Investors participated in a wide selection of stocks in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Thursday, resulting in trading in 11 securities, compared to 10 on Wednesday with prices of three rising, four declining and four ending unchanged, with the volume of stocks traded declining 93 percent with an 89 percent lower value than on Wednesday.
The market closed with an exchange of 66,053 shares for US$5,574 compared to 1,005,394 units at US$50,711 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 6,005 units at US$507 versus 100,539 shares at US$5,071 on Wednesday, with a month to date average of 33,620 shares at US$2,132 compared with 36,785 units at US$2,318 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index popped 1.69 points to culminate at 240.75.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.3. 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden lost 0.51 of one cent to 22.49 US cents after a transfer of 1,800 shares, First Rock Real Estate USD share gained 0.01 of a cent to close at 4.03 US cents in trading 9,001 units, Margaritaville remained at 10 US cents in switching ownership of 850 shares. Proven Investments rose 0.98 of one cent in closing at 14 US cents with investors trading 2,023 stock units, Sterling Investments dipped 0.19 of a cent to end at 1.51 US cents with 13,127 shares clearing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 0.04 cent to finish at 7.99 US cents after an exchange of 6,396 stock units.
Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share ended at 9 US cents after 221 stocks crossed the market and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.01 of a cent to end at 2.18 US cents as investors exchanged 30,867 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share ended at US$1.19 with 1,663 stocks crossing the market. JMMB Group 5.75% skidded 10 cents to US$2 with investors swapping 9 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% ended at US$10.70 as 96 units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading spreads on JSE USD Market
Big jump in trading for the USD Market
Trading surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Wednesday, with a 1,060 percent jump in the volume of stocks exchanged following a 244 percent pop in value compared with market activity on Tuesday and resulting in trading in 10 securities, compared to 12 on Tuesday with prices of three rising, three declining and four ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 1,005,394 shares for US$50,711 compared to 86,667 units at US$14,748 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 100,539 units at US$5,071 versus 7,222 shares at US$1,229 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 36,785 shares at US$2,318 compared with 29,371 units at US$1,998 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index declined 3.55 points to end at 239.06.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.3. 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the market, First Rock Real Estate USD share dipped 0.58 of one cent to end at 4.02 US cents closing, with 4,258 units being traded, Margaritaville ended at 10 US cents with 600 stocks crossing the market, Productive Business Solutions remained at US$1.59 after investors ended trading 36 shares. Proven Investments fell 1.68 cents to finish at 13.02 US cents with investors transferring 186,935 stock units, Sterling Investments remained at 1.7 US cents after 117 shares crossed the exchange, 
Sygnus Credit Investments gained 0.01 of a cent to close at 7.95 US cents with traders dealing in 5,475 stocks and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.08 of a cent to 2.19 US cents in switching ownership of 806,663 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share ended at US$1.19, with 700 stock units crossing the market, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share declined 50 cents to close at US$11 in trading 250 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% advanced 10 cents in closing at US$10.70, with 360 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
More funds enters JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Tuesday, with a 43 percent decline in the volume of stocks changing hands after a 166 percent jump in value compared with Monday, and resulting from trading in 12 securities, compared to 10 on Monday with prices of five rising, four declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 86,667 shares for US$14,748 compared to 152,339 units at US$5,545 on Monday.
Trading averaged 7,222 units at US$1,229 versus 15,234 shares at US$554 on Monday, with a month to date average of 29,371 shares at US$1,998 compared with 32,963 units at US$2,123 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index gained 1.19 points to end the day at 242.61.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.5. 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden climbed 0.51 of one cent in closing at 23 US cents after an exchange of 200 units, First Rock Real Estate USD share rose 0.58 of one cent to 4.6 US cents with investors transferring 1,080 stocks, Margaritaville remained at 10 US cents in an exchange of 80 shares. Productive Business Solutions ended at US$1.59, with 27 stock units changing hands, Proven Investments advanced 0.97 of one cent to close at 14.7 US cents in an exchange of 7,992 shares, Sterling Investments popped 0.19 of a cent to end at 1.7 US cents after trading 36 stock units. 
Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 0.34 of a cent in closing at 7.94 US cents with a transfer of 11,059 stocks, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share ended at 9 US cents and closed after 65 units were traded and Transjamaican Highway declined 0.09 of a cent to finish at 2.11 US cents with an exchange of 59,749 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share shed 0.85 of one cent and ended at US$1.19, with 6,000 units crossing the market, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share dropped 85 cents to close at US$11.50 with investors dealing in 259 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% lost 10 cents to end at US$10.60, with 120 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading climbs on JSE USD Market
Trading jumped sharply on Monday over the miniscule amounts traded on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, with the volume of stocks exchanged rising 1,470 percent after 223 percent more US dollars entered the market than on Friday, resulting in trading in 10 securities, compared to six on Friday with prices of one rising, seven declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 152,339 shares for US$5,545 compared to 9,705 units at US$1,717 on Friday.
Trading averaged 15,234 units at US$554 up from 1,618 shares at US$286 on Friday, with a month to date average of 32,963 shares at US$2,123 compared with 35,733 units at US$2,368 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index sank 0.73 points to conclude trading at 241.42.
