New ICTOP10 listings & more big gains

January 23, 2022 by

Long time Junior Market ICTOP10 listed Access Financial, finally broke away from resistance and jumped 31 percent for the week to $26.28, but traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $28 on Wednesday and just barely hung on to the top ten in the tenth spot.

Access Financial Services top performing ICTOP10 stock for the past week.

In the Main Market, Radio Jamaica rose 19 percent to $4.10, the 2021 ICTOP10 top performer, Caribbean Producers, climbed 5 percent and finally slipped out of the top 10 after a ride lasting more than a year and a gain of 573 percent, but the stock has more room for healthy gains.
Sagicor Group returns to the TOP10 Main Market and Stationery & Office Supplies returns to the Junior Market listing after an earnings upgrade, following a review of the forecasted numbers as the company continues to recover to pre-Covid-19 sales and  Fontana dropped out with a 4 percent rise, but has much more room to grow in 2022.
Junior Market Elite Diagnostic gained 10 percent to $3.50, Honey Bun rose 7 percent. AMG Packaging lost 10 percent to end at $3.05, Lasco Financial lost 8 percent, Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 7 percent and General Accident slipped 5 percent.
The week ended with the supplies for some stocks becoming very limited, this applies to Access and Radio Jamaica. Newly listed Spur Tree Spices came in for profit taking on Thursday and Friday after the price peaked at $2.75 and closed the week at $2.15 a fall of 22 percent from the peak, which suggests suggesting more room for decline before the price bottoms. That could take it to around $1.95 based on declines from peak to through of some previous IPOs.
The sharp price movements in the Junior Market reduced the potential gains markedly, with the average increase projected for the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now at 119 percent versus 122 percent last week.
The top three stocks are Lasco Distributors followed by Caribbean Assurance Brokers and Lasco Financial to gain between 131 and 150 percent, compared to 124 and 160 percent, previously.
The potential gains for Main Market stocks moved from 144 percent to this weeks’ 139 percent this week, with the top three stocks being Guardian Holdings followed by JMMB Group and Sygnus Credit Investments all projected to gain between 151 and 254 percent down from 161 and 257 percent last week.
After trading at a big discount to the Main Market for two years, the average PE for both the JSE primary markets have virtually merged around 16 times earnings multiple based on 2021 earnings, with the Junior Market looking poised to surpass the main Market soon. The difference in potential gains for both TOP10 listings shows the Junior Market with an average rise of 118 percent versus 139 percent for the Main Market. That is an indication that the Junior Market is priced slightly higher than the Main Market.
The Junior Market closed the week, with an average PE of 16 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings and is currently below the target of 20 and the average of 17 at the end of March last year based on 2020 earnings. The TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of a mere 9.2, with a 43 percent discount to that market’s average.
The Junior Market can gain 25 percent to March this year, based on an average PE of 20 and 6 percent based on an average PE of 17. Twelve stocks representing 29 percent of all Junior Market stocks with positive earnings are trading at or above this level averaging 25.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market is 16.5 just 15 percent less than the PE of 19 at the end of March and 21 percent below the target of 20 to March 2022. The Main Market TOP 10 average PE is 8.7 representing a 47 percent discount to the market and well below the potential of 20. A total of 14 stocks or 30 percent of the market trade at or above a PE of 19, with most over 20, for an average roundabout 25, suggesting that the accepted multiple is between 20 and 25 times the current year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios 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 per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.

Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.

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Trading jumps on JSE Main Market

