A series of third quarter company results were released during the past week, and most reported good numbers that augur well for the stock prices in the months ahead. Some of the results are companies in the ICTOP10. During the week the JSE Main Market rose but the Junior Market lost ground moderately for a second week.
Price movements in the market resulted in two new ICTOP10 listings for the Junior Market and one for the Main Market. In the Junior Market, Dolphin Cove rose 6 percent to $16.50 and AMG Packaging rose 4 percent to $2.44 after trading at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.95 during the week. Paramount Trading dropped 12 percent to $1.48, followed by Everything Fresh shedding 11 percent to $1.56, Iron Rock Insurance fell 9 percent to $2 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined 8 percent to end at $2.85.
The Main Market closed the week with Sygnus Credit Investments climbing 7 percent to $11.90, Margaritaville and Jamaica Broilers rising 6 percent to $17.58 and $34.97 respectively. General Insurance dropped 9 percent to end at $5.04.
Lasco Financial and Lasco Distributors released half year results but dropped out of the Junior Market ICTOP10 and Lasco Manufacturing also reported six months results but remained in the ICTOP 10. Following the release of the results, Lasco Distributors earnings were reduced from $1.65 to $1.60 for the full year and sits at number 12 in ICInsider.com rankings.
Importantly selling in the stock has been drastically reduced with just 19 offers up to $15.90 amounting to less than 200,000 shares and 19 bids above $4, with the highest bid amounting to more than the total stocks being offered. Earnings per share for Lasco Financial were reduced to 15 cents for the year and holds the 31st spot on the list.
Jamaica Teas also released results for the year to September, showing an improvement over 2022 and disclosed expected improvements from major changes already undertaken, which should improve 2024 results added to that, stocks should do better in the coming year, resulting in exposure of projections for 2024 as such it along with Caribbean Cream are now in the ICTOP10.
Returning to the Main Market TOP 10 is Palace Amusement Company replacing Caribbean Cement.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5, well below the market average of 12.2. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 319 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
An indication of where stock prices could be by May 2024 can be seen from stocks with the highest values in the Main and Junior Markets.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 14 of the most highly valued stocks representing 29 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 30 and 20 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 5.7, just over half of the market, with an average of 11.9. There are 11 stocks, or 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 48, averaging 21 that are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, with the market projected to rise by 260 percent on or around May 2024.
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 2024 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 and result 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.
The day closed with rising stocks beating out those declining, with trading in 57 securities, a similar number compared with Thursday and resulted in prices of 23 rising, 19 declining and 15 ending unchanged as the volume of stocks traded rose 52 percent but with a marginally higher value.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 1,420.45 points to close at 328.954.78,
Kingston Wharves lost $1.21 to finish at $17.58, with 3,029,633 stock units crossing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy jumped $12.13 to $93 after an exchange of 102 shares, Margaritaville popped $1.57 in closing at $17.58 after 284 stocks passed through the market. NCB Financial popped $1.99 and ended at $66.99 in switching ownership of 35,941 units, Pan Jamaica shed $2.50 to close at $47 with shareholders swapping 1,057 stocks, Seprod slipped $1 to $77 in an exchange of 12,345 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments gained 60 cents in closing at $11.90 after investors traded 3000 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Fund dropped $0.87 in closing at $11.00 with just 24 shares changing hands and Wisynco Group ended with investors trading 55,638 shares and lost 55 cents in closing at $20.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% climbed $8 to close at $50, with investors dealing in 1,495 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $10.20 to end at $112.20, with 231 stocks changing hands.
A total of 7,516,087 shares were traded for $111,267,823 versus 12,287,636 units at $53,452,673 on Wednesday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 930.59 points to settle at 349,141.60, the JSE Main Index skidded 521.94 points to close at 313,565.25 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.43 points to end at 68.84.
Mayberry Investments advanced 80 cents to end at $7.90 with an exchange of 52,843 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $7.36 in closing at $80.87 after 24 stocks passed through the market, NCB Financial dipped $1.99 and ended at $65 in switching ownership of 16,490 units. Pan Jamaica skidded 95 cents to close at $49.50 with shareholders swapping 72,815 stocks and Seprod rallied $3 to $78 in an exchange of 928,228 shares.
JMMB Group 7% preference share increased 45 cents to $2.45 with investors transferring 59 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $1 to end at $102, with three stocks changing hands.
A total of 12,287,636 shares were traded for $53,452,673 down from 17,113,084 units at $207,420,352 on Tuesday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Mayberry Investments dipped 90 cents in closing at $7.10 after investors traded 4,434 stock units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy skidded $1.66 to $73.51 with an exchange of 33 units, NCB Financial increased $1.99 in closing at $66.99, with 47,222 stocks clearing the market. Pan Jamaica advanced $2.95 to close at $50.45 with investors transferring 11,414 units, Proven Investments lost 73 cents and ended at $23 after 1,859 stocks passed through the market, Sagicor Group gained $1 to end at $43 with traders dealing in 7,726 shares. Seprod fell $4.99 to $75 after an exchange of 18,465 stock units and Stanley Motta popped 58 cents to end at $5.78 after trading 5,481 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $7.35 in closing at $41.65 after exchanging 47 stocks and Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $100 and ended at $2800 with investors dealing in 1 unit.
At the close, 17,113,084 shares were traded with a value of $207,420,352, pushed by Seprod accounting for $113.5 million of the value traded. Monday trading ended with 4,982,626 units at $34,117,477.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 342.51 points to close at 346,001.30, the JSE Main Index climbed 1,171.68 points to finish at 311,866.67 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.31 points to end at 68.27.
