Cable & Wireless leads stocks to watch

Cable & Wireless Head quarters.

Cable & Wireless is possibly the main stock to watch for the coming week with the company returning to profitability in the June quarter.
The company lost several billion dollars for many years but posted a profit of $222 million in the latest quarter on an 11 percent surge in revenues. Subsequent to the close of the quarter, Cable and Wireless increased rates on a series of services that should add to revenues and profits in the coming quarters. Profit for the full year to December should end positively, thus wiping out the $311 million loss for the first half of the year after tax and a lower pretax loss of just $199 million. The recent turn around in the fortune of the company is likely to be a big surprise to many investors and will help move the stock price much higher than the $1.07 it closed at, on Friday.
Other stocks that investors should keep an eye on this week include, Barita Investments with an announced take over offer on the table, JMMB Group, Stationery & Office Supplies that just listed and selling below potential, NCB Financial with limited supply, Jetcon Corporation with profit doubling for the half year leading to strong buying in the past week and recently listed Express Catering with demand to buy 765,925 shares at $5.50.

Will Barita jump TOP 10?

Barita closed at $8 on Friday.


News emerged during the past week that directors at Barita Investments was considering a bid to purchase the majority of its shares.
Investors responded immediately by removing just about all offers that were posted on the trading platform of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, the stock climbed to $8 and only require a small increase to leave the top list.
Main market Berger Paints rose during the week from $18 to trade at $19 and was edged out of the top list by Pulse Investments that fell sharply in price to close with a bid of $1.75 after the price fell during the week.
Recent TOP 10 billing, NCB Financial Group that recently fell out of the top list closed the week at $94.99 in response to continued demand flowing from strong increase in nine months profit against a back drop of minimal selling of the stock.
Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) will start trading on Wednesday, August 9, when the price is expected to surge, based on the heavy over subscription at the initial public offering, with more than 1,200 applications for shares. This stock could be out of the top listing very soon.
Other junior market stocks activity, CAC 2000 fell out of the top listing and Lasco Manufacturing returned to the top listing.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is at 6.7 and the PE for the main market TOP 10, ends the week at 7.4. The average PE for the overall main market trades at 13.3 and 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 44 percent to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.
Stocks to watch|The stocks that investors should keep an eye on this week include, Barita Investments, JMMB Group, Stationery & Office Supplies, NCB Financial, Jetcon Corporation.

NCB & Express Catering drop out

NCB Financial Group jumped to $80 on Friday & exited the top 10.

Shares of Express Catering were in strong demand during the week, with price closing at $5.20 for gains of 247 percent from the initial public issue price of $1.50. At the close of the week the stock was out of the TOP 10 and so was NCB Financial Group with the price climbing to a record $80, at the close on Friday. 
Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) will not start trading until August 9, when it is expected to surge in price based on the heavy over subscription of 3.5 times oversubscribed with more than 1,200 applications.
Trading in the past week returned to a bullish mood, with the Jamaica Stock Exchange main market index hitting new highs on Thursday and Friday. The trend is expected to continue this coming week as investors react to some new results.
Caribbean Flavours and CAC 2000 that fell out of the top listing at the end of the prior week return this week with the exit of Express Catering , Lasco Financial that rose to $3.80 and Caribbean Cream that returned to $7.
The only movement in and out of the TOP 10 in the main market were Salada Foods coming in as NCB dropped out with gains in the price in the past week.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is down at 7 with SOS in at a PE of 5 times 2017 earnings. The PE for the main market TOP 10, holds at 7.3. The average PE for the overall main market, remains at 13 and 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 42 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 44 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.
NCB Financial and Express Catering the two stocks IC Insider.com listed as our market watch make gains during the past week. NCB has clearly broken out from a triangle of consolidation and seems to be heading higher. Express Catering could possibly rise higher but appears to be fully valued at a PE of 20 currently.

Express Catering enters TOP 10

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Ian Dear, Managing Director of Express Catering

Trading started in Express Catering shares on Friday on the Junior Market, with the stock enjoying strong demand up to the $3 level. New information obtained this past week from the prospectus resulted in the earnings for this company being upgraded and it is included in the TOP stocks.
Importantly for Express Catering, the prospectus states that effective at the end on of May, the contract that gave rise to the payment of management fees was cancelled. The amount, the equivalent to 9 percent of revenues or roughly US$1.4 million will no longer be paid and should go towards boosting the bottom-line, and should result in the earnings per share around J$0.26 cents for 2018 fiscal year. The change means it is now a part of the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks. With the strong demand for the stock, it should spend just a short time in the list. The same out turn seems likely for Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) once it starts to trade, with the IPO being nearly 4 times oversubscribed with more than 1,000 applications received for the 52 million shares.
With the initial public offers now out of the way, trading in the secondary markets saw more energy in the past week than for the previous two, with some stocks that were weak before, finding buying at the lower prices.
ISP Finance price rose to $14 after falling to $11 during the past week, but big declines in the prices of AMG Packaging and Caribbean Cream pushed out ISP as well Caribbean Flavours and CAC 2000 out of the top listing.
The only movement in and out of the TOP 10 in the main market were Sagicor Group that spent just one week a short while ago, coming back, as Cable & Wireless dropped out with a big gain in the price in the past week of 17.5 percent.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is down at 6.6 with SOS in at a PE of 5 times 2017 earnings. The PE for the main market TOP 10, holds at 6.7. The average PE for the overall main market, remains at 13 and 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 45 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.
Last week IC Insider indicated that two stocks to watch were Cable & Wireless with the price around support level and NCB Financial with very limited number of stocks currently being offered. Both stocks bounced with the former rising over 17 percent to 94 cents and NCB rising to $75 from $71.50. Active supply for NCB is very low currently and technical chart suggests a big break out for it very soon. NCB is to be watched for a possible break towards $80 and Express Catering to well over $3.

