Trading Newly listed JFP Limited and EduFocal dominated Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Wednesday and rose to record highs in helping the volume of stocks traded to rise 45 percent more than on Tuesday with a 43 increase in value and were the main reason for the market Index to eke out a modest 8.04 points rose to settle at 4,003.47.
Market activity led to 43 securities trading, similar to Tuesday and ended with 15 rising, 19 declining and nine closing unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 20.3. The PE ratios of stocks reported in the chart below are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
A total of 31,775,636 shares traded for $79,249,482 compared to 21,910,635 units at $55,555,327 on the Tuesday JFP Limited led trading with 20.42 million shares for 64.3 percent of total volume, followed by Lumber Depot with 3.03 million units for 9.5 percent of the day’s trade and EduFocal, 2.15 million units for 6.8 percent market share, while Future Energy Source ended with 1.83 million units changing hands for 5.7 percent market share.
Trading averaged 738,968 shares at $1,843,011 up from 509,550 shares at $1,291,984 on Tuesday, with the month to date, averaging 531,620 units at $2,211,575, compared to 510,084 units at $2,249,855 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rallied 45 cents to $18.45, with 4,443 shares crossing the market, Blue Power dropped 51 cents in closing at $3.39 with an exchange of 629 stocks, Caribbean Cream popped 5 cents to $4.72 with the swapping of 1,802 stock units. Dolphin Cove lost 90 cents to end at $22 after exchanging 23,157 units. EduFocal gained 43 cents to close at a record high of $1.75 after trading 2,154,085 stocks, Elite Diagnostic shed 6 cents ending at $2.97, with 27,678 units clearing the market. Everything Fresh fell 6 cents to close at $1.15 while exchanging 35,264 stock units, Express Catering advanced 29 cents in closing at $5.17 with 3,549 shares changing hands, Fontana fell 6 cents to $9.72 in trading 58,977 stocks. Fosrich declined 5 cents to end at $16.95 after 46,783 shares crossed the exchange, Future Energy Source dropped 27 cents to $6.02, with 1,827,068 units changing hands, General Accident shed 29 cents to $5.90 in switching ownership of 2,163 stock units. 
Indies Pharma popped 5 cents to end at $3.08 after an exchange of 5,797 units, Jamaican Teas increased 31 cents to close at $3.48 after 456,342 stock units changed hands, Jetcon Corporation lost 6 cents in closing at 83 cents trading 5,279 stocks. JFP Limited rose 17 cents to end at $1.85 with 20,417,992 shares crossing the market, Mailpac Group rallied 5 cents to $3.05 with 569,061 units changing hands, Spur Tree Spices fell 10 cents in closing at $3.70 in an exchange of 863,248 stocks and Tropical Battery dropped 5 cents to $2.13 trading 672,301 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
New listings enjoy big price bounce
In trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Tuesday, newly listed EduFocal moved from its IPO price of $1 to close at $1.32 on the first day of trading, while JFP Limited continued from its opening price on Monday to $1.68 at the close on Tuesday and helped maintained the volume of stocks and the value traded moderately above that on Monday.
Market activity led to 43 securities trading compared to 42 on Monday and ended with 14 rising, 18 declining and 11 closing unchanged.At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 38.05 points to settle at 3,995.43.
The PE Ratio, the most used measure to compute stock values, averages 19.9. The PE ratios in the chart below are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years to August 2022.
Overall, 21,910,635 shares traded for $55,555,327 versus 19,487,231 units at $50,742,595 on the Monday. JFP Limited led trading with 13.15 million shares for 60 percent of total volume followed by Lumber Depot with 2.77 million units for 12.6 percent of the day’s trade, Jamaican Teas ended with 2.22 million units for 10.1 percent market share and Future Energy Source ended with 1.44 million units changing hands for 6.6 percent market share.
