Declining stocks overpowered rising ones in trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Thursday, with trading in 57 securities compared with 58 on Wednesday and resulting in prices of 19 rising, 26 declining and 12 ending unchanged as the volume of stocks traded declined 39 percent but with the value jumping 108 percent more than on Wednesday,
A total of 7,516,087 shares were traded for $111,267,823 versus 12,287,636 units at $53,452,673 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 131,861 shares at $1,952,067 versus 211,856 shares at $921,598 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 153,983 units at $1,614,887, compared with 157,781 units at $1,556,998 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 214,410 units at $1,325,907.
Transjamaican Highway led trading with 1.60 million shares for 21.2 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.47 million units for 19.5 percent of the day’s trade and Carreras with 1.42 million units for 18.9 percent of the day’s trade.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 930.59 points to settle at 349,141.60, the JSE Main Index skidded 521.94 points to close at 313,565.25 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.43 points to end at 68.84.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.1. 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 eight stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments fell 95 cents and ended at $70.05 after an exchange of 7,809 stocks, Caribbean Cement gained $1.34 to close at $50.93 after trading ended with an exchange of 13,244 units, Eppley declined 62 cents to close at $33.33 after 196 shares were traded. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $4.05 to end at $36 after trading 31,239 stock units, Guardian Holdings rose $18 in closing at $438 after a transfer of 130 shares, Kingston Wharves lost $1.27 to finish the day at $27.71, with 13,232 stock units crossing the market.
Mayberry Investments advanced 80 cents to end at $7.90 with an exchange of 52,843 units, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy popped $7.36 in closing at $80.87 after 24 stocks passed through the market, NCB Financial dipped $1.99 and ended at $65 in switching ownership of 16,490 units. Pan Jamaica skidded 95 cents to close at $49.50 with shareholders swapping 72,815 stocks and Seprod rallied $3 to $78 in an exchange of 928,228 shares.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% increased 35 cents to close at $42, with investors dealing in 1,031 stock units. Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climbed $100 and ended at $2900 with three shares crossing the exchange, 
JMMB Group 7% preference share increased 45 cents to $2.45 with investors transferring 59 stock units and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $1 to end at $102, with three stocks changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Profit rises 14% at GraceKennedy
Revenues at GraceKennedy rose 9.7 percent to $117.8 billion, over $10.4 billion earned for the nine months to September over the same period in 2022. Profit before tax reached $8.8 billion, up by J$1.1 billion, or a 14 percent increase, while net profit after tax rose 14.2 percent to $6.4 billion.
Profit attributable to stockholders hit $6 billion, a 15.3 percent increase over the corresponding period last year. Earnings per stock unit for the period were $6.02, compared to $5.23 in 2022.
Earnings per share for the full year ending in December should hit the $8 market, with PE ratio of 9 based on Thursday last traded price of $71.50.
The company stated that “GK’s food business demonstrated strong performance, with notable growth in revenue and profitability for the period. GraceKennedy Financial Group also delivered a positive performance, driven by strong top-line growth”.
A dividend of $0.65 per stock unit has been announced and will be payable on December 15, 2023, totalling approximately $643 million. This is the fourth and final dividend payment by GK for 2023, bringing GK’s year-to-date total dividend pay-out to approximately J$2.15 billion.
Declining stocks outpaced rising Junior Market stocks
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 35 percent and the value 25 percent lower than Wednesday following trading in 41 securities compared with 44 on Wednesday and ended with 12 rising, 22 declining and seven closing unchanged and ending with the Junior Market Index popping 18.08 points to close at 3,820.10 after two stocks closed on 52 weeks’ lows.
Investors traded 3,568,081 shares for $12,531,088 compared with 5,519,040 units at $16,710,818 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 87,026 shares at $305,636, compared to 125,433 shares at $379,791 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 113,573 units at $287,518 compared with 117,927 stock units at $284,547 on the previous day, well down from October with an average of 361,392 units at $863,984.
