Stocks recorded gains in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 200 percent, with a 190 percent increase in value over trading on Tuesday, with 57 securities changing hands compared to 55 on Tuesday, with prices of 26 stocks rising, 21 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
Investors traded 38,589,987 shares at $156,062,036 up from 12,851,415 units at $53,884,935 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 677,017 shares at $2,737,930 compared to 233,662 units at $979,726 on Tuesday and month to date, an average of 299,628 units at $1,311,727 compared with 256,947 units at $1,150,430 on the previous day and January with an average of 265,804 units at $2,438,118.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 26.75 million shares for 69.3 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.84 million units for 10 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 3.64 million units for 9.4 percent of the day’s market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index increased 1,143.26 points to settle at 371,982.32, the JSE Main Index climbed 634.96 points to settle at 335,041.32 and the JSE Financial Index increased 0.41 points to cease trading at 71.66.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments climbed 92 cents to end at $71.10 and closed with 807 shares changing hands, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $2.50 in closing at $40 after exchanging 750 units, First Rock Real Estate advanced 48 cents to $8.98 with investors trading 469 shares. GraceKennedy sank 40 cents to close at $75.60 after an exchange of 57,232 stock units, Guardian Holdings declined $17.99 and ended at $350.01 with investors transferring 43 shares, Jamaica Producers lost $1.10 to $23.10, with 1,421 stock units crossing the market. JMMB Group rose $2.95 to close at $27 with a transfer of 720,211 stock units, Kingston Wharves gained 40 cents to end at $28.50, with 2,699 units changing hands, Margaritaville rallied $1.48 in closing at $16.34 after 30 stocks passed through the market. Massy Holdings skidded $2.50 and ended at $97 in trading 1,315 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities fell 53 cents to $9, with 230 shares crossing the exchange, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy increased $14.50 and ended at $91 with traders dealing in just one stock unit. NCB Financial climbed $1 to end at $69.75 as investors exchanged 62,492 shares, 
Pan Jamaica dropped 70 cents in closing at $50.50 after a transfer of 1,265 stock units, Proven Investments popped $2.02 to close at $24.97 with 100,444 stocks clearing the market. Sagicor Group shed 50 cents to end at $43.50 with an exchange of 7,767 units, Sagicor Real Estate Fund dipped 32 cents in closing at $7.62 after 1,375 stocks crossed the market, Salada Foods advanced 48 cents and ended at $3.60 in an exchange of 143,597 shares. Seprod rose 75 cents to close at $83.75 with investors swapping 3,912 stock units, Stanley Motta sank 70 cents to end at $6.30 in switching ownership of 1,113 units, Supreme Ventures shed 30 cents to $26.20 while exchanging 4,440 stocks. Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 65 cents and ended at $11.60 in trading 103,323 units and Sygnus Real Estate Finance increased 65 cents to end at $11.25 with investors dealing in 4,193 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined 90 cents in closing at $6 in an exchange of 705 stock units. Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $5.25 to close at $48.25 with investors swapping 19 shares and 138 Student Living preference share popped $3 to $217 with an exchange of 5 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE get no held from profit reports
A plethora of company results hit the Jamaica Stock Exchange market ahead of trading on Thursday but did little to move stock prices in any major way as investors may not have had the time to digest most of the new numbers, with some being B enough to move prices in the weeks ahead and the market closed with gains in the Main Market indices, with moderate slippage in the Junior and JSE USD markets, with the volume and value of stocks changing hands surging over the previous trading day, resulting in prices of 35 shares rising and 36 declining.
At the close of trading on Thursday, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 549.45 points to close at 347,570.91, the All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,143.26 points to 371,982.32, the JSE Main Index climbed 634.96 points to end trading at 335,041.32. The Junior Market Index shed 5.26 points to end at 3,808.58 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 1.80 points to cease trading at 253.80.
At the close of trading, 45,443,191 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 16,492,495 units on Tuesday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $169.49 million, up from $62.80 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 827,138 shares for US$94,452 compared with 180,495 units at US$53,094 on Tuesday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Transjamaican Highway led trading with 26.75 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 3.84 million units and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 3.64 million stock units.