ISP Finance and C&W back in TOP 10

Pull back in the prices of several Junior Market stocks, resulted in changes in the TOP 10 junior stocks at the close of the week. The changes took place against the back ground of an unprecedented 5 issues of new shares around the same time in the market.
Some investors are of the view the public issue of shares all coming around the same time, contributed to the softness in the market over the past two weeks.
On Wednesday, this week, IC Insider.com BUY RATED Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS opens to the public for purchase, at a priced of $2 and is expected to close on the same day it opens. Express Catering IPO opened and close last week Wednesday with more than 1,000 applications received.
ISP Finance price dropped to $13.56 during the past week to re-enter the Top 10. Returning back to the TOP 10 are Caribbean Flavours and Lasco Distributors
Moving out of the top list are AMG Packaging, Lasco Manufacturing with the price rising to $4.70 from $4.30 at the close of the previous week and tTech with the price rising 50 cents to a record $10.
In the main market Sagicor Group spent just one week in the top listing with the price moving from$30 at the end of the previous week to end at $33 and is replaced by Cable & Wireless with the price down under $1 at 80 cents, support for the stock is around 75 cents, hence it could bounce back from these levels soon.

NCB Financial Group is worth watching keenly in the days and weeks ahead.

Market movement continues to be constrained by near term resistance points, it does not prevent stocks from moving in either direction, but it will tend to keep prices overall from big movements upwards.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is down at 6.8 with SOS in at a PE of 5 times 2017 earnings. The PE for the main market holds at 6.7. The average PE for the overall main market, remains at 13 and 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 43 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead in the market.
Two stocks to watch are Cable & Wireless with the price around support level and NCB Financial with very limited number of stocks currently being offered.

Office supplies’ company heads TOP 10

IC Insider.com BUY RATED Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) jumped into the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks in the number one position at the close of the past week.

The SOS stock which opens to the public for purchase, starting on the 19th of this month, is priced at $2 and is expected to close on the same day it opens, as sentiments towards it are very positive.
SOS is projected by IC Insider.com to produce earnings of 40 cents per share for 2018 and is expected to benefit from the increased exposure leading up to the listing and the continuing exposure post listing, giving them an added advantage over the competition. Medical Disposables sits second spot and Caribbean Producers is in at the third spot. CAC 2000 moved into the TOP 10 with the price having fallen to $6.57 by the end of the week.
The inclusion of SOS and CAC 2000 means that Lasco Distributors and Lasco Finance have been edged out of the Top listing. Express Catering that goes to market on July 12, is priced at a level placing them well outside the top listing.
In the main market Sagicor Group fell to $30 by week end and helped it into the TOP 10 lists edging out Grace Kennedy in the process.
Market movement continues to be constrained by near term resistance levels, it does not prevent stocks from moving in either direction, but it will tend to keep prices overall from big movements upwards.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks remain at 7 even with SOS being added at a PE of 5 times 2017 earnings. The PE for the main market slipped to 6.7 with the sharp fall in prices during the week. The average PE for the overall main market, is down to 13 while it remains at 12 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 40 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.

Berger price bounces 43%

 Berger Paints recovered from a $12.50 the previous week to land 43 percent higher at $17.87 this past week to sit at ninth position in the list for the week when they were no new addition to the TOP 10 lists. The other notable mover was Caribbean Producers that landed at $3.68 from $3.30.
Jamaica Broilers released full year results to April with earnings per share of $1.85, IC Insider.com has upgraded 2018 earnings to $2.60 per share. tTech had the annual general meeting during the past week. Coming out of the meeting is management disclosing that, they have implemented a number of measures that is improving efficiency that will allow them to take on more business without the need to increase staff compliment for a while. They also pointed out that the sale team have been working to bring in new business and they expect increase business activity in the second half of the current year. Additionally, management took the recommendation about a possible stock split and informed the meeting that the board will discuss same.
Market movement continues to be constrained by near term resistance levels but it does not prevent stocks from moving in either direction, but it will tend to keep prices overall from big movements upwards.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is 7.6 and 7 in the main market, these compare favourably with 13.7 for the overall main market and 12.7 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings. Several stocks are trading below these averages, and have potential for more gains in the months ahead, barring major negative developments.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 40 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead.

