Profit dropped sharply at the Junior Market distributor, Paramount Trading for the November 2023 half year to $82 million from $149 million in 2022 and plunged from $65 million in the November quarter 2022 to just $25 million in the latest quarter.
Operating revenues declined by 27 percent to $439 million in the November quarter from $601 million in the similar quarter in 2022 and for the half year, revenues fell by 28 percent from $1.2 billion to just $865 million. The company generated nearly $15 million in other operating income for the quarter versus a loss of $3, million in 2022, with the half year bringing in $33 million up from $27 million in 2022.
The company’s management attributes the reduction in revenues and profits, “primarily in the food grade and SIKA-construction segments that resulted from a one-off supply challenge and the expiration of a large building project respectively”. They also indicate that “the technical grade segment which accounted for 52% of total revenue performed one percent above the prior year. The lubricant segment also performed well with a 10 percent growth in revenues.”
Gross profit declined at a slower pace than the fall in revenues with the November quarter suffering a 19 percent fall from $202 million in 2022 to $164 million in 2023 and for the half year it declined 17 percent from $435 million down to $363 million. At the same time, administrative, selling and distribution costs rose marginally by 2.5 percent in the November quarter to $120 million from $117 million in 2022 and for the half year it declined 1.2 percent from $242 million down to $239 million.
Profit resulted in 1.6 cents earnings per share for the quarter down from 4.2 cents in the similar period in 2022 and 5.3 cents for the six months to November, a fall from 9.6 cents in the prior year.
Profit plunges at Paramount
Profit rise 23% in Q2 at Knutsford Express
Profit at Jamaica’s intra-island luxury bus service, Knutsford Express, rose 23 percent for the quarter ending November 2023 to $72 million up from $59, million in 2022 and 10 percent for the half year to $158 million from $143 million in 2022.
Knutsford Express
Revenues for the second quarter and the half year were up 19 percent respectively to $473 million from $398 million for the November 2022 quarter and for the half year, to $965 million from $830 million in 2022.
Profit resulted in 14 cents earnings per share for the quarter and 32 cents for the six months to November. ICInsider.com projects 85 cents for the year to May 2024.
The company generated net cash from operating activities of $225 million up from $173 million in 2022 but ended with cash outflows of $32 million that arose from payments of dividends, purchase of property and loan repayment, reduced the funds at the end of May of $87 million to $55 million at the end of November.
64% jump in Q1 profit at AMG
Profit at AMG Packaging climbed for the first quarter to November by a solid 64 percent to $39.86 million from $24.34 million in 2022, with profits for the quarter representing 44 percent of 2023 full year earnings of $89 million.
Much of the profit improvement arose from increased efficiency in the operations, following the introduction of new machinery.
The company, producers of cardboard carton boxes, reported revenues rising by just 7 percent to $272.5 million from $254 million in 2022. Manufacturing costs fell from $181 million to $171 million, with the cost of goods dropping by $14 million to $171 million and resulting in gross profit jumping 38 percent to $102 million from $73 million in 2022.
Pretax profit jumped 85 percent to $54.4 million, from $29.3 million but corporate taxes nearly tripled to $14.5 million from $5 million in 2022.
Image Plus Q2 profits jump 126% in Q2
Image Plus Consultants reported a 126 percent surge in profit to $61.4 million before tax for the quarter to November 2024, from $27.2 million in 2022. For the nine months to November 2023, profit before tax dropped to $164 million by 9 percent compared to 2023 with $180 million.
The results emanated from a 27 percent jump in revenues to $315 million from $248 million for the same period the prior year. For the year to date revenues rose 8 percent to $869 million $803 million in 2022. Growth in revenues for the nine months to November was negatively affected by downtime of one of the CT units in Kingston in the previous quarter.
Profit resulted in earnings per share of 5 cents for the quarter and 13 cents for the nine months to November.
Big changes occurred in the Financial statement with Fixed assets jumping from #319 million at the end of February last year to $1.15 billion while cash funds dropped from $592 million over the same period to just $15 million and borrowings jumped to $364 million from $113 million as of February.
Steady trading for JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 62 percent after 41 percent more money changed hands compared to Thursday and resulting in trading in four >securities, compared to eight on Thursday, with prices of three rising, none declining and two ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 30,414 shares for US$3,460 compared to 81,185 units at US$2,499 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 7,604 units at US$865 versus 10,148 shares at US$312 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 14,035 shares at US$1,058 compared with 14,540 units at US$1,073 on the previous day and December that ended with an average of 28,010 units for US$1,403.
The US Denominated Equities Index declined 0.01 points to culminate at 238.06.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.4. 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 and or around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Proven Investments ended at 13.5 US cents with investors trading 14,181 units, Sterling Investments rallied 0.03 of a cent to 1.6 US cents, with 3,700 stocks crossing the exchange and Transjamaican Highway rose 0.01 of a cent to end at 1.71 US cents with 12,422 shares changing hands.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.25% preference share remained at US$11.50 while exchanging 111 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Bryden at record high, Grace corners value
AS Bryden jumped to a record high of $45 at the close of trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Friday and GraceKennedy dominated trading with the value of shares traded on a day when the total value exceeded $380 million for the Main market.