Trading averaged 509,550 shares at $1,291,984 compared to 463,982 shares at $1,208,157 on Monday and month to date, averaging 510,084 units at $2,249,855, compared to 510,146 units at $2,360,875 on the prior day. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.51 in closing at $18 after 51,516 shares changed hands, AMG Packaging rose 20 cents to $3.20 while exchanging 3,180 stocks, Cargo Handlers fell $1.50 to end at $9.10, trading 12,219 stock units. Dolphin Cove declined $1.10 to close at $22.90, with 24,692 units crossing the market, EduFocal increased 32 cents to $1.32, with 9,662 shares clearing the market, Everything Fresh popped 11 cents to $1.21, with 366 stocks crossing the market. Express Catering lost 29 cents in closing at $4.88 in exchanging 4,100 units, Fontana advanced 27 cents to close at $9.78, with 14,711 stock units changing hands, Fosrich shed 48 cents to end at $17 with 10,057 units crossing the exchange. 
Honey Bun fell 20 cents to end at $8.90 after exchanging 2,447 stocks, Jamaican Teas dropped 33 cents to close at $3.17 with an exchange of 2,220,989 shares, JFP Limited rallied 37 cents in closing at $1.68 after exchanging 13,153,656 stock units. Lasco Distributors bounced 24 cents to $3.79 in switching ownership of 95,474 units, Lasco Financial declined 10 cents to $3.45 in an exchange of 12,500 shares, Lasco Manufacturing lost 17 cents to end at $4.33 trading 95,149 stock units. Lumber Depot shed 66 cents to close at $3.28 in trading 2,771,346 stocks, Main Event fell 20 cents to $6.90 with the swapping of 21,457 stocks and Paramount Trading shed 12 cents to $1.70 with 30,147 stock units. Changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JFP gain saves Junior Market on Monday
The price of JFP Limited stock that was a recent Initial Public Offer climbed 31 percent when trading in stock commenced at the start of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Monday and contributed over 53 percent in the overall market volume that jumped 106 percent over trading on Friday.
Market activity led to 42 securities trading compared to 40 on Friday and ended with nine rising, 27 declining and six, ending unchanged, but the Junior Market Index eked out a 1.59 points rise to close at 4,033.48. The PE Ratio, one of the most popular measures to value stocks, averages 19.1 as a multiple of earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ends, up to August 2022.
Overall, 19,487,231 shares were traded for $50,742,595 compared to 9,481,171 units at $48,828,789 on the Friday. JFP Limited led trading with 10.19 million shares for 52.3 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery with 3.27 million units for 16.8 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy Source with 2.29 million units for 11.7 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices ended trading 1.14 million units accounting for 5.8 percent market share.
Trading averaged 463,982 shares at $1,208,157 in contrast to 237,029 shares at $1,220,720 on Friday and month to date, an average of 510,146 units at $2,360,875, compared to 516,040 units at $2,508,031 on the prior trading day. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial dropped $1.74 in ending at $19.51 with 138 shares crossing the market, AMG Packaging lost 20 cents in ending at $3 in exchanging 36,497 stocks, Cargo Handlers shed $1.40 to $10.6 with an exchange of 28,043 units. Caribbean Cream declined 50 cents to close at $4.70, with 12,000 stock units crossing the exchange, Dolphin Cove fell 14 cents to end at $24 after 91,275 units changed hands, Everything Fresh lost 11 cents to end at $1.10 after exchanging 130,801 shares. Express Catering shed 10 cents to close at $5.17, with 23,119 stocks clearing the market, Fontana declined 29 cents to $9.51 in an exchange of 52,394 stock units, Fosrich climbed 97 cents to $17.48, with 21,632 stock units crossing the market. Future Energy Source fell 30 cents in closing at $6.20 in trading 2,288,325 shares, General Accident popped 19 cents to $6.10 while exchanging 23,555 stocks, Honey Bun dropped 13 cents to $9.10 in switching ownership of 85,019 units.
Iron Rock Insurance declined 20 cents in closing at $3.11 and trading 2,215 stocks, ISP Finance advanced $5.86 to close at $32.20 finishing at 119 units changing hands, newly listed JFP Limited gained 31 cents to end at a record high of $1.31 with the exchanging of 10,194,843 stock units. Lasco Manufacturing shed 15 cents in closing at $4.50 after trading 109,808 shares, Spur Tree Spices lost 16 cents to end at $3.75 and closed with an exchange of 1,138,242 units, Stationery and Office Supplies dropped 20 cents to $7 after trading 16,151 stocks and tTech fell 30 cents to $3.95 after 1,500 stock units were traded.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Cargo Handlers exits ICTOP10 with 33% gain
Cargo Handlers returned to ICTOP10 listing last week and was another winner with gains of 33 percent, sufficient to move it out of the top flight Junior Market stocks. The stock joins a long list of high performance ICTOP10 stocks, including the 32 percent gain in Tropical Battery stock in the previous week.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers come back in the Junior Market list, while Sterling Investments makes it back to the Main Market listing at the expense of TransJamacian Highway after just one week, but investors should keep an eye for this one.
