Stocks closed marginally higher on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Monday, with the volume and the value of stocks traded, declining moderately lower than on Friday with trading in 42 securities compared with 40 on Friday and ending with prices of 20 rising, 16 declining and six closing unchanged.
Trading ended with 5,211,203 shares for $10,701,171 down from 5,633,135 units at $10,782,635 on Friday.
Trading averaged 124,076 shares at $254,790 compared with 140,828 units at $269,566 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 207,296 stock units at $423,816 compared with 215,926 stock units at $441,345 on the previous trading day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Omni Industries led trading with 2.27 million shares for 43.6 percent of total volume followed by Future Energy with 535,987 units for 10.3 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 534,594 units for 10.3 percent market share.
At the close of trading, the Junior Market Index popped 1.27 points higher to finish at 3,718.96.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.6, based on last traded prices in conjunction 
with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close of the trading, AMG Packaging slipped 23 cents and ended at $3.07 with investors trading 2,551 stock units, Blue Power fell 19 cents to $3.50 in an exchange of 10,000 shares, CAC 2000 rallied 23 cents to finish at $3.53 after 840 units were traded. Cargo Handlers dipped 87 cents to end at $12.13 after a transfer of 3,727 stocks, Derrimon Trading sank 12 cents in closing at $1.96 with investors swapping 24,977 shares, Dolphin Cove popped 50 cents to close at $23 with a transfer of 7,768 stock units. Everything Fresh declined 14 cents to $1.52, with 330,399 stocks changing hands, Express Catering rallied 82 cents to finish at $4.82 after an exchange of 46,046 units, Future Energy rose 7 cents and ended at $3.27 as 535,987 stocks passed through the market. 
ISP Finance climbed 25 cents to end at $21 with traders dealing in 499 shares, Knutsford Express increased 16 cents in closing at $11.47 in an exchange of 1,913 stock units, Medical Disposables gained 20 cents in closing at $2.50 with investors trading just 9 units. The one week listed Omni Industries, popped 9 cents to $1.21, with investors trading 2,270,182 stocks, Stationery and Office Supplies shed 11 cents and ended at $1.59 with investors dealing in 15,036 units and tTech dipped 10 cents to end at $2.25, with 12,000 shares crossing the exchange.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Jamaica’s inflation jumps in May
Inflation in Jamaica for May 2024 was 0.5 percent, down from 0.6 percent in May 2023 according to the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (Statin) computed All Jamaica Consumer Price Index. The five months of deflation for 2024 comes in at negative 1.3 percent.
Statin also stated the upward movement was due mainly by a 1.1 percent rise in the index for the heaviest weighted division of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages.
The point to point inflation fell marginally over the past 12 months to 5.2 percent, down from 5.3 percent in April and roughly at the mid-point of the target range of four to 6 percent set by the government of Jamaica for the country’s central bank to attain.
Importantly, Statin said that Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (3.9 percent), ‘Transport’ (9.7 percent) and ‘Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels’ (3.8 percent) were the major contributor to inflation in the past 12 months.
Stocks struggled on Jamaica Stock Exchange
Stocks recorded marginal gains for the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with the Main Market and JSE USD market closing moderately lower as trading ended with the number of stocks changing hands falling, but with a higher value than on the previous Friday, resulting in prices of 40 shares rising and 35 declining.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index climbed 4,477.60 points to 330,162.54, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 1,074.34 points to 355,496.20, the JSE Main Index shed 4,686.69 points to end trading at 317,371.31. The Junior Market Index popped 1.27 points to close at 3,718.96 and the JSE USD Market Index lost 2.04 points to end the day at 219.91.
At the close of trading, 18,502,297 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 25,075,060 units on Friday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $220.98 million, well above the $160.33 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 533,385 shares for US$13,379 compared to 36,637 units at US$5,319 on Friday.
In Main Market activity, NCB Financial led trading with 3.04 million shares followed by Transjamaican Highway with 2.29 million units, Wigton Windfarm was next with 1.42 million stock units, JMMB 9.5% preference share closed with 1.38 million shares and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.17 million stocks.
In Junior Market trading, Omni Industries led trading with 2.27 million shares followed by Future Energy with 535,987 units and Dolla Financial with 534,594 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share shed $1.49 to end at $5.50, Jamaica Public Service 7% climbed $3 to end at $48, Productive Business Solutions 10.5% preference share dropped $99.99 to close at $1100 and Sygnus Credit Investments C10.5% rallied $12.55 and ended at $108
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.4 on 2023-24 earnings and 13.4 times those for 2024-25 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
Low trading activity in Trinidad
Rising stocks edged out those declining at the close of the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange on Monday, in a low keyed trading session with the volume and value of of stocks traded marginally different than those traded on Friday resulting from 13 trading in securities as was the case as well on Friday and ending with prices of six rising, four declining and three ended firm and resulted in the main market indices rising.