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 seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden rose 0.47 of a cent to end at 22.49 US cents after an exchange of 2,250 shares, First Rock Real Estate USD share declined 0.08 of a cent in closing at 4.02 US cents after 1,946 stocks passed through the market, 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy fell 1 cent to 61 US cents with an exchange of 16 shares. Productive Business Solutions remained at US$1.59, with one stock unit crossing the market, Proven Investments dipped 0.18 of a cent to end at 13.73 US cents in swapping 3,455 shares, Sterling Investments lost 0.09 of a cent to close at 1.51 US cents with 301 stocks clearing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments slipped 0.27 of one cent to 7.6 US cents with investors swapping 7,851 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share ended at 9 US cents after a transfer of 540 stock units and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.02 cent in closing at 2.2 US cents, with 135,904 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment, Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% skidded 10 cents to finish at US$10.70 in an exchange of 75 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Scotia & Express Catering depart ICTOP10
In a week of the market ups and downs with Scotia Group and Express Catering dropping out of the ICTOP10 listing. Price movements in the TOP10 have been notable, with Express Catering at long last making a move higher in adding 10 percent, to close at $4.45, but the potential of the stock is held back by the company’s poor corporate governance practices highlighted by the fact that loan funding is used to on-lend to related group companies, with no benefit to the company’s to the company, with the company giving up more than US$1 million per year.
In a review of the ICTOP10, the earnings for the current year were confirmed at 45 cents for AMG Packaging, following the release of six months’ results on Friday, showing profit up 78 percent for the latest quarter and the half year while tTech earnings were projected for the current year at 30 cents per share pushing the stock in the TOP10.
In market activity during the week, Caribbean Cream climbed 9 percent to $3.90, but Iron Rock Insurance fell 12 percent to $2.20 followed by Edufocal, down 10 percent to an all time low of 93 cents while Consolidated Bakeries slipped 8 percent to $2.01. In the Main Market, Key Insurance rose 12 percent to $2.48 and 138 Student Living rose 6 percent to $4.18 while Margaritaville dropped 12 percent to $14.10.
tTech is a new addition to the Junior Market ICTOP10 with the increase in projected earnings for 2024, replacing Express Catering and in Main Market TOP10, Jamaica Broilers returns, edging out the undervalued Scotia Group. Jamaica Broilers another severely undervalued stock with good long term growth prospects returns to the TOP10.
It is worth noting that Honey Bun that was last in the TOP10 in the week ending March 8 and hit a 52 weeks’ high of $7.92 this week to be up 18 percent since it was added to the listing in mid-February at $6.69. The price should continue to increase throughout 2024.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.5, well below the market average of 13.2 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.4 over half of the market, with an average of 12.6.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 273 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 191 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 107, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 44, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
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.
ICTOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate 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.
Falling prices dominates the JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with a 38 percent drop in the volume of stocks being exchanged after a 68 percent fall in value from that of Friday, resulting in trading in nine securities, compared to eight on Friday with prices of one rising, five declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 130,853 shares for US$9,068 down from 209,773 units at US$28,768 on Friday.
Trading averaged 14,539 units at US$1,008 versus 26,222 shares at US$3,596 on Friday, with a month to date average of 34,790 shares at US$2,925 compared with 40,669 units at US$3,482 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased 0.96 points to settle at 244.99.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.3. 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 six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, AS Bryden ended at 22.02 US cents in an exchange of 652 stocks, First Rock Real Estate USD share lost 0.48 of one cent to close at 4.02 US cents with investors dealing in 41,146 units, Margaritaville ending at 10 US cents in switching ownership of 500 shares.
Proven Investments slipped 0.02 of a cent in closing at 14.87 US cents as investors exchanged 3,890 stock units, Sterling Investments sank 0.05 of a cent and ended at 1.6 US cents after trading 11,335 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 8 US cents with 54,969 stocks clearing the market and Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.01 of a cent to 2.17 US cents after an exchange of 18,184 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share gained 10 cents in closing at US$12.10 with 77 stock units crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% fell 10 cents to finish at US$10.70 in an exchange of 100 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
CPJ enters ICTOP10 Broilers out
With what has become the norm, the markets pulled back to start April from the pump-up end of month prices in March, resulting in varied outcomes for the ICTOP10 and ending with Jamaica Broilers falling from the Main Market TOP10 and Caribbean Producers entering at the number 9 spot.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Junior Market TOP10 this past week.
Caribbean Producers is the primary supplier of foods and beverages to the growing tourist industry on the north coast of Jamaica and St Lucia, the company is also expanding its meat processing arm as well as retail areas in both countries. ICInsider.com’s projected EPS is $1.35 for the fiscal year to June 2024. With plans for long term growth in the local tourism sector, the company has a B base for growth for many years to come.
Jamaica Broilers although out of the TOP10, is undervalued and possesses good long term growth prospects as they constantly spend resources to expand or modernise the operation.
