Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Monday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 20 percent valued 81 percent more than on Friday and resulting in six securities traded, compared to nine on Friday with two rising and four ending unchanged.
Overall, 261,038 shares were traded for US$25,992 compared with 216,689 units at US$14,393 on Friday.
Trading averaged 43,506 units at US$4,332 versus 24,077 shares at US$1,599 on Friday, with a month to date average o 69,315 shares at US$2,324 compared with 70,650 units at US$2,220 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index rose 1.07 points to conclude trading at 222.74.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.6, The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Proven Investments climbed 0.3 of a cent to 16 US cents with investors trading 290 shares, Sterling Investments ended at 1.6 US cents with 149,900 units being traded, Sygnus Credit Investments rallied 0.59 of one cent to 11.49 US cents after 81,535 stocks changed hands and Transjamaican Highway ended at 1.42 US cents after a transfer of 21,955 stock units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share remained at US$13, with 12 stock units crossing the market and JMMB Group 5.75% ended at US$1.90 after investors traded 7,346 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for JSE USD Market
Carib Brokers gains 54% & drops ICTOP10
The Junior Market was buoyed by strong movement in shares of Stationery and Office Supplies following the announcement of a proposed stock split that turned out to be 9 for each outstanding share and following ICInsider.com report last week that the stock was a prime candidate for a stock split, the stock rated stock to watch in January, climbed 100 percent since the start of the year but pulled back on Friday following profit taking.
Elsewhere, Caribbean Assurance Brokers jumped 54 percent to close at $4 following the drying up of selling stocks being offered for sale. The stock dropped out of the ICTOP10 and is replaced by Dolla Financial. In the Main Market, Caribbean Cement dropped out of the TOP10 with a 3 percent rise to $50.90 and was replaced by Transjamaican following a fall in price from $2.39 to close the week at $2.24 after hitting a low for the week at $2.
The Junior Market reclaimed the 3,900 handle, following the reclaiming of the 3,800 at the end of the previous week and in the process is just one percent below the end of December last year and is close to retaking the 4,000 level, as technical indicators pointing to the market now at an early stage of a big rally in the second half of the year, following a 10 percent gain since the low for the year in March, suggesting a possible gain in excess of 30 percent for the year.
The Junior Market ended with 4 stocks rising and three declining during the week, with Caribbean Assurance Brokers the lead the stock, followed by One and One, that is up 8 percent to $1.12 and Caribbean Cream up 3% to $4, while iCreate dropped 24% to 91 cents and Consolidated Bakeries dropped 10% to end the week at $2.19. The Main Market had only moderate price movement with none exceeding 3%.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main MarketTOP 10 is 5.8, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 253 percent, by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 98, with an average of 28 and 19 excluding the highest PE stocks, 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.8 compared with the market at 11.3. There are 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 44, averaging 20 that are well above the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently. Junior Market is projected to rise by 276 percent to May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
In the market generally, Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and in the process gradually reduce the supply of several stocks that are attractively priced as the market moves toward the summer months, the start of the stock market year.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 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.
Trading picked up on the JSE USD Market
Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, resulting in the trading of nine securities up from three on Thursday with one rising, four declining and four ending unchanged, with a 178 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands, valued 918 percent more than on Thursday.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 216,689 shares for US$14,393 versus 77,890 units at US$1,414 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 24,077 shares for US$1,599 compared to 25,963 shares at US$471 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 70,650 shares at US$2,220 compared with 74,568 units at US$2,272 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index lost 0.32 points to end at 221.67.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.5. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded prices and projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville dropped 1.89 cents to close at 9.22 US cents with an exchange of 221 shares, Proven Investments declined 0.02 of a cent in closing at 15.7 US cents, with 71,726 units passed through the market, Sterling Investments remained at 1.6 US cents after a transfer of 136,752 stock units. 
Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.8 of a cent to 10.9 US cents after an exchange of 7,775 stocks, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share dipped 0.01 of a cent to 10.98 US cents in trading 19 stocks and Transjamaican Highway ended at 1.42 US cents, with 100 stock units crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Eppley 6% preference share ended at US$1.40, with 7 units crossing the market, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share fell 0.72 of a cent to close at a 52 weeks’ low of US$1 after an exchange of 59 shares and JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$1.90 in switching ownership of 30 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Big fall for JSE USD Market
Trading ended with a 22 percent jump in the volume of stocks changing hands on Tuesday with the value rising 60 percent over Monday at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, resulting in nine securities trading, compared to four on Monday with one rising, six declining and two ending unchanged, with the US Denominated Equities Index dropping 20.38 points to 220.63.
A total of 934,268 shares were traded for US$32,448 compared with 764,260 units at US$20,272 on Monday.
Trading averaged 103,808 units at US$3,605 compared with 191,065 shares at US$5,068 on Monday, with a month to date average of 77,396 shares at US$2,423 compared to 74,695 units at US$2,303 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.7. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share remained at 5 US cents with 5,000 shares clearing the market, Productive Business Solutions dipped 27.54 cents in closing at US$1.5606 as investors exchanged 450 stocks Proven Investments rose 0.02 of a cent to 15.72 US cents after a transfer of 102,198 stock units.
Sterling Investments ended at 1.6 US cents with an exchange of 684,000 units, Sygnus Credit Investments dropped 1.59 cents to end at 9.4 US cents after investors traded 824 shares and Transjamaican Highway lost 0.07 of a cent in closing at 1.37 US cents and ended with 140,156 stock units changing hands.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share declined 24.6 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of US$1.394, with 30 units changing hands, JMMB Group 5.75% shed 24 cents in ending at US$1.90 in an exchange of 560 stocks and JMMB Group 6% fell 13 cents to close at US$1.05 after exchanging 1,050 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Kremi heads ICTOP10 after gaining 22%
The performance this past week in the Junior and the Main Market diverged significantly the Junior Market recorded gains in the week and put it back at early March levels this year while the main market declined further continuing negative performance since the beginning of June and is now back at August 2018 levels and is providing investors with a great opportunity to add some of these stocks to their early Christmas shopping at bargain prices.
The Junior Market has broken through the downward-sloping resistance line of the wedge. The Junior Market reclaimed the 3,800 handle last week and is close to retaking the 3,900 level shortly, with the market set for a big rally in the second half of the year a position supported by technical analysis of the market. The Main Market seems to be weighed down by concerns relating to inflation and interest rates, if so the reading is wrong as inflation is well under control and interest rates will start dropping before the year ends.
Against the background, the Junior Market recorded gains for six stocks during the week with iCreate jumping 26 percent to $1.20, Caribbean Cream moving up 22 percent to $3.89 and Edufocal putting on 6 percent to end the week at $1.89 hey worst performer was Iron Rock Insurance down 7 percent to $2 and General Accident fell 5 percent to $5, while One and One lost 3 percent to close the week at $1.04.
The Main Market had one price movement of note with Transjamaican rising 13 percent to close the week at $2.39. Declining are 138 Student Living down 11 percent to $4.60, Guardian Holdings, with a loss of 7 percent to $450.01 and Caribbean Producers lost 5 percent to end the week at $9.48.
Transjamaican moved out of the Main Market TOP10, with a gain of 27 percent since entering the TOP10 and 35 percent since it was added to Stocks to Watch at $1.77 in April, is replaced by Caribbean Cement, with projected earnings of $6.50 notwithstanding for the first quarter profit and in the Junior Market, Edufocal moved out while Everything Fresh returns after a brief absence to the TOP10 with the price having fallen to $1.50.
Transjamaican, although out of the top 10 has much more room to grow with the potential for an additional 200% increase in the stock price. A look at the order book for Transjamaican suggests that demand is likely to overwhelm supply over the next two to three weeks with a likely price target then of $3. Even then the potential dividend yield that could be 8 percent at that price could result in the price going higher.
