Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market from the lacklustre levels on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 30 percent and the value 310 percent more than on Monday, with trading in 58 securities compared with 55 on Monday, with 20 rising, 25 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 7,470,394 shares were traded for $65,380,690 compared with 5,763,109 units at $15,955,473 on Monday.
Trading averaged 128,800 shares at $1,127,253 compared to 104,784 shares at $290,100 on Monday and month to date, an average of 214,410 units at $1,325,907, compared with 218,949 units at $1,336,439 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.46 million shares for 32.9 percent of total volume followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.07 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 701,528 units for 9.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 4,665.94 points to close at 351,476.39, the JSE Main Index jumped 4,914.30 points to finish at 318,800.82 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.79 points to close at 69.43.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.2. 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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 14 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints lost $1.20 to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.20, with 1,138 units crossing the market, Caribbean Cement rose $1.99 to $50.99 in switching ownership of 34,273 stocks, First Rock Real Estate skidded $1.36 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.55 with investors transferring 19,332 shares. General Accident rallied 36 cents in closing at $5.56 after an exchange of 19,809 stock units, GraceKennedy increased 50 cents and ended at $73 with traders dealing in 40,025 shares, Jamaica Producers fell 87 cents to $19.08 while exchanging 363 stocks. JMMB Group climbed 49 cents in closing at $27.50 with shareholders swapping 55,168 units, Key Insurance dropped 29 cents to close at $2.21 after investors ended trading of 34,312 stock units, Kingston Properties popped 30 cents and ended at $7.70 with an exchange of 63,719 shares. 
Kingston Wharves gained 50 cents to end at $28, with 72,619 stocks changing hands, Margaritaville advanced $2.45 to $16.50, after just one unit passed through the market, Massy Holdings popped $7.93 and ended at $98.80 after a transfer of 28 stock units. NCB Financial shed 30 cents to end at $62.85, with 146,019 shares crossing the exchange, Proven Investments declined 45 cents in closing at $23.05 with investors dealing in 1,356 stock units, Sagicor Group rallied $1.10 to close at $44.60 after 25,814 stocks crossed the market. Sagicor Real Estate Fund increased 20 cents to $8.30 after an exchange of 9,794 units, Scotia Group climbed 20 cents in closing at $34.70, with 35,513 stocks clearing the market, Seprod rose $7.50 and ended at $78.50 with an exchange of 91,825 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance dipped 95 cents to close at $10.95 as investors exchanged 10 shares and Wisynco Group advanced $1.05 to end at $21.95 in trading 676,252 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $3.22 to $42 after exchanging 1,110 shares and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share shed $1 and ended at $122 with a transfer of 11 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market falls Monday
Trading activity closed on Monday, with an exchange of 5,763,109 shares for a mere $15,955,473 that was down 49 percent compared with the value of $31,523,597 on Friday from trading in 5,448,012 units on Friday, 
on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market in ending, with trading in 55 securities similar to Friday, and ending with prices of 16 rising, 16 declining and 23 ending unchanged.
Trading averaged 104,784 shares at $290,100 versus 99,055 shares at $573,156 on Friday and month to date, an average of 218,949 units at $1,336,439, compared with 224,992 units at $1,391,827 on the previous trading day. Trading during September ended with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.39 million shares for 41.4 percent of total volume followed by JMMB Group 7.5% with 1.25 million units for 21.7 percent of the day’s trade and Wigton Windfarm with 597,959 units for 10.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index slipped just 9.86 points to 346,810.45, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,512.64 points to end at 313,886.52 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.03 points to finish at 68.64.