The market closed with trading of 44,545 shares for $741,392 compared to 41,009 stock units at $775,444 on Friday.
An average of 3,427 shares were traded at $57,030 compared to 3,155 stock units at $59,650 on Friday, with trading month to date averaging 7,597 shares at $98,929 compared with 7,892 stock units at $101,889 on the previous day and an average for May of 15,629 shares at $129,694.
The Composite Index advanced 1.15 points to 1,126.15, the All T&T Index rallied 3.83 points to close at 1,683.47, the SME Index remained unchanged at 86.99 and the Cross-Listed Index declined 0.24 points to wrap up trading at 74.16.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Ansa McAl slipped 50 cents to close at $62.50 after trading took place in 1,108 stocks, Ansa Merchant Bank ended at $41.50 with investors trading 35 units, First Citizens Group popped 20 cents to $42.20 after an exchange of 743 shares. FirstCaribbean International Bank fell 9 cents in closing at $6.81 with investors swapping 10,090 stock units, GraceKennedy popped 1 cent higher to finish at $3.56 with an exchange of 1,444 shares, JMMB Group gained 4 cents and ended at $1.25, with 26 units changing hands. Massy Holdings fell 10 cents to $4.06 with investors dealing in 12,000 stock units, 
National Enterprises rose 1 cent to close at $3.31 in an exchange of just 2 stock units, One Caribbean Media skidded 1 cent and ended at $3.67 with investors trading 12 shares. Republic Financial rose 99 cents in closing at $108.99 with 605 stock units changing hands, Scotiabank gained $1 and ended at $66 as investors exchanged 4,489 stocks, Unilever Caribbean ended at $11.15 with a transfer of 12,435 units and West Indian Tobacco ended at $10 after an exchange of 1,556 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers up 73%
The Jamaica Stock Exchange Main and Junior Markets recorded mild declines for the year to the end of May, at the same time the Top 10 performing stocks all posted double digit gains with Caribbean Assurance Brokers landing a 73 percent increase to be the best performing stock in both markets.
Three of the top performing Main Market stocks migrated from the Junior Market, two this year and one at the end of May last year. Lasco Distributors ended as the best performing stock in the Main Market with a 44 percent gain, followed by Wigton Windfarms with 35 percent, with demand coming in to buy based on the removal of ownership restriction and 
General Accident another former Junior Market stock that migrated last year, up 34 percent, with profit reported in the 2023 audited accounts beating expectations and followed by 30 percent rise in the 2024 first quarter profit before taxation. First Rock gained 32 percent and Lasco Manufacturing with improved full year results over 2023 posted gains of 27 percent.
In the Main Market, Radio Jamaica is down 39 percent and Palace Amusement with a decline of 29 percent were the worst performers, the former reporting a loss for the nine months to December last year and Palace that came under selling pressure. 
Pulse Investment lost 19 percent and the Sagicor Group 15 percent.
In the Junior Market, Dolphin Cove is the second best performing stock with a gain of 37 percent based on improved profit and increased dividend payment and Blue Power is up 30 percent, ending as the number three winner, following improving profit. Honey Bun with improved full year and first half year results gained 23 percent followed by Derrimon Trading up 19 percent. 
Edufocal fell 48 percent to be the worst performing Junior Market stock followed by MFS Partners with a fall of 47 percent and CAC 2000 down 31 percent, following continued poor results. Also declining are Fontana down 22 percent and Limners and Bards had a fall of 21 percent
Helping the performance is a big jump in the volume and value of stocks traded in the Main Market with the Junior Market suffering from reduced trading compared with last year.
Nice price movements in ICTOP10
The listing of Omni Industries on the Junior Market on Tuesday, was the highlight of the Jamaica Stock Exchange during the past week, following a successful offer of share to the public. The market closed with gains in the Main and Junior Market indices, leading to just four stocks rising in the ICTOP10 Main Market and only two in the Junior Market, with gains ranging from three to 12 percent and five with losses in the Junior Market TOP10 and six in the Main Market.
Omni Industries that was never in the TOP10 closed at $1.12, after the price hit a record high of $1.42 on Wednesday, sits in the last quartile of the overall Junior Market, with a fairly healthy PE of 14.