In a week when the Junior Market dropped 297 points in three days that pushed the index down to 3,871 points, it bounced on the last two days to close over 4,031, still 137 points from the record of 4,168.16, at the end of the previous week. Meanwhile, the Main Market continues to consolidate around support at 440,000 points measured by the All Jamaica Composite Index.
Recent IPOs JFP limited and EducFocal are set to list on Monday and Tuesday coming following the oversubscribed initial public offers.
During the past week, the Junior Market TOP10 listed Access Financial, Lasco Financial and Iron Rock Insurance gained 6 percent each while Medical Disposables fell 9 percent and Tropical Battery slipped 5 percent. In the Main Market, the primary movers are Guardian Holdings with a 4 percent gain, while JMMB Group fell 7 percent and Proven Investments declined by 5 percent.
The potential gains for the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks remained for a second week at 105 percent, much lower than the Main Market at 127 percent, an indication that the Main Market is undervalued. The top three stocks in the Junior Market are Medical Disposables followed by Elite Diagnostic and Lasco Distributors to gain between 122 and 133 percent, compared to 121 and 126 percent, previously.
The potential gains for Main Market stocks moved from 124 percent last week to this weeks’ 127 percent, with the top three being JMMB Group followed by Guardian Holdings and Sygnus Credit Investments all projected to gain between 168 and 193 percent versus 161 and 193 percent last week.
The average PE for Junior Market has surpassed the average of 17 times 2020 earnings achieved at the end of March last year in moving to 19 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings and is ahead of the JSE Main and USD Markets at 15.7 well off from 19 in 2021. The TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of a mere 9, with a 48 percent discount to that market’s average.
All the stocks in the Junior Market can gain just 5 percent to the end of March this year, based on an average PE of 20. About a third of Junior Market stocks with positive earnings are trading at or above this level, averaging around 23.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market is 21 percent less than the PE of 19 at the end of March and 24 percent below the target of 20 to the end of March this year. The Main Market TOP 10 average PE is 9 representing a 43 percent discount to the market, well below the potential of 20. Around 15 stocks or a thirty percent of the market trade at or above a PE of 19, with most over 20, for an average roundabout 25, suggesting that the accepted multiple is between 20 and 25 times current year’s earnings. The depressed PE of the main market may be indicating that bigger investors are reluctant to be aggressive in buying into the market currently with inflation, rising interest rates and war populating the headlines.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market.
ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios 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 per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Junior Market making spirited recovery
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market made more recovery from the near 300 points loss up to Wednesday as it closed on Friday, with the Market Index jumping 90.51 points to 4,031.89 after picking up 70 points on Thursday as the volume of stocks traded declining 63 percent and the value dropped 52 percent than Thursday.
At the close 40 securities traded compared to 42 on Thursday ended with 18 rising, 14 declining and eight closing unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 19. The PE ratio of stocks in the chart below is computed based on the ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
Overall, 9,481,171 shares traded for $48,828,789 compared to 25,403,714 units at $100,810,194 on the Thursday Future Energy Source led trading with 4.74 million shares for 50 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 940,637 units for 9.9 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaican Teas with 845,015 units for 8.9 percent market share.
Trading averaged 237,029 shares at $1,220,720 in contrast to 604,850 shares at $2,400,243 on Thursday and month to date, averaging 516,040 units at $2,508,031, compared to 554,657 units at $2,686,206 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and four stocks with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging popped 14 cents in closing at $3.20, with 68,829 shares clearing the market, CAC 2000 fell 37 cents to end at $7.53 while exchanging 47,545 stock units, Cargo Handlers declined 10 cents to close at $12 with an exchange of 3,805 units. Caribbean Cream climbed 43 cents after ending at $5.20 in trading 887 stocks, Derrimon Trading gained 18 cents to $2.70 in exchanging 210,647 stocks, Dolphin Cove increased $1.14 to $24.14, with 29,367 shares crossing the exchange. Fontana lost 20 cents in closing at $9.80, with 50,347 stock units changing hands, Fosrich advanced 51 cents to end at $16.51 after exchanging 16,473 units, General Accident dropped 29 cents to close at $5.91 after finishing trading of 22,175 units. Honey Bun rallied 33 cents to $9.23 in an exchange of 9,467 shares, Indies Pharma rose 10 cents to $3.10 in trading 3,629 stocks, Knutsford Express climbed 10 cents in closing at $8, with an exchange of 15,855 stock units. 