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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose 90 cents to end at $7.40 with shareholders swapping 90 units, Caribbean Cement declined $1.32 in closing at $49, with 18,894 stocks crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers climbed 97 cents to $33.97 with stakeholders exchanging 34,920 shares. Jamaica Producers increased 95 cents and ended at $19.95 in trading 20 stock units, JMMB Group fell 49 cents to close at $27.01 after 9,356 shares passed through the Market, 
Massy Holdings dropped $7.93 to $90.87 with traders dealing in 155 stock units. Proven Investments popped $2 in closing at $23.50 while investors traded 202 stocks, Scotia Group rallied 95 cents and ended at $34.50, after 25,702 units passed through the market, Seprod dropped 50 cents to close at $71 in an exchange of 3,594 shares, Wisynco Group gained 95 cents to end at $20.90 with investors transferring 41,836 stock units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $4.68 to end at $45.22 after an exchange of 239 stocks, 
138 Student Living preference share jumped $12 and ended at $107, with 61 units crossing the market and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dipped $2 in closing at $123 as investors exchanged 1,094 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
More changes for ICTOP10
During the past week, the ICTOP10 Main Market stocks closed, with losing stocks dominating and rising stocks outnumbering declining ones in the Junior Market, following gains in both market indices. During the week, the JSE Main Market Index recovered all of the 3,385 points drop of the previous week by adding 3,900 points, but the All Jamaica Composite Index rose by 600 points and the Junior Market rose a mere 31 points.
The above set the stage for ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks to post five rising stocks to two that declined, while the ICTOP10 Main Market recorded five modest gains and four losses.
Price movements in the market resulted in two new TOP10 listings for the Junior Market and one for the Main Market. Lasco Manufacturing and Consolidated Bakeries dropped out of the Junior Market listing and Caribbean Cement fell out of the Main Market, resulting from a small price appreciation and re-evaluation of earnings per share following the release of nine months results, with ICInsider.com projected earnings now at $7. However, the stock still has the potential to go higher, with the current PE at just 7 times 2023 earnings compared to an average of 12 for the market.
Returning to the TOP 10 are Junior Market listed Paramount Trading and AMG Packaging. In contrast, Scotia Group returns to the TOP 10 Main Market listing, with the price dropping from $34.45 at the end of the previous week to $33.55 this past week. AMG returns, following the release of the full year’s results, show major improvement in direct operating cost with a solid increase in gross profit margin in the August quarter, which augurs well for earnings for the new fiscal year starting September, accordingly, I
CInsider.com upgraded earnings to $0.40 per share for the current year and that pushed the stock to 5th place on the TOP 10 list. Paramount Trading returns with a depressed price and gains by the two stocks dropping out of the listing.
Everything Fresh led the Junior Market listing with a rise of 14 percent to $1.60, followed by Lasco Manufacturing with a 10 percent climb and Elite Diagnostic with 6 percent to $1.88. Just two stocks fell with losses of just one and three percent. The Main Market closed the week with Caribbean Producers rising 4 percent to $9.50. Margaritaville fell 14 percent to $14.05, Key Insurance dropped six percent to $2.50 and General Accident with a four percent decline to $5.45.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 4.7, well below the market average of 12.1. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 359 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 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 109, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight valuations.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 5.9, just over half of the market, with an average of 10.8. There are 11 stocks, or 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 25, averaging 18.6, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, with the market projected to rise by 244 percent by May 2024.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. Accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is only sometimes 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 up to the end of 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.
Main Market trading drop drags index down
Trading activity slipped on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 36 percent and the value 4 percent lower than on Wednesday, after 
trading took place in 51 securities compared with 49 on Wednesday, with 20 rising, 20 declining and 11 stocks ending unchanged.
A total of 8,555,217 shares were traded for $65,664,035 compared to 13,455,754 units at $68,332,119 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 167,749 shares at $1,287,530 compared to 274,607 shares at $1,394,533 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 232,031 units at $1,437,586, compared with 235,545 units at $1,445,789 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.87 million shares for 45.2 percent of total volume, followed by Wisynco Group with 1.36 million units for 15.9 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 980,131 units for 11.5 percent of market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dipped 951.42 points to settle at 346,651.73, the JSE Main Index dropped 1,727.61 points to 311,809.96 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.17 points to close at 68.48.