The volume of stocks traded climbed 15 percent and the value surged 904 percent higher than in Thursday’s market activity, with trading in 52 securities compared with 57 on Thursday, with prices of 17 stocks rising, 18 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
The market closed on Friday with 19,335,881 shares trading for $380,400,356 up from 16,799,684 units at $37,893,948 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 371,844 shares at $7,315,391 compared to 294,731 units at $664,806 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 197,054 units at $1,580,870, in comparison with 177,507 units at $939,590 on the previous day and December that closed with an average of 264,266 units at $3,755,946.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.96 million shares for 25.7 percent of total volume followed by JMMB Group 7.5% with 4.18 million units for 21.6 percent of the day’s trade, 
GraceKennedy ended with 3.29 million units for 17 percent of market share, Carreras closed with 2.46 million units for 12.7 percent market share and Radio Jamaica had an exchange of 1.12 million units for 5.8 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,718.84 points to settle at 359,839.19, the JSE Main Index climbed 3,015.95 points to cease trading at 322,238.80 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.95 points and closed trading at 68.86.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.6. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios are based on the last traded prices and earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden advanced $8.50 in closing at a record high of $45, up 55 percent from the price the stock first traded at on listing as investors exchanged 25,001 stock units on Friday, Barita Investments rose $1.87 to $72.40 after trading 9,624 shares, Caribbean Cement rallied 40 cents to close at $56.90 as investors exchanged 503,525 stocks.
First Rock Real Estate declined $1.04 and ended at $6.01 in switching ownership of 31,007 units, General Accident increased 75 cents to end at $5.75, with 6,000 stocks crossing the market, GraceKennedy fell 50 cents in closing at $79 in an exchange of 3,289,510 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange skidded 47 cents to $10.03 with investors dealing in 12,696 shares, JMMB Group climbed 88 cents and ended at $24.68 with a transfer of 1,638 stock units, NCB Financial lost $2.05 to end at $65.45, with 434,995 shares clearing the market. Pan Jamaica popped 30 cents to close at $50.50 with investors transferring 4,051 stock units, Scotia Group gained 50 cents to close at $39.38 after 599,431 stocks were traded and Supreme Ventures rose 51 cents in closing at $25.81 with traders dealing in 4,470 units.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $6 to close at $42 in an exchange of 870 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
AS Bryden jumps to record high of $45
New record high for AS Bryden.
AS Bryden, the Trinidad and Tobago based company that is majority owned by the Jamaican based Seprod, surged $8.50 after trading 25,001 shares and closed at a record high of $45.
The stock is up 100 percent since listing in late 2023 at $22.50 in early November last year, but is up 55 percent from the first trade taking place of $29 for investors on the first day of trading.
At the close on Friday, there were only two offers to sell the stock with one for 4,999 units at $45 and 1,260 at $75. Bids were not plentiful with only 10,200 at $36 to buy with a few units above.
In short, the stock is scarce but investors should be careful as the PE ratio is close to 26 in a market with an average around 13.
Junior Market ends steady trading day slightly down
Declining stocks whipped those rising on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, but price movements were mostly moderate with a few exceptions, following 41 securities being traded compared with 42 on Thursday, 
with the market closing with prices of 12 rising, 19 declining and 10 closing unchanged after a 45 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded at a 37 percent lower in the value than Thursday.
The market closed with trading of 3,979,718 shares for $9,087,458 down from 7,215,549 units at $14,447,149 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 97,066 shares at $221,645, compared with 171,799 units at $343,980 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 140,468 units at $285,616 compared to 145,686 stock units at $293,307 on the previous day and December with an average of 466,866 units at $1,111,272.
EduFocal led trading with 922,326 shares for 23.2 percent of total volume followed by AMG Packaging with 568,839 units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 530,862 units for 13.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index lost 1.62 points to close at 3,766.95.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial sank $2.50 to close at $20.50 in an exchange of 5,053 stocks, AMG Packaging increased 41 cents to close at $3.17, with 568,839 units crossing the market,
Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 24 cents to end at $2.25 with an exchange of a mere 500 shares. Consolidated Bakeries lost 32 cents in closing at $1.88 after 210 stock units passed through the market, Fontana advanced 10 cents and ended at $10.70 after an exchange of 73,847 shares, Indies Pharma rose 17 cents to $2.95 with investors transferring 88 stock units. ISP Finance declined by 14 cents to close at $24.86, with 200 units crossing the exchange, Jetcon Corporation fell 7 cents and ended at 78 cents with investors trading 25 stocks, Limners and Bards skidded 16 cents in closing at $1.50 in switching ownership of 112,900 units. Stationery and Office Supplies rallied 13 cents to end at $1.68 while exchanging a mere 1,553 stocks and Tropical Battery shed 9 cents in closing at $2.03 with a transfer of 4,385 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Main Market back to winning as other slip
The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange gained in trading on Friday as the Junior Market JSE USD market slipped moderately as trading ended with the number exchanged fell, with the value traded jumping sharply over that on Thursday, with GraceKennedy accounting for $257.57 million worth of stock traded, with trading ended with 29 ordinary shares rising and 35 declining, with AS Bryden closing at a record high of $45 to be up 100 percent since listing in late 2023.
