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.5, more than half of the market, with an average of 13.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 271 percent by May 2025 based on earnings forecast for 2024, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 180 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, there are 18 stocks with the highest values representing 35 percent of the Main Market have PEs between 15 to 108, with an average of 28 and 22 excluding the highest PE ratios and a PE of 25 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 are 15 stocks, 31 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 32 with an average of 20 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

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

TransJamaican powers up Main Market

January 3, 2025 by
Transjamaican Highway took a near 68 percent of the quantum of the stocks traded on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, helping to push the volume of stocks traded up 88 percent and the value 82 percent over Thursday, with a similar number of stocks trading to that on Thursday at 61, with prices of 21 rising, 20 declining and 20 ending unchanged.

The market closed following the trading of 19,423,907 shares for $93,678,407 up from 10,333,431 units at $51,358,952 on Thursday. Trading averaged 318,425 shares at $1,535,712 up from 169,401 stocks at $841,950 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averaged 243,913 stock units with a value of $1,188,831, compared with an average of 967,720 stocks at $18,390,902 in December.
Transjamaican Highway was the leading traded stock with 13.10 million shares for 67.5 percent of total volume followed by QWI Investments with 1.39 million stocks for 7.1 percent of the day’s trade, Wigton Energy with 1.38 million units followed for 7.1 percent market share and Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 1.16 million shares for 6 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 1,538.96 points to close trading at 388,467.46, the JSE Main Index increased 674.92 points to 336,801.34 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.04 points to end at 68.08. The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14.8. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2025.
At the close of trading on Friday, Caribbean Cement skidded $5.05 to $86 with 5,551 stocks crossing the market, Carreras popped $1.23 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $14.48 but traded as high as $15, with 900,914 units traded, First Rock Real Estate sank 45 cents to $9 after an exchange of 14,020 shares. GraceKennedy dipped 67 cents and ended at $78.28 with 8,671 stock units traded, JMMB Group advanced 99 cents to finish at $22.17 with 31,938 shares switching owners, Kingston Properties lost $1.37 to close at $8.22 with 4,607 stock units crossing the exchange. Massy Holdings dropped $3.05 to $84 with a transfer of 485 units, NCB Financial shed 37 cents to finish at $50.53 with investors swapping 130,892 stocks, Pan Jamaica rose $5.46 and ended at $57.96 with 2,731 shares passing through the market. Sagicor Group declined $1.40 to $40 with investors trading 10,183 units and Wisynco Group gained 40 cents to close at $21.90 with an exchange of 19,119 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rallied $5.55 to close at $40.55 with 100 stock units clearing the market. Jamaica Public Service 9.5% increased $45 to $2,695 with investors trading 9 shares, 138 Student Living preference share climbed $33 to finish at $228 with a mere 2 stocks crossing the exchange and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% increased $3.62 ending at $105 in an exchange of 43 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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