The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market recorded another day of losses on Monday, with all three Main Market indices closing lower than Friday, but the Junior Market rose. The Combined Index fell 786.58 points to end at 408,157.06.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 1,183.04 points to 449,914.75, the JSE Main Index dipped 940.51 points to end at 396,027.96. The Junior Market index popped 10.58 points to end at 4, 210.52 and the JSE USD market index slipped 2.62 points to 223.23.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 23.2 based on 2021-22 earnings and 13 times those for 2022-23 at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Investors need a series of measures and pertinent information to successfully navigate the many investment choices in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help with decision-making.
Investors should make use of the chart to help make rational investment decisions by investing in stocks that are close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to take emotions out of the investment decision and put in on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The ICInsider.com PE Ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that show closing volume for the bids and offers.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
Fall for JSE Main Market gains for Juniors
Trading surged Monday on TTSE
Trading surged on Monday over Friday, with 93 percent more shares changing hands with a 216 percent higher value at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, resulting in more stocks falling than rising at the close.
A total of 24 securities traded compared to 21 on Friday, with five stocks rising, ten declining and nine remaining unchanged. The Composite Index popped 5.02 points to 1,455.02, the All T&T Index lost 2.15 points to end at 2,073.74 and the Cross-Listed Index advanced 1.78 points to close at 111.03.
Overall 876,591 shares traded for $11,470,015 compared to 453,136 units at $3,627,650 on Friday. An average of 36,525 units traded at $477,917 compared to 21,578 shares at $172,745 on Friday, with trading month to date averaging 60,624 units at $495,568 versus 65,404 units at $499,069. The average trade for March amounts to 36,197 units at $438,630.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with a bid higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s finished at $46.10, trading 6,667 shares, Angostura Holdings shed $1.70 to end at $20.30 after an exchange of 1,170 stock units, Ansa McAl remained at $57.50, with 340 units crossing the market. Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended unchanged at $19 in an exchange of 6 stocks, Clico Investment Fund finished at $29.50 with 44,711 stock units changing hands, First Citizens Group dropped 99 cents to close at $51 after trading 3,100 stocks. FirstCaribbean International Bank remained at $5.95, with ten shares crossing the market, GraceKennedy rose 70 cents to $6 with the swapping of 369,455 units, Guardian Holdings declined 39 cents to end at $27.01 in exchanging 46,984 stocks. JMMB Group popped 13 cents to $2.42 after exchanging 394 units, L.J. Williams B share lost 3 cents to close at $1.97 in trading 25 shares, Massy Holdings fell 14 cents to $5.60 in switching ownership of 10,081 stock units. 
National Enterprises finished at $2.99 while 9,260 stocks changed hands, National Flour Mills fell 5 cents to $1.55, with 35,545 units crossing the exchange, NCB Financial Group shed 60 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $6.10, with 6,348 shares clearing the market. One Caribbean Media rallied 5 cents to $4.18 after trading 9,325 stock units, Point Lisas remained at $3.50 in trading 20 stocks, Prestige Holdings gained 20 cents to $7.10, with 46,010 shares changing hands. Republic Financial Holdings climbed 7 cents to end at $141.07 after exchanging 2,979 units, Scotiabank lost 50 cents to close at $80.50 after trading 400 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL declined 12 cents to close at $20.50 with an exchange of 2,074 shares. Trinidad Cement dipped 2 cents to $3.50 in exchanging 36,000 stock units, Unilever Caribbean ended unchanged at $16 with an exchange of 111,825 units and West Indian Tobacco finished at $23.99, trading 133,862 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Impressive gains for ICTOP10 stocks
ICTOP10 listed Jamaican Stock Exchange stock price surged to a 52 weeks’ high of $24 on Friday with a gain of 28 percent in the week as Caribbean Producers jumped 21 percent to $18.20, followed by a 12 percent gain in JMMB Group that closed the week at $51.89 after hitting a peak in the week of $61.24, on Tuesday, while Productive Business Solutions rose 12 percent to US$1.19.