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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley dropped 75 cents and ended at $33.20 after exchanging 1,087 shares, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped 50 cents to end at $40 with traders dealing in 7,359 units, General Accident rallied 47 cents to close at $5.48 with investors dealing in 1,765 stock units. GraceKennedy shed 50 cents in closing at $72, with stakeholders exchanging 74,624 stocks, 
Guardian Holdings dipped $19 to $411, with 58 stocks changing hands, Jamaica Producers increased 95 cents to $19.95 after an exchange of 10,698 units. Kingston Wharves fell 45 cents and ended at $27.50 after investors traded 2,077 stock units, Margaritaville skidded $2.55 to end at $14.05, with 15 shares crossing the market, Massy Holdings lost $6 in closing at $90 with an exchange of 1,068 stocks. NCB Financial declined 90 cents to close at $63.15 with investors transferring 57,166 stock units, Pan Jamaica shed $2.50 to close at $47 after investors traded 28,177 units, Proven Investments advanced $1.23 to end at $23.74, with 2,066 shares crossing the market, Seprod skidded $1.50 and ended at $71 as investors exchanged 95 shares and Wisynco Group fell $2.26 in closing at $19.24 after a transfer of 1,359,434 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on the JSE Main Market
Trading activity picked up on Wednesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market and ended with the volume of stocks traded rising 87 percent and the value 278 percent more than on Tuesday, and ending with trading taking place in 49 securities compared with 56 on Tuesday, with 16 rising, 19 declining and 14 ending unchanged after Wisynco Group hit a 52 weeks intraday high of $22.
In contrast, First Rock Real Estate hit a 52 weeks intraday low of $6.71 and VM investments traded at an intraday low of $2.60 and bounced higher by the close.
A total of 13,455,754 shares were traded for $68,332,119 compared with 7,194,041 units at $18,098,887 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 274,607 shares at $1,394,533 compared to 128,465 shares at $323,194 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 235,545 units at $1,445,789, compared with 233,380 units at $1,448,630 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 7.78 million shares for 57.8 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.91 million units for 14.2 percent of the day’s trade, Wisynco Group ended with 1.23 million units for 9.1 percent of market share and JMMB Group 7.5% with 1.04 million units for 7.7 percent of the total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 309.44 points to close at 347,603.15, the JSE Main Index dropped 524.74 points to end at 313,537.57 and the JSE Financial Index declined 0.03 points to close at 68.65.
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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments advanced 48 cents to end at $71.98, with 6,338 shares crossing the exchange, Eppley rallied $1.63 in closing at $33.95 after an exchange of 1,035 units, General Accident fell 55 cents and ended at $5.01 often investors traded 11,035 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped $1 to close at $9.30 with investors dealing in 2,762 stock units, 
Kingston Wharves gained 59 cents to close at $27.95 with shareholders swapping 873 stocks, Massy Holdings rallied $5 and ended at $96 with an exchange of 642 shares. NCB Financial lost 95 cents to $64.05 with an exchange of 4,868 stock units, Proven Investments climbed $2.35 to end at $22.51 with investors trading 322 units, Sagicor Group declined $1.39 to close at $42.11, with 79,903 shares crossing the market. Seprod rose 50 cents in closing at $72.50 with an exchange of 7,110 stocks, Supreme Ventures rallied 55 cents to end at $26.60 after 14,862 stock units passed through the market, Victoria Mutual Investments dropped 58 cents to close at $2.71 with traders dealing in 98,307 units.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share dipped 71 cents in closing at $95 as investors exchanged nine stocks and Transjamaican Highway 8% climbed 46 cents and ended at $2.10, with 242,529 shares clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market rallies as value plunges
Trading plunged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday, with only 7,194,041 shares being traded for a mere $18,098,887 compared with 5,650,950 units at $35,185,337 on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 27 percent and the value plunging 49 percent lower than on Monday, with trading in 56 securities compared with 54 on Monday and ended with prices of 24 rising, 19 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
Trading averaged 128,465 shares at $323,194 versus 104,647 shares at $651,580 on Monday and month to date, an average of 233,380 units at $1,448,630,compared with 240,476 units at $1,524,746 on the previous day. Trading in September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.32 million shares for 60 percent of the total volume and was followed by Transjamaican Highway in trading 1.06 million units for 14.8 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 367,451 units for 5.1 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 262.79 points to 347,293.71, the JSE Main Index rose 2,426.08 points to settle at 314,062.31 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.01 points to finish at 68.68.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12. 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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments skidded 70 cents to $71.50 in an exchange of 36,509 shares, Eppley shed $1.68 in closing at $32.32, with 1,211 stock units changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $3.30 and ended at $39.50 after an exchange of 2,789 stocks. GraceKennedy lost 70 cents in ending at $72.50 after an exchange of 14,225 units, Jamaica Broilers advanced 44 cents to close at $33 with investors trading 24,339 shares, Jamaica Producers dropped $1.48 to close at $19 with traders dealing in 1,752 stock units. 
