Trading volume jumped 421 percent on Friday, with the value rising 592 above Thursday outcome, on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulting in six securities changing hands, similar to Thursday with two rising, three declining and one remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index added 1.46 points to end at 213.07. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.8 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Trading resulted in an exchange of 3,100,463 shares for US$616,848 compared to 594,805 units at US$89,149 on Thursday.
Trading ended with an average of 516,744 units at US$102,808, in contrast to 99,134 shares at US$14,858 on Thursday. Trading averaged 106,038 units for the month to date at US$15,321 in contrast to 56,753 units at US$4,823 on Thursday. April averaged 80,293 units at US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ending with the bid higher than the last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital gained 1.8 cents to end at 11.8 US cents after trading 3,593 shares, Margaritaville remained at 9 US cents with 125,697 shares changing hands, Proven Investments increased 1.45 cents to 26.85 US cents in exchanging 2,178,514 shares. Sterling Investments dropped 0.11 cents to 2.29 US cents, after trading 570,768 stocks, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.3 of a cent in closing at 14.7 US cents, with 100,000 stocks crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway shed 0.04 of a cent to end at 0.9 US cents, after exchanging 121,891 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading volume jumps
Trading volume jumps on JSE US market
Trading rose sharply on Thursday after an exchange of 423 percent more shares carrying value that was 870 percent greater than on Wednesday at the close of the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands, the same number as on Wednesday, with the prices of four stocks rising, none declining and two remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index gained 2.49 points to settle at 211.61. The average PE Ratio ended at 13.5 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Overall, 594,805 shares traded for US$89,149 up from 113,748 units at US$9,188 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 99,134 units at US$14,858, versus 18,958 shares at US$1,531 on Wednesday. The month to date trades, average 56,753 units at US$4,823 up from 50,974 units at US$3,455 on Wednesday. April ended with an average of 80,293 units for US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital inched 0.01 of a cent higher to 10 US cents with 63,039 shares traded, Margaritaville ended at 9 US cents with an exchange of 99,400 units, Proven Investments rose 0.39 of a cent to 25.4 US cents with an exchange of 263,547 stocks. Sterling Investments gained 0.1 of a cent to close at 2.4 US cents with 5,000 stock units changing hands, Sygnus Credit Investments advanced 0.4 of a cent to finish at 15 US cents with a transfer of 33,319 units and Transjamaican Highway ended at 0.94 US cents with 130,500 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Sluggish trading day for US Market
The US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Wednesday, with the market slipping moderately after trading with 65 percent fewer shares than on Tuesday, with 33 percent less funds changing hands.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands, the same as Tuesday, with one stock rising, one declining and four remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index lost 1.91 points to end at 209.12. The average PE Ratio ended at 13.4 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Overall, 113,748 shares traded for US$9,188 compared to 328,568 units at US$13,722 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 18,958 units at US$1,531, in contrast to 54,761 shares at US$2,287 on Tuesday. Trading month to date averaged 50,974 units at US$3,455 compared to 56,029 units at US$3,758 on Tuesday. April ended with an average of 80,293 units for US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with the bid higher than the last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital remained at 9.99 US cents with 31,101 shares traded, Margaritaville held firm at 9 US cents with investors switching ownership of 7,663 stocks, Proven Investments rose 0.01 of a cent to finish at 25.01 US cents with 1,000 units changing hands. Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.47 of a cent to end at 14.6 US cents with a transfer of 32,123 shares and Transjamaican Highway closed at 0.94 US cents with 41,836 stock units crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment closed at US$2 with 25 shares changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Moderate gains for JSE US market
Trading on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange ended on Tuesday, with the market rising moderately after investors transferred 15 percent fewer shares than on Monday at 75 percent less the value.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands, compared to five on Monday, with the prices of two stocks rising, two declining and two remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index gained 2.55 points to close at 211.03. The average PE Ratio ended at 13.2 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Overall, 328,568 shares traded for US$13,722 down from 386,627 units at US$55,541 on Monday.