Recent developments for some stocks – Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing increased dividends to 10 cents and 12 cents respectively, with both to be paid in July, while Stationery and Office Supplies hit a record high in the week at $24 but closed the week at $20 for a 17 percent gain for the year. The stock is now a prime candidate for a stock split. Earnings for Berger Paints were adjusted down to $1 per share for 2023.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.8, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 254 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 98, with an average of 29 and 20 excluding the highest PE stocks, 23 for the top half and 18 excluding the stocks with the highest PEs.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.8 compared with the market at 11.1. There are 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PE from 15 to 42, averaging 21 that are well above the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently. Junior Market is projected to rise by 270 percent to May 2024.
The divergence between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation is an important indicator of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
In the market generally, Investors continue to nibble away at a number of stocks and in the process gradually reducing the supply of several stocks that are attractively priced as the market moves toward the summer months, the start of the stock market year.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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.
ICTOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 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.
Trading gains for the JSE USD Market
Trading picked up on Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended with a 2,914 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands valued at 159 percent more than on Thursday, resulting in the trading of 11 securities compared to five on Thursday with six rising, two declining and three ending unchanged.
A total of 992,059 shares were traded for US$15,037 compared to 32,918 units at US$5,796 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 90,187 units at US$1,367 versus 6,584 shares at US$1,159 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 69,154 shares at US$2,171 compared with 65,984 units at US$2,292 on the previous day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index increased 4.90 points to finish at 242.16.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.1. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share advanced 1 cent to close at 5.5 US cents with 58 shares being traded, Margaritaville climbed 3.09 cents to end at 11.11 US cents with investors trading 35 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy rallied 5 cents to 60 US cents, with 11 stock units crossing the exchange. Proven Investments remained at 16 US cents after 1,150 stocks passed through the market, 
Sterling Investments declined 0.41 of a cent to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 1.59 US cents after investors traded 274,980 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments rose 0.99 cents to close at 10.99 US cents with investors transferring 35 stocks. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share shed 0.01 of a cent in closing at 10.99 US cents after a transfer of 35 stock units and Transjamaican Highway gained 0.02 of a cent to end at 1.44 US cents with stakeholders exchanging 715,660 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 6% preference share ended at US$1.40 after exchanging 71 stocks, JMMB Group 5.75% increased 24 cents to end at US$2.14 with a transfer of 2 units and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.18 in an exchange of 22 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading up for JSE USD Market
Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Wednesday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 118 percent valued 754 percent more than on Tuesday, resulting in seven securities traded, compared to three on Tuesday with two rising, four declining and one ending unchanged.
Overall, 289,060 shares were traded for US$34,073 compared with 132,703 units at US$3,992 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 41,294 shares at US$4,868 compared to 44,234 units at US$1,331 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 70,352 shares at US$2,375 compared with 73,686 units at US$2,089 on the previous day. Trading in May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index climbed 1.86 points to conclude trading at 240.01.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.6, The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share declined 0.5 of a cent and ended at 4.5 US cents after an exchange of 162,069 shares, Margaritaville shed 1.98 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of 8.02 US cents, with 2,000 stock units crossing the market. 
Proven Investments ended at 16 US cents with a transfer of 22,097 shares, Sterling Investments popped 0.3 of a cent in closing at 1.9 US cents after an exchange of 29 units. Sygnus Credit Investments fell 1 cent to 10 US cents after 99,000 shares were traded and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.01 of a cent to 1.45 US cents as investors exchanged just 2,865 stocks.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 9.25% preference share dipped 70 cents to close at US$12.80 with shareholders swapping 1,000 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Volume jumps on JSE USD Market
Stocks jumped sharply in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Monday, with a 139 percent rise in the volume of stocks changing hands valued 364 percent more than on Friday, resulting from trading in seven securities traded, compared to five on Friday with no price gains, five declining and two ending unchanged.
Overall, 2,048,216 shares were traded for US$53,374 compared to 857,775 units at US$11,508 on Friday.