In the Junior Market, Mailpac Group led trading with 2.05 million shares followed by Image Plus with 783,408 units and One Great Studio with 731,290 units.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Barita Investments climbed 92 cents to end at $71.10, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund popped $2.50 in closing at $40, JMMB Group rose $2.95 to close at $27, Margaritaville rallied $1.48 in closing at $16.34, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy increased $14.50 and ended at $91, NCB Financial climbed $1 to end at $69.75, Proven Investments popped $2.02 to close at $24.97.
The major declining Main Market stocks include Guardian Holdings declined $17.99 and ended at $350.01, Massy Holdings skidded $2.50 and ended at $97
At the end of Junior Market trading, Access Financial popped $1.27 to close at $22.68, CAC 2000 climbed 38 cents to $4.21 Dolphin Cove rallied 97 cents to $18.97, and Medical Disposables increased 18 cents and ended at $2.70. with the major losing stocks being Honey Bun that sank 39 cents to end at $6.30, Jamaican Teas shedding 18 cents to close at $2.40, Limners and Bards losing 18 cents in closing at $1.4 and Mailpac Group popping 19 cents to $2.38.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share declined 90 cents in closing at $6, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $5.25 to close at $48.25 and 138 Student Living preference share popped $3 to $217.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.4 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Trading dips on JSE Main market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Tuesday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 64 percent and the value 61 percent lower than on Monday, with trading in 55 securities compared with 58 on Monday, with prices of 24 stocks rising, 19 declining and 12 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 12,851,415 shares trading for $53,884,935, down from 35,567,325 units at $139,024,409 on Monday.
Trading averaged 233,662 shares at $979,726 compared to 613,230 units at $2,396,973 on Monday and month to date, an average of 256,947 units at $1,150,430, compared with 259,799 units at $1,171,340 on the previous day and January with an average of 265,804 units at $2,438,118.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4 million shares for 31.1 percent of total volume followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 3.94 million units for 30.7 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.83 million units for 14.3 percent of the volume of stocks traded.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 93.57 points to close trading at 370,839.06, the JSE Main Index fell 377.08 points to finish at 334,406.36 and the JSE Financial Index sank 0.55 points to close at 71.25.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.5. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 13 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dipped $1.02 to end at $70.18 in trading 25,060 stock units, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.99 to $55.99, with 5,141 shares changing hands, Eppley popped $1.99 to $35.99 as investors exchanged 5,247 stocks. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell by $2.50 to close at $37.50, with 7,102 units crossing the market, GraceKennedy advanced 44 cents and ended at $76 with a transfer of 2,422 stocks, Guardian Holdings rose $8 to $368 with 19 units clearing the market. Jamaica Broilers declined 50 cents to close at $34 after closing with an exchange of 28,112 shares, Jamaica Producers rallied 65 cents to end at $24.20 with investors trading 84 stock units, JMMB Group shed $1.39 in closing at $24.05 while exchanging 242,450 shares. 
Kingston Wharves dropped $2.40 and ended at $28.10 in switching ownership of 80,542 units, Massy Holdings lost 50 cents to close at $99.50 after exchanging 26 stocks, Pan Jamaica increased $1.08 to end at $51.20 with investors trading 189 stock units. Sagicor Group gained 50 cents in closing at $44 in an exchange of 7,763 shares, Salada Foods sank 33 cents and ended at $3.12 with investors swapping 11,295 units, Scotia Group rose 50 cents to close at $45 with an exchange of 47,920 stocks. Seprod rallied $1 to $83, with 2,377 stock units crossing the market, Supreme Ventures increased $1.97 and ended at $26.50 with investors transferring 68,313 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments climbed 32 cents in closing at $3 in an exchange of 49,930 units and Wisynco Group skidded 30 cents to close at $21.70 with investors dealing in 307,864 stocks.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $5.80 to end at $43 after a transfer of 561 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share declined $16 to $1284 with traders dealing in 3 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
The JSE Main & Junior markets fall
The Main and the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange lost ground in trading on Tuesday as the JSE USD market inched moderately higher as trading ended with the volume and the value of stocks changing hands falling, compared with the previous day and resulted in the prices of 30 stocks rising and 42 declining.
