Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Thursday, with a 67 percent drop in the volume of stocks changing hands after a 133 percent jump in value than on Wednesday, resulting in trading in nine securities, compared to seven on Wednesday with prices of one rising, three declining and five ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 186,609 shares for US$46,047 compared to 560,085 units at US$19,785 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 20,734 units at US$5,116 versus 80,012 shares at US$2,826 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 45,694 shares at US$3,442 compared with 61,740 units at US$2,366 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 stock units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 2.61 points to end at 243.44.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.2. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Margaritaville ended at 10 US cents in trading 2,103 stock units, Proven Investments dipped 2 cents and ended at 13.9 US cents after an exchange of 110,431 shares, Sterling Investments popped 0.1 of a cent to finish at 1.7 US cents with investors transferring 2,105 stocks. 
Sygnus Credit Investments shed 0.7 of one cent in closing at 7.3 US cents, following 51,168 units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway declined 0.02 of a cent to close at 2.18 US cents with a transfer of 2,375 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share remained at US$1.19 after an exchange of 14,317 units. JMMB Group 5.75% ended at US$2.12 after 4,002 stocks crossed the market, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share remained at US$12 after a transfer of 10 stock units and Sygnus Credit Investments US 8% remained at US$10.60 with 98 shares clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading volume drops on JSE USD market
Gains for JSE USD Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market climbed higher on Tuesday, with the US Denominated Equities Index advancing 3.87 points to 259.55, following a 46 percent decline in the volume of stocks exchanged with a 40 percent drop in the number of dollars changing hands compared with Monday, resulting in trading in four securities, compared to nine on Monday with prices of one rising, no declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 328,443 shares for US$47,111 compared to 610,533 units at US$78,231 on Monday.
Trading averaged 82,111 units at US$11,778 versus 67,837 shares at US$8,692 on Monday, with a month to date average of 55,047 shares at US$7,223 compared with 53,788 units at US$7,011 on the previous day and January that ended with an average of 42,169 units for US$5,037.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Margaritaville remained at 11 US cents with investors swapping 88 units, Proven Investments gained 0.29 of a cent to close at 14.79 US cents in an exchange of 324,164 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 8.8 US cents after one share crossed the market and Transjamaican Highway remained at 2.05 US cents in switching ownership of 4,190 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD Market closes higher
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks exchanged declining 81 percent with 94 percent fewer US dollars changing hands compared to Friday, resulting in trading in six securities, up from four on Friday with prices of two rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 186,772 shares for US$6,867 compared to 1,000,615 units at US$122,251 on Friday.
Trading averaged 31,129 shares at US$1,145 down from 250,154 stock units for US$30,563 on Friday. Trading for the month to date averages 105,380 shares at US$9,856 compared to 154,880 stocks at US$15,664 that was previously traded and January that ended with an average of 42,169 units for US$5,037.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased 1.01 points to close at 252.02.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.5. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Margaritaville dipped 0.07 of a cent and ended at 11.43 US cents after 2,500 stock units passed through the market, Productive Business Solutions ended at US$1.79, with only 27 shares being traded, Proven Investments popped 0.09 of a cent to 13.39 US cents with a transfer of 17,272 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.07 of a cent in closing at 8.9 US cents as investors exchanged 12,000 stock units and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.05 of a cent to close at a 52 week’s high of 2.05 US cents with 154,946 shares clearing the market.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share remained at US$1.04 with an exchange of 27 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading volume surges on the JSE markets
The market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed mixed in trading on Monday as the Junior Market JSE USD market edged moderately higher and the Main Market major indices recorded declines and gains after trading ended with the volume of stocks exchanged surging, with the value traded falling from that on Friday and resulting in 38 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of trading on Monday, the JSE Combined Market Index shed 934.48 points to end at 333,128.32, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 577.72 points to 357,171.52, the JSE Main Index shed 1,065.68 points to close at 320,309.99. The Junior Market Index popped 7.42 points to 3,737.00 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 3.41 points to end the day at 240.73.
At the close of trading, 36,430,685 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 12,488,845 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $67.96 million, down from $97.58 million on Friday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 317,598 shares for US$259,958 compared to 649,338 units at US$15,760 on Friday.
Main Market trading was dominated by JMMB 9.5% preference share led trading with 18.65 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.92 million units, Sagicor Select Financial Fund was next with 1.16 million stock units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.12 million shares.
