The IC Insider.com TOP 10 stocks have put substantial gains since the posting at the end of March. The selections based on projected 2020/21 earnings, included robust increases of 73 percent from Elite Diagnostic, followed by Lasco Manufacturing with a gain of 56 percent and Access Financial 55 percent.
Elite Diagnostics surged 73% on the Junior Market since the end of March.
Other outstanding Junior Market gains came from Caribbean Producers that enjoyed a rise of 33 percent in closing at $3 but traded up to $3.51 on Thursday, with an increase of 56 percent since the end of March. KLE Group rose 36 percent and Lasco Financial ended with a 30 percent increase. In the Main Market, Eppley leads with a 45 percent gain, Wisynco Group rose 43 percent and Radio Jamaica 24 percent.
The gains came from a strong recovery of stock prices on the Jamaica Stock Exchange after falling by record levels in March.
Following the rise in prices of TOP 10 stocks, there are five new entrants for the coming week. These are General Accident, CAC 2000 and Stationery and Office Supplies in the Junior Market and in the Main Market, Sygnus Credit Investments and Caribbean Cement.
Stocks that dropped from the TOP 10 are Access Financial, Elite Diagnostic and Medical Disposables from the Junior Market and Eppley and Wisynco Group from the Main Market.
The current IC Insider.com TOP 10 list is based on the profit of companies reporting full year’s results for the financial year ending after 2020 second quarter and up to the second quarter in 2021.
Many local stocks made a strong recovery over the past two weeks, but major uncertainties still exist and it is not possible to determine the exact impact on company earnings. Actual earnings could vary materially from IC Insider.com’s forecast. Looking beyond the immediate fallout or benefits can provide a useful investment guide for above-average gains in the months ahead.
The three top Junior Market selections are Caribbean Producers, KLE Group and Lasco Financial with the potential to gain between 270 to 533 percent by 2021. In the Main Market, Berger Paints leads the pact followed by Radio Jamaica and then Carreras with projected gains of 146 to 170 percent.
The targeted average PE ratio of the market is 20. 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 13.3 and the Junior Market a mere 9.7, based on current 2020/21 earnings. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages a just 5.7 with the Main Market at 8.8.
The TOP 10 stocks now trade at a discount of 41 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 278 percent from 312 percent last week and down from 377 percent at the close of the prior week for the 
Junior Market and 139 percent from 153 percent last week 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 as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
Persons who compiled this report may have an interest in securities commented on in this report.
Stocks leaving the TOP are Lasco Manufacturing with a gain of 33 percent after the stock rose from $2.75 the previous week to close at $3.65. General Accident moved from $4.50 to $5.71 to record a 27 percent rise and Sygnus US dollar-based stock gained 25 percent to close at 15 US cents and left the main market TOP 10. Eppley rose 31 percent for the week in closing at $16 and Elite Diagnostic is up a stunning 50 percent but remains in the TOP 10. Access Financial closed the prior week at $18.35 and is now up 33 percent to $24.50.> Some of the gains in the market arose from oversold conditions as well as funds returning to investors last week from the refund of the Trans Jamaica Highway IPO.
While local stocks make a strong recovery this past week, thanks no doubt to some of the IPO refund coming back into the market. Investors must not lose sight that significant uncertainties abound about the local and global economy and how each company may be affected. It is not possible to determine the exact fallout and benefits from the crisis and the impact on company earnings. Actual earnings could vary materially from IC Insider.com’s forecast.
The expectations are for the company to return to normality for the 2021 fiscal year that ends in June 2021 that will give buyers of the stock around current prices a big payday.
With the tourism industry virtually closed, companies heavily dependent on the industry will have little or no sales for a while from March. The Group consists of Caribbean Producers, Dolphin Cove, Everything Fresh and Express Catering. Entertainment company Main Event and restaurant operator KLE Group will be hurt from patrons staying home as well as fewer tourists visiting Montego Bay and patronizing the restaurant in that town. Once this period of disruption has passed, KLE should benefit from economies of scale with the full ownership of the additional restaurant.