At the close of trading, the Combined Market Index shed 524.55 points to close at 347,021.46, the All Jamaican Composite Index advanced by 93.57 points to 370,839.06, the JSE Main Index sank 377.08 points to close at 334,406.36. The Junior Market Index fell 19.52 to 3,813.32. The JSE Main & Junior markets rose 0.21 points to 255.60.
At the close of trading, 16,492,495 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 47,975,821 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $62.80 million, from $164.28 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 180,495 shares for US$53,094 compared to 452,800 units at US$59,221 on Monday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by Wigton Windfarm with a leading trade of 4 million shares followed by JMMB 9.5% preference share with 3.94 million units and Transjamaican Highway with 1.83 million stocks.
In the Junior Market, Tropical Battery led trading with 847,958 shares followed by One Great Studio with 346,363 units and Indies Pharma with 292,036 shares.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Barita Investments dipped $1.02 to $70.18, Caribbean Cement climbed $1.99 in closing at $55.99, Eppley popped $1.99 to $35.99, Guardian Holdings rose $8 to $368, Pan Jamaica increased $1.08 to end at $51.20, Seprod rallied $1 to $83 and Supreme Ventures increased $1.97 and ended at $26.50.
The major declining Main Market stocks are Eppley Caribbean Property Fund that fell $2.50 to close at $37.50, JMMB Group shedding $1.39 in closing at $24.05 and Kingston Wharves dropping $2.40 and ending at $28.10.
At the end of Junior Market trading, Fontana climbed 28 cents to close at $10.60, with the major losing stocks being Access Financial down $1.24 to close at $21.41, AMG Packaging shedding 24 cents to $2.71, CAC 2000 declining 68 cents to end at $3.83, Dolphin Cove skidding 32 cents to $18 as ISP Finance dropped $6.33 to $25.02.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% sank $5.80 to end at $43 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share declined $16 to $1,284.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.3 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.2. times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so.
This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
JSE Main market declines
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks traded jumping 135 percent and the value 64 percent more than on Friday, with trading in 58 securities compared with 53 on Friday, with prices of 23 stocks rising, 19 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
The market closed with 35,567,325 shares trading for $139,024,409 up from 15,118,549 units at $85,008,912 on Friday.
Trading averaged 613,230 shares at $2,396,973 compared with 285,256 units at $1,603,942 on Friday and month to date, an average of 259,799 units at $1,171,340, in comparison with 207,372 units at $989,533 on the previous day and January closing with an average of 265,804 units at $2,438,118.
QWI Investments led trading with 13.42 million shares for 37.7 percent of total volume, following one major seller and two main buyers, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 8.98 million units for 25.3 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway ended with 5.22 million stock units for 14.7 percent market share, Mayberry Group finished trading with 1.31 million units for 3.7 percent of the overall volume, Carreras chipped in with 1.26 million stocks for 3.5 percent stocks traded and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.04 million units for 2.9 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 775.69 points to end at 370,745.49, the JSE Main Index shed 467.96 points to close trading at 334,783.44 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.22 points to end at 71.80.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
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 gained 93 cents to end at $71.20 in trading 144,505 units, Berger Paints climbed 46 cents and ended at $6.23 with 100 stocks clearing the market, Caribbean Cement rose 49 cents in closing at $54 with investors dealing in 5,877 shares. Eppley declined $4.50 to end at $34 with a transfer of 447 stock units, Guardian Holdings shed $8 to close at $360 with investors swapping 539 shares, Jamaica Broilers advanced 50 cents to $34.50 in an exchange of 24,238 stocks. Jamaica Producers dropped $1.45 in closing at $23.55, with 274,748 units crossing the market,
JMMB Group fell 94 cents to $25.44 as investors traded 535,797 stock units, Kingston Wharves popped $2.50 to end at $30.50 after 38,792 shares were traded. Massy Holdings gained $1 and ended at $100 with investors transferring 594 units, NCB Financial rallied 60 cents to $68.50 after exchanging 43,508 stocks, Sagicor Group skidded 49 cents and ended at $43.50, with 54,195 stock units crossing the market. Salada Foods rose 35 cents to close at $3.45 with traders dealing in 285 shares, Scotia Group lost $1 to end at $44.50 and closed after an exchange of 208,902 units, Supreme Ventures dipped $1.17 to close at $24.53 with investors trading 326,625 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 42 cents to $10.94 in an exchange of 855 stock units and Victoria Mutual Investments sank 52 cents to end at $2.68 changing hands 196,536 shares.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share increased 90 cents in closing at $18.90 after an exchange of 500 stocks. 
Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $1.80 and ended at $48.80 as 225 units passed through the market and Productive Business Solutions 10.5 % preference share advanced $210 to close at $1,300 with 10 stock units crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Values slip on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with slippage in values in all markets and ended with QWI Investments leading trading with nearly 38 percent of the volume traded that exceeded trading on Friday in the overall market with the jumping sharply over trading on Friday, resulting in prices of 31 shares rising and 32 declining.
At the close of trading on Monday, the JSE Combined Market Index dipped 563.01 points to close at 347,546.01, the All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 775.69 points to cease trading at 370,745.49, the JSE Main Index shed 467.96 points to culminate at 334,783.44. The Junior Market Index fell 14.17 points to conclude trading at 3,833.36 and the JSE USD Market Index skidded 0.80 points to 255.39.
At the close of trading, 47,975,821 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 31,165,012 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $164.28 million, up from $120.9 million yesterday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 452,800 shares for US$59,221 compared to 72,092 units at US$2,833 on Friday.
Trading in the Main Market was dominated by QWI Investments led trading with 13.42 million shares followed by Wigton Windfarm with 8.98 million units for 25.3 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 5.22 million units, Mayberry Group with 1.31 million stock units, Carreras with 1.26 million shares and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.04 million units.
In the Junior Market, Derrimon Trading led trading with 5.46 million shares, Mailpac Group with 1.44 million units and One Great Studio with 1.10 million stocks.
At the close of trading on the Main Market, Barita Investments increased by 93 cents to $71.20, Kingston Wharves popped $2.50 to end at $30.50, Massy Holdings gained $1 and ended at $100
In the Main Market, Eppley declined $4.50 to end at $34, Guardian Holdings shed $8 to close at $360, Jamaica Producers dropped $1.45 in closing at $23.55, JMMB Group fell 94 cents to close at $25.44, Scotia Group lost $1 to end at $44.50, Supreme Ventures dipped $1.17 in closing at $24.53.
At the end of Junior Market trading, Knutsford Express increased $1 and ended at $12.38 and Tropical Battery climbed 30 cents to end at $2.70 but Dolphin Cove was down 66 cents to $18.32.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share increased 90 cents in closing at $18.90, Jamaica Public Service 7% popped $1.80 and ended at $48.80 and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share advanced $210 to close at $1,300.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.2 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to remove emotions from investment decisions and place them on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide for investors to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
ICTOP10 reaping from bullish market
The start of a bull market is appearing with the Jamaica Stock Exchange moving higher, partially helped by rising profits of some companies, as a result, the USD market is solidly in the black for 2024 to date, with a rise of 11 percent while the Main Market sits with a gain of 2.9 percent and the Junior Market is now back at the 2023 end of year level on Friday, but just below. At the same time two listings reported nine months results reflecting improving profit that should help the stock prices in the weeks ahead.
During the week new results were released to the market, with mostly positive profit outcomes that should aid the prices of stocks going forward as the results help to lay a foundation for prices in the short term as this provides investors with a better sense of valuations of these companies. There will be more releases this week as the deadline date for their release is this week for companies that have not opted for 60 days publication of audited accounts.