January 21, 2022 by

Trading jumped sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main on Friday with the volume of shares changing hands rising 108 percent and the value surging 490 percent higher than on Thursday and resulted in gains for the market as rising stocks exceeded those declining by on a three to two basis.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 2,342.25 points to close at 439,257.71, the JSE Main Index advanced 1,269.54 points to 396,141.35 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.19 points to end at 97.62. Trading ended with 53 securities versus 57 on Thursday, with 26 rising, 16 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.5. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
A total of, 15,537,794 shares traded for $392,213,675, steeply up on 7,459,557 units at $66,420,714 on Thursday. JMMB Group led trading with 40.5 percent of total volume with a transfer of 6.29 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm, 23.7 percent with 3.68 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund, 7.4 percent after 1.15 million units changed hands.
Trading averages 293,166 units at $7,400,258, compared to 130,869 shares at $1,165,276 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 173,233 units at $1,583,955, up from 164,655 units at $1,167,944 on Thursday. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement lost 69 cents to close at $70.30 in exchanging 53,355 stock units, Caribbean Producers advanced $1.34 to a record high of $16.74 with the swapping of 544,371 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund rallied 58 cents to $41.58 in switching ownership of 927 units. GraceKennedy shed $1 to end at $98 with a transfer of 101,725 shares, Guardian Holdings rose $1 to $521 after 25,540 stock units crossed the market, Jamaica Broilers advanced $1.43 to close at $27.98 with 15,666 units changing hands. Jamaica Producers popped $1 in closing at $23 after an exchange of 8,358 shares, JMMB Group advanced $1.60 to $39.50 in trading 6,286,464 shares, Kingston Wharves shed 75 cents to end at $42 with 5,079 stocks clearing the market. Mayberry Jamaican Equities rose 77 cents to finish at $9.28 in switching ownership of 2,050 units, NCB Financial climbed $2.40 to close at $128 with the swapping of 462,259 stock units, 138 Student Living gained 53 cents after ending at $4.66 and exchanging 1,175 shares. PanJam Investment rallied $1.50 in closing at $66 in trading 510,923 shares, Portland JSX rose $1.20 to $9 in switching ownership of 800 units, Proven Investments gained 57 cents to settle at $33.49 with an exchange of 6,791 stocks. Scotia Group popped 44 cents to close at $35 after 111,106 stock units crossed the market, Stanley Motta gained 59 cents after ending at $5.84 with an exchange of 2,632 stocks, Supreme Ventures rose 80 cents to finish at $17.80 in transferring 19,195 units and Wisynco Group lost 30 cents to close at $17.30 with 87,163 shares crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% fell 75 cents in closing at $2.78 after exchanging 38,725 shares and JMMB Group 7% gained 40 cents to close at $1.90 with 19 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated

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

Trading down JSE Main Market up

January 20, 2022 by

Market activity ended on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market with the volume of and value of shares trading declining from Wednesday’s outturn, but the market closed with rising stocks just being edged out by those declining but the market indices reversed Wednesday mild decline by rising on Thursday.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,466.73 points to end at 436,915.46, the JSE Main Index advanced 1,250.84 points to close at 394,871.81 and the JSE Financial Index rallied 0.82 points to finish at 97.43.
Trading ended with 57 securities up from 51 on Wednesday, with 22 rising, 23 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.2. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 7,459,557 shares were traded for $66,420,714 versus 11,065,478 units at $62,731,563 on Wednesday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 29.1 percent of total volume with a transfer of 2.08 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 12.9 percent for 959,428 units and QWI Investments with 10.9 percent after trading 810,027 units.
Trading averages 130,869 units at $1,165,276, down from 216,970 shares at $1,230,031 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 164,655 units at $1,167,944, compared to 167,471 units at $1,168,166 on Wednesday. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund jumped $3.45 to $41 with an exchange of 1,090 units, First Rock Capital shed 64 cents to close at $10.30 in trading 6,612 stock units, Guardian Holdings shed $7 to end at $520 after transferring 32 stocks. Jamaica Broilers declined $2.13 in ending at $26.55 with 49,421 units changing hands, Jamaica Producers fell $1.33 to close at $22 in trading 36,826 stock units, JMMB Group lost 30 cents to finish at $37.90 with 286,301 shares clearing the market. Margaritaville popped 93 cents to $20.25 in swapping of 5,040 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities shed 82 cents in closing at $8.51 with a transfer of 11,491 units, NCB Financial lost 40 cents to close at $125.60 in exchanging 176,884 shares. 138 Student Living declined 57 cents in closing at $4.13 after a switch in ownership of 954 units, Palace Amusement dropped $46.90 in closing at $950 with 18 stocks crossing the market, PanJam Investment declined $3.50 to close at $64.50 with the swapping of 4,091 stock units. Proven Investments lost 58 cents to end at $32.92 in transferring 620 units, Sagicor Group rallied $1.56 to $54 after exchanging 43,183 stocks, Scotia Group lost 49 cents to end at $34.56 with 23,844 units changing hands. Supreme Ventures shed 85 cents to end at $17 in trading 50,808 shares and Wisynco Group rose 60 cents to $17.60 with 64,599 shares clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climbed $450.50 to a new high of $2,150.50 after an exchange of 5 stock units and JMMB Group 7% lost 50 cents in closing at $1.50 in trading 750 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