In the Junior Market, Express Catering led trading with 3.37 million shares followed by JFP Ltd with 1.43 million units and Dolla Financial with 1.05 million stock units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are Caribbean Cement rose $1.68 to close at $53, Jamaica Producers climbed $1.70 to close at $23.70, Margaritaville increased $1.55 in closing at $17.05and Scotia Group gained $2 in closing at $41.
The major declining Main Market stocks include AS Bryden fell $1 to $40, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund skidded $1.45 and ended at $38.55, Guardian Holdings sank $17 in closing at $372, NCB Financial declined $2.78 to $65.21.
On a day of limited price movement in the Junior Market, the major stocks with gains are Express Catering increased 36 cents to $3.97 KLE Group rallied 45 cents to end at $2.30.and Knutsford Express advanced 39 cents to close at $12.39, with the major losing stock being Dolphin Cove fell 50 cents and ended at $19.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share lost $30 in closing at $90.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 20.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Operating profit surges at Margaritaville
Turks and Caicos based Margaritaville ended the second quarter of their fiscal year to November 2023 with a profit of US$70,000, down 81 percent from US$360,758 in the second quarter to November 2022, with revenues of US$1.54 million up 14 percent from US$1.35 million in 2022.
Margaritaville – Turks & Caicos
The sharp reduction in profit is due to the company earning one off income in the prior year of US$319,000 but incurred a loss of US$67,884 in 2023 for the half year and US$25,000 in the quarter. Excluding the one off income profit would have surged 67 percent over 2022.
Operating revenues for the half year were US$3.34 million in 2023, up 20 percent from US$2.78 million in 2022 and delivered net profit of US$299,734 for the half year down 34 percent from $455,196 in 2022 that was boosted by the one off other income of US$319,128. Excluding the one time other income, profit would have jumped 120 percent.
Profit for the Quarter before interest expenses and other income was US$100,145, up 42 percent from US$70,403 in 2022 and grew 94 percent to $378,800 for the half year versus US$193,844 in 2022.
The company reported that the average spend per passenger was US8.29, for the quarter, with earnings from the 185,739 passengers that cruised on 51 vessels, compared to the prior year with earnings from 168,000 passengers, for an average spend of US$8.05. The total passenger count for the six months to November 2023 was 411,728, compared to 343,456 for the same period in 2022 and produced revenue of US$8.12 per passenger. The performance for the year to November is still below that in 2019, the company stated.
Earnings per Share ended at 0.104 US cents for the November quarter and for the six months 0.534 US cents. The stock traded at J$15 on the JSE Main market on Tuesday.
Trading up on JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 475 percent valued 11 percent lower than on Friday, resulting in five securities being traded, similar to Friday and ended with three rising and two declining.
A total of 286,910 shares were traded, for US$7,613 compared to 49,892 units at US$8,545 on Friday.
Trading averaged 57,382 units at US$1,523, versus 9,978 shares at US$1,709 on Friday, with a month to date average of 31,647 shares at US$1,679 compared with 29,349 units at US$1,693 on the previous day, well down on November with an average of 249,102 units for US$14,204.
The US Denominated Equities Index fell 2.98 points to end the day at 216.35.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.3. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville advanced 1.9 cents and ended at 12.9 US cents with a transfer of 606 stocks, Proven Investments popped 0.06 of a cent to close at 13.15 US cents with an exchange of 12,747 units, Sterling Investments sank 0.03 of one cent in closing at 1.55 US cents with 4 shares being traded. Sygnus Credit Investments gained 0.1 of a cent to close at 9 US cents as investors exchanged 22,691 stock units and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.01 of a cent to end at 1.67 US cents after 250,862 shares passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE USD market plunges
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 110 percent valued 521 percent more than on Monday and resulting in 10 securities traded, compared to eight on Monday with none rising, nine declining and one ending unchanged and sending the US Denominated Equities Index down 19.40 points to 207.57.
Investors traded 679,924 shares for US$31,830, up from 323,887 units at US$5,124 on Monday.
Trading averaged 67,992 units at US$3,183, up from 40,486 shares at US$641 on Monday, with a month to date average of 37,722 shares at US$1,963 compared to 35,067 units at US$1,856 on the previous trading day. April ended with an average of 394,241 units for US$22,357.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.3. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share shed 0.78 of one cent to end at 4.4 US cents, with 56,186 shares changing hands, Margaritaville dipped 1.65 cents to 9.35 US cents after 20,000 units crossed the market, Productive Business Solutions lost 24.92 cents in closing at US$1.4508 with investors transferring 1,000 stocks. 