Earnings were revised downwards by a few cents for Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing, following the release of nine months results, that show continued growth in profits.
Last week IC Insider.com reported Scotia Group and TransJamaican Highway that traded at 52 weeks’ high they now seem to have topped out for a while, with both undervalued with quite some room to run for 2024. Scotia has an undisclosed amount on offer at $46.
The past week ended with minimal price changes for Junior Market stocks but the Main Market threw up a few, with General Accident rising 12 percent to close at $5.30, followed by JMMB Group up 10 percent to $26.38 and Caribbean Producers up 4 percent to $9.09 as Margaritaville dropped 15 percent to $14.86 and Palace Amusement lost 8 percent to close at $1.20.
As was the case for the previous week the markets closed with no addition to the ICInsider.com TOP 10 stocks.
For the full list of weekly percentage changes for the ICTOP10 stocks, check the attached charts that now carry a column of the weekly percentage price movements.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.3, well below the market average of 13.7 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7.,5 just over half of the market, with an average of 13.6
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 287 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings, providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to gain 169 percent over the same time frame.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 30 and 21 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 25 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 13 stocks, or 27 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 45, averaging 22, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for stocks, currently.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2024 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and result in weekly movements in and out of the lists. Revisions to earnings are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
The JSE Main Market continues to rally
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with a 42 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded with a value 158 percent more than on Thursday, with trading in 53 securities compared with 50 on Thursday, with prices of 23 stocks rising, 19 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
The market closed with the trading of 15,118,549 shares at $85,008,912 up from 10,666,602 units at $32,927,053 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 285,256 shares for $1,603,942 compared to 213,332 units at $658,541 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 207,372 units at $989,533 compared with 195,160 units at $893,191 on the previous day and January with an average of 265,804 units at $2,438,118.
JMMB 9.5% preference share led trading with 5.81 million shares for 38.4 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 4.47 million units for 29.6 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.05 million units for 6.9 percent of stocks trading.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 2,908.19 points to finish at 371,521.18, the JSE Main Index popped 2,195.36 points to finish at 335,251.40, with a gain of 2.9 percent for 2024 to date and the JSE Financial Index climbed 0.89 points to finish at 72.02.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.7. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending around August 2024.
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, AS Bryden rallied 50 cents to in closing at $42 after 1,410 stocks were traded, Guardian Holdings lost $2 to end trading with 235 units at $368, Jamaica Broilers dipped 50 cents to $34 with investors trading 2,496 shares. Jamaica Producers popped $1.68 in closing at $25 with an exchange of 5,683 stock units, JMMB Group climbed 39 cents to end at $26.38 with 57,594 shares changing hands, Mayberry Jamaican Equities increased 59 cents to $9.53 with investors transferring 52,767 stock units. NCB Financial rose $2.85 in closing at $67.90 after exchanging 424,334 units,
Scotia Group rallied 50 cents to close at $45.50 with investors trading in 53,020 stocks, Seprod shed $3.50 to end at $82 in an exchange of 213,669 shares. Stanley Motta advanced 50 cents to end at $7, with 11,946 stock units crossing the market, Supreme Ventures rose 50 cents to $25.70 in an exchange of 5,297 units and Sygnus Credit Investments declined $1.21 in closing at $10.52 after 286,438 stock units crossed the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.25% preference share rallied $1 to close at $18 after a transfer of 6,400 shares, Jamaica Public Service 7% fell $2.30 and ended at $47 with 193 stock units crossing the exchange and Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share popped $15 to end at $1,090 with a transfer of 300 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
ICTOP 15 Main & Junior Market stocks for 2024
Stocks are set for a major ride higher in 2024 following two years of subpar performance of the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The market did not perform well in 2023, the Main Market fell 8.5 percent and the Junior Market the US dollar market declined by 3.5 percent and 1.2 percent respectively, but technical reading of the Main Market is pointing to a solid rally ahead, with some stocks breaking out of a prolonged period of consolidation.
Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) raised interest rates in 2021 with the overnight rate landing at 7 percent in November 2022 and has remained there since, with BOJ keeping a tight lid on market rates by the use of Certificate of Deposits with rates mostly around 10 percent on average, to tame inflation that peaked close to 12 percent in early 2023.
The stock market has not performed well in that environment. Contrasting that with the US where the Federal Reserve raised rates over two years, with the last increase in July last year. Notwithstanding, the US stock market indices were racing forward and are now at record levels while the JSE Main Market is still below the Covid-19-affected levels but the Junior Market trades at much higher levels than the lows of 2020.
Many investors consider that higher interest rates reduce stock prices, but they are only partially correct. Interest rates affect the valuation of stocks not necessarily the price of stocks. Put another way, higher rates reduce the PE ratios used to value stocks but if profits are rising faster than the increase in rates, stock values will tend to rise as the company is more valuable despite the rate increase. With rising rates the PE ratio mostly used in stock valuation will fall with rising rates and rise when rates are declining.
The Junior Market is presently in a triangular formation that will lead to a big breakout soon.
If profits don’t rise above the level of PE decline then the market will most likely adjust the stock price down. So while interest rates remained stable in 2023 at levels higher than 2021, a total of 31 companies posted gains in the market last year. That is the reason why Scotia Group posted gains from late 2023 into 2024, with some others doing likewise. Other factors to consider are that higher rates may result in higher interest costs for some companies or reduced revenues that could reduce profit but companies with investment funds may enjoy higher profits as they may enjoy increased interest income.
The lack of performance for the Jamaica Stock Exchange last year was not interest rates, but mostly lacklustre profit performance by several companies. What the issue illustrates is the import of careful stock selection with a focus on companies with a good track record of growing profits consistently over several years.
Technical indicators are pointing to a bottoming out of the Main Market that has broken out from a market squeeze, with technical indicators indicating a huge run ahead for the market, see market index chart. At the same time, the Junior Market closed 2023, with a negative undertone that could remain in place for a while until events push it in a new direction. Company profits seem the most likely factor in the medium term.
Part of the decline in the Junior Market in 2023 is due to an overall level of over-exuberance by investors in 2022, pushing the prices of a limited number of Junior Market stocks to unrealistic levels, with sharp correction for some of these in 2023 and helping to drag the market. The situation in the Main Market was somewhat different with a lack of interest from institutional investors until the final quarter of the year which is reflected in a continuous slide in the Main Market Index throughout the year until the end of September, indeed from a two-year high of 461,783 points on the All Jamaica Composite Index in May 2022 until it bottomed at the end of September 2023 at 344,153 points and put on almost 23,000 points to the end of the year. While the Main Market declined for two consecutive years, the Junior Market was experiencing its first yearly decline since 2020.
Inflation moderated during the year within the central bank’s target of 4 to 6 percent on a number of occasions. By the end of November, the year over year inflation rate was just above the bank’s upper limit of 6 percent, with the rate hitting 6.9 percent in December. Certain price adjustments particularly in public transportation impacted inflation negatively towards the latter part of the year, some of these may carry over into 2024. The bank also fears possible wage increases that could be unusually high and place upward pressure on inflation.
For the first three months of 2024, it should be instructive to see where inflation is likely to be and what could become of interest rates during the year. What is clear is that falling market rates in the USA are likely to set the tone ultimately in Jamaica and that should be aided by expectations that the FED will start reducing rates during the second quarter of 2024.
A look at the stock market at this juncture suggests that profits should continue to be positive as can be seen from a compilation of company results for the third quarter of 2023. Data shows that profits for the nine months are up 4 percent and for the quarter up a B 46 percent over similar periods in 2022. A major part of the drag on profits was approximately $11 billion provisions made by NCB Financial for staff redundancies and one-time bonus compensation.
Barring increased interest rates, the Jamaican economy should grow just around two percent in 20224 and that ought to be sufficient to help generate increased demand for goods and services and assist many listed companies to increase profits from existing operations. Expanding companies will see above average performances.