In the Junior Market, Stationery and Office Supplies rose 12 percent to $7.88. Jetcon Corporation recovered lost grounds with a rise of 11 percent to end at $1.10, following knee-jerk reaction by investors to an article in one of the local newspapers in the previous week. Elite Diagnostic plunged 14 percent to $2.57 as a major shareholder sold a portion of their holdings. Caribbean Cream dropped 7 percent to $4.76 and Caribbean Assurance lost 6 percent to land at $2.25.
This stock is in limited supply and replaced Caribbean Producers in the TOP10. Coming into the Junior Market ICTOP10 is tTech that slipped in price and came in at the expense of General Accident. The latter will be a big beneficiary of the hike in interest rates on its $4.5 billion investment and cash funds.
Scotia Group is ICInsider.com’s new stock for the future that comes into the Main Market ICTOP10 at number 9, with projected earnings of $4.47 per share as the group generates increasing income from the sharp hike BOJ induced hike in interest rates on investments.
Transjamaican Highway, an ICTOP10 listing in the previous week, closed out this past week with a rise to an all-time high of $1.78 before closing at $1.70 for the week.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 6.2, well below the market average of 14.8, while the Junior Market PE for the Top 10 is at 5.4 versus the market at 12.9. The Junior Market TOP10 is projected to gain an average of 289 percent to May 2023 and the Main Market 192 percent.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners; accordingly, the list may or may not include the best companies in the market. ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings to highlight winners from the rest, allowing investors to focus on potential winning stocks and helping to remove emotional attachments to shares that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023. They are ranked in order of potential gains, based on the possible increase for each company, considering the earnings and PE ratios 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.
Steady trading continues on JSE USD market
Trading ended on Friday, with the volume of shares changing hands rising over Thursday with 12 percent lower value at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market, resulting in seven securities trading down from 10 on Thursday with no gains, four declining and three ending unchanged.
The JSE US Denominated Equities Index rose 2.33 points to end at 225.85.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 10.4 incorporating ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with the financial year ending between August 2022 and August 2023.
A total of 1,417,291 shares traded for US$40,251 compared to 1,319,482 units at US$45,994 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 202,470 shares at US$5,750, compared to 131,948 units at US$4,599 on Thursday, with the month to date averaging 124,207 shares at US$4,862 versus 110,511 units at US$4,707 on the previous day. March ended with an average of 59,258 units for US$6,669.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows one stock ended with a bid higher than the last selling price and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share ended unchanged at 7.6 US cents in exchanging 2,309 shares, Proven Investments lost 0.05 of a cent to close at 25.95 US cents in an exchange of 23,270 units, Sterling Investments fell 0.15 of a cent to 2 US cents after trading 5,000 stock units.
Sygnus Credit Investments USD share ended at 12.95 US cents with 62,601 stocks changing hands, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share shed 0.99 of one cent to end at 12.05 US cents trading 11,988 stocks and Transjamaican Highway declined 0.1 of a cent in ending at 1 US cent after 1,307,123 units changed hands.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.5% finished at US$2, with 5,000 shares clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Retreat for JSE Main Market
Market activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday, with the volume of shares trading rising 12 percent and the value climbing 110 percent higher than Thursday, resulting in an equal number of advancing and declining stocks.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 2,760.94 points to end at 451,097.79, the JSE Main Index dipped 2,313.59 points to 396,968.47 and the JSE Financial Index lost 1.03 points to settle at 94.10.
Trading ended with 55 securities cversus 56 on Thursday, with 19 rising, 19 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending up to August 2023.
Overall, 35,213,318 shares traded for $300,629,178 versus 31,300,525 units at $141,657,125 on Thursday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 14.08 million shares for 40 percent of total volume, followed by Pulse Investments with 6.42 million units for 18.2 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 3.69 million units for 10.5 percent market share.
Wigton Windfarm ended with 3.40 million units for 9.6 percent market share, 138 Student Living traded 1.58 million units for 4.5 percent market share and Seprod, 1 million units for 2.9 percent market share.