Trading picks up for Main Market

January 19, 2022 by

Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market trading ended on Wednesday with the volume of shares rising 36 percent and the value climbing 23 percent higher than on Tuesday, resulting in rising stocks exceeding those declining and a small slippage in the market index.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 70.86 points to 435,448.73, the JSE Main Index slipped 542.98 points to close at 393,620.97 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.62 points to end at 96.61.
A total of 51 securities traded compared to 52 on Tuesday, with 21 rising, 19 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.2. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 11,065,478 shares were exchanged for $62,731,563 compared to 8,130,493 units at $50,843,578 on Tuesday. QWI Investments led trading with 31.3 percent of the volume with an exchange of 3.46 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 27.9 percent for 3.08 million units, Transjamaican Highway contributed 13.1 percent with 1.45 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund traded 1.07 million units for 9.7 percent market share.
Trading averaged 216,970 units at $1,230,031 compared to 156,356 shares at $977,761 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 167,471 units at $1,168,166, up from 163,483 units at $1,163,182 on the prior day. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Eppley shed $1 to end at $35.50 trading 1,000 shares, First Rock Capital rallied 79 cents in closing at $10.94 with 12,561 units crossing the exchange, GraceKennedy lost $1 to finish at $99 in switching ownership of 70,289 stocks. Guardian Holdings dropped $3 to close at $527 in transferring 2,697 stock units, Jamaica Broilers rose $1.67 after ending at $28.68 and exchanging 7,271 stocks, Jamaica Producers popped $1.18 to close at $23.33 with the swapping of 96,499 units. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 80 cents to end at $17.50 in trading 55,004 shares, JMMB Group lost 30 cents to settle at $38.20 with 39,833 stock units changing hands, Kingston Properties gained 65 cents to close at $9.50 with 508 stocks clearing the market. Margaritaville advanced $2.52 to $19.32 in switching ownership of 810 units, NCB Financial shed $1 to end at $126 with a transfer of 101,383 shares, PanJam Investment advanced $1.50 to end at $68, with 102,501 stock units crossing the market. Proven Investments gained 50 cents in closing at $33.50 with an exchange of 14,092 units, Radio Jamaica popped 49 cents to close at $3.99 in trading 143,083 shares, Sagicor Group shed 56 cents to end at $52.44 with the swapping of 20,047 stocks. Scotia Group fell $1.95 to $35.05 in an exchange of 34,101 shares, Supreme Ventures gained 35 cents to close at $17.85 with 17,119 stock units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 39 cents to end at $14.89 after transferring 148,586 stocks. Sygnus Real Estate Finance advanced $2.23 to $18.25 in exchanging 2,400 shares and Wisynco Group declined 55 cents in closing at $17 with the swapping of 74,844 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

Low trading activity sinks JSE Main Market

January 18, 2022 by

Market activity ended on Tuesday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market remained at subpar levels with the volume of shares trading declining 16 percent with a slightly reduced value than on Monday leading to declining stocks outpacing those rising two to one.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,167.73 points to 435,519.59, the Main Index shed 674.03 points to 394,163.95 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.08 points to close at 97.23.
Trading ended with 52 securities compared to 56 on Monday, with 13 rising, 27 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Overall, 8,130,493 shares were exchanged for $50,843,578 versus 9,677,118 units at $54,894,824 on Monday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 27.9 percent of total volume in transferring 2.27 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 18.3 percent for 1.48 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 8.8 percent for 717,918 units changing hands.
Trading averages 156,356 units at $977,761, compared to 172,806 shares at $980,265 on Monday and month to date, an average of 163,483 units at $1,162,890, versus 164,121 units at $1,179,777 on Monday. December trading averaged 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments lost 38 cents to end at $93.60 with 10,602 shares clearing the market, Caribbean Cement shed 99 cents to $71 with the swapping of 76,279 units, Eppley popped 50 cents to close at $36.50 with 20 stocks changing hands. GraceKennedy shed $1 to finish at $100 in switching ownership of 47,280 stock units, Guardian Holdings climbed $5 in closing at $530 after trading 594 units, Jamaica Broilers fell $1.73 to $27.01 after 60,769 stock units crossed the exchange. Jamaica Producers declined $1.20 to $22.15, with a transfer of 1,709 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange shed 70 cents to close at $16.70 in trading 59,077 stocks, Kingston Properties lost 89 cents to settle at $8.85 in an exchange of 372 units. Kingston Wharves advanced $3.70 to end at $42.70 with 29,307 stocks crossing the market, Mayberry Jamaican Equities rallied 33 cents to $9.33 in switching ownership of 66,200 stock units, NCB Financial advanced $1 to close at $127 in exchanging 39,380 shares. Palace Amusement shed $1 to end at $996.99 after trading 10 stock units, PanJam Investment rose $3.50 to $66.50 with 6,452 stocks changing hands, Sagicor Group fell $1.50 in closing at $53 with the swapping of 18,471 shares. Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 31 cents to end at $8.40 after exchanging 6,435 units, Scotia Group rallied 60 cents to close at $37 in transferring 20,370 stock units, Supreme Ventures popped 50 cents to end at $17.50 with an exchange of 26,655 units. Sygnus Credit Investments lost 32 cents in closing at $14.50 after 41,790 stocks crossed the market and VM Investments declined 34 cents to $6.45 in exchanging 77,038 shares.

Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

Stocks gain in moderate trading session

January 17, 2022 by

Market activity ended on Monday with an increase in the number of active securities than the case previously, leading to a 21 percent rise in the volume of shares trading but a 22 percent fall in the value traded from Friday levels as the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market closed with rising stocks exceeding those declining by a decent margin at the conclusion of a moderate trading session.
The All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 2,000.74 points to 436,687.32, the Main Index climbed 2,047.08 points to close at 394,837.98 and the JSE Financial Index rose 1.04 points to 97.31.
Trading ended with 56 securities compared to 55 on Friday, with 25 rising, 16 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years, ending up to August 2022.
Trading ended with 9,677,118 shares changing hands for $54,894,824 versus 8,020,198 units at $70,531,082 on Friday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 24.5 percent of total volume for an exchange of 2.37 million shares followed by JMMB Group 7.5% preference share with 19.9 percent for 1.92 million units, Transjamaican Highway accounted for 13.2 percent with 1.27 million units and Sagicor Select Financial Fund, 12.7 percent after trading 1.23 million units.
Trading averages 172,806 units at $980,265, compared to 145,822 shares at $1,282,383 on Friday and month to date, an average of 164,121 units at $1,179,777 versus 163,194 units at $1,201,059 on the previous trading day. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 82 cents to end at $93.98 with 19,554 shares crossing the market, Caribbean Producers dipped 49 cents at $15.50 in trading 302,535 units, Eppley lost 50 cents to finish at $36 with an exchange of 318 stocks. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund declined $3.49 in closing at $37.51 in switching ownership of 281 stock units, First Rock Capital lost 35 cents to close at $10.20 with 12,241 shares crossing the market, GraceKennedy advanced $2 to $101 after exchanging 175,533 stock units. Guardian Holdings popped $9 to $525 with the swapping of 509 units, Jamaica Broilers advanced $1.24 to $28.74 in transferring 58,677 stocks, Jamaica Producers rose $1.15 to $23.35 after trading 1,890 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 90 cents to $17.40 with 4,835 shares changing hands, JMMB Group gained 50 cents to end at $38.60 after 140,283 units cleared the market, Kingston Wharves fell $2.97 to close at $39 in an exchange of 75,266 shares. Mayberry Investments gained 48 cents to finish at $7.98 in trading 12,601 stocks, Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 37 cents after ending at $9 in switching ownership of 11,606 stock units, NCB Financial advanced $1 to $126 with an exchange of 8,902 shares. Palace Amusement climbed $17.32 to end at $997.99 with 38 units changing hands, PanJam Investment declined $2.90 to $63 with the swapping of 7,562 units, Portland JSX popped 45 cents to $8 with a transfer of 2,468 shares. Scotia Group advanced $1.39 to close at $36.40 after exchanging 103,819 stocks, Seprod declined $1.40 in closing at $62.10 in trading 3,736 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments gained 47 cents to settle at $14.82 with a transfer of 46,820 shares. Sygnus Real Estate Finance fell $1.25 to $16.02 with 21,980 stocks changing hands, Victoria Mutual Investments rallied 41 cents to close at $6.79 with an exchange of 73,058 shares and Wisynco Group lost 39 cents to end at $17.51 in switching ownership of 60,431 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.15% preference share due – 2028 rose 52 cents in closing at $3.05 with 450 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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

