Trading in the past week saw the Junior Market continuing its bullish rise, to sit at a 14.5 months high, but the Main Market continues to consolidate, sitting well below last April’s peak, but technical signals suggest that this situation is going to end soon.
Increased buying came into the market for Caribbean Cream during the past week, but the price pulled back slightly at the close to $6.34 for the stock to return to the TOP 10 at the expense of Main Event that closed the week with an impressive gain of 36 percent as it closed at $4.74. There were no exits or additions to the Main market TOP 10. Additionally, the top three Junior Market stocks changed markedly, with only one from last week remaining in the top three.
Recent activity in Caribbean Cream’s stock comes against the background of a rising stock price from a low of $4.35 to $6.34 over the past month and seems to suggest that investors are anticipating positive news when the company releases full year results later this month. The board meets next week Friday to consider a dividend. The financials for the full year to February should be released in days after.
The main market continues to trade in a narrow channel and now shows signs that a break out is imminent. First quarter results start coming in the latter part of this month and will determine the short-term move. In this regard, watch Barita Investments, Caribbean Cement, Grace Kennedy, Jamaica Producers, NCB Financial, PanJam Investment and Sagior Group.
The top three stocks in the Junior Market at the end of the last week are Jetcon Corporation followed by Main Event and Elite Diagnostic, but the list has changed and is now headed by Stationery and Office Supplies, followed by Elite Diagnostic and Medical Disposables with the potential to gain between 286 to 317 percent. The top three Main Market stocks remain unchanged, but in a slightly different order, with Radio Jamaica in the number one spot, followed by VM Investments and PanJam Investment, with expected gains of 190 to 394 percent.
Knutsford Express
The Junior Market and the Main Market continue to get support from technical indicators that point to robust gains ahead. Added to the technical indicators is the limited supply of shares for some companies. One such is Caribbean Cream that currently has few offers on the board, the same goes for Elite Diagnostic, Stationery and Office Supplies, Lasco Financial, Main Event, ISP Financial, Cargo Handlers. In the Main Market, Berger Paints, Jamaica Producers and Radio Jamaica show limited supply in the market currently.
This week’s focus: Investors should key an eye on Consolidated Bakeries, Fosrich and Jamaica Producers, this week, all three stocks have very low supplies on offer currently. Lasco Manufacturing has a large volume on the bid at $4.50 at the close on Friday and should also be watched. Knutsford Express is not in our TOP 10, but the latest results show that a turnaround has started with the February quarter showing a moderate loss of a mere $1.7 million from sales that fell 42 percent from $318 million to $185 million. 
The results show a marked improvement over November when revenues fell from $283 million to $149 million with a loss of $34 million. The results for the latest quarter supports ICInsider.com’s forecast for the company to return to profit for the 2022 fiscal year.
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. For reference, fiscal 2020-21 average PE ended at 17 for Junior Stocks and 19 times for the Main Market at the end of March 2021. 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 12.4 based on ICInsider.com’s 2021-22 earnings, is currently trading well below the target, as well as the recent historical average of 17. The Junior Market Top 10 stocks average a mere 5.8 at just 46 percent of the market average, indicating strong gains ahead. 
The JSE Main Market ended the week with an overall PE of 15.4, some distance from the 19 the market ended March at. The Main Market TOP 10 trades at a PE of 7.3 or 48 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 252 percent and 185 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 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 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.
Trading ended with six securities changing hands, compared to seven on Thursday, with one stock rising, two declining and three trading unchanged.
At the close, First Rock Capital traded 1,039 shares at 8.9 US cents, Margaritaville closed at 9 US cents after trading 100 stock units, Proven Investments declined 0.25 of a cent in ending at 25.25 US cents, with 51,970 shares crossing the exchange. Sterling Investments advanced by 0.1 of a cent to 2.15 US cents with 14,731 units trading and Transjamaican Highway fell 0.02 of a cent to 0.9 of a cent, with 123,506 shares crossing the market.
Trading ended with 18 securities changing hands compared to 14 on Thursday, with four stocks rising, five declining and nine remaining unchanged. The Composite Index rose 7.69 points to 1,349.86, the All T&T Index shed 2.30 points to settle at 1,792.91 and the Cross-Listed Index advanced 2.43 points to 122.68.
JMMB Group settled at $1.82, with 19,000 units changing hands, Massy Holdings ended at $64 in an exchange of 166 shares, National Flour Mills closed at $2.25 while exchanging 4,747 stocks. NCB Financial Group advanced 27 cents in closing at $8.49 as 11,580 units crossed the market, One Caribbean Media settled at $4.89 after 200 shares changed hands, Prestige Holdings settled at $7.50 after exchanging 1,500 stocks. Republic Financial Holdings closed at $133 with the swapping of 25 stock units, Scotiabank dropped 5 cents to close at $54.65, with 4,595 units crossing the exchange, Trinidad & Tobago NGL fell 4 cents to $14.73 after an exchange of 10,186 stock units and West Indian Tobacco shed 1 cent to close at $32.91 in trading 1,229 stock units.
Overall, 36 securities changed hands compared to 37 on Thursday, ending with the prices of 11 stocks rising, 15 declining and 10 trading unchanged as Consolidated Bakeries traded at a 52 weeks’ high of $1.80 and at a closing high of $1.75 and Fosrich closed at a 52 weeks’ high of $6.