AMG eases Dolphin Cove out of TOP 10

AMG Packaging back in IC TOP 10.

Only one change occurred in the TOP 10 list for the past week with AMG Packaging reentering the list and Dolphin Cove moving out, as the price of the latter moved back to $20 from $18, the week before.
In the main market Berger Paints jumps to third position from 7 with the price tumbling from $17.31 to $12.50 during the week after trading at a low of $12.05.
The other news worthy development of the week was the increase in the price of former TOP 10 Junior Market listing, Jetcon Corporation that drop out of the top list last week. The stock closed at a new high during the past week but ended at $5.90 after 3 for 1 stock split took effect on Thursday, with attempts to trade at $7.40 on Friday thwarted by the circuit breaker rules. The trade was cancelled after the market closed.
Market movement continues to be constrained by near term resistance levels but it does not prevent stocks from moving in either direction, but it will tend to keep prices overall from big movements upwards.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is 7.3 and 6.9 in the main market, these compare favourably with 13.5 for the overall main market and 13 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings. Several stocks are trading below these averages, and have potential for more gains in the months ahead, barring major negative developments.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 43 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead. At the end of April the reading was 35 percent discount for the juniors and 53 percent for the majors.

Will Berger jump TOP 10?

Berger Paints is one of IC Insider’s TOP 10 stocks.

The news IC insider broke a few weeks ago, have been confirmed on Friday with Ansa McAl entering an agreement to acquire the Berger Caribbean operations. What impact that will have on trading in Berger Jamaica shares this week, with the price having slipped to $17.31 at the end of trading on Friday, is unknown?
In a week when the All Jamaica composite index fell 4,089.25 points and the junior Market fell 63.94 points, no stock exited or entered the top lists. The movement of prices in recent weeks, suggest that investors can make gains by bottom fishing, when investors push some prices down. Market movement continues to be constrained by near term resistance levels acting as short term restraint to a break out from current levels for the time being.
The markets offer some good opportunities for bottom fishing, with General Accident falling to a low of $2.30 during the week before rebounding to close at $2.80. Caribbean Producers seems attractively priced, with 2018 earnings as the target with the price having fallen to $3.03 with some large volumes trading around that level.
Last week, IC insider.com reported that tTech demand is building while selling has eased with limited supply being shown in the market. This week, the price inched higher to $8.55 from $7.75 at the close of the previous week. Elsewhere, NCB Financial Group is hitching for a major breakout from a wedge formation, the stock is in good demand in Trinidad with a price around J$77.
In the main market, earnings per share for Radio Jamaica have been sharply reduced to 25 cents with the latest results for the full year to March coming in below expectations. The stock remains in the TOP 10 list, with improvement expected in the current fiscal year.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks stands at 7.4 and 7.1 in the main market, these compare favourably with 13.4 for the overall main market and 13 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings. Several stocks are trading below the average, and have the potential for more gains for the rest of 2017, barring major negative developments.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 45 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 49 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead. At the end of April the reading was 35 percent discount for the juniors and 53 percent for the majors.

Berger returns to TOP 10

Shuffling of stocks in the TOP 10 list was quite pronounced this past week with two companies exiting and entering each list. Jetcon Corporation and CAC 2000 slipped out of the Junior Market TOP 10, and were replaced by Dolphin Cove and Lasco Financial.
Entering the TOP 10 main market list are Berger Paints, returning after a recent fall from the list and Grace Kennedy that dropped out previously.
In the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, Scotia Investments earnings per share have been sharply reduced with the latest results for the half year showing no growth, with the stock falling off the TOP 10 list as a result, while Salada Foods price rose to $10, resulting in it being pushed off the list.
In trading last week, tTech demand is building while selling has eased with limited supply being shown in the market. Elsewhere, NCB Financial Group is hitching for a major breakout from a wedge formation.
As indicated in recent weeks, market movement continues to be constrained by near term resistance levels which is acting as short term restraint to a break out from current levels for the time being.
The average PE ratio for the Junior Market Top stocks is 7.4 and 7.2 in the main market, these compare favourably with 13.8 for the overall main market and 13 for Junior Market, based on 2017 estimated earnings. Several stocks are trading below the average, and have the potential for more gains for the rest of 2017, barring major negative developments.
In a number of cases, the TOP stocks will need to deliver results in the upcoming quarter in order to send a message that the potential they have will be manifested.
At the close of the week, IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now trade at an average discount of 45 percent to the Junior Market average, while those in the main market are trading at a 48 percent discount, to the average of the market, leaving stocks with room for growth in the months ahead. At the end of April the reading was 35 percent discount for the juniors and 53 percent for the majors.