The Main Market 15 for Investment2022

January 16, 2022 by

The 15 Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market companies that seem poised to score big in 2022 are shown below. As is the case in the past some of these stocks may do better than projected and some may not do a swell, others may take longer to deliver the returns depending on how investors react to new to come about the companies or the industry they operate in. an example of this is the financial sector that ICInsider.com gathers had some negative results from Jamaican bonds with the rise in interest rates and reduction in trading activity as interest rate changes in Jamaica and pending rate change in the overseas markets.
Radio Jamaica – Earnings per share is projected at 65 cents for the year to March 2023 but they should end up with 45 cents for the 2022 fiscal year. The stock rose sharply with a strong increase in volume, followed by strong June quarter profits, with the stock price hitting $4.80 at the peak in 2021.
Management has done an excellent job in turning around the operations in 2020 and the group is benefitting from a leaner operation as well as a boost in revenues in 2021 and beyond. With growth expected in the local economy over the next several years, revenues and profit should continue to hit new record levels. In addition, management continues to focus on increased efficiency, implementation of new technology in various aspects of the operation that will drive growth and profit. There are plans to extract revenues out of other assets that are not readily visible to the general public currently. Not to be missed is the impact an improving economy will have on increasing revenues as businesses increase advertising spend. Futuristically, with the digitization of the network, the company will be in a position to provide internet facilities to its customers as an additional potential income stream.

Berger Paints

Berger Paints – Earnings per share is projected at $2.25 for 2022. The stock is not every bodies’ favourite, but the company is coming back into its own and benefitting from rapid expansion in the construction sector. Expect continued growth to take place as it benefits from the booming housing market locally.
Guardian Holdings – Earnings per share is projected at J$90 for 2022. This stock has been beaten down in the Jamaican market, but it is selling at a much higher price in Trinidad. It is a very good company but has never gotten the valuation that it deserves. They are expected to continue to show profit growth which may falter from time to time based on the nature of their asset base and income stream. The decision of the directors to hold foolishly to the limited number of issued shares is hurting the price badly but they will learn that it is not in the best interest of investors to continue to do so. At that time the stocks will perform better.
JMMB Group – Earnings per share is projected at $7 for the year to March 2023. It is one of the more undervalued stocks on the market, the price is about 6 times earnings. The company has a great deal of room for above average growth in the future. The group’s exposure to doing business in the Dominican Republic is a huge market of 11 million relative to Jamaica, where it can expand in a major way, either by acquisitions or just expanding the current footprints. Historically, the stock tends to move sideways until early summer, if that holds there may be time to focus elsewhere and return to this one. Investors should think long about this one. The company gets permission to buy back shares and the directors set later in the second quarter this year to start doing that and it could mop a lot of selling pressure.

JMMB

Sygnus Credit Investment – Earnings per share is projected at $2.60 for the year to June 2023. At a PE ratio of 5.5 2023 earnings the stock is undervalued and is so based likely 2022 earnings of less than a PE of 10. It operates in a sector that is not well known to the investing public, but that is where above average gains can be made. Management is on target to extract optimal gains from the operations. An example of this is when they raise funds before listing, the planned rate of return was around 8 percent now in the range of 12 percent. The company announced the acquisition of a credit investment company in Puerto Rico that should close later in the year. This will help drive revenues and profit as it broadens its reach and be in a position to attract more capital to allow for greater expansion.
Sterling Investments – Earnings per share is projected at 45 cents for the year to December 2022. The stock is seriously undervalued but investors don’t care much about this one seeing it more as a dividend provider than one with capital growth potential. Earnings should approach 40 cents for 2021 and be higher in 2022. Revenues and profits will benefit from higher interest rates locally and overseas in 2022 that will enhance profitability.
In the year just ended, revenues totaled $185 million for the first nine months, 8.6 percent higher than the $170 million earned for the same period in 2020, driven primarily by increases in interest income and gains on the sale of debt securities. Total foreign exchange gains declined year on year, from $80 million for the 9 months ended September 2020 to $55 million for the nine months to September 2021 and seem set to reverse in the final quarter of the year. Net income totaled $105 million for the first months of 2021, higher by 10.9 percent than the $94 million for the same period in 2020.

Caribbean Producers traded 52 weeks’ high during the week following a near US$2 quarterly profit.