Kingston Properties increased 59 cents to end at $7.49 after 39 units passed through the market, Kingston Wharves fell 58 cents in closing at $27.36 while exchanging 5,367 stocks, Massy Holdings gained $1 and ended at $91 in switching ownership of 1,000 stocks. Pan Jamaica rose $2.50 to $49.50 with stakeholders exchanging 581 stock units, Portland JSX rallied 35 cents to $10.85 as investors exchanged 166 units, Proven Investments dropped $3.63 and ended at $20.16 with shareholders swapping 7,373 shares. Seprod declined $2 in closing at $72 with a transfer of 6,022 stock units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance climbed $1.76 to end at $11.90, with 50 stocks crossing the market and 
Wisynco Group rose 50 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $21.50, with 94,427 units crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share gained 78 cents to end at $20 after 2 shares crossed the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big price moves inched Main Market higher
Stock prices swung sharply both ways up and down on the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with Seprod leading the way up with $4 bounce, followed by Kingston Wharves with a gain of $2.44, NCB Financial Group up by $1.50 with Barita Investments coming in with the 92 cents gain in helping to lift the Main Market on Monday, with Guardian Holdings falling $10, followed by Pan Jamaica with $3.10, GraceKennedy down $1.70 as Caribbean Cement skidded $1, Jamaica Broilers 94 cents and Scotia Group dropping 93 cents.
Trading activity ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 95 percent and the value falling 12 percent lower than on Friday, with trading in 54 securities compared with 52 on Friday, with 19 rising, 23 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
A total of 5,650,950 shares were traded for $35,185,337 compared with 2,896,830 units at $40,206,193 on Friday.
Trading averaged 104,647 shares at $651,580 compared to 55,708 shares at $773,196 on Friday and month to date, an average of 240,476 units at $1,524,746 compared to 249,952 units at $1,585,665 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.61 million shares for 46.2 percent of total volume, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 630,504 units for 11.2 percent of the day’s trade and Wisynco Group with 318,083 units for 5.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 813.68 points to settle at 347,030.92, the JSE Main Index climbed 136.65 points to end at 311,636.23 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.47 points to 68.67.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12. 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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments advanced 92 cents and ended at $72.20 with stakeholders exchanging 19,677 shares, Berger Paints rose 45 cents to end at $7.44 after investors ended trading 581 stocks, Caribbean Cement skidded $1 to $49 while exchanging 5,598 stock units. Eppley gained 50 cents in closing at $34 with investors dealing in 301 units, GraceKennedy fell $1.70 to close at $73.20 with dealers transferring 9,741 units, Guardian Holdings dropped $10 to $430 with shareholders swapping 2 stock units.
Jamaica Broilers shed 94 cents in closing at $32.56 in an exchange of 6,946 stock units, Kingston Properties dipped 60 cents to close at $6.90, with 10,106 stocks crossing the market, Kingston Wharves rallied $2.44 to end at $27.94 with 819 shares changing hands. Mayberry Investments popped 48 cents to end at $7.48, with 126 stock units crossing the exchange, Mayberry Jamaican Equities climbed 49 cents and ended at $10.49 after an exchange of 406 stocks, NCB Financial increased $1.50 to close at $65 as 35,384 units passed through the market. Pan Jamaica dropped $3.10 to end at $47 after a transfer of 1,087 stock units, Sagicor Group rose 45 cents in closing at $43.50 with traders dealing in 20,920 stocks, Scotia Group declined 93 cents to $33.52 in an exchange of 255,607 shares, 
Seprod gained $4 and ended at $74 with an exchange of 62,271 units and Wisynco Group popped $1.07 to close at a 52 weeks’ high of $21 with 318,083 units clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% increased $7.88 to $49.90, with 192 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
85% gainer jumps ICTOP10
The Junior Market had an 85 percent winner during the past week, with only three stocks recording notable price changes in a market that remained fairly stable in the holiday-shortened week, with a slippage of only a few points. Price movements in the Main Market were moderate, with the highest being 5 percent at the end of the week, in which the JSE Index dropped more than 3,000 points, with the All Jamaica composite Index slipping just 90 points.
