After a record run this past week, Epply hit a record high of $23, but closed at $22 and leaped out of the Main Market IC TOP 10 listing, with a gain of 80 percent from the end of March, when the stock went into the TOP 10 for 2020.
During the past week, companies continued the release of midyear results, with little impact on the market. Jamaica Broilers released decent first-quarter results to the end of July, with a slight improvement in after-tax profit, with operating profit rising 25 percent on lower revenues. Wisynco Group full-year audited financials showed modest gains in profit while Blue Power profits jumped 41 percent. Of the three, only Jamaica Broilers is in the TOP 10. At the close of the week, Medical Disposables dropped out of the Junior Market listing and replaced by Jetcon Corporation. NCB Financial returns to TOP 10 and now sits at the bottom of the list, having replaced Eppley.
The top three stocks in each market saw little change in ranking, leaving the top three Junior Market stocks, with the potential to gain between 300 to 676 percent by March 2021.
Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Elite Diagnostic, the focus on all three is on the 2021 fiscal year results, projected to show recovery from the 2020 financial year final numbers. The top three Main Market stocks, with expected gains of 205 to 264 percent, are Berger Paints followed by Radio Jamaica and JMMB Group, all three suffered declines during the week.
This week’s focus: Jamaica Broilers revenues declined 5 percent in the July quarter to $12.6 billion from $13.26 billion in the prior year. Operating profit rose 25 percent to $851 million from $679 million in the prior year, with profit after taxes rising moderately from $361 million to $383 million. A significant fall in administration and other expenses was the main contributor to the improved profit performance by adding $375 million to the results with a decline in cost from $2.28 billion down to $1.9 billion, while other income added nearly $200 million to the increase as well after gross profit had declined by $377 million to hit $2.95 billion. Earnings per share rose to 41 cents.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, from now to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, an indication of the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15 and the Junior Market 10.5, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.7 at just 54 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8 or 54 percent of the PE of the overall market.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 291 percent, and 161 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication of potentially greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. 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. 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.
The fall elevating it back into the Junior Market TOP 10, with Lasco Distributors dropping out, while there was no change to the main market list.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on the profits of companies reporting full year’s results, from now to the second quarter in 2021. Both the Junior and Main markets are currently trading well below this level, an indication of the potential gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15 and the Junior Market 10.6, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings.
The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising, with better profit opportunities than the Main Market and narrowing the gap. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere six at just 56 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.1 or 54 percent of the PE of the overall market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on possible gain for each company, taking into account the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. 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. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
This week’s focus: 138 Students Living reported a 44 percent increase in revenues to hit $334 million from $223 million in the June 2019 quarter and a 60 percent rise in the nine months to $1.09 billion. The company moved from a loss of $17 million in the 2019 third quarter to a profit of $132 million in 2020 and from a loss of $60 million in the nine months to June, to a profit of $402 million. Operating cost fell in both periods compared with the 2019 cost. The big problem is that the company continues the extremely poor practice of not showing operating and administrative expenses separately, making it impossible to see what gross margins are. The significant increase in profit is due to claims made on the University going back to 2019, which are booked in the current year that distorts earnings from ongoing operations.
While earnings per share for the quarter is an attractive 32 cents and year to date 97 cents. Earnings from ongoing operations suggest that the full year’s results should be in the order of 40 cents after a regular tax charge.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 278 percent, and 152 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication of potentially more significant gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.

Caribbean Producers heads the list, followed by Lasco Financial and Stationery and Office Supplies.
The company declared a dividend of $2.216 per share payable on October 7, with an Ex-dividend date, of September 21.
The average projected gain for the IC TOP 10 stocks is 257 percent, for the Junior Market and 149 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication that there is the potential to make greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
There was no change in the Main Market TOP 10 list for the week that saw the Main Market remaining relatively stable for the past week, while the Junior Market rose 35 points for the week on top of gains in the previous week.
The stock price closed at 73 cents on the local market on Friday, at a steep discount of 41 percent to the net asset value.
The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 14.9 and the Junior Market at just 11.2, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The average PE ratio of the Junior Market has been slowly rising and narrowing the gap, with the Main Market as investors see better profit opportunities in this sector. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 6.3 at just 56 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at a PE of 8.1 or 55 percent of the PE of the overall market.
an indication that there is the potential to make greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
Profit from continuing operations grew at a slower pace at 38 percent for the second quarter and 41 percent for the half-year. Revenues increased 18 percent to $9.5 billion for the June quarter and 12 percent to $18.6 billion for the six months. The company shuttered its loss-making sugar operations last year and that is helping with the improvement in results.
IC Insider.com is projecting $4 per share earnings for the current year and it now trades at a PE ratio of 14, with limited upside potential in the short term.
The average projected gain for the IC TOP 10 stocks is 269 percent, for the Junior Market and 146 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2020-21 earnings, an indication that there is the potential to make greater gains in the Junior Market than in the Main Market.
There are just about six offers on the stock exchange board at the close on Friday with the lowest offer at $4.30 and the only large visible offer for 500,000 shares at $6.
The top three stocks in the Main Market, with expected gains of 189 to 210 percent are Radio Jamaica followed by Berger Paints and JMMB Group that reported decent full-year March results.
The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 5.9 at just 54 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at 8.5 or 56 percent of the PE of the overall market.
After entering IC Insider.com Main Market TOP 10 last week, NCB Financial Group is out of the top 10 and replaced by Victoria Mutual Investments. These two stocks are the only movement in and out of the TOP 10 for the week. There is no change to the Junior Market TOP 10.
In the Main Market, the top three stocks are Berger Paints, followed by Radio Jamaica and JMMB Group, with expected gains of 195 to 208 percent.
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 15.2 and the Junior Market at just 10.6, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 5.5 at just 52 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at 8.4 or 55 percent of the PE of the overall market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver some of the best returns up to March 2021. The computation of projected gains is based on earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year for each stock. The ranking of stocks is in order of likely increases, with the highest-ranked, being the most attractive. 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. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
The top three Junior Market stocks this week, with the potential to gain between 260 to 695 percent by March 2021, are Caribbean Producers, followed by Lasco Financial, while Caribbean Cream and Lumber Depot share the third position. In the Main Market, the top three stocks continue to be Radio Jamaica continues to lead, followed by Berger Paints and JMMB Group with expected gains of 186 to 208 percent.
The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 15.2 and the Junior Market at just 10.7, based on IC Insider.com’s projected 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 5.7 at just 53 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at 8.6 or 57 percent of the PE of the overall market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2021. The expected gain for each stock is based on earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year. The ranking of stocks is done in order of likely increases. The highest-ranked stock is the most attractive. 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. Revisions to earnings per share are ongoing, based on receipt of new information.
IC Insider.com’s forecast is 85 cents per share for the current year. The stock closed on Friday at $6, up from $5.51 last week and traded over $8, last year, October. It now sits just below the Top 10 stocks, with the potential to reach $15 within the next nine months.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results for the financial year ending after the second quarter of 2020, 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 15.2 and the Junior Market at just 10.6, based on 2020-21 earnings. The PE ratio for the Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a mere 5.6 at 53 percent to the average of the overall Junior Market. The Main Market TOP 10 stocks trade at 8.8 or 58 percent of the PE of the overall market.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver some of the best returns up to March 2021. Gains for each company are based on the earnings and PE ratios for the current fiscal year.