Lasco Distributors advanced 12 cents to close at $3.60 after exchanging 1,002 units, Lasco Manufacturing gained 32 cents in ending at $4.65, with 336,334 shares crossing the market, Lumber Depot increased 10 cents to end at $4 with the swapping of 321,125 stock units and Mailpac Group shed 12 cents in ending at $2.92 trading 281,628 stocks.
In the preference segment, CAC 2000 9.5% preference share popped 10 cents to end at $1.07 in switching ownership of 975 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market claws some recent losses
Trading on the Junior Market surged on Thursday, with the market Index jumping 70.26 points to 3,941.38 at the close almost wiping out the 76 percent loss on Wednesday as the volume of stocks traded jumped 64 percent above Wednesday’s level, with 59 percent more funds entering the market than the prior day.
A total of 42 securities traded on Thursday versus 40 on Wednesday and ended with 25 rising, 13 declining and four closing unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing stock values, averages 18.9. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
Overall, 25,403,714 shares traded for $100,810,194 compared to 15,506,157 units at $63,400,100 on the Wednesday. Future Energy Source led trading with 6.15 million shares for 24.2 percent of total volume, followed by Indies Pharma with 5.05 million units for 19.9 percent of the day’s trade and Tropical Battery with 3.27 million units for 12.9 percent market share, Lumber Depot with 2.22 million units for 8.7 percent market share, 
Spur Tree Spices traded 1.95 million units for 7.7 percent market share and Blue Power exchanged 1.45 million units for 5.7 percent market share.
Trading on Thursday averaged 604,850 shares at $2,400,243 up from 387,654 shares at $1,585,002 on Wednesday, with month to date, averaging 554,657 units at $2,686,206, versus 546,122 units at $2,734,831 on the preceding day. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and three stocks with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $1.55 to $21.25 with an exchange of 263 shares, AMG Packaging dropped 12 cents to end at $3.06, with 13,172 stock units clearing the market, Cargo Handlers rose $2.17 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $12.10 after trading 26,969 units. Dolphin Cove lost 50 cents to close at $23, with 105,931 stocks changing hands, Express Catering gained 12 cents in ending at $5.27 after exchanging 141,019 stock units, Fontana climbed 20 cents in closing at $10 after 156,915 stocks changed hands. Fosrich advanced $1 to close at $16 with the swapping of 114,600 shares, Future Energy Source increased $1.13 to $6.41, with 6,153,347 units crossing the market, General Accident popped 10 cents to end at $6.20 trading 20 stock units. 
Honey Bun rallied 14 cents to $8.90 in trading 14,224 units,Indies Pharma shed 18 cents in closing at $3 in switching ownership of 5,049,965 stocks, Iron Rock Insurance rose 21 cents to close at $3.31 after 290 shares crossed the exchange. ISP Finance gained $1.34 to end at $26.34 after exchanging 200 shares, Jamaican Teas declined 19 cents to end at $3.50 while exchanging 211,656 stock units, Knutsford Express fell 10 cents to $7.90 after trading 9,694 stocks. Limners and Bards fell 14 cents to $3.44 after 10,795 units crossed the market, Main Event advanced 10 cents to $7.20 in an exchange of 107,369 stocks and tTech climbed 24 cents after ending at $4.25 with the swapping of 241 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market drops 298 points in 3 days
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market suffered a third day of a big drop in the market index after shedding 76.00 points to 3,871.12 following a 221.54 points fall on the previous two days and pulling the gains for the year to date from 21.5 percent on Friday to 15.1 percent up to the close on Wednesday, with the value and volume of stocks traded just slightly less than on Tuesday.