In Main Market activity this past week, General Accident jumped 16 percent to $6.15, a 52 weeks’ high, with buying interest in recent weeks, being very high and active supply in the market low, a recipe for higher prices ahead and Key Insurance lost 14 percent to end at $2.22.
The Junior Market closed the week with a 17 percent jump for Iron Rock Insurance to $2.51 while Consolidated Bakeries gained 8 percent to $2.19 but Jamaican Teas dropped 13 percent to $2.40 and Caribbean Cream lost 8 percent to land at $3.58 while Express Catering and Access Financial fell by 7 percent to $3.70 and $19.86 respectively.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.5, well below the market average of 13.1 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 12.5.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 274 percent by May 2025, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 183 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 30 and 27 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 21 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 17, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate 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.
Lasco companies out of ICTOP10
Shake up took place in the ICTOP10 with Lasco Manufacturing that closed up by 10 percent to $6.08 at the end of last week and Lasco Distributors that fell 7 percent to $4.25 and dropping out of the TOP10 following migration from the Junior to the Main Market last week Wednesday.
With the 2024 financial year ending in March, the two companies will see a bump in earnings for 2025 and likely put them in the ICTOP10 again. Since the switch in listing, the number of stocks offered for sale has declined sharply and so have the bids to buy.
Coming into the Junior Market listing are Consolidated Bakeries, while AMG Packaging returns after a weeks’ absence, with the price falling to $3.12 from $3.27, EPS for the Consolidated Bakeries is projected at 30 cents for 2024, pushing it into position 2. The company promised much with a good brand but has delivered inadequate returns since being listed in 2013, but the operations have been undergoing changes with more focus on higher margin products and less on the regular breads, that faces greater competition in the market. A review of the 2023 audited statements shows that cost jumped but this was mostly for big wage increases which should moderate in 2025. Investing in the company is not without risk but it should benefit from continued growth and improved employment in the local economy going forward that should result in revenues growing faster than cost.
There were no new listing in the Main Market, but 138 Student Living rose 10 percent to $4.19 and JMMB Group gained 6 percent to close trading last week at $26.50, while Palace Amusements shed 9 percent to $1.04 and General Accident fell 6 percent to $5.30.
The Junior Market closed last week in positive territory as Stationery & Office Supplies climbed 13 percent to $1.70 while, Jamaican Teas, ISP Finance and Lasco Manufacturing all gained 10 percent, Iron Rock Insurance dropped 15 percent to $2.14 and Lasco Distributors fell 7 percent to $4.25.
There were no changes to the list of companies in the Main Market TOP10 this past week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.4 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.2 over half of the market, with an average of 13.3.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 270 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 178 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 16 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 106, with an average of 32 and 23 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 24 for the top half and 19 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 9 stocks, or 20 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 50, averaging 23, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Lacklustre trading on JSE USD market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks exchanged rising 12 percent, with 38 percent lower value than on Thursday, resulting in trading in eight securities, compared to nine on Thursday with prices of four rising, one declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 209,773 shares for US$28,768 compared to 186,609 units at US$46,047 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 26,222 units at US$3,596 versus 20,734 shares at US$5,116 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 40,669 shares at US$3,482 compared to 45,694 units at US$3,442 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index rallied 0.59 points to cease trading at 244.03.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.4. 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden rallied 0.01 of a cent to finish at 22.02 US cents with investors trading 8,914 units, First Rock Real Estate USD share increased 0.49 of one cent and ended at 4.5 US cents after an exchange of 2,133 stocks, 
Margaritaville ended at 10 US cents in trading 3,335 shares. Proven Investments popped 0.99 of one cent to 14.89 US cents, with 181,504 stocks crossing the exchange, Sterling Investments fell 0.05 of a cent to end at 1.65 US cents in switching ownership of 1,267 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.7 of a cent to 8 US cents as investors traded 2,983 stock units and Transjamaican Highway remained at 2.18 US cents after trading 9,137 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US8.5% preference share remained at US$1.19 after an exchange of 500 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading rises on the JSE USD market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Wednesday, with an 84 percent rise in the volume of stocks that changed hands after a 48 percent jump in value compared with Tuesday, resulting in trading in seven securities, similar to Tuesday with prices of three rising, three declining and one ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 560,085 shares for US$19,785 compared with 304,275 stock units at US$13,337 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 80,012 units at US$2,826 up from 43,468 shares at US$1,905 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 61,740 shares at US$2,366 compared with March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index shed 5.61 points to wrap-up trading at 240.83.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.4. 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share fell 0.49 of one cent to close at 4.01 US cents in an exchange of 15,191 stocks, 
Productive Business Solutions remained at US$1.70, with 2,540 units crossing the market, Proven Investments rallied 1.1 cents to 15.9 US cents with investors trading 29,228 shares. Sterling Investments shed 0.1 of a cent to end at 1.6 US cents, with an exchange of 11 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments increased 0.98 of one cent in closing at 8 US cents in switching ownership of 1,120 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share popped 0.03 of a cent to 9 US cents while exchanging 459 stocks and Transjamaican Highway dropped 0.03 of a cent in closing at 2.2 US cents after 511,536 units passed through the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