Trading averaged 640,242 stock units at $5,465,985, up from 558,938 shares at $2,529,592 on Thursday and month to date an average of 702,233 units at $5,919,280, versus 714,323 units at $6,007,688 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Caribbean Cement fell 52 cents to $71.50 after trading 11,056 shares, Caribbean Producers declined 58 cents to $18.20 in switching ownership of 209,609 stock units, Jamaica Broilers dropped 38 cents to $28.50 with an exchange of 20,152 stocks. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $2.03 to end at a 52 weeks’ high of $24 in an exchange of 245,241 units, JMMB Group rallied $2.39 in closing at $51.89, finishing at 234,879 stocks, Kingston Properties popped $1.15 to end at $9.35 in trading 24,290 shares. Kingston Wharves fell $1.89 to close at $40.10 after exchanging 20,771 stock units, Massy Holdings increased 80 cents to $100.80 in exchanging 22,641 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained 60 cents in closing at $9.80, with 102,998 stock units clearing the market. 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced $3.80 to $101.80 after 200 shares crossed the market, NCB Financial lost $1.99 in closing at $108.01 after trading 44,020 stocks, Palace Amusement slipped $25.99 to $950.01 after an exchange of 36 units. PanJam Investment dropped 49 cents to close at $65.01 with 500,100 stocks crossing the market and Sagicor Group declined 50 cents in ending at $56.50, with 9,340 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share climbed $3 to end at $22 after 1,434 units changed hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading surges on the Junior Market
Trading closed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market on Friday, with the volume surging 381 percent higher and the value jumping 240 percent more than on Thursday, with 40 securities trading versus 42 on Thursday and ended with 20 rising, 14 declining and six closing unchanged as the Market Index rallied 21.71 points to 4,199.94.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 13.1 based on ICInsider.com earnings forecast for fiscal years ending August 2022 to August 2023.
Trading accounted for 46,852,885 shares at $132,272,326 versus 9,731,874 units at $38,899,937 on the Thursday.
Elite Diagnostic led trading with 35.84 million shares for 76.5 percent of total volume, followed by Indies Pharma with 3.17 million units for 6.8 percent of the day’s trade and Tropical Battery, 1.62 million units for 3.5 percent market share.
Trading averaged 1,171,322 shares at $3,306,808 in contrast to 231,711 shares at $926,189 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 431,536 units at $1,577,789 compared to 292,609 units at $1,253,090 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 719,276 units at $2,636,802.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rallied $1.75 to $21.95, trading 960 shares, Blue Power popped 19 cents to $4.14, with 100 stock units crossing the exchange, Cargo Handlers rose $1.55 to close at $11.90 after exchanging 20 units. Dolphin Cove shed 25 cents in closing at $22.40, with 68,223 stocks changing hands. Elite Diagnostic dropped 42 cents ending at $2.57 with an exchange of 35,844,199 stock units, leaving 85 million units on offer to sell at $2.57 and 30 million on the bid at $2.50 to buy, with excel Investments that owned the largest block of 130 million seems the likely sellers. Fontana climbed 7 cents to close at $9.98 in an exchange of 59,545 stocks. Future Energy Source gained 13 cents to end at $6.15 in trading 873,959 units, Honey Bun advanced 65 cents to $10.15 after 25,781 shares crossed the market, Jamaican Teas increased 7 cents to $3.50 in an exchange of 251,535 units. 
Knutsford Express rose 54 cents in closing at $8 with the swapping of 740 shares, Lasco Financial increased 7 cents to close at $3.50, with 31,500 stock units clearing the market, Main Event declined 16 cents to $7.97 after exchanging 14,438 stocks. Stationery and Office Supplies advanced 8 cents in closing at $7.88 in trading 52,397 stocks, Tropical Battery fell 7 cents to $2.33 with the trading of 1,623,504 units and tTech lost 47 cents in ending at $3.73 in switching ownership of 147,314 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Mixed trading results for JSE markets
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market recorded a mixed day of trading on Friday with all three Main Market indices closing lower and the Junior and the US dollar markets rose but the Combined Index fell 1,973.16 points to end at 408, 943.64.
The All Jamaican Composite Index fell 2,760.94 points to 451,097.79, the JSE Main Index dipped 2,313.59 points to end at 396,968.47, the Junior Market index rose 21.71 points to end at 4199.94 and the JSE USD market index rose 2.33 points to 225.85.