EduFocal led trading with 597,842 shares for 16.8 percent of total volume, followed by Stationery and Office Supplies with 457,050 units for 12.8 percent of the day’s trade and Lumber Depot, 380,300 units for 10.7 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 11.4, 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial shed 50 cents and ended at $29 with traders dealing in 19 units, AMG Packaging dropped 57 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.95, with 747 stocks changing hands, Cargo Handlers rallied 9 cents to end at $14.49 with investors dealing in 1,000 shares. Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 17 cents in closing at $2.83 while 4,778 stock were trading, Caribbean Flavours skidded 9 cents to close at $1.31 in switching ownership of 8,044 shares, Derrimon Trading fell 8 cents to $1.92 after an exchange of 7,121 stock units. Dolla Financial increased 8 cents to close at $2.48 with a transfer of 157,601 units, Dolphin Cove climbed 97 cents to end at $16.50 with stakeholders exchanging 55,373 stocks, Express Catering dipped 65 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $3.75, as 124,899 shares passed through the market.
Fontana declined 38 cents and ended at $11 in an exchange of 374,039 stock units, Honey Bun rose 20 cents to $6.65 and closed with an exchange of 1,464 units, Iron Rock Insurance lost 19 cents and ended at $2 as investors traded 100,000 stocks. ISP Finance fell $2.79 to close at $28, with 500 units crossing the market, Knutsford Express dropped 10 cents to end at $12.20 with an exchange of 1,014 shares, Lasco Distributors gained 40 cents in closing at $4.55 with 279,413 stock units clearing the market and significantly sucked out most of the supply of stocks and leaving ten offers on the board at the close with prices from $4.55 to $15.90. Lumber Depot shed 17 cents to $2.50 after an exchange of 380,300 stocks, 
Stationery and Office Supplies declined 8 cents and ended at $1.62 with investors transferring 457,050 shares and Tropical Battery popped 8 cents to close at $1.90, with 9,899 units crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market pulls back, Juniors rise
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market slipped back from the two day bounce as the Junior and JSE USD Markets popped higher, with the volume of stocks traded dropping compared with Wednesday but with a much higher value. As trading in the Junior Market dropped back from the level on Wednesday, while the Main Market volume dropped even as the value jumped.
At the close of Thursday’s trading, the JSE Combined Market Index slipped 326.84 points to close at 327534.33, while the All Jamaican Composite Index lost 930.59 points to conclude trading at 349,141.60, the JSE Main Index dropped 521.94 points to 313,565.25. The Junior Market Index rose 18.08 points to close trading at 3,820.10 and the JSE USD Market Index inched 0.33 points higher to 227.49.
Investors traded 11,392,608 shares in all three markets, compared to 18,249,810 stock units on Wednesday. The value of stocks traded jumped on the Junior and Main markets to $123.80 million, down from $70.16 million on Wednesday. The JSE USD market closed after 308,440 shares were traded for US$5,303, down from 443,134 units at US$59,410 on Wednesday.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% climbed $100 and ended at $2,900, JMMB Group 7% preference share increased 45 cents in closing at $2.45 and Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share popped $1 to end at $102.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 22 on 2022-23 earnings and 11.6 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 successfully navigate numerous investment options 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 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.
Rising stocks outshine decliners on Trinidad Exchange
Trading ended with a divided advance-decline ratio on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Thursday, but stocks advancing overpowered the impact declining ones had on the market at the close as the volume of stocks traded rose 43 percent and the value jumped 554 percent over Wednesday out turn resulting in 17 securities trading compared with 16 on Wednesday, with five stocks rising, five declining and seven remaining unchanged and the market indices rising.
Investors exchanged 329,768 shares for $9,971,076 compared to 231,326 stock units at $1,524,317 on Wednesday.
An average of 19,398 units were traded at $586,534 compared to 14,458 shares at $95,270 on Wednesday, with trading month to date averaging 11,217 shares at $190,127 compared with 9,905 units at $126,555 on the previous day. The average trade for October amounts to 15,711 shares at $151,451.
The Composite Index advanced 4.99 points to 1,199.46, the All T&T Index popped 10.46 points to conclude trading at 1,822.17, the SME Index remained unchanged at 79.99 and the Cross-Listed Index slipped 0.12 points to settle at 74.63.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s climbed 50 cents to close at $67.50 as investors traded 23,845 units, Ansa Merchant Bank rose 51 cents to $42.63 in swapping 7,559 stocks, Endeavour Holdings ended at $15 with investors trading 32 shares. First Citizens Group lost 1 cent to end at $49.25 after an exchange of 1,112 stock, FirstCaribbean International ended at $7 after closing with an exchange of 1,460 shares, GraceKennedy dropped 5 cents to $3.35 in trading 12,966 units. Guardian Holdings fell 20 cents and ended at $19, with 1,130 stocks crossing the market, JMMB Group ended at $1.41 with traders exchanging 6,088 stock units, Massy Holdings skidded 3 cents to close at $4.47 after a transfer of 22,970 shares. 