Edufocal was the star performer of the week with a big 85 percent surge in price to close at $2.50, following the company reporting that the board of directors is to meet on October 27 to discuss a possible rights issue and a stock split. Elite Diagnostic rose 13 percent to $1.77 and Everything Fresh dropped 11 percent to $1.40. The Main Market closed the week with JMMB Group falling 5 percent to $27.10, being the only stock with a notable change.
Market activity resulted in two new additions to the Junior Market ICTOP10 and one to the Main Market. Returning to the Junior Market TOP 10 are Lasco Financial Services and Lasco Manufacturing, replacing Caribbean Cream and Edufocal. Full year earnings for the former were downgraded to 55 cents per share following the release of second quarter results, which showed flat revenues for the August quarter and half year compared with 2022 and lower profit for the second quarter, with increased profit for the six months compared to 2022. Lasco Financial Services reported disappointing results for the first quarter of the new fiscal year to June. 
The company did not benefit as much from interest income as would be expected and had adequate funds on hand to expand the loan portfolio, development management indicated they would be pursuing for the rest of the year. Significant expansion of loans could radically transform both revenues and profit for the year. The extent of this improvement is unclear currently, however, the potential suggests that this is a stock to watch going forward as it could surprise to the upside. Lasco Manufacturing is, without question, a stock that is seriously undervalued, but investors pushed the price down during the week. This is clearly one for the future and one that investors should see continuous improvement in stock price over the next 12 months as the company rolls out improved profits in the quarters to come.
In the Main Market, Caribbean Producers returned to the ICTOP10 and replaced Scotia Group that was just squeezed out of the TOP10. CPJ performed well during the fiscal year ending June. The performance was obscured by a onetime charge related to past GCT claims that were booked in the past year, but for this charge, results would have been vastly better than reported, but investors may have been turned off by the results. 
The expectation is for profitability to improve during the current fiscal year ending in June 2024. The stock is clearly undervalued and has much room for growth over the next 12 months and beyond. Scotia Group, although out of the TOP10, reported a 74 percent in profit for the nine months to July and is terribly undervalued. Investors should be accumulated in the stock with the expectation for gradual appreciation, especially when the full year results are released with earnings expected to top $5.50 for the year to October 2023.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5, well below the market average of 12. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 328 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
A total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 105, with an average of 29 and 20 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 22 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight valuations.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6, just over half of the market at 10.7. There are 9 stocks or 19 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 26, averaging 19 that are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 14, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, with the market projected to rise by 261 percent by May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of 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.
JSE Main Market in weekend rally
Trading activity dropped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 36 percent, with the value 52 percent lower than on Thursday, after dealing in 55 securities compared with 51 on Thursday, with 20 rising, 15 declining and 20 ending unchanged.
The market rally benefitted from some significant price increases after Guardian Holdings jumped $29, Massy Holdings rose $8.80, Pan Jamaica climbed $3.46, followed by Sagicor Group, adding $1.29 and Caribbean Cement gaining $1.27.
A total of 5,448,012 shares were traded for $31,523,597, down from 8,555,217 units at $65,664,035 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 99,055 shares at $573,156 versus 167,749 shares at $1,287,530 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 224,992 units at $1,391,827, compared with 232,031 units at $1,437,586 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.56 million shares for 28.7 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.41 million units for 25.9 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 688,813 units for 12.6 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 168.58 points to finish at 346,820.31, the JSE Main Index popped 3,589.20 points to end at 315,399.16 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.19 points to close at 68.67.