Trading averaged 292,602 units at US$7,625 versus 171,555 shares at US$2,302 on Friday, with a month to date average of 75,210 shares at US$2,128 compared with 45,372 units at US$1,374 on the previous trading day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index fell 4.97 points to finish at 233.94.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.7. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville declined 1.47 cents to 10 US cents while exchanging 2,164 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy remained at 55 US cents with a transfer of 1,500 stocks, Proven Investments lost 0.9 of a cent to end at 16 US cents with an exchange of 30,056 stock units, Sterling Investments dipped 0.08 cents to close at 1.6 US cents with an exchange of 2,750 units, Transjamaican Highway shed 0.14 cents in closing at 1.26 US cents in trading 1,999,979 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% ended at US$1.90 trading 11,456 units and JMMB Group 6% fell 1 cent and ended at US$1.18, with 311 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Kremi heads ICTOP10 as Lasd gains 19%
There was much activity in the Junior Market this past week, with the market index bouncing over the 3,800 mark for the first time since the middle of March, resulting in Caribbean Cream moving to $4.45 during the week but closed at $3.20 after traders pushed the stock down sharply on Friday, but Lasco Distributors shot to $3.31 and Lasco Manufacturing to $4.48 at the close with both moving out of the Junior Market ICTOP10.
Lasco Distributors and Lasco Manufacturing are still priced at less than 10 times 2023 fiscal year earnings when many others are priced over 15 times. Additionally, the company’s directors meet this week to consider dividends. Distributors is seemingly set to pay around 12 cents per share and Manufacturing 13 cents. With the dividend likely to be paid in July, the annual yield will equate to 42 percent and 35 percent, respectively, if the shares were acquired now. Replacing the two Lasco Companies are iCreate following a drop in the price to 95 cents and Edufocal closing at $1.78.
The Main Market TOP10 stocks remained the same as the week before, with the market struggling throughout the week, with four days of significant declines in the market index as selling pressure pushed prices down, resulting in just one stock, Transjamaican moving up in ICTOP10 with the largest gain of just 4 percent, with the stock hitting a record closing high of $2.11 on Friday. The chart shows it has the potential to gain another 200 percent. Berger Paints fell 9 percent to a 52 weeks’ low of $6.87, followed by JMMB Group with a loss of 4 percent to close at one year low of $28.75, Jamaica Broilers is down 3 percent to $35 and Scotia Group dipped 3 percent to $33.60 despite reporting increased profit for the first half of the 2023 fiscal year, with the second quarter almost doubling the similar quarter in 2022.
Lasco Distributors climbed 19 percent following an 11 percent rise last week to close at $3.31 and is up 59 percent from the 2023 low of $2.08 in April. Five stocks rose 6 percent: Caribbean Assurance Brokers, Dolphin Cove, General Accident, Consolidated Bakeries and Lasco Manufacturing, while One on One slipped 3 percent at the end of the week to be the biggest loser.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.7, well below the market average of 13.2. The Main Market TOP10 is projected to have an average of 265 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The 15 most highly valued Main Market stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 98, with an average of 30 and 20 excluding the highest PE stocks and 18 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.3 compared with the market at 10.4. There are 10 stocks representing 21 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 25, averaging 19 are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently. Junior Market is projected to rise by 283 percent to May 2024.
The differences between the average PE ratio of the Main and Junior Markets and the overall market valuation are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners. Accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 up to the end of May 2023 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, resulting 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.
Trading slips on JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks changing hands rising 219 percent with a marginally lower value than on Thursday, resulting in the trading of just five securities, compared to 10 on Thursday and ending with prices of one rising, two declining and two ending unchanged.
Overall, 857,775 shares were traded for US$11,508 compared to 269,277 units at US$11,912 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 171,555 units at US$2,302 versus 26,928 shares at US$1,191 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 45,372 shares at US$1,374 compared to 31,656 units at US$1,273o n the previous day. May ended with an average of 43,350 units for US$2,759.
The US Denominated Equities Index gained 0.12 points to 239.50.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages nine. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price divided by projected earnings done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2023 and August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and two with lower offers.
At the close, Proven Investments fell 0.1 of a cent to 16.9 US cents in an exchange of 227 shares, Sterling Investments ended at 1.68 US cents, with 2,321 stocks clearing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 11 US cents with investors transferring 350 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share dipped 0.12 of a cent to close at 11 US cents with a transfer of one stock unit and Transjamaican Highway increased 0.06 of a cent in closing at 1.4 US cents with 854,876 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.