National Enterprises ended at $3.55 after 18,605 stock units crossed the exchange, NCB Financial remained at $3 with a transfer of 29,661 units, Point Lisas ended at $3.50, with 224 stocks crossing the market. Prestige Holdings gained 65 cents in closing at $11.50 after an exchange of 130,122 shares, Republic Financial popped $2 and ended at $126 after 42,915 stocks passed through the market, Scotiabank rallied 15 cents to close at $72.75 with an exchange of 7,374 units. Trinidad & Tobago NGL ended at $12.50, with 16,015 stock units changing hands and Unilever Caribbean declined 5 cents and ended at $10.50 in an exchange of 7,690 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Profit jumps 31% at Lasco Manufacturing
Profit climbed 31 percent after taxation of $258 million to $615 million in the September quarter this year at Lasco Manufacturing, from $469 million after provision for taxation amounting to $210 million in 2022. For the half year, after taxation of $453 million, profit jumped 29 percent to $1.14 billion from $883 million in 2022 after taxation of $361 million.
Sales revenues rose 11 percent for the quarter, to $3.19 billion from $2.9 billion in 2022 and grew 10 percent for the year to date, to $6 billion from $5.5 billion in 2022.
After a brief one year dip in profit in the 2020 fiscal year, profit has been on a roll since and seems destined for a new record in the current fiscal year ending next March.
Management delivered an improvement in profit margin in the second quarter to 38 percent from 37 percent last year resulting in gross profit rising faster than sales with an increase of 13 percent, with a gross profit of $1.22 billion versus $1.08 billion in 2022. Gross profit for the half year soared 38 percent from 36 percent last year, resulting in an increase of 16 percent to $2.3 billion compared with $1.98 billion in 2022.
Operating expenses rose by just 4 percent in the quarter and half year to $394 million in the second quarter from $378 million in 2022 second quarter and in the half year to $755 million from $725 million in 2022. Finance cost declined in the quarter, to $23 million from $36 million in 2022 and from $15 million to $5 million for the six months period.
Lasco’s ICool drinks.
The operations generated Gross cash flow of $588 million and it was increased to $778 million after a reduction in funds previously tied up in working capital, additions to fixed assets of $309 million. After pumping $589 million into short term investments and $496 million in dividends the net cash position ended at $1.6 billion.
Current assets ended at $9.2 billion inclusive of trade and other receivables of $3.3 billion, cash and bank balances of $3.8 billion, while inventories were steady at $2 billion. Current liabilities ended at $1.86 billion. Net current assets was a solid $7.3 billion.
At the end of September, shareholders’ equity closed at $11.75 billion up from $9.9 billion at the end of September last year. There was no long-term borrowing, while short term loan was just $89 million.
Earnings per share for the quarter was 15 cents and 28 cents for the year to date. IC Insider.com computation projects earnings of 70 cents per share for the fiscal year ending March 2024 and 90 cents in 2025, with a PE of 6.7 times the current year’s earnings based on the price of $4.60 the stock traded at on the Jamaica Stock Exchange
Lasco’s products
Junior Market and the value is well down on the average for the market at 11.6, a clear indication of the potential gains ahead in the price. Net asset value ended the period at $2.85 with the stock selling at 1.6 times book value.
The company is in a healthy financial position to do a major acquisition, with no major loan commitment currently and a tidy wad of liquid funds, with more to come as profit increases in the rest of the fiscal year.
Buy and hold for a few years until growth in sales and profit slows considerably to single digits, investors should see a doubling in the stock price by next year June.
ICInsider.com gives the stocks Buy Rated seal of approval.
Paramount Trading profit drops 32%
Paramount Trading reported lower profits and revenues in the first quarter ending August following what the company states is the conclusion of a major six month contract for admixture supplied to the construction sector. Revenues declined by 28 percent to $426 million from $595 million the previous year. Profits fell by 32 percent to $65 million from $97 million the last year.
Paramount
ICInsider.com forecast earnings of 27 cents per share for the current fiscal year ending May 2024. The stock traded on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Junior Market at $1.48 on Wednesday is valued at a PE of 6 times earnings based on the projected earnings and trades at just under two times the book value of 77 cents.