The market’s PE ratio ended at 23.2 based on 2021-22 earnings and 13.1 times those for 2022-23 at the close of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
Investors need a series of measures and pertinent information to successfully navigate the many investment choices in the local stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help with decision-making.
Investors should make use of the chart to help make rational investment decisions by investing in stocks that are close to the average for the sector and not going too far from it unless there are compelling reasons to do so. This approach helps to take emotions out of the investment decision and put in on fundamentals while at the same time not being too far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy when the price of a stock is close to the average will find that they are not inclined to overpay for a stock.
The ICInsider.com PE Ratio chart covers all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange. It shows companies grouped on an industry basis, allowing easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market.
The net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to assess the value of stocks based on this measure quickly. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices. Dividends payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts that show closing volume for the bids and offers.
The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2021 and 2022 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items. The PE Ratio is the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks.
Stocks rally in Trinidad on Friday
Market activity ended on Friday, resulting in more stocks rising than falling at the close of trading, after trading 85 percent fewer shares, with 72 percent lower value than on Thursday at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange.
A total of 21 securities traded up from 20 on Thursday, with four stocks rising, six declining and 11 remaining unchanged. The Composite Index climbed 11.81 points to 1,450.00, the All T&T Index gained 6.08 points to close at 2,075.89 and the Cross-Listed Index rallied 2.51 points to settle at 109.25.
Overall, 453,136 shares traded for $3,627,650 versus 2,923,663 units at $12,996,516 on Thursday. An average of 21,578 units traded at $172,745 down from 146,183 shares at $649,826 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 65,404 units at $499,069 versus 74,607 units at $567,597. The average trade for March amounts to 36,197 units at $438,630.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s fell 5 cents to end at $46.10 in trading two shares, Angostura Holdings rallied $1.79 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $22, with 11 units clearing the market, Ansa McAl ended unchanged at $57.50 in an exchange of 13 stock units. Ansa Merchant Bank increased $3 to close at $45 with the swapping of five stocks, Calypso Macro Investment Fund remained at $19, with 26 stock units changing hands, Clico Investment Fund finished at $29.50 in exchanging 6,916 units. First Citizens Group declined 1 cent to close at $51.99 after trading 1,223 stocks, FirstCaribbean International Bank finished at $5.95 while exchanging 1,128 shares, GraceKennedy shed 70 cents in ending at $5.30 after 47,965 stock units crossed the exchange. 
Guardian Holdings gained 15 cents in closing at $27.40 with 20 units crossing the market, JMMB Group lost 11 cents to end at $2.29 with 67,166 shares, Massy Holdings ended at $5.74 after exchanging 286,928 stocks. National Enterprises ended at $2.99 after trading 40 stock units, NCB Financial Group dropped 5 cents to close at $6.70 in switching ownership of 219 shares, One Caribbean Media finished at $4.13 after trading 3,051 units. Prestige Holdings ended unchanged at $6.90, with 25 stocks crossing the market, Republic Financial Holdings fell $1 to $141 with an exchange of 3,700 units, Scotiabank remained at $81 after an exchange of 1,731 stocks. Trinidad & Tobago NGL popped 63 cents to $20.62 in trading 7,251 shares, Unilever Caribbean finished at $16 after exchanging 11,648 stock units and West Indian Tobacco remained at $23.99 in switching ownership of 14,068 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading picks up for JSE USD Market
Trading picked up on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Thursday, with the volume of shares changing hands rising 38 percent above that on Wednesday after funds passing through the market fell 42 percent and resulted in an even number of stocks rising than falling.
Compared to five on Wednesday, 10 securities were traded, with three rising, three declining and four ending unchanged. The JSE US Denominated Equities Index rallied 6.94 points to end at 223.52, up 14 percent for the year to date.
The PE Ratio, a measure used to compute appropriate stock values, averages 8.7 uses ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending in August 2023.