Trading averaged 54,761 units at US$2,287 compared to 77,325 shares at US$11,108 on Monday. The month to date averaged 56,029 units traded at US$3,758 in contrast to 56,266 units at US$4,034 on Monday. April ended with an average of 80,293 units for US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than the last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close of the market, First Rock Capital advanced 0.99 of a cent to end at 9.99 US cents with 56,942 shares traded, Margaritaville remained at 9 US cents with investors switching ownership of 2,160 units, Proven Investments held firm at 25 US cents with an exchange of 22,990 stocks. Sterling Investments advanced 0.26 of a cent to finish at 2.3 US cents with a transfer of 10,095 units, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.9 of a cent to end at 15.07 US cents with 100 stocks traded and Transjamaican Highway slipped 0.01 of a cent to 0.94 US cents with 236,281 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Major shakeup in Junior Market ICTOP10
The Junior Market had some major shakeup in some of the listings this past week as investors keep their eyes solidly on opportunities in this market, having slowly eating away at the above-average gains available in the market and driving prices of many stocks up and pushing the market back to early January 2020 level.
During the past week, Main Event surged nearly 33 percent from $3.50 to $4.65, pushing it from second spot last week to 10th this week. 
Medical Disposables dropped from the third position with a gain of 19 percent to $5.28, Stationery & Office rose from $5.71 to $6.45 and taking it from 5th to 7th position, while Lasco Financial moved up to 6th position from 9th last week, with no price change, Caribbean Producers moved up from 8th last week to 3rd this week and Caribbean Cream shifted from 7th to 2nd this week.
Stationery & Office, General Accident, Medical Disposables and Main Event that are at the edge on the Junior Market TOP10 could well drop out at any time as they are all bunched together with potential gains of 188 to 210 percent. In the Main Market, VM Investments, with potential gains of 128 percent and Berger Paints with 122 percent, could drop out soon. Results of companies to come shortly could result in changes in the list, depending on how investors respond to each.
The bullish tone of the two markets continues, with technical indicators and fundamentals of many companies keep on powering prices higher with many investors looking to the future with the recovery of the economy in mind and the impact that it will have on stocks.
Investors should expect a host of company results to hit the market next week as the mid-month date approaches. Watch these stocks over the next few weeks, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Producers, PanJam Investment, Sagior Group, MailPac, Access Financial, Lasco Financial, Lasco Distributors, Caribbean Cream, ISP Financial.
The top three stocks in the Junior Market are headed by Elite Diagnostic, followed by Caribbean Cream and Caribbean Producers, with the potential to gain between 242 to 282 percent. The top three Main Market stocks are Radio Jamaica in the number one spot, followed by PanJam Investment and Jamaica Broilers, with expected gains of 166 to 413 percent.
The targeted PE ratio for the market averages 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, up to the second quarter of 2022. Fiscal 2020-21 ended March 2021 with the average PE at 17 for Junior Stocks and 19 times for the Main Market. With interest rates on government paper below 5 percent and likely to remain there for a few years, the likelihood is for the average PE ratios to climb higher during the next twelve months.
The Junior Market, with an average PE 12.2 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings, is currently trading well below the target, as well as the recent historical average of 17. This represents another 40 percent rise in the market that would equate to a rise of 60 percent to March 2022. The Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 6.1 at just 50 percent of the market average, indicating substantial gains ahead. 
The JSE Main Market ended the week with an overall PE of 16.5, some distance from the 19 the market ended March, suggesting a 15 percent rise from now to March 2022. The Main Market TOP 10 trades at a PE of 7.7 or 47 percent of the PE of that market and well off the potential of 20.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 229 percent and 173 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2021-22 earnings. IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely increase 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 result in movements in and out of the lists weekly. 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.
Volume rose on JSE USD Market – Friday
Trading on Friday ended with just over 23 percent more shares changing hands on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, resulting in advancing stocks just edging out declining ones.
Trading ended with five securities changing hands, compared to six on Thursday, with prices of two stocks rising, one declining and two closing unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index fell 0.45 points to end at 211.74.
A total of 360,862 shares traded, accounting for US$13,128 versus 292,359 units at US$25,831 on Thursday. The average PE Ratio based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings ended at 13.2.