Gross profit declined by $23 million in the current year, down 10 percent from $203 million generated in the previous year, resulting in a gross profit margin of 42 percent, up from 34 percent in 2022. The company also generated other operating revenues of $19 million, down from $29 million in the last year. Administrative costs declined 7 percent from $123 million to $115 million this year. Selling and distribution costs increased from $2.6 million to $4.6 million this year. Finance costs climbed from $11 million in 2022 to $14 million in the current year despite a reduction in the total amount of funds borrowed.
Earnings per share came in at just under four cents for the quarter compared to just over 5 cents in the previous year’s quarter.
Container of Allegheny lubricant produced at the local plant
The company generated a positive cash flow of $77 million, which was reduced by an increase in working capital, amounting to $36 million and ended the year with cash funds of $144 million after paying $13 million toward a reduction in borrowed funds. At the end of August 2022, cash funds were $226 million and $121 million at the end of May this year.
Shareholders’ equity ended the period at $1.19 billion, up from $993 million at the end of August 2022 and long term borrowings were $115 million. Short term loans due to be paid within twelve months amounted to $338 million.
Current assets ended at $1.59 billion, and current liabilities were $902 million, resulting in net current assets of $683 million.
Profit to jump 40% in 2024 at Wisynco
Profit after tax for the first quarter ending September this year jumped 20 percent at Wisynco Group to $1.55 billion in the current year from $1.3 billion in 2022. Profit before tax also grew by 20 percent from $1.73 billion in 2022 to $2.1 billion, but profit is projected to jump 39 percent for the current year to $6.8 billion, ICInsider.com projections show.
The profit performance resulted from a 15 percent rise in revenues from $11.95 billion in 2022 to $13.73 billion in the current year. Although revenues climbed 15 percent, gross profit increased by just 11 percent, from $4.3 billion in 2022 to $4.8 billion in the current year, as input cost climbed 17 percent to $8.93 billion from $7.6 billion in 2022.
Selling and distribution expenses rose 14.3 percent from $2.12 billion to $2.43 billion and administrative expenses popped nearly 13 percent from $455 million to $513 million. Finance income brought in $168 million versus $85 million in the previous year, but finance cost fell from $150 million to just $11 million, despite borrowings standing at $8.9 billion at the end of the period.
Earnings per share for the quarter rose to 41 cents from 35 cents last year and is projected to reach $1.84 for the full year and $2.40 in 2025. The stock, up 15 percent for the year to date, trades at a PE of 11.3 at the last traded price of $20.70 on the Main Market at the Jamaica Stock Exchange. The PE is slightly below the market average of 12.2.
A dividend of 23 cents per share, totalling $863 million, was paid in July, up from 22 cents per share, totalling $751 million in July 2022. In addition to the above dividends, 22 cents per share was paid in March 2023 and 20 cents in March 2022. The stock trades at 3.4 times a net book value of $6.05 at the end of September.
Cash flow generated for the 2023 quarter amounted to $2.2 billion and $1.9 billion in 2022. After working capital movements, operations delivered net flows of $2.4 billion, up from just $800 million in 2022
Wata is one of Wisynco’s known brands.
Shareholders’ Equity climbed to $22.7 billion at the end of September, up from $19 billion in September last year. Long term borrowings jumped to $2.8 billion from $790 million at the end of September last year and short term loans ended at $1.3 billion and $920 million in 2022. Some of the amounts borrowed are used explicitly to fund a significant expansion of its facilities currently on the way, so far consuming $1.8 billion in the quarter.
Net Current Assets closed the period at $13.5 billion, up from $11 billion at the end of September 2022 and emanate from Current Assets of $12 billion and $8.9 billion at the end of September last year and includes cash and investments of $10.2 billion and $7.7 billion in 2022. These amounts do not take into consideration $2.2 billion in longer term securities at the end of the quarter.
Current Liabilities ended at $7.4 billion at the end of September this year compared to $6.1 billion last year.
The group acquired the distribution rights for the Jamaican Teas products for sale locally. It will add around 2-3 percent to revenues in an entire year in addition to the expansion of the factory and warehousing currently underway and expected to come on stream by March 2024. The expansion will allow for increased production to meet demand they are unable to fill currently and provide capacity to expand exports.
