JSE Trading climbs sharply – Friday

June 29, 2018 by

Jamaica Broilers traded more half of Friday’s volume.

The volume traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange rose sharply on Friday to 16,726,086 units valued at $358,993,001 from just 3,989,661 units valued at $65,937,392, Thursday.
The sharp increase in Friday’s volume was led by Jamaica Broilers Group with 8,778,922 units accounting for nearly 53.5 percent of the day’s volume followed by Radio Jamaica with 2,669,432 units and 15.96 percent of total volume and Carreras with 1,124,379 units and NCB Financial with 1,089,615 shares.
At the close on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, the main market indices rose with All Jamaican Composite Index climbing 2,198.27 points at 335,563.64, while the JSE Index rose 2,002.87 points to 305,736.36. The market closed out the half year mark with an increase of just 6 percent. Palace Amusement led the stocks rising with an increase of 168% followed by Kingston Wharves with 40 percent, PanJam Investments up 29 percent with Jamaica Broilers and Caribbean Cement up 28 percent each.
Stocks with major price changes are, Caribbean Cement rose $1 to end at $41, Carreras rose 80 cents and closed at $10, Grace Kennedy rose 66 cents to $52.26, Jamaica Broilers lost 50 cents to end at $23, JMMB Group rose 60 cents to close at $29, NCB Financial jumped $1.50 to $98, Productive Business Solution preference share lost $2 in closing at $103 and Scotia Group rose 80 cents to end at $51.
Market activities in the main and US dollar markets resulted in 24 securities trading of which 12 advanced, 4 declined and 8 closing unchanged, compared to 27 securities trading on Thursday.
In the US dollar market, 156,168 units traded valued at $17,178 with Sygnus Credit being the sole stock trading in the segment with the price ending at 11 US cents. The JSE USD Equities Index closed unchanged at 155.
Trading resulted in an average of 727,221 shares valued at $15,608,391, compared to 166,236 units valued at an average of $2,747,391 for each security traded on Thursday. For the month to date, 250,168 units traded with an average value of $5,895,281 and on the previous day, 229,774 units traded with an average value of $5,182,608.  May closed with an average of 589,414 shares with a value of $16,532.367, for each security traded.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 9 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and 3 closing with lower offers.

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NCB & JMMB back in TOP 10

June 24, 2018 by

JMMB Group, NCB Financial and Pulse Investments moved into the IC Insider.com TOP 10 at the close of the past week as Berger Paints and Palace Amusement exited the main market TOP 10.
There was no new entry to the Junior Market listing but Jamaican Teas climbed to a new high of $6 during the week and closed just below, at $5.95 and Stationery and Office traded down to $6.85 as an investor moved more than 400,000 shares at that price, the stock rebounded to $8 on low volumes as active supply has declined below this price level. Grace Kennedy rose to a new all-time high and Berger Paints rose to $22 during the week and were eased out of the top list. Earnings for Palace for 2018 and 2019 were revised lower even with the report that the company plans on opening a new cinema in the fast growing Portmore area, in 2019 and just eased out of the listing. Barita Investments fell by 25 percent during the week from $12 down to $9 as demand at the higher price evaporated.
Recent TOP 10 member PanJam Investment traded at a new high during the week and remains a buy with very limited supply of stock for sale while former TOP 10 listings jumped sharply during the week from $28.50 to $42.18 after the company announced that the directors will meet to discuss a dividend and stock split.
During the week Sygnus Credit was listed on the main and US dollar markets and Everything Fresh became fresh new listing on the Junior market. The shares of both, traded higher than the Initial Public Issue price. Sygnus US dollar listing remains above the IPO price while the Jamaican dollar denominated stock is trading below the IPO price.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6.3 compared to an average PE for the overall main market of 11, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is 7.7 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 12.7.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 42 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 39 percent to the market.
Stocks to Watch The stock closed without an offer at the close of the week. NCB has good growth prospects for patient investors, the stock continues to trade around $100 where there is some selling but that level could be taken out soon and pave the way for more gains. PanJam Investment could move higher this week as there continue to be very limited supply of the stock on offer. Radio Jamaica could come in for increased attention with the network broadcasting the popular world cup matches as adverting revenues should climb as a result from the coverage. Others worth watching include Caribbean Cement, Berger Paints with little selling and Grace Kennedy for which there is also limited supply. In the Junior market, Demand for Derrimon Trading has been increasing recently and pushing the stock to new high during the past week. Stationery and Office Supplies settle down during the week before rebounding. Jamaican Teas came in for more buying in the week but with limited stocks being offered for sale is worth watching.