Proven Investments dropped 0.88 of one cent and ended at 16.02 US cents as investors exchanged 60,149 shares, Sterling Investments declined 0.3 of a cent to 1.68 US cents after hitting a 52 weeks’ intraday low of 0.160 cents with shareholders swapping 26,907 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments fell 1.95 cents in closing at 11.03 US cents after investors exchanged 1,075 stocks and Transjamaican Highway declined 0.1 of a cent to close at 1.2 US cents with 509,141 stock units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share dipped US$1.50 and ended at US$11.50 as 100 units passed through the market, JMMB Group 5.75% fell 18.5 cents to end at 52 weeks’ low of US$1.615 and closed with an exchange of 4,966 stock units and JMMB Group 6% remained at US$1.07 with 400 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Slippage for JSEUSD market
Trading ended on Monday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, with the volume of shares changing hands climbing 4,868 percent with a 366 percent higher value than on Friday, resulting in six securities trading, compared to eight on Friday with two rising and four ending unchanged.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index fell 1.38 points to end at 225.17. The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.6. The PE ratio uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to the end of August 2023.
A total of 645,181 shares traded for US$14,754 compared to 12,986 units at US$3,165 on Friday.
Trading on Monday averaged 107,530 units at US$2,459, compared to 1,623 shares at US$396 on Friday. April ended with an average of 95,379 units for US$3,929.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share finished at 7.95 US cents while exchanging eight shares, 
Margaritaville ended unchanged at 16 US cents, with 66 stocks crossing the market, Proven Investments ended at 25.99 US cents after 26,010 units changing hands. Sygnus Credit Investments USD share increased 0.05 of a cent to end at 12.95 US cents in trading 14,537 stock units and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.03 of a cent to close at 1.02 US cents after an exchange of 604,558 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% finished at US$1.10, trading two stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big surge in trading on the USD market
Trading picked up on Thursday 1,119 percent more shares than on Wednesday, resulting from an exchange of 1,746,755 shares with a value of US$158,764 up from 143,305 units at US$21,406 on Wednesday on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Seven securities traded, compared to five on Wednesday, with prices of three rising, one declining and three remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index lost 2.77 points to end at 205.51. The PE Ratio based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings averages 12.7.
Thursday’s trading averaged 249,536 units at US$22,681, compared to 28,661 shares at US$4,281 on Wednesday. Trading month to date averages 71,365 units at US$5,128 compared to 44,829 units at US$2,514 on Wednesday. March ended with an average of 68,746 units for US$13,137.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital increased 0.05 of a cent to end at 8.9 US cents in an exchange of 23,212 shares, 
Margaritaville ended at 9 US cents in exchanging 3,762 units, Proven Investments advanced 0.5 of one cent in closing at 25.5 US cents with the swapping of 526,688 units, following an announcement that the company is acquiring yet another company. Sterling Investments declined 0.24 cents to end at 2.05 US cents, with 14,632 stock units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments increased 1 US cent to close at 15 US cents after trading 102,502 shares and Transjamaican Highway settled at 0.92 of one US cents trading 1,075,935 units.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share settled at US$2 in an exchange of 24 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Consistent trading for JSE USD market
Trading remains consistent at the close on Friday with seven securities changing hands for a third consecutive day with the US dollar market index slipping for a second day after 14 percent fewer shares changed hands than on Thursday, resulting in the total value falling 92 percent, from the prior day.
Trading closed with the prices of two stocks rising, one declining and four remaining unchanged, with the JSE USD Equity Index losing 1.15 points to end at 192.08. The PE Ratio averages 13.7 based on ICInsider.com forecast of 2020-21 earnings.
The market closed with an exchange of 543,918 shares for US$20,823, down from 633,561 units at US$275,891 on Thursday. Trading averaged 77,703 units at US$2,975, well off the 90,509 shares at US$39,413 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averaged 72,383 units at US$10,571, in contrast to 71,880 units at US$11,290 on the prior trading day. January averaged 121,154 units for US$15,408.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows no stock ending with bids higher than their last selling prices nor with lower offers.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital shed 0.08 of a cent to close at 8.9 US cents, in exchanging 3,767 stocks, Margaritaville settled at 11 US cents with the transfer of 3,500 stock units, Proven Investments gained 0.29 of a cent to close at 25.99 US cents trading 2,255 units. Sterling Investments ended at 2.39 US cents, with 1,000 stock units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments remained at 14.95 US cents after transferring 16,675 shares and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.06 of a cent in closing at 0.91 of a US cent, trading 510,377 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$2.03, with an exchange of 6,344 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