At the close of trading on Friday, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 2,814.34 points to close at 335,199.54, the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 3,718.84 points to 359,839.19, the JSE Main Index rallied 3,015.95 points to close trading at 322,238.80. The Junior Market Index lost 1.62 points to lock up trading at 3,766.95 and the JSE USD Market Index slipped 0.01 points to end the day at 238.06.
At the close of trading, 23,346,054 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 24,096,418 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $389.49 million, up from $52.34 million on Thursday and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 30,455 shares for US$3,516 compared to 81,185 units at US$2,499 on Thursday.
Main Market trading was dominated by Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.96 million followed by JMMB Group 7.5% with 4.18 million units, GraceKennedy with 3.29 million units, Carreras with 2.46 million units and Radio Jamaica with 1.12 million units.
In the Junior Market, EduFocal led trading with 922,326 shares, followed by AMG Packaging with 568,839 units and Dolla Financial with 530,862 stock units.
At the close of the market, some of the major Main Market stocks that rose are AS Bryden advanced $8.50 in closing at a record high of $45, Barita Investments rose $1.87 to $72.40 and JMMB Group rose 88 cents and ended at $24.68.
The major declining Main Market stocks include First Rock Real Estate declined $1.04 and ended at $6.01 and NCB Financial falling by $2.05 to $65.05.
On a day of limited price movement in the Junior Market, the major stocks with gains are AMG Packaging increased 41 cents to $3.17 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers popped 24 cents to end at $2.25, with the major losing stocks being Access Financial dropping $2.50 to close at $20.50 and Consolidated Bakeries falling 32 cents in closing at $1.88.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% dropped $6 to close at $42.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.4 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9 times those for 2023-24 at the close of trading. ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
The PE ratio chart covers all ordinary shares on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry, allowing for easy comparisons between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to navigate numerous investment options successfully in the stock market. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the more detailed daily report charts provide investors with regularly updated information to help decision-making.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks 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 remove emotions from investment decisions and place them 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 net asset value of each company is reported as a guide to quickly assess the value of stocks based on this measure. The chart also shows daily changes in stock prices and the percentage year to date price movement based on the last traded prices.
Dividends paid or payable and yields for each company are shown in the Main and Junior Markets’ daily report charts, along with the closing volume pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
The fall of the Trinidad Exchange
Trading ended on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Friday, with a 60 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded that is valued 14 percent less than in trading on Thursday that resulted in the trading of 18 securities compared with 16 on Thursday, with prices of five stocks rising, five declining and eight remaining unchanged.
The market closed trading on friday with an exchange of 88,802 shares for $1,700,694 compared to 220,558 stock units at $1,986,863 on Thursday.
An average of 4,933 units were traded at $94,483 compared to 13,785 shares at $124,179 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 10,706 shares at $109,076 compared to 11,511 units at $111,112 on the previous day and an average for December of 17,065 shares at $239,371.
The Composite Index sank 5.81 points to settle at 1,199.80, the All T&T Index gained 1.96 points and wrapped up trading at 1,805.75, the SME Index remained unchanged at 78.23 and the Cross-Listed Index declined 1.98 points to end at 77.16.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s remained at $68.50 after closing with an exchange of 1,198 stocks, 
Angostura Holdings rose $2.37 to $22.42 after just 2 units were traded, Ansa McAl slipped 25 cents to close at $57, with 8,885 shares changing hands. Ansa Merchant Bank ended at $43 as 15 stocks passed through the market, Calypso Macro Investment Fund gained 93 cents to end at $23.50 with investors transferring 240 shares, First Citizens Group ended at $50 in switching ownership of 2,304 stock units. GraceKennedy popped 6 cents to $4.17 after an exchange of 203 units, Massy Holdings ended at $4.45 after investors traded 30,388 stocks, National Enterprises popped 1 cent to $3.56 after an exchange of 15,525 shares. 
National Flour Mills ended at $1.99 after 1,458 stocks crossed the market, NCB Financial declined 39 cents to $3.01 in trading 3,200 units, One Caribbean Media lost 30 cents to end at $3.50, with 1,013 stock units crossing the market. Point Lisas remained at $3.90 with investors dealing in 10,000 shares, Republic Financial shed 58 cents to close at $122 in trading 4,628 stock units, Scotiabank fell 43 cents and ended at $69.55 with a transfer of 1,334 units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL increased by 62 cents to close at $10 with investors swapping 7,000 stocks, Unilever Caribbean ended at $11.75, with 409 shares clearing the market and West Indian Tobacco remained at $8.90 with traders dealing in 1,000 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