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CAC & Broilers back in TOP 10

June 16, 2018 by

Jamaica Broilers returns to the main market TOP 10 list with a fall in the price to $22.10 by the end of the week from $26.30 last week and CAC 2000 returns after last been on the list, in December.
CAC replaced Medical Disposables while JMMB Group moved up to $29.45 to be replaced by Jamaica Broilers.
During the week the main market traded at a record close on two days but closed the week below the record high. The main market saw new buying interest coming in for a number of stocks, at the same time that supply for them have dried up. Interest rates on Treasury bills fell in the June auction and inflation remains negative for the year to May. With those developments the main market seems poised to move to more records in the weeks ahead. Strong upward movement is also being signaled by the fact that, the market is breaking out of a wedge formation.
The junior market broke through a declining resistance line during the early part of the week but retreated by week end. Technical indicators are pointing to a strong upward movement, with a golden cross approaching, with the long term moving average line set to cross over the medium and short term lines not too far away.
The past week was very eventful for the Jamaica Stock market as the main market surged to new all-time highs and the Junior Market surged more than 100 points in the early part of the week and broke through resistance before pulling back.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6.2 compared to an average PE for the overall main market of 11, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is 7.7 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 12.7.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 44 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 41 percent to the market.
Stocks to Watch CAC 2000 reported strong half year results during the past week, with the second quarter more than doubling even after accounting for cost associated with issuing new preference shares. NCB Financial sits just below the TOP 10 list and has good growth prospects for patient investors. During the week, the price moved to $100 where there is some selling but that level could be taken out during the coming week and pave the way for more gains. PanJam Investment could move higher this week as there is very limited supply of the stock on offer. Investors should also keep an eye out for Sygnus Credit shares that list on Monday and should see a slight bounce in the price. Others worth watching include Caribbean Cement, Berger Paints and Grace Kennedy for which there was increased demand by the end of the week. In the Junior Market, Stationery and Office Supplies could decline further during the week but could find support in the mid $6 to low $7 region before rebounding. Jamaican Teas came in for buying in the week but supply has been limited and could result in more gains for the stock that traded at a record close of $5.50 during the week.

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Hamlet Sunday at Palace Cineplex

June 12, 2018 by

Consumed with revenge, Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch plays the titular role in the National Theatre Live: Hamlet.

Palace Amusement Company continues with its alternate contents this Sunday as the Academy Award® nominee Benedict Cumberbatch (BBC’s Sherlock, The Imitation Game) takes on the title role of Shakespeare’s great tragedy.
As a country arms itself for war, a family tears itself apart. Forced to avenge his father’s death but paralysed by the task ahead, Hamlet rages against the impossibility of his predicament, threatening both his sanity and the security of the state. Hamlet is directed by Lyndsey Turner (Posh, Chimerica) and produced by Sonia Friedman Productions. Now seen by over 750,000 people worldwide, The National Theatre Live: Hamlet will be showing this Sunday, June 17, 2018, 11:30 am at Palace Cineplex.

Filed Under: At the Movies Tagged With: ,

Grace & Carib Producers back in TOP 10

June 11, 2018 by

the past week was very eventful for the Jamaica Stock market as the main market surged to a new all-time high and the Junior market surges more than 100 points in the early part of the week and broke through resistance before pulling back.
Importantly, although the results for the first quarter of 2018 for many companies did not show strong gains while some showed declines compare with 2017, both the junior and main markets are at points to break out of a wedge formation. The moves are bias to the upside.
Medical Disposables jumped to $5 from $4.30 last week and was eased out of the top stocks and replaced by Caribbean Producers. Stationery and Office Supplies fell by the end of the week to $7.80, moving up on the list in the process, the order book of the stock suggest further decline before it bottoms out. Jamaican Teas price moved to $5.25 during the latter part of the week as demands picks up and supplies appear to have been declining, but by the end of the week it closed at $5.
In the main market, Jamaica broilers jumped to a record close of $26.30 on Friday, up from $21 at the end of the prior week and moved well outside the top 10 list, replaced by Grace Kennedy that slipped 50 cents in price by week end.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6,2 compared to an average PE for the overall main market of 11, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is 7.6 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 44 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 41 percent to the market.
Stocks to watch. Scotia Group reported half year results during the past week, but there was nothing about them for investors to be excited about, as they showed lower profits in the April quarter than a year ago period. The stock price pulled back sharply on release of the results. The stock yields a dividend of 4 percent which is higher than treasuries and this could be an attraction for some investors while they await return to profit growth. NCB sits just below the TOP 10 list and has good growth prospects for patient investors. PanJam Investment that IC Insider.com reported on in a separate article last week caught the eyes of some investors who moved the price up to $51.98 and it could go higher this week has there is very limited supply for this one. Investors should also keep an eye out for Sygnus Credit that could have its shares listed by next week.