Trading averaged 72,172 units at US$2,626, versus 48,727 shares at US$4,305 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date averaged 52,366 units at US$2,724 in contrast to 47,865 units at US$2,746 on the prior trading day. April ended with an average of 80,293 units for US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital stayed at 9 US cents, with 555 shares crossing the market, Margaritaville ended at 9 US cents trading 5,298 shares, Proven Investments fell 0.6 of a cent to 26.2 US cents after trading 15,941 units. Sygnus Credit Investments climbed 0.52 of a cent to 15.97 US cents, with 37,001 units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.01 of a cent in closing at 0.95 US cents after 302,067 shares crossed the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks inch higher on JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market closed on Thursday with the market advancing after investors exchanged 150 percent more shares than on Wednesday, resulting in an even number of stocks rising and falling.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands, compared to five on Wednesday with the prices of one stock rising, one declining and four remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index gained 0.24 points to end at 212.19 points. The average PE Ratio ended at 13.2 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Overall, 292,359 shares traded for US$25,831 compared to 116,945 units at US$19,257 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 48,727 units at US$4,305, in contrast to 23,389 shares at US$3,851 on Wednesday. For the month to date, trading averaged 47,865 units at US$2,746 in contrast to 47,542 units at US$2,162 on Wednesday. April ended with an average of 80,293 units for US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than its last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital ended at 9 US cents with an exchange of 8,479 shares, Margaritaville settled at 9 US cents with 5,453 stocks changing hands, Proven Investments lost 0.15 of a cent to end at 26.8 US cents with 9,480 units traded. Sygnus Credit Investments gained 0.95 cents to close at 15.45 US cents with a transfer of 129,901 stock units and Transjamaican Highway remained at 0.94 of a US cent with 137,865 shares crossing the exchange.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 6% held firm at US$1.10 with 1,181 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Volume up for JSE USD stocks
Trading on Wednesday, ended with the market declining after trading 26 percent more shares than on Tuesday, on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulting in slightly more stocks falling than rising.
Trading ended with five securities changing hands, compared to six on Tuesday with prices of one stock rising, two declining and two remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index lost 1.56 points to end at 211.96. The average PE Ratio ends at 13.1 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Overall, 116,945 shares traded, for US$19,257 compared to 92,599 units at US$3,604 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 23,389 units at US$3,851, in contrast to 15,433 shares at US$601 on Tuesday. Trading for the month to date averaged 47,542 units at US$2,162 in contrast to 58,521 units at US$1,394 on the prior trading day. April ended with an average of 80,293 units for US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and none with lower offers.
At the close, First Rock Capital rose 0.09 US cents to end at 9 US cents, with 30,000 shares changing hands, Margaritaville closed at 9 US cents after trading 10 shares, Proven Investments declined 0.04 of a cent to close at 26.95 US cents in trading 31,922 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments dipped 0.49 of a cent after exchanging 54,482 stock units at 14.5 US cents and Transjamaican Highway settled at 0.94 US cents with the swapping of 531 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Stocks mostly rose on JSE USD market
Trading on Tuesday ended with the market rising, with 83 percent fewer shares changing hands than on Monday, on the US dollar market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange, resulting in more stocks rising than falling.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands, compared to five on Monday with prices of three stocks rising, one declining and two remaining unchanged.
The JSE USD Equity Index gained 2.16 points to end at 213.51. The average PE Ratio ends at 13 based on ICInsider.com’s forecast of 2021-22 earnings.
Overall, 92,599 shares traded at US$3,604, down from 551,129 units at US$11,730 on Monday.
Trading averaged 15,433 units at US$601, in contrast to 110,226 shares at US$2,346 on Monday. Trading averaged 58,521 units for the month to date. April ended with an average of 80,293 units for US$6,320.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with the bid higher than the last selling price and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital rose 0.16 US cents to 8.91 US cents trading 5,383 shares, Margaritaville traded 553 shares at 9 US cents, Proven Investments rose 1.48 cents to 26.99 US cents after 5,519 units were tradedt. Sterling Investments ended at 2 US cents after exchanging 70,000 units, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 0.01 of a cent to end at 14.99 US cents, with 519 units changing hands and Transjamaican Highway increased 0.04 of a cent in ending at 0.94 of a US cents in exchanging 10,625 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JamTeas gains 111% to top ICTOP10 picks
Six Main Market ICTOP15 stocks raked between 23 and 37 percent year to date and seven of the Junior Market picks produced gains from 22 percent to 111 percent for the first four months of 2021.