The Junior Market and the Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange are flashing bullish signals that suggest an uptick in the market. This is reflected in projected PE ratios for 2024 for both markets with the projected ratios well below the current levels of valuation for 2023.
The average PE for the JSE Main and Junior Market for 2024 based on that year’s earnings is 10.5 and 9 respectively, compared to the current levels of 14 based on 2023 earnings, at the same time the ICTOP 15 based on 2024 earnings stand at around 5, well below the market average of 14, barring increases in interest rates and disappointing profits, PE ratios should return to the average around 14, resulting in a 180 percent jump in values for the IC TOP15 stocks during 2024 at the minimum, and more if the country’s central bank lowers rates during 2024, with a 50 percent rise in the overall market.
Data for the market in 2023 showed that companies with outstanding profit growth found favour with investors who bid the prices of those stocks higher in most cases. Stocks of companies with profit declining or with moderate profit increases were mostly marked down by the investing public. Examples, are to be found in TransJamaican Highway, Lasco Distributors, Lasco Manufacturers, Dolphin Cove, General Accident, Fontana, Main Event, Knutsford Express and Scotia Group with Wisynco Group to name a few that enjoyed price gains. A number of the performances of these stocks benefited from recovery in the tourism sector directly or indirectly.
For 2024, companies that are expanding may be worth investing in as they are likely to enjoy above-average growth in revenues and profits going forward. Companies in this category include Wisynco, Caribbean Cement, Caribbean Cream, Grace Kennedy, Jamaican Teas, Caribbean Producers, Jetcon, Fontana, Express Catering, Stationery and Office Supplies, Edufocal, Transjamaican Highway, Stanley Motta, and Tropical Battery.
Trading drops on JSE Main Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded rising 77 percent, but the value plunged 19 percent lower than on Wednesday, with trading in 50 securities down from 58 on Wednesday, with prices of 22 stocks rising, 13 declining and 15 ending unchanged.
The market closed on Thursday with an exchange of 10,666,602 shares trading for $32,927,053 versus 6,035,529 units at $40,658,701 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 213,332 shares at $658,541 compared with 104,061 units at $701,012 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 195,160 units at $893,191 compared with 192,005 units at $933,929 on the previous day and January that closed with an average of 265,804 units at $2,438,118.
JMMB 9.5% preference share was the leading trade with 6.95 million units for 65.2 percent of total volume followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.25 million stock units for 11.7 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 922,977 units for 8.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 1,943.63 points to culminate at 368,612.99, the JSE Main Index shed 1,377.96 points to end at 333,056.04 and the JSE Financial Index declined 0.46 points to close at 71.13.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement rallied 60 cents to end at $53.80 in switching ownership of 4,459 shares, Caribbean Producers rose 47 cents in closing at $9.28 with traders dealing in 33,588 stocks, First Rock Real Estate sank 48 cents to $8.50, with 3,000 shares crossing the market. GraceKennedy dropped 50 cents to close at $75.50 in trading 28,466 stock units, Guardian Holdings gained $10 and ended at $370 with 11 shares clearing the market, Jamaica Broilers popped 50 cents to $34.50 with investors dealing in 16,211 units. Jamaica Producers fell $2.68 and ended at $23.32 in an exchange of 6,281 stocks, JMMB Group increased 99 cents to end at $25.99 with investors trading 44,105 stock units, Kingston Properties declined 51 cents in closing at $7.02 with 18,013 shares crossing the market. 
Massy Holdings climbed 99 cents to close at $98.99 after investors ended trading 283 stock units, NCB Financial shed $1.95 to close at $65.05 with investors trading 81,190 shares, Proven Investments advanced 50 cents to $23 after an exchange of 930 stock units. Seprod lost 50 cents and ended at $85.50 with investors swapping 34,417 shares, Stanley Motta rose 40 cents to end at $6.50 with a transfer of 2,371 stock units, Supreme Ventures dipped 49 cents to close at $25.20 after an exchange of 526 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 93 cents to $11.73, with 6,591 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated