The week just ended saw investors knocking bank stocks down following the surprise announcement by Bank of Jamaica to get banks to suspend the payment of dividends for the remainder of 2020 and that helped to push the market index sharply lower with some recovery on the last three days of the week.
Caribbean Cement and NCB Financial released first-quarter results in the past week with lower profit than the previous year’s March quarter. As if investors expected the outturn, the stock prices did not seem to react to them.
The Junior Market, after attempting to close higher for the past six days finally did so on Friday a sign that it could be heading higher in the days ahead as it traded as high as 2,478 points on Friday just below the close on April 16.
The Junior and Main Market, IC Insider.com TOP 10 closed the week with one change each. Dropping from the list are Access Financial Services for the Junior Market and replaced by Stationery and Office Supplies, while Stanley Motta dropped from the Main Market listing and replaced by Victoria Mutual Investments.
The three top Junior Market stocks with the potential to gain between 344 to 660 percent by 2021 are Caribbean Producers leading, followed by Lasco Financial and KLE Group. In the Main Market, Radio Jamaica continues to lead, followed by Berger Paints and JMMB Group, with projected gains of 173 to 213 percent.
This week’s focus: Stationery and Office Supplies fell from a high of $16.35 last august is now trading at a discount of 61.5 percent to that price. The stock had moved from $6.85 in May last year to the high after revenues climbed by 23 percent for the half-year to $639 million to $519 million and profits rose 63 percent from $56 million to $92 million. The half years revenues compare favourably with the $702 million generated in the twelve months in 2016, the year before listing in 2017. 
Revenues grew around 12 percent from 2013 to 2016, then increased to 17.4 percent for 2018 and 14.5 percent for 2019. The company has an excellent management team that is growth-oriented as such investors can look forward to revenues growing in the 15-20 percent range going forward. In pursuit of this objective, the company is putting in place additional storage facilities to accommodate a robust expansion of sales. Investors should not rule out the possibility that they could expand from acquisitions as well as was the case with the addition of the business making the SEEK brand. While the disruption caused by the Coronavirus could derail the medium-term growth, it will only be a matter of time for management to pick up and return to the pre virus growth levels.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on the profits of companies reporting full year’s results for the financial year ending after this year’s second quarter and up to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 12.5 and the Junior Market a mere 9, based on current 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 5.3 with the Main Market at a much higher level of 8.3.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at a discount of 43 percent of the average for Junior Market and Main Market stocks trade at a discount of 34 percent to the overall market. The average projected gain for the IC TOP 10 stocks is 319 percent, for the Junior Market and 148 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns to March 2021. Forecasted earnings and PE ratio for the current fiscal year are in determining potential gains. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis when new information is received that can affect earnings significantly.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index increased 1,822.62 points to 399,394.72, the JSE Market Index gained 1,640.98 points to close at 364,045.96 and the JSE Financial Index rose 0.61 points to 97.97.
The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 1,077,021 units valued at $3,829,201 for each security changing hands, compared to 1,033,414 units valued at $3,863,268 previously. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
Mayberry Equities climbed $1.30 to $9.80 trading 12,100 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $2 to $147 after just 261 units crossed through the exchange. NCB Financial Group shed $3 in closing at $143, trading 56,094 shares, PanJam Investment closed $1.40 higher at $76.40, in exchanging 243,133 stock units, Proven Investments gained $1.90 to finish at $37, with 2,385 stock units changing hands. Sagicor Real Estate Fund lost 64 cents exchanging 20,018 units to settle at $7.11, Salada Foods climbed $2.50 to $28.50 after trading 1,900 units, Scotia Group rose $2.50 to $43.50, after transferring 54,471 stock units. Seprod picked up $1.50 to close at $45, in trading 13,743 shares and Wisynco Group lost 54 cents to end at $17.36, with 48,127 units crossing the exchange.
The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 1,033,414 units valued at $3,863,268 for each security changing hands, compared to 1,073,044 units valued at $3,888,297 for each security traded. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
Key Insurance raked in 95 cents to reach a record high of $6.50, with a transfer of 25,094 stock units, Mayberry Investments lost 30 cents trading 3,413 units and closed at $5.50, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $2 to $149, after swapping 420 units. NCB Financial Group recovered $8 of the recent losses to close at $146, trading 437,464 shares, PanJam Investment closed $1 lower at $75, in exchanging 317,961 shares, Proven Investments declined $2.40 to finish at $35.10, with 44,783 stock units changing hands. Scotia Group fell $2 to $41, after transferring 33,448 stock units, Seprod picked up $1.50 to close at $43.50, in trading 8,215 units and Stanley Motta gained 30 cents to end the day at $5, with 15,000 units crossing the exchange.
This week’s focus: General Accident is set to do very well. Last year’s earnings grew 48 percent from an increase of 22 percent in gross premium income and a 25 percent increase in net premium. The company acquired majority shares in the Trinidad based
Uncertainties exist in the economy and financial markets accordingly, and it is not possible to determine the exact impact on company earnings for the rest of the year. Actual earnings could vary materially from IC Insider.com’s forecast. Looking beyond the immediate fallout or benefits for companies can be useful in guiding investment decisions for above-average gains in the period ahead.
The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 12.8 and the Junior Market a mere 9, based on current 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a just 5.3 with the Main Market at a much higher level of 8.5.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns to March 2021. Forecasted earnings and PE ratio for the current fiscal year are in determining potential gains. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate and will result in movements of the selection in and out of the lists for most weeks. Earnings per share are revised on an ongoing basis when new information is received that affects earnings significantly.
At the close, the All Jamaican Composite Index rose 1,331.58 points to close at 418,817, the JSE Market Index gained 1,205.42 points to close at 381,593.65 and the JSE Financial Index added 0.55 points to 103.52.
The Market closed with an average of 410,412 units valued at $2,124,137 for each security traded, in contrast to 418,093 units valued at $3,884,360 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 1,025,936 units valued at $3,731,907 for each security changing hands, compared to 1,060,899 units valued at $3,829,348 for each security traded. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
Jamaica Stock Exchange lost 37 cents to end at $20.63 after 11,170 shares passed through the market, JMMB Group dropped $1.44 and closed at $36, after exchanging 213,331 stock units, Mayberry Investments gained 32 cents trading 22,096 stock units and closed at $5.55.NCB Financial Group rose $2 to end at $152, with 47,023 units changing hands, PanJam Investment traded 1,465 and fell $2.35 to close at $77.35, Proven Investments jumped $2.79 to close at $38.79 after 9,478 shares changed hands. Pulse Investments lost 35 cents in exchanging 3,858,682 stock units at $2.05, Salada Foods dropped $2.90 to $26, in exchanging 5,901 units. Sagicor Group traded 38,531 and lost 38 cents to end at $49.37 and Scotia Group rose $2 after transferring 21,667 stock units to finish at $47.
The JSE Market Index fell by 3,337.15 points to 380,388.23 and the JSE Financial Index slid 1.32 points to 102.97.
IC bid-offer Indicator│ At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and seven securities closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 14.1, while the Main Market ended at 14.3 times 2020-21 earnings.
Key Insurance gained 90 cents to finish at a record $4.90, with 57,241 units changing hands. Mayberry Investments gained 47 cents trading 6,101 stock units and closed at $5.87, NCB Financial Group sustained a loss of $4.93 to end at $150, in swapping 24,481 units, Salada Foods bounced $1.95 to $28.90, having gained in exchanging 100 units. Seprod rose 50 cents after transferring 8,376 stock units to finish at $48, Stanley Motta traded 500 units at $4.70, after picking up 33 cents, Sygnus Credit Investments added 50 cents to end at $17, with 25,122 stock units changing hands and Wisynco Group ended the day at $17.50, with a loss of $1.18 with 63,156 shares crossing the exchange.
At the close of the market, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 421.48 points to 423,104.07, the JSE Market Index fell 411.64 points to 385,661.51 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.57 points to close at 104.69.
The Market closed with an average of 867,914 units valued $1,806,657 for each security traded, in contrast to 755,502 units valued at an average of $1,774,456 on Monday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 960,218 units valued at $3,728,658 for each security changing hands, compared to 966,799 units valued at $3,877,090 for each security traded. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
Jamaica Producers fell by $2.78 to $16.22, after swapping 200,696 shares, JMMB Group shed 46 cents to finish at $36.94, with 30,709 shares changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped to $176, with a loss of $4.58 trading a mere 30 units. NCB Financial Group declined $1.99 to $153.01, in transferring 13,994 stock units, 138 Student Living picked up 30 cents exchanging 30,500 shares and closed at $7, PanJam Investment ended the day at $74.20, after losing $3.55 after swapping 8,643 stock units. Proven Investments closed $1.99 lower to $36.50, with a transfer of 1,404 units, Scotia Group gained 41 cents to finish at $45.42, with an exchange of 14,792 units, Seprod added $2 to close at $47.99, in trading 52,988 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $16, with a loss of $1 after exchanging 171,557 shares.
At the close, the JSE All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 2,030.54 points to 425,749.25, the JSE Market Index fell 1,694.44 points to 388,060.38 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.25 points to 105.75.
IC bid-offer Indicator│ At the end of trading, the Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator reading shows eight stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five stocks closing with lower offers. The PE ratio of the market ended at 14.1, while the Main Market ended at 14.5 times 2020/21 earnings.
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy jumped by $30.58 after transferring 494 units to end at $180.58, NCB Financial Group shed 50 cents to close at $155, with an exchange of 105,674 shares, Proven Investments picked up $1.01 to finish at $38.10, in swapping 2,500 units. Sagicor Group closed at $49, with a loss of 75 cents with 434,646 shares crossing the exchange, Salada Foods lost 50 cents after swapping 7,102 units at $28, Scotia Group fell by $2.08 to $45.81, with a transfer of 34,866 stock units. Seprod dropped $1 to close at $45, in trading 8,911 units, Stanley Motta picked up 41 cents to finish at $5.03, in exchanging 6,000 units, Supreme Ventures ended at $15.48, with a loss of $1.52 and the swapping of 47,463 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments closed at $15, after losing $2.45 trading 57,900 shares and Wisynco Group ended the exchanging of 341,913 stock units at $16, with a loss of $1.10.
The Market closed with an average of 3,336,907 units valued at $6,733,425 for each security traded, in contrast to 1,216,630 units valued at an average of $3,485,017 on Wednesday. The average volume and value for the month to date amount to 1,022,515 units valued at $4,256,393 for each security changing hands, compared to 779,477 units valued at $3,967,296 for each security traded. Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
Kingston Wharves picked up 42 cents and closed at $44, with 26,422 units changing hands. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy sustained a loss of $33 in swapping 499 units and closed at $150, NCB Financial Group fell 50 cents to $155.50 trading 35,964 units, PanJam Investment shed 85 cents to close at $75.98, with an exchange of 9,929 stock units. Portland JSX picked up 80 cents in trading only one stock unit to end at $8.90, Sagicor Group finished at $49.75, with a loss of 77 cents in exchanging 86,774 shares, Salada Foods closed at $28.50, after losing $4.95 in exchanging 10,299 units. Scotia Group gained 39 cents swapping 50,079 shares and closed at $47.89, Seprod climbed $2 to $46, with 18,441 units crossing the exchange, Stanley Motta slipped 38 cents to $4.62, in swapping 4,200 stock units and Victoria Mutual Investments ended at $7.50, with a loss of 30 cents while transferring 420,041 shares.
The market closed with 50 securities changing hands in the Main and US dollar markets with prices of nine stocks advancing, 28 declining and 13 securities trading firm. The JSE Main Market activity ended with 44 securities accounting for 53,531,710 units valued at $153,340,745, in contrast to 21,215,763 units valued at $102,509,485 from 46 securities on Tuesday.
Trading in March resulted in an average of 1,146,245 units valued at $7,550,295 for each security.
NCB Financial Group declined by $2 to $156 transferring 98,627 shares, PanJam Investment picked up 83 cents to close at $76.83, after trading 24,331 units, Proven Investments climbed $2.95 to $37 after exchanging 940 units. Sagicor Group dropped $2.98 to end at $50.52, after trading 179,780 shares, Sagicor Real Estate Fund gained 41 cents to close at $7.99, with 41,292 units changing hands. Salada Foods closed at $33.45, after climbing $5.05 in swapping a mere 120 units. Scotia Group shed 45 cents to finish at $47.50 in transferring 17,694 units, Seprod lost $3 to end at $44, with an exchange of 33,846 units, Stanley Motta lost 65 cents to close at $5, in swapping 36,575 stock units. Supreme Ventures dropped $1.99 to $17, after trading 131,365 shares, Victoria Mutual Investments ended at $7.80, with a loss of $1.20 in transferring 518,294 shares and Wisynco Group fell by $2.49 to $17, with 667,525 shares changing hands.