The day’s average trade is 468,107 units at $1,520,701, compared to 122,950 units at $353,242 on Thursday. The average month to date is 210,840 units at $675,151, compared to 181,344 units at $578,209 on Thursday. March closed with an average of 252,633 units at $733,196. Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and none with lower offers.
Indies Pharma lost 6 cents to settle at $4.24 with investors switching ownership of 34,215 units, Lasco Distributors advanced 24 cents to $3.99, with 270 stocks traded, Lumber Depot rose 6 cents to $2.47 with, 180,752 shares changing hands. Main Event dropped 18 cents to $4.74 in with a transfer of 5,000 units, Paramount Trading slipped 10 cents to $1.32 with investors switching ownership of 15,000 stock units and tTech gained 18 cents to close at $4.59, with 2,092 stocks crossing the exchange.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rose 833.77 points to 436,595.98, the JSE Main Index advanced 740.65 points to 397,747.50 and the JSE Financial Index fell 0.54 points to settle at 99.44.
Trading averaged 329,212 units at $1,900,231, compared to 300,514 shares at $5,517,023 on Thursday. Month to date trading averages 242,960 units at $1,537,268, in contrast to 231,331 units at $1,496,747 on Thursday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Palace Amusement climbed $69 to close at $809 after trading 11 units, Portland JSX advanced 89 cents to $8 with investors switching ownership of 30,200 units, Proven Investments shed 70 cents in closing at $36 in an exchange of 10,779 stock units. Scotia Group lost 24 cents in closing at $41.75 in switching ownership of 89,361 shares. Seprod rose $1.10 to end at $76.60 after 12,053 stocks crossed the exchange, Supreme Ventures gained 49 cents to close at $16 with a transfer of 38,806 shares and Wisynco Group rose 73 cents to $15.83 in the swapping of 36,486 units.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 375.09 points to 435,762.21, the JSE Main Index rose 322.43 points to 397,006.85, and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.36 points to end at 99.98.
Trading averaged 300,514 units at $5,517,023, compared to an average of 210,851 shares at $842,358 on Wednesday. Month to date trading averages 231,680 units at $1,486,157, in contrast to 223,508 units at $1,007,558 on Wednesday. March averaged 354,304 units at $2,543,232.
Salada Foods gained 35 cents ending at $5.20 with an exchange of 5,775 stock units, Scotia Group closed 54 cents higher at $41.99 with the swapping of 2,624 shares, Seprod rose 50 cents to close at $75.50, trading 9,402 units and Supreme Ventures gained 49 cents and ended at $15.51 in the transfer of 52,263 shares.
Seven securities traded, compared to five on Wednesday, with prices of three rising, one declining and three remaining unchanged.
Margaritaville ended at 9 US cents in exchanging 3,762 units, 
Overall, 37 securities traded up from 35 on Wednesday and concluded with the prices of 18 stocks rising, 11 falling and eight remaining unchanged.
Trading averaged 122,950 units at $353,242 versus 160,988 at $485,606 on Wednesday. The month to date averaged 181,344 units at $578,209, compared to 189,144 units at $608,258 on Wednesday. March closed with an average of 252,633 units at $733,196 trading.
KLE Group rose 22 cents to $1.40 in trading 11,999 units, Lasco Distributors rose 12 cents to $3.75 with an exchange of 896,501 shares, Lasco Financial climbed 25 cents to $3.10 with 8,613 stock units changing hands. Lasco Manufacturing rose by 9 cents to $4.59 with 47,215 units passing through the market, Limners and Bardsfell 10 cents to $2.80 trading 21,200 stocks, Lumber Depot declined by 8 cents to end at $2.41 with a transfer of 354,836 shares. Mailpac Group advanced 24 cents to $3.49 with investors switching ownership of 151,017 units, Main Event jumped $1.22 to close at $4.92 with 6,637 stocks changing hands, Medical Disposables fell 10 cents to $4.15 with 3,800 stock units traded and tTech lost 19 cents to close at $4.4 with 1,000 shares crossing the exchange.
Ansa Merchant Bank closed at $40, with 1,000 stocks clearing the market, Clico Investment Fund fell 39 cents to $25.01 in trading 14,726 units, First Citizens Bank shed 20 cents to close at $46.79 in switching ownership of 10 units, Guardian Holdings declined 1 cent to $25.99 in exchanging 40 stock units. Guardian Media remained at $3.01fter exchanging 300 shares, Massy Holdings ended at $64 while exchanging 2,710 units, Point Lisas ended at $3 in trading 83 shares. Prestige Holdings settled at $7.50, with 5,000 units changing hands, Republic Financial Holdings lost $1 in closing at $133 with the swapping of 202 stock units, Trinidad & Tobago NGL shed 3 cents to close at $14.77, with 8,068 stocks crossing the market and West Indian Tobacco advanced 1 cent to $32.92 in exchanging 4,296 shares.
Trading in March averaged 252,633 units at $733,196.
Lasco Distributors declined 13 cents to end at $3.63 with 34,120 stock units clearing the market, Lasco Financial shed 20 cents to close at $2.85 after 15,880 shares crossed the exchange and Lasco Manufacturing lost 9 cents to settle at $4.50 after the transfer of 15,424 stocks.