Jamaican Teas stock price is up 1115 for 2021 and up 234% in just under a year.
The only top performing Main Market stocks for the period not captured by the TOP15 are Ciboney, up a stunning 121 percent at 53 cents, even after the price move up to just over $2 earlier this year, followed by Salada Foods with an incredible rise of 147 percent, Eppley Property Fund with an increase of 46 percent and Proven Investments gaining 28 percent.
The top performing Junior Market stocks to date that were not in the ICTOP15 are Fosrich with a gain of 86 percent, Blue Power 56 percent, Express Catering up 29 percent, Caribbean Flavours at 33 percent and Lasco Manufacturing with a 35 percent increase.
The highlight of the stock market this past week was the 216 percent surge in Carib Cement’s profit, from record revenues that jumped 31 percent for the 2020 first quarter. As expected, the stock jumped to a 52 weeks’ high of $95.50. The company was one of ICTOP 15 listings at the start of the year and is up 40 percent so far and still has much more gains ahead of it. The other notable development is the Main Market recording of gains for 14 days unbroken.
Other stocks in the TOP15 list that have gone on to do well are Carreras up 37 percent, Grace Kennedy with a rise of 35 percent, Jamaica Producers up 33 percent, QWI Investments up 25 and Seprod 23 percent in the Main Market. In the Junior Market, the winners are Caribbean Cream with a gain of 34 percent, Caribbean Producers up 41 percent, Stationery and Office Supplies with a gain of 25 percent. Now out of the top listings are Jamaican Teas with a 111 percent gain for the year to date, Lumber Depot up 88 percent, Lasco Distributors with a rise of 22 percent and MailPac up 25 percent. Future Energy Source that was added to ICTOP 10 earlier this year has a gain of 28 percent, but much more is expected for these stocks in the rest of the year.
There are no changes to companies on the ICTOP10 listings this week. The bullish tone of the Junior Market and the Main Market continues, with more gains expected in the coming week supported by strong technical signals and fundamentals of stocks and the overall market.
Watch these stocks over the next few weeks, Barita Investments, Caribbean Cement, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Producers, PanJam Investment and Sagior Group, MailPac, Access Financial, Lasco Financial, Lasco Distributors, Caribbean Cream, ISP Financial.
The top three stocks in the Junior Market are headed by Elite Diagnostic, followed by Main Event and Medical Disposables, with the potential to gain between 261 to 293 percent. The top three Main Market stocks are Radio Jamaica in the number one spot, followed by PanJam Investment and Jamaica Broilers, with expected gains of 181 to 410 percent.
This week’s focus: Fosrich reported a 22 percent rise in revenues to $549 million, up from $449 million in the prior year with gross profit rising 13 percent to $192 million, from $170 million in 2020 with net profit surging 697 percent to $38.4 million, from only $4.8 million in the 2020 first quarter. Earnings per share jumped to 8 cents from one cent in 2020. Administrative expenses fell slightly to $144 million, from $146 million in 2020 and finance cost slipped to $24.8 million compared to $26.2 million in the 2020 quarter.
The targeted PE ratio for the market averages 20 based on profits of companies reporting full year’s results, up to the second quarter of 2022. Fiscal 2020-21 ended March 2021 with the average PE at 17 for Junior Stocks and 19 times for the Main Market. With interest rates on government paper below 5 percent and likely to remain there for a few years, the likelihood is for the average PE ratios to climb higher during the next twelve months.
The Junior Market, with an average PE 13 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings, is currently trading well below the target, as well as the recent historical average of 17; this represents another 31 percent rise in the market that would equate to a rise of 50 percent to March 2022. The Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.8 at just 44 percent of the market average, indicating substantial gains ahead. The JSE Main Market ended the week with an overall PE of 16.5, some distance from the 19 the market ended March, suggesting a 20 percent rise from now to March 2022.
The Main Market TOP 10 trades at a PE of 7.7 or 46 percent of the PE of that market and well off the potential of 20.
The average projected gain for the Junior Market IC TOP 10 stocks is 248 percent and 175 percent for the JSE Main Market, based on 2021-22 earnings. IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to March 2022 and ranked in order of potential gains, based on likely increase 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 result in movements in and out of the lists weekly. 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.