Caribbean Producers – Earnings per share is projected at J$2 for the year to June 2023. Cost cutting and a sharp rebound in the tourism sector with visitor arrivals just 20 percent down on November 2019 numbers augur very well for increased income and profit and the stock that was one of ICInsider.com’s 2021 picks with a 435 percent increase since the start of 2021. ICInsider.com puts the stock price at $40 for 2022 as the company reports record profits and completes the acquisition of an overseas business during the year. Investors should look to a big bounce in the December quarterly profits that should triple the US$1.6 million profit made in the September quarter as revenues for the last quarter of 2021 come in around US$35 million compared to US$25 million for the September quarter.
Caribbean Cement – Earnings per share is projected at $10 for 2022. The company was on target to earn around $8 per share last year but lower sales in the September quarter, due partly to the impact of several days when Jamaicans were not allowed to leave home and a very rainy period reduced sales volume. The stock was trading around the $115 range before the release of the third quarter results was knocked down to trade around the $100 level. The company announced a proposal for a management fee levy by Cemex at which time sellers pushed the price to the low $70 level. The selloff seems overdone, with the company having good prospects to go on to deliver good profits for investors as it benefits from the boom now taking place in the building industry.
This sector is set to continue to grow with government fiscal operations creating more space for the private sector thus taking pressure off interest rates and helping to keep them low to provide a continual stimulus for the sector and the wider economy.
VM Investments – Earnings per share is projected at 80 cents for 2022. The company had good results up to the September quarter, with revenues climbing a strong 33 percent for the September quarter and year to date and profit surging 82 percent in the third quarter and 69 percent year to date. One gather that many financial institutions had negative effects from the changes in interest rates during the December quarter as trading activities slowed thus generating less fee income than previously. The group is set to acquire a pool of mutual funds in the Eastern Caribbean with net assets around J$1.6 billion that will generate increased management fees as the company continues to look for growth going forward.

Audrey Tugwell Henry Scotia group’s CEO

Scotia Group -Earnings per share is projected at $3.65 for the year to October 2022. The group has been focusing on restructuring its operations to fit the new way of banking that relies less on physical branches than before. That has led to some branch closures and changes to services provided. This will result in reduced operating costs that will start to show in the current year.
The advent of Covid-19 in 2020 led to increased nonperforming loan provisions and a contraction in lending, with loans net of loan provisioning, falling from $221 billion in October 2020 to $209 billion in 2021 and declining from $216 billion at the end of July 2021. The fall in the loan growth should be reversed in 2022 with expansion in the local economy and continued buoyancy in the building market. Additionally, interest rates were kept to a minimum in the local economy that result in reduced interest income but with the Bank of Jamaica hike rates from half a percent to the range of 4 percent, the group will generate much increase in interest income. The increased rates could add around $9 billion to revenues in a full year and increase profit.
Investors should be focusing on the medium term prospects than on the recent past that was negatively affected by short term developments that won’t last.
PanJam Investment – Earnings per share is projected at $8 for the year. A diversified group, with focus on the property market commercial and more recently the hotel sector, liquid investments managed directly by themselves and through its 30 percent associate, Sagicor Group. Investment in the stock is likely to deliver good long term returns, but the stock seems undervalued currently with quite a bit of upside potential.
For the quarter ending September last year, profit attributable to shareholders amounted to $2.5 billion, up from $1.5 billion in 2020 and $4.8 billion for the nine months versus $2 billion in 2020, resulting in Earnings per stock unit for the quarter of $2.33 and $4.52 for the nine that should push the full year results around $7 placing the stock that traded at $66 at the end of December as undervalued at a PE of 9.6 compared to the market average of just over 16.

Christopher Williams, Proven Investments CEO.

Proven Investments – Earnings per share is projected at 0.28 US cents for the year to March 2023. Proven stock has not performed over the past year but it could do so this year as acquisitions made recently, starts to contribute to improvement in revenues and profit. Investors would recall that the company raised fresh capital in late 2020 amounting to US$29 million in addition to sums raised a year or two before that was not fully utilized to acquire new business that would deliver a rate of return on investment that was much greater than cash funds. During the last year, the company closed on some acquisitions that are set to contribute to increased profits and enhanced earnings per share. The company also plans to rationalize some of the geographically diverse holdings to generate economies of scale and thus improve profitability further.
Grace Kennedy – Earnings per share is projected at $12 for the year. Earnings of $12 may appear steep, but that is possible, with continued growth in the food division and recovery in the financial sector as well as strong economic recovery in the main markets it operates in. regardless the stock is currently undervalued and will be a good vehicle for long term growth.
QWI Investments – Earnings per share is projected at 88 cents for the year to September 2022. The numbers appear rich but ICInsider.com expects Access Financial Services to come into its own in the current year and drive its stock price well into the $50 region or more and along with other excellent holdings of QWI that are poised to deliver great returns during the year. The stock was one of the better performers on the Main Market last year with a rise of 14 percent and the NAV increasing 21.5 percent. Last year NCB Group had a block of shares on sale that pressured the price for months but those are taken out and the company may be in a position to buy back shares as such 2022 is likely to be a year of improving fortunes.

Christopher Levy – Jamaica Broilers President and Chief Executive.

Jamaica Broilers – Earnings per share is projected at $3 for the year to April 2023. The group has been expanding with a good degree of focus on the North American market.
For the year to October, last year’s group revenues for the six months amounted to $35.8 billion, 35 percent higher than the $26.5 billion achieved in the corresponding six months of the previous year. Gross profit for the six months increased less than the growth in revenues at 14 percent to $7.3 billion, Gross profit as a percentage of sales declined from 24 percent in the prior year to 20 percent. The decline is primarily attributable to increased input costs that were partially mitigated by the significant growth in the US business. For the six months ended 30 October 2021, the net profit after tax was $872 million, a 21 percent decrease versus the corresponding period in the prior year. The decrease is primarily due to foreign exchange gains of $290 million in the previous year, including in finance costs, compared to foreign exchange losses of $70 million in the current year. The prior year’s gains were mainly in the Haiti Operations where the Haitian Gourdes experienced significant revaluation against the US dollar. Operating profit of $1.7 billion was aligned with the prior year.

Filed Under: Buy Rated, Feature Stories, Investment 2024, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The case for Main Market stocks in 2022

January 16, 2022 by

Investors’ attention turned to the Junior Market in both 2020 and 2021 as that market provided better values for stocks and therefore greater opportunities to make higher profits. Projected earnings of the listed companies suggest that the situation is unlikely to change in 2022.
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange eked out a modest gain of 1.1 percent in the All Jamaica Composite index at the end of 2021, the index was 21.7 percent lower than the end of 2019.
The PE for the Main market is 14 times 2022 earnings compared to 16 based on 2021 earnings, that does not suggest a big uptick for the market with just a 14 percent increase expected in 2022 over 2021 that would push the index to 499,694 points, still well below the 559,853.26 points the market closed out 2019 at.
There are several stocks in the market, data suggest could more than double in 2022 and investor would be wise to not only pay attention but pick up some of these undervalued stocks in preparation for long term growth as the Jamaican economy rebounds and move into a new stage of long term positive growth that a number of these companies will benefit from.
Banks could be amongst the big performer as they shed the need for continued heavy provisioning of loans as well as grow their book of loans to deliver more income to profits. Added the increase in interest rates will help improve their net interest income.
ICInsider.com data indicates that there are 8 stocks that can double in the Main Market in 2022 into early 2023. 2021 finished with several stocks trading at or above 20 times earnings in the Main Market if that level of valuation continues into 2022 and is more widespread, then the gain in the market could exceed the above potential gains. In the final analysis, the market index is just a simple measure as to how the overall market is doing. It comes down to individual stocks that can do well and that is the case for ICInsider.com TOP15 stocks.

Filed Under: Feature Stories, Investment 2024, JSE Main Market, Stock Market Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