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SOS back in, Lasco Financial out of TOP 10

June 4, 2018 by

Stationery & Office Supplies is back in the TOP 10 but could fall in prive this week before moving higher.

A number of companies reported results in the past week, with some in the TOP 10 not getting much help from the new information and some of the top stocks earnings being downgraded, based on new information conveyed by the latest results.
Lasco Financial posted a strong 37 percent rise in profit, from $162 million to $222 million, but with slightly lower March quarter profit of $55 million, from $62 million, based on sharply increased finance cost that rose from $2 million to $14 million, as revenues grew more than 41 percent in the quarter, from $288 million to $405 million. Based on the new numbers, IC Insider.com places earnings for the current fiscal year at 50 cents per share or just around $650 million. The forecast is not enough to keep it in the Top 10 but it remains a solid buy, just below. Replacing Lasco Financial is Stationery and Office Supplies with the price pulling back during the week to close at $8.06. The price looks as if it could fall to the $6.50 region which would make it an even better buy.
All main market stocks remained in the top spots, but earnings for JMMB Group was downgraded following the March results and so too was Berger Paints. Radio Jamaica reported a loss in the March quarter and a loss for the full year, with a portion of the losses coming from one off items. The charge for depreciation and amortization is $255 million for the March 2018 fiscal year, well in excess of the loss reported for the year, resulting in a positive cash flow operation.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6 compared to an average PE for the overall main market of 11, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is 7.6 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 44 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 41 percent to the market. Investors should keep an eye out for Scotia Group that should release half year results on Wednesday.

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Palace & Lasco Financial back in TOP 10

May 27, 2018 by

Palace Amusement, Lasco Financial and Caribbean Flavours are back in the TOP 10 for this week, out goes Salada Foods, ForsRich and Caribbean Producers.
Salada Foods rose to $15 from $13.10 at the close of the previous week, as investors continued to react good half year results. Caribbean Flavours stock price dropped to $10 by the end of the week and that was enough to make its return to the top list. Lasco Financial just reentered the list as the price fell to $.20 by week end. IC Insider.com upgraded 2019 earnings for Palace based on sensitivity that the company’s patronage and revenues have to employment data. Economic growth and increasing employment that Jamaica is enjoying bode well for continuation of an elevated level of profitability, even after totally discounting the exceptional increase for the current year that ends in June, based substantially on the success of the Black Panther movie.
Radio Jamaica, stock price fell from $1.35 to $1.02 on Friday with the stock moving back up in the list.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6 compared to an average PE for the overall main market of 10, based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is 7 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 40 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 46 percent to the market.

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Palace Q3 profit jumps 244%

May 14, 2018 by

Black Panther mash up Palace bottom-line with a huge increase in profit

Profit at Palace Amusement jumped 244 percent in the March quarter, to a record $45 million from just $13 million in 2017. For the nine months to December, profit surged 746 percent to $49 million from $6 million in 2017.
Thanks to the high level of success of the Black Panther movie sale revenues rose a strong 39 percent for the quarter, to $343 million from $247 million and by 21 percent for the year to date, to $836 million from $692 million in 2017.
Gross profit rose 73 percent to $90 million and profit margin increased to 26 percent in the quarter from the 2017 out turn of 21 percent. For the nine months period to March gross profit rose a respectable 45 percent to $189 million and profit margin moved 23 percent from 19 percent in the 2017.
Administrative expenses rose 10 percent to $45 million in the quarter and by 7 percent in the nine months to $139 million.
Earnings per share came out at $31.53 for the quarter and $34.38 for the nine months and should end the fiscal year ending around $150 level, with the continued success of Black Panther and now The Avengers.

Carib Cinema, the flagship for Palace Amusement, the company’s stock climbed $200 on Monday.

Gross cash flow brought in $79 million but there was the payment of loans and dividends amounting to $9 million. At the end of March, shareholders’ equity stood at $406 million with borrowings at just $24 million. Net current assets ended the period at $180 million inclusive of trade and other receivables of $62 million, cash and equivalent of $203 million and current liabilities stood at 139 million.
The stock traded at a record $1,500 on the main market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a PE ratio of 10 times, estimated 2018 earnings.

Filed Under: Company News, Company Results Tagged With: , ,

Sagicor Group & Wisynco back in TOP 10

May 13, 2018 by

Salada Foods reported earnings of 78 cents for the half year and is now no 2 on the TOP 10.

