Atlantic tops Junior Market in January

February 1, 2026 by
The Junior Market maintained its resilience by month’s end, although it mostly traded lower than the December close for most of the month and ended slipping just half a point at the close of January, with the index declining by 11.11 points to finish the month at relatively stable 3,390.30, with Atlantic Hardware leading the market, as just under half of the companies listed gained, with trading ending with 22 rising and 23 declining. 

Main Market performance outshines the Junior Market. When the incredible and unsustainable 700 percent increase in the price of West Indies Petroleum share price is removed, the average gain for the Main Market is 10 percent compared to 11 percent for the Junior Market.  Losses are close as well, with an average of 7 percent for the Main Market and 11 percent for the Junior Market.

The early 2025 Junior Market listing, Atlantic Hardware led market gains with a 50 percent increase in January, driven by perceptions of strong hardware and building materials demand following the passage of Hurricane Melissa over Jamaica.
Jetcon Corporation followed closely with a 47 percent gain, benefiting from increased demand for new cars in Jamaica, with profit projected at 25 cents per the ICInsider.com for 2025, expect the price to keep on climbing. ISP Finance Services rounded out the top performers with a solid 24 percent advance, despite lacklustre profits for the nine months to September. Caribbean Assurance Brokers and One on One Educational Services both posted 15 percent gains, after recovering from declines in 2025, demonstrating continued investor appetite for some battered-down companies’ shares in the Junior Market, One on One also posted stable results from the first quarter to November, doubling profit for the 2024 first quarter, auguring well for 2026 fiscal results, but that may not be sufficient in moving the stock’s price much higher.
Everything Fresh experienced the steepest decline in the Junior Market with a 30 percent loss, as investors see the company that distributes fresh produce and other food items facing margin pressures and sales challenges, with less demand for its products from the hotel sector. Knutsford Express Services fell 29 percent, impacted by rising fuel costs and competition in inter-city transportation.
CAC 2000 declined 23 percent, while Consolidated Bakeries dropped 21 percent, unable to find a firm footing for sustainable growth and profit. Dolla Financial Services, despite maintaining high trading volumes of shares, fell 19 percent as investors took profits following the stock’s stronger performance in 2024, as they reassess prospects for 2026 that could result in a major rise in profits that will boost the stock.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mostly losses for ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks

November 25, 2025 by
Over the past few weeks, investors placed bets on the impact the damage Hurricane Melissa would have on stocks, pushing some stocks higher and others lower, while the vast majority remained unmoved.

The Junior Market ICTOP10 had a torrid period since late October, with nine stocks falling and none rising. Elite Diagnostics lead the list with a fall of 21 percent. Caribbean Assurance Brokers, is down just 3 percent, Consolidated Bakeries and Medical Disposables declined by 10 percent and fell out of the TOP10, following downward revisions to earnings following the release of third quarter results. The TOP10 charts list the other losers.
Coming into the Junior Market TOP10 are Caribbean Flavours, Dolla Financial and Spur Tree Spices.
The biggest movers in the Main Market ICTOP10 are TransJamaican Highway that rose 13 percent and VM Investments, down 13 percent.
Caribbean Producers, TransJamaican Highway, along with Scotia Group and VM Investments fell out of the Main Market TOP10, with JMMB Group, Jamaica Broilers, along with the private creditor Sygnus Credit Investments  and Stanly Motta joining the TOP10.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 is 4.8, well below the market average of 13.3 and the Junior Market TOP10 stands at 6.8, just above half the market’s average of 12.9.

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ICTOP10 Elite jumps 41%, Express 36%

October 27, 2025 by
The ICTOP10 returns after a break since the end of July, with Elite Diagnostic jumping sharply along with Express Catering and Consolidated Bakeries. A lot has happened since, with the Junior Market index slipping 1.3 percent to 3,464 points and the JSE Main Index climbed a B 5 percent over the same period. Six of the Junior Market ICTOP10 stocks posted solid gains ranging from 8 percent to 41 percent, one remained firm and three declined.

The Junior Market ICTOP10, Elite Diagnostic jumped 41 percent to $1.91, Consolidated Bakeries and Express Catering delivered gains of 36 percent to end at $1.70 and $3,65, respectively. Kintyre Holdings popped 30 percent to 30 cents, and Medical Disposables rallied 15 percent to end at  $1.72.
NCB Financial is the leading Main Market ICTOP10, rising stock, up a solid 31 percent as it closed the week at $41.40, up from $31.50 at the end of July. Guardian Holdings follows with a gain of 24 percent to $382, while VM Investments rose 17 percent to $2.31. TransJamaican Highway rose 15 percent to end the week at $4.24.
Dolla Financial lost ground and fell out, making space for Jetcon Corporation to enter the TOP 10. There were no changes to the Main Market ICTOP 10.
Indicators of potential gains for the market show, the average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 is 5.8, well below the market average of 13.5 and shows 18 stocks, with the highest values accounting for 35 percent of the market, with PE ratios of 15 to 40. The average PE for half of the market with the highest values is 20.
The Junior Market TOP10 stands at 6, well below half the market’s average of 13, with 19 stocks representing 40 percent of the market having PEs ranging from 16 to 38, with an average of 20 and 18 for half of the market, with the highest PEs.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. The list includes some of the best as well as newer companies that have not been tested over time. ICInsider.com ranks companies based on projected earnings for easy assessment in making investment decisions.
IC TOP10 stocks that will likely deliver the best returns are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued companies when making investment decisions.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2026 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, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Earning revisions are ongoing, based on the receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, JSE Junior Market, JSE Main Market, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New low for ICTOP10 NCB, Kintyre dips 21%  

August 4, 2025 by
ICTOP10 returns after a brief break, with NCB Financial, dropping to a multi-year low of $29 during the past week but closed the period down 7 percent to $31.5, but, Margaritaville fell 20 percent in the Main Market ICTOP10, while Kintyre Holdings dropped 21 percent to 23 cents and Consolidated Bakeries fell 20 percent to $1.25 in the Junior Market ICTOP10.

The Junior Market ICTOP10 AMG Packaging climbed 15 percent to $2.58, with Dolla Financial rising 6 percent to $2.69, followed by Jetcon Corporation, with a fall of 19 percent down to $1.70 and Elite Diagnostic with a loss of 11 percent to end at $1.35.
The Main Market listed 138 Student Living rose 10 percent to $4, Margarittaville dropped 20 percent to $10.22 and QWI Investments dipped 6 percent to 73 cents.
AMG Packaging and Jetcon Corporation dropped out of the Junior Market ICITOP10, with Access Financial and Caribbean Cream replacing them. There were no changes to the Main Market ICTOP 10 nor the All JSE Markets ICTOP10.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 13.6 and shows 15 stocks, with the highest values accounting for 29 percent of the market, with PE ratios of 15 to 43. The average PE for the market is 24 and 20 for the half with the highest values.
The Junior Market TOP10 stands at 4.6, well below half the market’s average of 13.8, with 20 stocks representing 42 percent of the market having PEs ranging from 15 to 42, with an average of 22 and 20 for half of the market, with the highest PEs.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. The list includes some of the best as well as newer companies that have not been tested over time. ICInsider.com ranks companies based on projected earnings for easy assessment of companies in making investment decisions.
IC TOP10 stocks that will likely deliver the best returns are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued companies when making investment decisions.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2026 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, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Earning revisions are ongoing, based on the receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

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ICTOP10’s NCB & MFS drop 17%  

July 12, 2025 by
The big news this week in the ICTOP10 is the 17 percent drop in the price of NCB Financial, to a multi year low of $34, to be the number two listing in the Main Market ICTOP10 and Access Financial jumping 12 percent to close at $19.20 and falling out of the Junior Market ICTOP10.