Forty securities traded on Wednesday against 41 on Tuesday and ended with 19 rising, 13 declining and eight closed unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 18.3. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years, up to August 2022.
A total of 15,506,157 shares traded valued at $63,400,100 compared to 17,265,483 units at $71,846,641 on the Tuesday. Future Energy Source led trading with 3.64 million shares for 23.5 percent of the total volume followed by Tropical Battery with 3.48 million units for 22.5 percent of the day’s trade, Spur Tree Spices with 2.94 million units for 19 percent market share and Lumber Depot ended with 1.72 million units changing hands and accounting for 11.1 percent market share.
Trading averaged 387,654 shares at $1,585,002 compared to 421,109 units at $1,752,357 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 546,122 units at $2,734,831, versus 576,744 units at $2,957,020, previously. February ended with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell $1.55 in closing at $19.70, with 77,354 shares crossing the market, AMG Packaging popped 10 cents to $3.18 after an exchange of 744 stock units, Cargo Handlers gained 83 cents to close at 52 weeks’ closing high of $9.93 while exchanging 36,059 units but traded at an intraday high of $10.72. Caribbean Assurance Brokers rallied 13 cents to $2.30 with the swapping of 12,177 stocks, Caribbean Cream increased 15 cents to $4.82, with 3,600 stocks changing hands, Dolphin Cove rose $1.15 to $23.50, with 183,677 shares crossing the market. Everything Fresh popped 15 cents to end at $1.15 after exchanging 19,852 units, Express Catering advanced 10 cents in ending at $5.15 after trading 74,680 stock units, Fontana rose 18 cents to close at $9.80 with an exchange of 142,369 stock units. Future Energy Source dropped 22 cents in closing at $5.28 trading 3,637,389 shares, ISP Finance plunged $5 to close at $25 in an exchange of 634 units, Jamaican Teas advanced 13 cents in closing at $3.69 after trading 479,945 stocks. KLE Group shed 51 cents to end at $2.25, with 6,000 stock units clearing the market, Knutsford Express rallied 10 cents to $8 with an exchange of 10,000 shares, Lasco Distributors increased 12 cents to $3.50 in switching ownership of 5,100 stocks. 
Main Event gained 39 cents to close at $7.10 in trading 143,281 units, Paramount Trading climbed 21 cents to $1.82 in exchanging 6,010 shares, Spur Tree Spices lost 19 cents to end at $3.98 in exchanging 2,940,031 stock units. Tropical Battery popped 19 cents in ending at $2.19 with 3,483,706 stocks changing hands and tTech dropped 24 cents in closing at $4.01 with 1,870 units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Five Junior stocks fell for each that rose
Thirty Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market stocks fell in trading on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 26 percent and the value falling 37 percent from Monday trades as 41 stocks traded compared to 43 on Monday and ended with six rising while five closed unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dropped 91.49 points to settle at 3,947.12 after falling 129.55 points on Monday and taking back to just below where it closed on February 7 but only after opening trading at 4,101.41 or an increase of 62.80 points.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 18.2. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years, up to August 2022.
A total of 17,265,483 shares traded for $71,846,641 down from 23,386,245 units at $113,928,631 on the Monday. Future Energy Source led trading with 5.69 million shares for 33 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery with 4.24 million units for 24.6 percent of the day’s trade, Lumber Depot, 1.53 million units for 8.9 percent market share Spur Tree Spices ended with 1.27 million units changing hands with 7.3 percent market share after the price ended at a 52 week’s closing high of $4.17 and an intraday high of $4.49.