Q3 profit triples at Transjamaican
Profits more than tripled in the September quarter, moving by 208 percent to $6.46 million from $2.1 million in 2022 at Transjamaican Highway, from a 15 percent increase in revenues over the September 2022 quarter to $19.2 million from $16.7 million. For the nine months, profit chipped in with a 327 percent surge to $17.5 million, up from $4.1 million in 2022, from a 17.8 percent rise in revenues to $55.4 million from $47 million in 2022.
Operating expenses fell from $9.9 million in the September 2022 quarter to $5.6 million and from $29 million to $16.6 million for the nine months to September. Administrative expenses rose from just $358,000 to $2 million for the quarter and year to date, it moved from $1 million to $6 million. Finance costs inched down from $3.75 million to $3.63 million and, for the nine months, from $11.2 million to $10.94 million.
Profit before tax amounts to $8.6 million versus $2.8 million in the previous year’s third quarter and year to date, it jumped to $23.2 million from just $5.8 million in 2022.
Taxation accounted for $2.1 million in the September 2023 quarter, up from $714,000 and for the nine months, to $5.77 million versus $1.7 million in the previous year.
Earnings per share reported for the quarter is 0.0005 US cents, up from 0.0002 US cents in 2022 and year to date, 0.0014 US cents versus 0.0003 US cents in the previous year. The full year results should be around 2 US cents per share.
The exceptional results emanate primarily from acquiring the majority shares in Jamaican Infrastructure Operators that lowered operating costs and raised revenues.
Gross cash flow of $35 million was generated, up from $17.9 million nine months to September in the prior year, resulting in $12.9 million in free funds available for use at the end of the fiscal period from $7.3 million at the end of September 2022 after repaying $5.4 million in loans, compared with $4.7 million for the same period in the previous year and after moving $17.7 million to restricted cash, up from $10.6 million in 2022, but before the payment of dividends.
Transjamaican Highway
Shareholders’ equity stands at $42 million, down from $51 million in September 2022 and $40 million at the end of 2022. Total current assets amount to $15.4 million, up from $8.4 million at the end of September 2022. Total current liabilities ended at $32.3 million, including a provision of $15 million for dividend payment and $7 million in 2022, the latter being a part of the $23 million in total current liabilities at the end of September 2022.
The Board of Directors approved an interim dividend of J$0.1866 per share paid on October 25, totalling J$2.33 billion. A dividend of $0.0855 per share amounting to J$1.069 billion was paid on October 25, 2022.
ICInsider.com projects 30 Jamaican cents per share earnings for the current year and 40 cents for 2024, which will be helped by the company earning income from the new leg of the highway from May Pen to Mandeville. The Jamaica dollar denominated stock traded at $2.58 on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Tuesday, with a PE of 8.3 and is valued at 6 times 2024 earnings.
At the above price, the dividend yield is 7.23 percent per annum, but by 2024, the yield based on the present price will most likely be higher as the company increases the amount paid as profit grows.
In April with the price at $1.77, ICInsider.com placed the stock on a Stock to Watch list, since then the price is up 47 percent and 57 percent including the 2023 dividend.
Trading surge for JSE USD Market
Trading surged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended on Wednesday, with a 323 percent jump in the volume of stocks changing hands, with the value surging 873 percent more than on Tuesday and resulting in trading of eight securities, compared to four on Tuesday with one rising, two declining and five ending unchanged and resulted in the US Denominated Equities Index dipped 4.69 points to end at 227.16.
Overall, 443,134 shares were traded for US$59,410 compared to 104,786 units at US$6,106 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 55,392 units at US$7,426, versus 26,197 shares at US$1,526 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 25,303 shares at US$2,299 compared with 17,781 units at US$1,017 on the previous day. October ended with an average of 47,977 units for US$4,392.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 8.8. 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 rallied 0.13 of a cent to end at 4.24 US cents in trading 5,999 stock units, Margaritaville ended at 12 US cents after 3,000 shares passed through the market, 
Productive Business Solutions dipped 10 cents to close at US$1.50 while exchanging 1,000 units. Proven Investments lost 0.99 of one cent in closing at 15.01 US cents, with 353,620 stock units crossing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments ended unchanged at 9 US cents after an exchange of 19,609 shares, Transjamaican Highway ended at 1.7 US cents with shareholders swapping 59,203 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$2 in an exchange of 597 units and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.02, with 106 stock units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