The Junior Market ICTOP10, Dolla Financial, closed 5 percent higher to $2.54, with MFS Partners dropping 17 percent to 38 cents, followed by Elite Diagnostic with a loss of 7 percent to end at $1.51, Consolidated Bakeries lost 5 percent to $1.51 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers declined by 5 percent to $1.99. Main Market stocks ended 138 Student Living falling 13 percent to $3.65 and Innovative Energy slipping 5 percent to $1.21. QWI Investments, up just 3 percent, was the biggest winner.
Despite climbing 17 percent during the week, Jetcon Corporation made it into the Junior Market ICITOP10 with an earnings forecast of 35 cents. Express Catering dropped out of the All JSE Markets ICTOP10 and is replaced by Consolidated Bakeries.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 13.4 and shows 15 stocks with the highest values, accounting for 29 percent of the market, with PE ratios of 15 to 40. The average PE for the market is 24 and 20 for the half with the highest values.
The Junior Market TOP10 stands at 4.8, well below half the market’s average of 13.4, with 18 stocks representing 38 percent of the market having PEs ranging from 15 to 40, with an average of 22 and 19 for half of the market, with the highest PEs.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. The list includes some of the best as well as newer companies that have not been tested over time. ICInsider.com ranks companies based on projected earnings for easy assessment of companies in making investment decisions.
IC TOP10 stocks that will likely deliver the best returns are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued companies when making investment decisions.
IC TOP10 stocks that will likely deliver the best returns are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Earnings revisions are ongoing, based on the receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 ICTOP10’s Medical Disposables climbs 14%

July 6, 2025 by
In the ICTOP10 this past week, no Main Market stock ended with a price movement of more than three percent. The Junior Market ICTOP10 ended with prices of just two declining, while Medical Disposables, the top performer, jumped 14 percent.

In the ICTOP10, MFS Partners rallied 10 percent to close at 46 cents, followed by Elite Diagnostic after gaining of 8 percent to finish at $1.62, Kintyre Holdings added 7 percent to end at 29 cents and Consolidated Bakeries rose 5 percent to $1.65. Dolla Financial declined by 5 percent to $2.41. There are no new companies in this week’s listings.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 is 5.9, well below the market average of 13.6. The Junior Market TOP10 stands at 6, well below half the market’s average of 14.5.
In the Main Market, ICTOP10, 15 stocks with the highest values account for 29 percent of the market, with PE ratios of 15 to 40. The average PE for the market is 24 and 20 for the half with the highest values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10, 22 stocks representing 46 percent of the market have PEs ranging from 15 to 39, with an average of 21 and 20 for half of the market, with the highest PEs.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. The list includes some of the best as well as newer companies that have not time tested. ICInsider.com ranks companies based on projected earnings for easy assessment in making investment decisions.
IC TOP10 stocks that will likely deliver the best returns are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued companies when making investment decisions.
IC TOP10 stocks that will likely deliver the best returns are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on the receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in the securities commented on in this report.

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Purity jumps 54% back into ICTOP10

June 29, 2025 by
The Junior Market’s Consolidated Bakeries surged 54 percent during the week in recovering from a big fall in the prior week, with investors responding to the company returning to profit in the March quarter following a loss in the 2024 fiscal year.

The Junior Market ICTOP10 ended with 6 stocks rising and only one declining. The Main Market ICTOP 10 ended with four stocks rising and only one declining.
In the Main market, Margaritaville climbed 7 percent to $13.20, 138 Student Living, popped 6 percent to $4.27, followed by QWI Investments, up 4 percent to 78 cents and NCB Financial lost 7 percent to close at a 52 week low of $40.
In the Junior Market, Expres Catering rose 8 percent to $2.69, Dolla Financial rallied 3 percent to $2.55 and Kintyre Holdings, the only loser, shed 7 percent to end at 27 cents.
The Junior Market IC TOP10 saw two additions, following the updated earnings for Consolidated Bakeries, with the stock jumping 54 percent during the week. This follows the first quarter results that resulted in updated earnings of 30 cents per share for 2025 and Medical Disposables makes it with updated projection of 45 cents per share, following B revenue growth and profits in the March quarter. Image Plus and Cargo Handlers dropped out of the Junior Market list. There are no new listings in the Main and the All JSE ICTOP10 for the week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 is just 5.8, well below the market average of 13.6. The Junior Market TOP10 stands at 5, well below half the market’s average of 13.9.
In the Main Market, ICTOP10, 15 stocks with the highest values account for 29 percent of the market, with PE ratios of 15 to 43. The average PE for the market is 24 and 20 for the half with the highest values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10, 22 stocks representing 46 percent of the market have PEs ranging from 15 to 39, with an average of 21 and 20 for half of the market, with the highest PEs.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. The list includes some of the best as well as newer companies that have not time tested.  ICInsider.com ranks companies based on projected earnings, for easy assessment of companies in making investment decisions.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on the receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

No rewards for Purity’s minority shareholders  

April 9, 2024 by

After just over 11 years of listing on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange shareholders of Consolidated Bakeries are yet to see any meaningful returns from their $1.88 per share investment in the company, with the price now hovering at just over $2 and no dividend payment during the period, the situation is made worse with the company granting heft salary increases, with no increase in profit for 2023.
In their most recent financial report with revenues rising nearly 11 percent a gross profit jumped by $57 million to $594 million, only the majority of owners benefitted from that improvement. Management paid out the increase in gross profit to themselves and other workers in 2023. Minority shareholders received no benefit.
Management remuneration for directors climbed by nearly $6 or 27 percent to $26.6 million from $21 million. Salaries and related expenses included in direct manufacturing cost, jumped a staggering 40 percent or $42 million to $146 million from $104 million in 2022, this was the major factor that gross profit was not higher.
Salaries for selling and distribution rose by $21 million or 19 percent to $128 million from $107 million in 2022. Surprisingly, administrative salaries and related expenses remained flat at $103 million. In total, salaries rose by $70 million, some $13 million more than the increase in gross profit and just $28 million excluding the direct labour cost.
Other income contributed $4.6 million to profit, up from $2.4 million in 2022. Profit after Corporate taxes of $4.3 million for the year, slipped to $13 million from $14 million in 2022, after tax of $3.9 million.
Administrative costs rose only 2.8 percent from $266 million to $274 million but selling and distribution costs jumped a sizeable 21.2 percent to $247 million from $203 million. Depreciation and amortization costs climbed 15.7 percent to $41 million from $36 million. Finance charges rose to $20 million from $16 million in 2022, with borrowings increasing by $67 million during the year which helped in funding addition to fixed assets of $106 million, with equipment accounting for $49 million and motor vehicles $46 million.
Other areas with above average cost increases are Security with a rise of 21.5 percent to $15 million, Insurance up 18.6 percent to $19 million, and rented space jumped 110 percent to $8 million from $3.8 million. Professional fees rose 38.4 percent to $19 million from $14 million and other expenses climbed 33 percent from $17.5 million in 2022 to $23.2 million in 2023.

Consolidated Bakeries  – Miss Birdie Easter bun.

Not all items of cost rose. Bank charges declined from $5.7 million to just over $4 million, a drop of 28 percent. Utilities fell 11 percent from $36.7 million to $32.6 million. Repair and maintenance declined by 61 percent to $3 million from $7.6 million.
The operations generated Gross cash flow brought in $58 million but growth in inventories, additions to fixed assets offset by loan inflows and a reduction in payables resulted in a cash deficit of $27 million for the year.
Current assets ended the period at $276 million inclusive of trade and other receivables of $114 million, cash and bank balances of $66 million. Current liabilities ended the period at $242 million, with net current assets ending at just $34 million.
At the end of December, shareholders’ equity amounts to $710 million with loans totalling $253 million up from $187 million in 2022 of which long term borrowings amount to $166 million and short term at $88 million. One loan amounting to $40 million is due to be repaid in full in 2024 and the rest have full repayments dating from 2026 to 2033 with annual payments.
Earnings per share was 6 cents for the year. IC Insider.com computation projects earnings of 30 cents per share for the fiscal year ending December 2024, with a PE of 7 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $2.19 the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market. Net asset value ended the period at $3.13 with the stock selling at a steep 30 percent discount to book value.

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

Consolidated Bakeries turnaround

April 19, 2023 by

Consolidated Bakeries seems to be on the mend, with 2023 looking like the year it finally comes into its own having posted the first full year profit in 2022, the first since 2018, with sales exceeding the billion mark for a second consecutive year and the third time in four years.

Anthony Chang, Managing Director of Consolidated Bakeries

Purity, a name the company is also well known by, reported profit in three of the four quarters last year with profit in the first two quarters as well as in the December 2022 quarter but reported a $14.5 million loss in the third quarter even with revenues in that quarter being the same as the final quarter at $323 million.
The improved 2022 profit performance evolved from a 26.5 percent rise in revenues to $1.37 billion for the full year above the $1.079 billion in 2021 with profit after taxation coming in at $14 million compared to an $18 million loss in 2021. Pretax profit was even more impressive being $17.7 million versus a loss of $21.7 million in 2021 resulting in a $38 million turnaround.
The improved results show up in a strongly transformed financial position resulting in an enhanced working capital position even as sales surged, with a buildup of cash and reduction in borrowed funds.
Revenues climbed 30 percent in the March quarter, from $291 million last year, to $378 million and rose a stronger 42 percent in the June quarter to $342 million from $241 million in 2021. At the same time gross profit margin that tends to hover around 39 percent rose to 42 percent in the second quarter, from 38 percent in 2021. For the six months, revenues were up 35 percent to $720 million from $532 million in 2021 while gross profit rose 41 percent to $292 from $207 million. The Easter period provides added revenues for the company, resulting in the first half of the year producing higher revenues and profit than the second half.
In the first quarter, profit before tax rose 61 percent to $14.5 in 2022, from $9 million last year and is up 200 percent in the second quarter to $13.5 from a loss of $13.4 in 2021. For the half year pretax profit surged 735 percent to $28 million from a $4.4 million loss in 2021.
The company generated a gain on other comprehensive income from investments of $783,279 for 2022 and $6.3 million for 2021.
Administrative and other expenses rose by just 6 percent to $266 million from $250 million in 2021. Selling and Distribution expenses increased by a robust 33.4 percent to $203.4 million in 2022 over that of 2021 with $152.5 million. Depreciation rose 8 percent to $35.6 million from $33 million in 2021. Finance cost jumped sharply to $16.3 million from $11.7 million in 2021.
The company’s finances are looking much better in 2022 than in 2021. Operations for the half year generated gross cash flow from operations of $118 million after changes in working capital, allowing it to fund the acquisition of fixed assets amounting to $63 million to end the year with an increase in cash of $57 million.

Consolidated Bakeries Miss Birdie Easter bun.

Shareholders’ equity stood at $697 million, while Long term borrowings ended the period at $136 million and short term loans at $51 million, representing a $47 million reduction from December 2021 and resulting in cash and bank balances and investments rising to $99 million, from $90 million at the end of December 2021. Current assets ended the period at $293 million, with trade and other receivables standing at $115 million, compared to $110 million in 2021. Inventories rose moderately to $79 million from $67 million in 2021. Current liabilities ended at $237 million, up from $175 million at the end of December 2021 and net current assets ended at $56 million compared with $93 million at the end of the previous year.
In the past the big concern was the ability of the company to hold on to the profit made in the first six months in the second half of the year, this changed in 2022 as revenues benefitted from increased volume sales as the company made headways into new areas as well as some new products. In an interview with Managing Director, Anthony Chang in 2022, he stated that while new products helped sales, in some cases traditional products found new takers in areas of the country where demand was not as strong in the past. Chang also stated that they are now benefiting from some changes made in personnel that is delivering improved results, he also indicated expansion of the distribution channel into smaller stores while consolidating business in the bigger stores. They also placed focus on cost by employing a cost accountant.
Retooling played an important role in the gains but Chang say this is a work in progress. According to him, bread at one stage in the past accounted for 90 percent of sales, was in direct competition with the market leader and had low profit margin, but it took time to make the shift as new machinery was needed to effect the change to new products, that needed machinery for packaging these products. The company has been adding to fixed assets as a part of the drive to have the right machines and in the quantity required to churn out new products.
Based on the above ICInsider.com projects this year’s earnings per share of 40 cents and 75 cents for 2024 with the company benefitting from full recovery of the local economy and increased efficiency and reduction in interest cost as borrowings decline.
The company has a net book value of $3.07. If achieved, the PE ratio currently would be 6.3, based on the price of $2.50 the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Friday.

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Nice gains for ICTOP10 stocks, Purity returns

April 9, 2023 by

The Main and Junior Markets did not maintain the sharp bounce of the previous week, but most ICTOP10 Junior Market stocks ended with gains. In contrast, the Main Market ended with mostly modest losses, with 138 Student Living rising 5 percent to $5.30 and JMMB Group declining by 5 percent to $31.49, all other changes in the Main Market were two percent or less.

Dr Karlene McDonnough – Chairman of Image Consultants Ltd. The stock came in for increased demand during the week ahead of the release of full-year results.

The Junior Market had one change in its TOP10 list as Iron Rock Insurance and Image Plus climbed 13 percent to $2.27 and $2.03, respectively, while Main Event and Honey Bun rose 5 percent to $12.26 and $6.75, respectively, with the only sizable decline being a 9 percent fall for Tropical Battery to $1.90.
Image Plus never benefitted from any serious IPO bounce seems to be finally finding buying interest and closed the past week with 159,904 shares on the bid at $2.02, 160,746 at $2 and just over 800,000 between $1.90 and $1.95, with 25,987 stocks on offer at $2.03, 81,709 at $2.05 with one big offer of 1.72 million units at S2.50 with smaller offers before the this. There has been healthy trading in the stock recently, with trading of 824,526 units on Thursday. Trading on Wednesday saw 1,153,255 shares changing hands in the stock, with 910,000 units on Tuesday and 1.75 million shares on Monday, which seems to have cleared out a great deal of overhang in the market.
Update on interest rate developments. A number of developments taking place in the economy are worth watching. Following last week’s $35 billion Bank of Jamaica CD auction that saw the average rate coming in at 8.49 percent, this week’s auction saw an offer of $34 billion, with the average rate remaining the same as the previous week with fewer funds chasing the offered amount. Another positive development is the average inflation rate running at 45 percent less than the same time last year and averaging 2.4 percent per annum since November last year. Foreign exchange inflows have been strong, with the NIR growing at $66 million in February and 220 million in March, putting it at a record end of month level as initial data suggest that tourism arrivals and foreign exchange generated by that industry exceed the similar period in 2019, the last year without the impact of covid-19 negatively affecting the sector. On top of those positive developments, corporate profits are expected to enjoy a good bounce for the majority of companies for the first quarter.
The Junior Market has a long term pattern, with the market starting to rise around a month before quarterly results are due and declining shortly after results are released. This is a pattern worth noting that can be built into investment decisions to improve returns.

Consolidated Bakeries Miss Birdie Easter bun. The stock is back in the ICTOP10

Dropping from the TOP10 Junior Market list this past week was Honey Bun, but investors should expect a big jump in revenues and profits for the first quarter, with the Easter coming at the beginning of April versus the 17th of April last year, as well as an improvement of gross profit margin that slipped up last year.
Returning to the TOP10 is Consolidated Bakeries in the number 3 spot. The company is projected to report a solid first quarter profit, with the Easter holidays coming at the start of April compared with April 17 last year and ensuring that mostly all Easter bun sales will be reported in the March quarter unlike 2022. The company reported a profit in 2022 a big improvement over a loss in the previous three years. ICInsider.com projects earnings of 40 cents for 2023 and 75 cents for 2024 with the company benefitting from a full recovery of the local economy and increase efficiency and reduction in borrowings. At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE
Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 13.5, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.7 compared with the market at 11.1. The differences are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 256 percent and the Main Market TOP10, an average of 271 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The Junior Market has 10 stocks representing 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 29, averaging 19, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, suggesting this may be a logical value for junior market stocks.
The 16 stocks with the highest value in the Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 115, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks and 19 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but not always. 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 up to the end of May 2023 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, resulting 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.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Stock Market, Stocks to watch Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,