Trading averaged 421,109 shares at $1,752,357 against 543,866 shares at $2,649,503 on Monday and month to date, averaging 576,744 units at $2,957,020, compared to 615,184 units at $3,254,557 on the preceding day. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging fell 11 cents to $3.08, with 40,712 shares crossing the market, Cargo Handlers climbed 32 cents ending at a 52 weeks’ closing high of $9.10 with an exchange of 93,674 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 32 cents in closing at $2.17 with the swapping of 449,141 units. Caribbean Cream fell 58 cents to close at $4.67 in exchanging 21,323 stock units, Derrimon Trading dropped 39 cents to end at $2.50 with 773,805 shares changing hands, Dolphin Cove shed $2.15 to close at $22.35 in trading 164,452 stocks. Express Catering fell 20 cents to $5.05 after 68,769 stock units crossed the market, Fontana dropped 26 cents to end at $9.62, with 127,490 units changing hands, Fosrich dropped $2.10 in closing at $15 while exchanging 26,073 units. Future Energy Source shed $1 in ending at $5.50 with an exchange of 5,690,194 stocks, General Accident declined 10 cents to close at $6.10 with 24,395 shares clearing the market, Honey Bun declined 20 cents to $8.70 after exchanging 73,071 stock units. Iron Rock Insurance shed 31 cents in closing at $3.10 after trading 2 units, Knutsford Express dipped 10 cents to $7.90 in switching ownership of 110 stock units, Lasco Distributors fell 17 cents to $3.38 after trading 39,863 shares. Lasco Manufacturing lost 16 cents to close at $4.29 in trading 220,198 stocks, Limners and Bards declined 10 cents in closing at $3.60 in an exchange of 121,754 stock units, Lumber Depot shed 20 cents to end at $3.90, with 1,531,194 stocks crossing the market. 
Mailpac Group rose 11 cents to $2.96 in an exchange of 619,295 shares, Main Event fell 49 cents after ending at $6.71 in exchanging 13,526 units, Medical Disposables dropped 24 cents ending at $6.05 after an exchange of 52,600 units. Stationery and Office Supplies lost 15 cents to end at $7.20 while exchanging 4,393 shares and Tropical Battery declined 41 cents to end at $2 with an exchange of 4,242,465 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big pullback for Junior Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market just a day after surging to a record high of 4,185.95 points during Friday’s trading, closed sharply down on Monday, with the Market Index falling 129.55 points to close at 4,038.61 after the volume of stocks trading jumped 57 percent more than in trading Friday with a 47.00 percent spike in the value and shares in Future Energy dropping $1.68.
All 43 securities traded up from 40 on Friday and ended with 21 rising, 20 declining and two, closing unchanged as three stocks closed at 52 weeks’ high.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 19. The PE ratio of each stock in the chart below is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for companies with financial years up to August 2022.
Overall, 23,386,245 shares traded amounting to $113,928,631 up from 14,875,591 units at $77,333,392 on Friday. Future Energy Source led trading with 9.12 million shares for 39 percent of total volume followed by Tropical Battery with 4.64 million units for 19.8 percent of the day’s trade, Lumber Depot had 2.74 million units trading and accounting for 11.7 percent market share and Spur Tree Spices traded 1.58 million units with 6.8 percent market share.
Trading averaged 543,866 shares at $2,649,503 in contrast to 371,890 shares at $1,933,335 on Friday and month to date, an average of 615,184 units at $3,254,557, compared to 640,116 units at $3,466,080 on the preceding trading day. February closed with an average of 370,064 units at $1,402,517.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial increased $1.25 in closing at $21.25 in exchanging 11 shares, Blue Power fell 10 cents to $3.90 after an exchange of 63,826 units, as low as $3, Cargo Handlers shed 21 cents to end at $8.78 with an exchange of 13,927 stock units. Derrimon Trading dropped 11 cents to close at $2.89 after 721,757 stocks crossed the market, Dolphin Cove declined $1.30 to $24.50 after exchanging 145,290 units, Everything Fresh lost 10 cents to end at $1.05, with 29,078 stock units crossing the market. Fontana fell $1.50 to close at $9.88 in trading 388,845 stocks, Fosrich popped $2.69 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $17.10 after an exchange of 136,791 shares, Future Energy Source dropped $1.68 in closing at $6.50 trading 9,123,499 stocks, but still trades at a high PE ratio of 65 times this year’s earnings. General Accident rallied 31 cents to $6.20 in switching ownership of 47,213 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance rose 30 cents to $3.41, with 69 units changing hands, ISP Finance advanced $2.10 to $30 in an exchange of 8 shares. Knutsford Express gained 10 cents after ending at $8, with 2,284 stocks crossing the exchange, Lasco Financial climbed 19 cents in closing at $3.49 as 6,315 units changed hands, Lasco Manufacturing shed 10 cents to close at $4.45, with 118,398 stock units clearing the market. 