The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages 5.5 with the Main Market at 8.5.
The Jamaica stock market suffered sustained pressure during March, leading to one of the most rapid falls in stock prices in the history of the market. In the past week, prices have bounced with the Main Market putting in strong gains on Thursday and Friday, but the market index is down by a sizeable 29.5 percent year to date.
The current year has changed markedly as the Corona Virus impact on countries worldwide has been significantly disruptive, inflicting significant damage to the individuals, businesses and economies. With the wipeout of fiscal deficits and debt to GDP set to be below 90 percent, the Jamaican economy is in a far better place than at the time of the 2008 crisis that severely tested the country and led to many measures that severely affected the economy from then until 2016.
The Group consists of Caribbean Producers, Dolphin Cove, Everything Fresh and Express Catering. Entertainment company Main Event and restaurant operator KLE Group will be hurt from patrons staying home as well as fewer tourists visiting Montego Bay and patronizing the restaurant in that town. Some major contributors to the tourism market are Grace, Jamaica Broilers and Wisynco. The results for some companies are hit by falling stock and bond prices. The results for the 2020 first quarter will show the impact of the recent market decline. The latter includes JMMB Group, Proven, NCB Financial Group, Barita Investments, VMBS Investments, Jamaican Teas, QWI Investments and Sagicor Group. Banks may have to increase loan loss provisions as businesses encounter cash flow problems and defaulting on loan payments.
The past week saw significant fluctuations in prices of several stocks, leading to notable declines in the market indices of the Junior and Main Market and resulting in some changes in the TOP 10 stocks.
During the week, Jamaican Teas announced a three for one stock split, subject to approval by shareholders.
Forecasted earnings and PE ratio for the current fiscal year are in determining potential gains. The stocks are ranked in the 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 as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
Pulse Investments announced expansion into residential real estate development for sales and the retention of some units. The stock was added to the Main Market TOP 10 in 2019 and is on the verge of moving out, with increased buying interest. KLE Group announced the buy-out of the Tacks and Records restaurant in Montego Bay that will add significantly to revenues and boost profitability. KLE is one to watch. Proven Investments announced another stock offering, this time to the wider public. The move with help to boost broader interest in the stock as it pulls in new shareholders.
The JSE Main Market ended the week, with an overall PE of 21.2 and the Junior Market 14.6, based on current 2019 earnings. The PE ratio for Junior Market Top 10 stocks averages 9.4 with the Main Market 10.2.
The average projected gain for the IC TOP 10 stocks is 177 percent for the Junior Market and 132 percent for JSE Main Market based mostly on 2019 earnings.
IC TOP 10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns to March next year. Forecasted earnings and PE ratio for the current fiscal year are in determining potential gains. The projected increase for each stock is ranked, with 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 as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
Still, they were replaced this week, by Honey Bun and tTech, in at number 9 and 10 positions, respectively. There were no changes to the TOP 10 listing for Main Market stocks.
Forecasted earnings and PE ratio for the current fiscal year are in determining potential gains. Possible gains for each stock are ranked in descending order, 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 as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
The JSE Main Market TOP 10 had just stock leaving with 
Radio Jamaica still holds on to the lead for Main Market stocks, with an expected increase of 236 percent, followed by Pulse Investments in the number two spot with projected growth of 205 percent and Sygnus US dollar-denominated stock with likely gains of 186 percent, is next.
Projected earnings, along with the PE ratio for each company’s current fiscal year, are used in determining potential gains with the likely gains ranked in descending order with highest-ranked being the most attractive. Future 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 as new information is received that can result in changes in and out of the list.
the Junior Market has made a sharp break out of a downward sloping channel that started after the market peaked in Mid-August. It now seems to be heading higher, with a healthy break out of the channel.