Overall,1,319,482 shares traded, for US$45,994 versus 955,092 units at US$79,200 on Wednesday. Trading averaged 131,948 units at US$4,599, down from 191,018 shares at US$15,840 on Wednesday, with the month to date averaging 110,511 shares at US$4,707 compared to 103,366 units at US$4,743 on the previous day. March ended with an average of 59,258 units for US$6,669.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Capital USD share declined 0.35 of a cent in ending at 7.6 US cents after trading 30,005 shares, Margaritaville ended at 16 US cents while exchanging 270 stock units, Productive Business Solutions increased 13.5 cents in closing at US$1.19 after exchanging 134 units. 
Proven Investments dropped 0.94 of a cent to close at 26 US cents, with 1,058 stocks crossing the exchange, Sterling Investments gained 0.15 of a cent to end at 2.15 US cents in trading 824 shares, Sygnus Credit Investments USD share remained at 12.95 US cents with an exchange of 250,400 stocks. Transjamaican Highway climbed 0.14 of a cent in ending at a 52 weeks’ high of 1.1 US cents with 1,036,531 stock units clearing the market.
In the preference segment, Equityline Mortgage Investment preference share fell 1.9 cents to US$1.98 in trading 101 units, JMMB Group 5.75% finished at US$2.03 after 70 stocks crossed the market and JMMB Group 6% ended at 99.02 US cents in switching ownership of 89 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Solid gains for JSE Main Market
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market made solid gains in trading on Thursday, with the volume of shares trading rising 48 percent over Wednesday after funds flowing through the market fell modestly on a day when prices ended with nearly twice as many stocks falling as rising.
The All Jamaican Composite Index surged 4,390.35 points to 453,858.73, the JSE Main Index jumped 3,266.12 points to end at 399,282.06. The JSE Financial Index popped 0.47 points to settle at 95.13.
On Wednesday, trading ended with 56 securities compared to 54, with 13 rising, 25 declining, and 18 ending unchanged.
The PE Ratio, a formula for computing appropriate stock values, averages 15. The PE ratio for the JSE Main and USD Market closing quotes is based on ICInsider.com earnings forecasts for companies with financial years ending to the end of August 2023.
A total of 31,300,525 shares were traded for $141,657,125 versus 21,128,299 units at $143,846,313 on Wednesday. Transjamaican Highway led trading with 9.86 million shares for 31.5 percent of total volume as the stock traded at a record high of $1.78 but finished down at $1.74, for a closing record high. 
Wigton Windfarm ended trading 6.96 million units for 22.2 percent of the day’s trade. Pulse Investments ended with 5.99 million units for 19.1 percent market share, while Sagicor Select Financial Fund traded 3.09 million units with 9.9 percent market share.
Trading for the day averaged 558,938 shares at $2,529,592, compared to 391,265 units at $2,663,821 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 714,323 units at $6,007,688 down from 752,826 units at $6,869,517 on the previous trading day. March closed with an average of 610,787 units at $6,967,031.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 11 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close of trading, Caribbean Cement declined 98 cents to $72.02 while exchanging 4,431 shares, Caribbean Producers rallied 88 cents to $18.78 after trading 417,301 stock units, Jamaica Broilers climbed $1.88 to $28.88, with 82,692 stocks clearing the market. Jamaica Stock Exchange rose $1.47 in closing at a 52 weeks’ high of $21.97 after trading 202,238 units, JMMB Group lost $1.20 to end at $49.50, with 159,692 stock units crossing the market, Kingston Properties fell 80 cents to $8.20 in trading 29,256 stocks. 
Mayberry Jamaican Equities dropped 73 cents to close at $9.20 with the swapping of 10,221 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy shed $3.75 in closing at $98, with 750 units crossing the market, Palace Amusement shed $20 to end at $976 in switching ownership of three units. Sagicor Group fell 46 cents to $57 in an exchange of 13,595 stocks, Scotia Group lost $1.95 to close at $35.70 with an exchange of 41,510 stock units, Seprod dropped 90 cents in ending at $61.90 after 5,229 shares changed hands. Supreme Ventures declined $1 in closing at $25 after exchanging 452,575 units and Wisynco Group popped 68 cents to a 52 weeks’ closing high of $21.68, with 113,372 stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