Limners and Bards increased 10 cents in closing at $3.70 with the swapping of 185,217 shares, Mailpac Group climbed 14 cents to close at $2.85 while exchanging 589,885 units, Main Event lost 40 cents to end at $7.20 as 75,519 shares crossed the market. Spur Tree Spices rallied 15 cents ending at a record close of $4.15 after 1,579,958 stock units crossed the market, Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 35 cents to $7.35 in exchanging 3,234 stocks and Tropical Battery popped 11 cents in closing at a record closing high of $2.41 in trading 4,635,278 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Tropical drops ICTOP10 with 32% rise
Last week Tropical Battery surged right to the top of the ICTOP10 Junior Market listing with the company seems poised to earn $280 million for the current year, with earnings per share of 22 cents. Investors who pounced on the stock immediately after the release of the first quarter results before the price pulled, drive the price up in the holiday shortened week to close with a 32 percent gain at $2.30.
In a week when the Junior Market came back to life to close at a new record high on Friday, following a new record on Thursday, the market index closed on Friday over the 4,100 mark for the first time and ended at 4,168.16, with a 21.6 percent gain for the year to date. At the same time, the Main Market continues to consolidate around the 440,000 points level, on the All Jamaica Composite Index.
The EduFocal initial public offer to raise $130 million at $1 per share, opened and closed on Thursday morning, ICInsider.com was informed that preliminary data suggests that the offer attracted around twice the amount on offer, resulting in the early closure. Elsewhere, the Jamaica Stock Exchange is enjoying robust business in 2022 over 2021, which should deliver a big bump in revenues and profit for 2022 should the trend holds, accordingly, ICInsider.com now puts 2022 earnings for the first quarter above the 2021 full year’s earnings of 71 cents, with a possible $3 per share for the full year. Watch this one.
In TOP10 developments this week, returning to the Junior Market are Cargo Handlers with the price holding at $8.99 and Medical Disposables after the price slipped from $7.27 to $6.60 this week. Dropping out of the TOP10 this week are Caribbean Assurance Brokers with the price falling 23 percent to $2.50 as investors dumped the shares after the company reported a 47 percent increase in profit to 21 cents per share, but vastly down on the 33 cents per share reported in the nine months to September. The Main Market had three changes, with Caribbean Producers and Carreras returning to the Top10 to be joined for the first time by Transjamaican Highway and out goes Berger Paints, Jamaica Broilers and Sagicor Group.
During the week, the Junior Market TOP10 listed AMG Packaging fell 8 percent to $3.14 and in the Main Market, Proven Investments rose 9 percent followed by Berger Paints 6 percent and a 4 percent fall for Jamaica Broilers, but Guardian Holdings and Sagicor Group fell 5 percent
The Junior Market potential gains for the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks moved from 113 percent to 105 percent much lower than the Main Market at 124 percent. The top three stocks in the Junior Market are Elite Diagnostic followed by AMG Packaging and Lasco Distributors to gain between 121 and 126 percent, compared to 120 and 153 percent, previously.
The potential gains for Main Market stocks moved from 125 percent last week to this weeks’ 124 percent, with the top three being Guardian Holdings followed by JMMB Group and Sygnus Credit Investments all projected to gain between 161 and 193 percent versus 161 and 180 percent last week.
The average PE for Junior Market has surpassed the average of 17 times 2020 earnings achieved at the end of March last year in moving to 19.2 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings and is ahead of the JSE Main Market at 16.1. The TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of a mere 9.8, with a 49 percent discount to that market’s average.
All the stocks in the Junior Market can gain just 4 percent to the end of March this year, based on an average PE of 20. About a third of Junior Market stocks with positive earnings
are trading at or above this level, averaging around 23.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market is 16.1 just 18 percent less than the PE of 19 at the end of March and 24 percent below the target of 20 to the end of March this year. The Main Market TOP 10 average PE is 9.2 representing a 43 percent discount to the market, well below the potential of 20. Around 15 stocks or a thirty percent of the market trade at or above a PE of 19, with most over 20, for an average roundabout 25, suggesting that the accepted multiple is between 20 and 25 times the current year’s earnings. The depressed PE of the main market may be indicating that bigger investors are reluctant to be aggressive in buying into the market currently with inflation, rising interest rates and war populating the headlines.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. 
ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios 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 per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