3 new ICTOP10 listings as Spur Tree exists

January 15, 2022 by

The Junior Market ICTOP10 stocks have three new listings in a week that saw Spur Tree Spices trading for the first time on Friday with the price climbing to $1.32 for a rise of 32 percent since the Initial Public offer at the end of 2021, there are no new Main Market listings.
Other stocks that were in the spotlight this past week were ones that lasted off to record new all-time highs and include AMG Packaging, Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Caribbean Producers and Dolphin Cove a TOP10 contender up to the week ending December 2, also hit a 52 weeks’ high of $23.50 this past week to be up more than 100% since it came into the top flight in August last year at $9.86.
With the rise in the price of Spur Tree Spices, the stock is one of four to move out of the TOP10, followed by Medical Disposables that 16 percent for the week and Caribbean Cream that reported terrible third quarter results with a loss being made in the period as revenues climbed 14 percent in the quarter. Coming into the TOP10 are Lumber Depot, Fontana and General Accident.
Junior Market, AMG Packaging rose a strong 45 percent, ahead of the first quarter results to November that showed profit after tax jumping a big 146 percent over 2020. Investors can expect more gains to come this coming week as the stock traded up $3.90 last week. Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed to a new 52 weeks’ high during the week and closed $3.12 up 26 percent, Access Financial Services continues to seesaw and recovered 17 percent to $20 this past week and Elite Diagnostic gained 8 percent to $3.18.
The sharp price movements in the Junior Market reduced the potential gains markedly, with the average gains projected for the TOP 10 Junior Market stocks now 122 percent versus 148 percent last week.
The top three stocks are Access Financial Services followed by Lasco Distributors and Caribbean Assurance Brokers can gain between 124 and 160 percent, sharply down from 182 and 204 percent, previously.
Major Main Market TOP10 moving stocks are Caribbean Producers up 7 percent, to $15.99 and Radio Jamaica rallying 7 percent to $3.45 as increased buying interest came in for the stock.
The potential gains for Main Market stocks moved from 146 percent to this weeks’ 144 percent this week, with top three Main Market stocks being Guardian Holdings followed by JMMB Group and Radio Jamaica all projected to gain between 161 and 257 percent up from 199 and 258 percent last week.
The Junior Market closed the week, with an average PE of 14.7 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings and is currently well below the target of 20 and the average of 17 at the end of March this year based on 2020 earnings. The TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of a mere 9.1, with a 38 percent discount to that market’s average.
The Junior Market can gain 36 percent to March this year, based on an average PE of 20 and 16 percent based on an average PE of 17. Eleven stocks representing 26 percent of all Junior Market stocks with positive earnings are trading at or above this level averaging 25.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market is 16.4, just 16 percent less than the PE of 19 at the end of March and 22 percent below the target of 20 to March 2022. The Main Market TOP 10 average PE is 8.5 representing a 48 percent discount to the market and well below the potential of 20. A total of 14 stocks or 30 percent of the market trade at or above a PE of 19, with most over 20, for an average roundabout 25, suggesting that the accepted multiple is between 20 and 25 times the current year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to stocks that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios 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 per share 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 Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Faltering main market performance

January 14, 2022 by

More Main Market stock fell than those gaining at the close of trading sending the primary indices sliding downwards at the close on Friday, following a 37 percent slippage in the volume of shares trading and a 24 percent lower value than Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 1,923.73 points to  434,686.58, the JSE Main Index plunged 2,282.45 points to 392,790.90 and the JSE Financial Index fell 1.22 points to end at 96.27.
Trading ended with 55 securities up from 50 on Thursday, with 20 rising, 25 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
A total of 8,020,198 shares traded for $70,531,082 compared to 12,654,913 units at $92,312,652 on Thursday. Wigton Windfarm led trading with 29.3 percent of total volume in exchanging 2.35 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 23.2 percent for 1.86 million units and Caribbean Producers, 7 percent with 560,506 units.
Trading averages 145,822 units at $1,282,383, compared to 253,098 shares at $1,846,253 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 163,194 units at $1,201,059, compared to 165,227 units at $1,191,542 on Thursday. December closed with an average of 479,143 units at $6,686,322.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 16.1. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes are based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2022.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments lost 70 cents to close at $94.80 with an exchange of 6,826 shares, Caribbean Cement shed 74 cents in ending at $72.20 with the swapping of 35,410 units, Caribbean Producers lost 31 cents to close at $15.99 with 560,506 stocks crossing the exchange. Eppley rallied 50 cents to $36.50 in trading 4,090 stock units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund advanced $4.69 to $41 with 318 units clearing the market, Guardian Holdings rose $4 to end at $516 in an exchange of 2,061 shares. Jamaica Broilers fell $1.49 to close at $27.50 with the swapping of 87,177 stock units, Jamaica Producers shed 80 cents in closing at $22.20 after trading 3,255 stocks, Kingston Properties gained 74 cents ending at $9.74 in switching ownership of 3,063 units. Kingston Wharves fell $1.02 to $41.97 with 2,723 stock units changing hands, Mayberry Investments lost 48 cents to finish at $7.50 after 3,176 stocks crossed the market, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced $3 to close at $100 in switching ownership of 18 shares. NCB Financial declined $2 in closing at $125 with a transfer of 36,012 stocks, Palace Amusement dropped $14.33 to $980.67 with 15 units changing hands, PanJam Investment popped $1.10 to close at $65.90 in transferring 78,896 stock units. Proven Investments lost 30 cents after ending at $32.80 with an exchange of 9,242 shares, Sagicor Group rose $2.99 to end at $54.50 after trading 9,409 stocks, Sagicor Real Estate Fund shed 40 cents to close at $8 with 3,615 stock units changing hands. Scotia Group fell $1.33 to finish at $35.01 with an exchange of 335,649 shares, Seprod popped 50 cents to $63.50 in switching ownership of 3,801 units and Supreme Ventures shed 80 cents to $17 in an exchange of 117,937 units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7.25% preference share gained 46 cents to close at $3.54 with 6,100 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

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