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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints dipped 93 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.50 in trading 6,563 units, Caribbean Cement rallied $1.27 to $50.32 and closed with an exchange of 13,083 stocks before the company reported nine months results with profit for the quarter rising bly from $1.2 billion in the 2022 third quarter to $1.94 billion on increasing revenues, with the nine months profit up modestly to $4.39 billion from $4.25 billion in 2022. Eppley rose 80 cents and ended at $34 with investors dealing in 209 shares, Guardian Holdings climbed $29 to close at $440 after an exchange of just one stock unit, 
Jamaica Producers lost 95 cents to end at $19 with 4,000 shares, clearing the market. JMMB Group popped 50 cents to $27.50 after trading 36,025 units, Massy Holdings gained $8.80 and ended at $98.80, with just three stocks crossing the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy skidded $13.50 in closing at $76.50 as investors exchanged 100 stock units. Pan Jamaica increased $3.46 to close at $50.46 after a transfer of 50 shares, Proven Investments fell $2.24 to end at $21.50 with stakeholders trading 6,000 units, Sagicor Group advanced $1.29 to $43.50 in switching ownership of 3,697 stocks. Seprod popped 50 cents to close at $71.50 after 2,054 stock units crossed the market and Wisynco Group advanced 71 cents in closing at $19.95 in an exchange of 107,030 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $9 to end at $2,890, with one stock changing hands and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share rose $4.25 and ended at $125 with traders dealing in 10 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading jumps on JSE Main Market
Trading activity picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, but still
remained dismally low even with the volume of stocks traded rising 57 percent and the value jumping 55 percent more than on Wednesday, following trading in 58 securities, up from 53 on Wednesday, with 22 rising, 18 declining and 18 ending unchanged.
A total of 6,370,228 shares were traded for $39,980,722 compared with 4,057,118 units at $25,768,191 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 109,832 shares at $689,323 versus 76,549 shares at $486,192 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 263,942 units at $1,644,181, compared with 277,403 units at $1,727,587 on the previous day. September closed with an average of 218,512 units at $1,768,691.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.04 million shares for 32 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.35 million units for 21.2 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 529,471 units for 8.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 3,669.02 points to settle at 347,821.93, the JSE Main Index increased 2,954.52 points to conclude trading at 315,397.91 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.59 points to 69.50.
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.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rallied 44 cents to close at $7.44 with an exchange of 130 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced $1 and ended at $50 in trading 2,304 stock units, General Accident increased 71 cents to end at $5.72 with stakeholders exchanging 12,882 units, GraceKennedy declined 77 cents in closing at $72.23, with 56,996 stocks changing hands. Jamaica Broilers dropped 52 cents to $33.48 in an exchange of 11,241 stock units, Jamaica Producers skidded 50 cents to end at $19.50 after an exchange of 109 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange lost $1.21 to a 52 weeks’ closing low $8.11, with 230,481 units crossing the market, Kingston Wharves shed $1.30 to close at $25.70 in an exchange of 1,668 stocks. 
Massy Holdings dipped 60 cents to $96.50 with 1,251 shares clearing the market, Mayberry Investments rose 45 cents and ended at $7.45 after 75 stock units passed through the market, but before the company released nine months result with a $985 million loss for the third quarter and $693 million loss for the nine months, after reporting big investment losses in both periods. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $9 in closing at $90 while exchanging 56 stocks, NCB Financial fell $1.01 to $63.99 as investors exchanged 97,603 units, Pan Jamaica popped $2.10 to close at $50.10 in switching ownership of 90 shares, Sagicor Group dipped 98 cents and ended at $43.50 and closed with an exchange of 4,169 stock units. Scotia Group gained 95 cents to end at $34.70 with traders dealing in just 2,800 stocks, Seprod rallied $4.74 to $70 with shareholders swapping 55,404 units, Supreme Ventures popped 50 cents in closing at $26.75 after 3,600 shares crossed the exchange and Wisynco Group gained $1.40 to end at $19.50 with a transfer of 293,089 stocks.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share jumped $54 to close at $1100 after trading 19 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.