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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The market closed with an exchange of 84,506 shares for US$3,441 compared to 303,812 units at US$36,667 on Wednesday.
At the close, AS Bryden shed 0.39 of one cent to 22.01 US cents while exchanging one share, First Rock Real Estate USD share ended at 4.99 US cents with traders dealing in 50 stocks, Margaritaville remained at 10 US cents, with 25 shares crossing the market. Proven Investments dropped 0.11 of a cent and ended at 14.88 US cents after trading 3,233 stocks and Transjamaican Highway remained at 2.2 US cents with investors dealing in 80,197 shares.
The market closed with an exchange of 303,812 shares for US$36,667 up from 154,383 units at US$11,426 on Tuesday.
Sterling Investments advanced 0.07 of a cent to close at 1.69 US cents with 58 stock units crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.1 of a cent to end at 8.6 US cents in switching ownership of 11 shares, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share ended at 11 US cents, with 1,000 stocks changing hands and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.03 of a cent to 2.2 US cents and closed with an exchange of 245,862 units.
The market closed with an exchange of 154,383 shares for US$11,426 compared to 90,769 units at US$18,681 on Monday.
Productive Business Solutions remained at US$1.70, with 58 units crossing the market. Proven Investments fell 1 cent and ended at 14.99 US cents with investors swapping 13,000 stocks, Sterling Investments sank 0.07 of a cent to close at 1.62 US cents, with 103,138 shares crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments remained at 8.7 US cents with investors dealing in 16 stock units and Transjamaican Highway dipped 0.02 of a cent to end at 2.17 US cents in an exchange of 33,026 stocks.
The market closed with an exchange of 90,769 shares for US$18,681 up from 83,304 units at US$2,577 on Friday.
At the close, Margaritaville slipped 1 cent to end at 10 US cents with 70,084 stocks clearing the market, Productive Business Solutions ended at US$1.70 in switching just one unit, Proven Investments ended at 15.99 US cents after investors traded 1,918 shares. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share dipped 1.74 cents to close at 11 US cents after 7,038 units crossed the exchange and Transjamaican Highway remained at 2.19 US cents after a transfer of 2,728 shares.
Edufocal suffered a major drop in price in the past week to $1.05 from $1.13 at the start and landed in an ICTOP10 Junior Market, in position number 7, at the same time, AMG Packaging gained just 5 percent to close at $3.44 and dropped out of the top tier to sit at the twelfth position. 
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.6, well below the market average of 13.9 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.4 over half of the market, with an average of 13.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
The market closed with an exchange of 83,304 shares for US$2,577 compared to 29,463 units at US$5,112 on Thursday.
At the close, AS Bryden rallied 0.39 of a cent in closing at 22.4 US cents after trading of 1,400 shares, First Rock Real Estate USD share closed at 4.99 US cents after 7,200 stocks were traded, Margaritaville increased 0.99 of one cent to end at 11 US cents, with 452 shares crossing the exchange. Proven Investments remained at 15.99 US cents with investors swapping 321 stock units, Sterling Investments fell 0.01 of a cent and ended at 1.69 US cents with a transfer of 65 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 8.7 US cents with 3,327 stocks crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway climbed 0.03 of a cent in closing at 2.19 US cents in an exchange of 70,538 units.
The market closed with an exchange of 288,604 shares for US$12,293 compared to 407,861 units at US$34,259 on Tuesday.
Proven Investments ended at 16 US cents with after trading 12,171 shares, Sterling Investments remained at 1.7 US cents after 276 stocks passed through the market. Sygnus Credit Investments increased 1.29 cents to close at 8.7 US cents while exchanging 1,934 units, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share ended at 12.74 US cents after trading 1,373 stock units and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.1 of a cent in closing at 2.17 US cents after an exchange of 260,050 shares.