Sagicor Group fell out of TOP 10 of main market stocks in the previous week, is back, with the price falling from $42 to $38 and Salada Foods surges to the number 2 spot with half year results.
Wisynco joins the TOP 10 after a very long absence as the price dipped to $10 on Friday. The two new listings replaced Grace Kennedy and PanJam Investment, with the latter jumping to a new 52 weeks’ high of $46.01. In the Junior Market there was only one change with Stationery and Office Supplies (SOS) climbing to a new record high of $7.50 after positing good first quarter results with earnings per share up 70 percent to 17 cents. Lasco Financial moved back into the TOP 10, replacing SOS that still have much more room to grow this year as profits should hit close to $1 per share for the year and investors could well see a stock split as a result of the rising profit and stock price.
Other changes of note, were the fall in price of Berger Paints to $20 from $22 at the end of the previous week, Caribbean Cement moved to $40.05 from $38.60 and Barita Investments rose to $11.50 from $10.49 as selling by investors dried up. Second quarter results may not be good enough to push the stock much higher but when the growth in other comprehensive income is factored in, the stocks is still extremely cheap.
On Thursday, a number of company results were released with some having the potential to help prices to move forward. On Friday, more results were released with Salada Foods and tTech posting good gains in profit. Salada earnings suggest full year results of $1.80 per share and pushed the stock to the number 2 choice in the TOP 10. Others will come on Monday and Tuesday, investors should be alert to news that they may provide that could impact prices in the short term.
The main market pulled back from record highs reached at the close of the previous week but is now sitting just below that level on Friday, as that market continues to grind its way slowly upwards ahead of the big breakout that is coming.
At the close of Friday, the average PE ratio for Junior Market Top stocks ended at 6.2 compared to an average PE for the overall main market of 10 based on 2018 estimated earnings. The main market PE is 7.2 for the top stocks, compared to a market average of 13.
IC Insider.com’s TOP 10 stocks now trade at an average discount of 38 percent to the average for the Junior Market Top stocks but it’s a third of what the average PE for the year is likely to be of 20 times earnings and main market stocks traded at a discount of 44 percent to the market.
Stocks to Watch this week include, Stationery and Office Supplies that should go higher based on the first quarter results that were released on Thursday. It should be interesting to see how investors treat with the lack of supply of Barita and Berger shares while Palace that jumped $300 on Friday could be pushed when the company’s third quarter results are released this coming week that should see very positive impact of the Black Panther movies now still being shown, although less frequently than previously, with Avengers seems to have taken over from it. NCB Financial pulled back to $95 during the past week and should be another interesting stock to watch as it is undervalued. Grace Kennedy posted decent first quarter results that should encourage more buying of the stock and PanJam Investment is very scarce. Increasing interest in Radio Jamaica pushed the price to $1.20 and is another that could move higher during the week.

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Big recovery for JSE main market – Friday

May 11, 2018 by

Caribbean Cement jumped $4.45 to close at $40.05

Investors pushed the Jamaica Stock Exchange the market up strongly on Friday and the market recovered a large portion of what was lost since the record high on the previous week.
At the end of market activities, 28 securities traded, compared to 28 on Thursday, in the main and US dollar markets with the price of 10 stocks rising, 8 falling and 10 trading firm. At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped sharply by 2,341.33 points to 330,728.92 and the JSE Index climbed 2,133.22 points to 301,331.41.
Stocks with major price changes are, Caribbean Cement jumped $4.45 to close at $40.05, JMMB Group jumped $1 to $28, Palace Amusement jumped $300 to $1,300, followed by NCB Financial that dropped $1.25 to $95. PanJam Investment traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $46.01 while Jamaica Broilers and Supreme Ventures traded at intraday highs.
Trading activity resulted in 3,690,667 units valued at $51,637,707 compared to 3,519,415 units valued at $33,476,075 changing hands on Friday.
The major trades for the day are, Wisynco Group with 1,214,450 units and accounting for 32.91 percent of the day’s volume, followed by Victoria Mutual Investments with 723,173 units or 19.59 percent of trades and Ciboney Group with 402,832 units and 10.91 percent of the volume traded.
Trading resulted in an average of 136,691 units valued at an average of $1,912,508 for each security traded. In contrast to 200,047 units for an average of $4,687,155 on Thursday. The average for the month to date is 342,839 shares with a value of $18,119,875 and previously 367,467 shares with a value of $20,307,869. In contrast, April closed with an average of 708,206 shares with a value of $6,395,518 for each security traded.
In the US dollar market, Proven Investments traded 1,000 shares and fell by 3 cents to 20 US cents and the market index ended at down 0.47 points to 164.82 and JMMB Group 5.75% US preference share traded 5,000 units at $2.
IC bid-offer Indicator| At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows 7 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none closing with a lower offer.
For more details of market activities see – Big gains for JSE main market – Friday.

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