Jamaica Broilers popped 95 cents to $34.95 after 152,408 stock units were traded. Jamaica Producers gained 85 cents to close at $20 with a transfer of 218,591 stocks, Jamaica Stock Exchange climbed 49 cents to $9.19 after 35,951 units passed through the market, Massy Holdings rose $1 in closing at $91 in trading 10,596 shares. Mayberry Investments popped $1 and ended at $8 after exchanging 75,606 stock units, NCB Financial increased $2.50 to $65 with investors transferring 240,233 stocks, Sagicor Group declined $1.48 in closing at $42 in an exchange of 40,903 units. Seprod climbed $6.97 and ended at $79.99, with 1,459,106 stocks changing hands, Stanley Motta shed 80 cents to end at $5.20 as investors exchanged 2,092 units and Wisynco Group rose 70 cents to close at $21 trading 52,967 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained 54 cents to $49 with just one stock unit crossing the exchange and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share lost $19.99 to end at $101 with traders dealing in 6 shares.
A total of 4,982,626 shares were exchanged at $34,117,477 compared to 4,087,425 units for $30,292,867 on Friday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending in August 2024.
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dipped $5.70 in closing at $75.17 with an exchange of 103 stock units, NCB Financial rose $1.99 and ended at $62.50 after 84,449 shares passed through the market. Sagicor Group advanced $1.48 to close at $43.48 in an exchange of 2,598 stocks, Scotia Group climbed 50 cents to $34.50 after investors cleared the market of 29,605 units, Seprod declined $6.78 to close at $73.02 after exchanging 19,768 stock units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied $2.32 and ended at $11.87 after completing with 900 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rose 85 cents in closing at $5.92 with an exchange of 123 stocks and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share shed $1.01 to end at $120.99, as 18 units passed through the market.
Price movements in the market resulted in one new TOP10 listing for the Junior Market and one for the Main Market. Everything Fresh rose 9 percent to $1.75, followed by Caribbean Assurance Brokers, gaining 7 percent to end at $3.10, while the losers include Elite Diagnostic and One on One, down 5 percent to $1.79 and $1.01 respectively, followed by a 4 percent decline in Dolphin Cove to $15.50.
Returning to the Main Market TOP 10 is Caribbean Cement replacing Guardian Holdings, with the nine months’ results indicating lower earnings this year based on the new accounting policy.
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.
The market closed with only MPC Caribbean Clean Energy up $7.36 and Seprod $4.80, ended with worthwhile gains with the others up 30 cents or less while losses were more prominent across the top 10, led by Pan Jamaica falling $2.40 and NCB Financial, down $23.9 with the lowest top 10 decliner, Jamaica Broilers with a 50 cents decline.
Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 417,841 units for 10.2 percent of market share.
Jamaica Producers fell 75 cents to close at $19.15 with a transfer of 2,866 shares, Kingston Properties fell 54 cents to $7.01 after an exchange of 15,523 units. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy increased $7.36 and ended at $80.87 with just one stock changing hands, NCB Financial dipped $2.39 to close at $60.51 in an exchange of 74,210 stock units, Pan Jamaica lost $2.40 in closing at $47.65 after 1,118 shares passed through the market. Scotia Group skidded 50 cents to end at $34 as investors exchanged 16,794 stocks, Seprod climbed $4.80 in closing at $79.80 in trading 12,312 units and Wisynco Group fell 50 cents to $20.50, with 131,691 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined 90 cents to end at $5.07 while exchanging 379 shares and 138 Student Living preference share shed $17.73 and ended at $89.27 after closing with an exchange of 50 units.
A total of 5,596,104 shares were traded for $102,723,231 compared to 8,316,427 units at $88,916,615 on Wednesday.
the JSE Main Index rallied 1,202.56 points to 315,905.85 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.24 points to conclude trading at 68.50.
Jamaica Broilers rallied 51 cents to $33.50 with investors swapping 1,077,445 units. Kingston Properties rallied 55 cents to $7.55 in switching 6,831 stocks, Massy Holdings fell $1 and ended at $97, with 503 stock units clearing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy shed $14.46 in closing at $73.51 with investors transferring two shares. Pan Jamaica declined 35 cents and ended at $50.05 after exchanging 800,704 units, Scotia Group rose 50 cents to $34.50 in trading 57,408 stocks, Seprod lost $1.50 in closing at $75 after a transfer of 8,808 stock units, and Wisynco Group skidded 93 cents and ended at $21 as investors exchanged 8,588 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rallied $10 to end at $2,900 after investors ended trading six units and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share popped 41 cents to close at $2.50 with an exchange of one stock.
A total of 8,316,427 shares were traded valued at $88,916,615 compared with 7,470,394 units at $65,380,690 on Tuesday.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending up to August 2024.
Kingston Properties dipped 70 cents to close at $7, with 730 units changing hands, Kingston Wharves advanced 50 cents in closing at $28.50 in an exchange of 25,283 stock units, Massy Holdings dropped 80 cents to end at $98, with 824 shares crossing the market. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rose $11.47 and ended at $87.97 after exchanging 10 stock units, Proven Investments gained 64 cents to finish the day at $23.69 in trading 939 units, Sagicor Group shed $2 and ended at $42.60, with 25,185 stocks crossing the exchange. Scotia Group declined 70 cents to end at $34 with a transfer of 1,505,779 units, Seprod lost $2 in closing at $76.50 with stakeholders exchanging 1,699 stocks, Supreme Ventures shed 50 cents to close at $26, with 187,628 shares crossing the market and Sygnus Real Estate Finance dropped $1.40 to $9.55 with an exchange of 16,028 stock units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share fell 78 cents to end at $19.22 after 500 shares passed through the market and Jamaica Public Service 7% increased $6.46 in closing at $48.46 while exchanging 361 stock units.