Lasco Financial, last week’s new listing to the Junior Market ICTOP10 climbed 12 percent to $1.70 and dropped out of the listing. Caribbean Cream rallied 7 percent to $4. Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 8% to close at $3.55, followed by Access Financial, Lumber Depot and tTech falling by 5 percent each to close at $19, $2.65 and $2.35 respectively.
In the Main Market, Berger Paints, General Accident and Palace Amusement rose 8 percent to close at $8.95, $7 and $1.15 respectively. Margaritaville fell 8 percent to close at $14.50, Key Insurance fell 6 percent to $2.24 and JMMB Group dipped 5 percent to $24.25.
The Junior Market listed AMG Packaging is the the only new addition to the ICTOP10 for the week, coming in at $3.30.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5.1, well below the market average of 14 and the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.7, just over half of the market, with an average of 12.4.
The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 295 percent by May 2025, based on 2024 forecasted earnings and providing better values than the Junior Market with the potential to achieve 212 percent over the same period.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 17 of the most highly valued stocks representing 33 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 103, with an average of 30 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 16 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
In the Junior Market IC TOP10 are 12 stocks, or 26 percent of the market, with PEs ranging from 15 to 45, averaging 20, well above the market’s average. The average PE for the top half of the market is 17, possibly the lowest fair value measure for stocks currently.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but this is not always so. 
ICInsider.com ranks stocks based on projected earnings, allowing investors to focus on the most undervalued stocks and helping to remove emotions in selecting stocks for investments that often result in costly mistakes.
IC TOP10 stocks will likely deliver the best returns on or around May 2025 and are ranked in order of potential gains, computed using projected earnings for the current fiscal year. Expected values will change as stock prices fluctuate, resulting 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.
Gains for JSEUSD stocks
Stocks gained at the close on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market on Friday, following trading in seven securities, up from four on Thursday with prices of three rising, one declining and three ending unchanged with a 92 percent decline in the volume of stocks that were exchanged with a 59 percent lower value than Thursday.
The market closed with an exchange of 36,637 shares for US$5,319 compared to 456,359 units at US$13,103 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 5,234 units at US$760 down sharply from 114,090 shares at US$3,276 on Thursday, with a month to date average of 43,526 shares at US$2,697 compared with 47,993 units at US$2,923 on the previous day and May with an average of 32,077 units for US$3,201.
The US Denominated Equities Index climbed 2.16 points to settle at 2212.02
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 7.9. 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 five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Margaritaville ended at 8 US cents after 2,775 shares were traded, Productive Business Solutions remained at US$1.275 in switching ownership of 144 stocks, 
Proven Investments ended at 13 US cents with 32,830 shares crossing the market. Sygnus Credit Investments fell 0.4 of a cent in closing at 8 US cents with investors trading 243 stocks, Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share gained 2.19 cents to end at 10.99 US cents after 87 shares passed through the market and Transjamaican Highway popped 0.08 of a cent to close at 2.09 US cents in an exchange of 200 stocks.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% rallied 1 cent to US$1.71 with investors transferring 358 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading rises to close the week with gains
Increased Main Market activity ended the week on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Friday, with 23 percent more stocks trading after a 9 percent rise in value than on Thursday, with trading in 56 securities compared with 58 on Thursday, resulting in prices of 15 stocks rising, 22 declining and 19 ending unchanged as the market closed higher than the close of the previous week.
Trading averaged 346,523 shares at $2,670,504 compared with 271,669 units at $2,355,307 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 261,033 units at $1,624,316 compared with 252,000 units at $1,513,776 on the previous day and May that closed with an average of 336,947 units at $2,177,110.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.43 million shares for 38.3 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 5.13 million units for 26.4 percent of the day’s trade, GraceKennedy with 1.51 million stocks for 7.8 percent of traded volume, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund with 1.46 million shares for 7.5 percent market share and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.23 million units for 6.4 percent of total volume.
The All Jamaican Composite Index lost 158.45 points to close at 356,570.54, the JSE Main Index climbed 2,061.91 points to settle at 322,058.00 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.16 points to close at 67.11.
The Main Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 14. 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 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Barita Investments dipped 68 cents to close at $71.04 as investors traded 4,875 stock units, Caribbean Cement sank $3.73 to end at $61, with 21,320 shares changing hands, General Accident rallied $1.78 in closing at $7 with an exchange of just 1,028 units. Guardian Holdings shed $15 to finish at $345 with a transfer of 20 stocks, Jamaica Broilers increased 48 cents and ended at $32.51 after it closed with an exchange of 8,889 units, Jamaica Producers climbed 36 cents to $22.25 with investors trading 2,069 shares. Jamaica Stock Exchange popped 95 cents to $10.85 in switching ownership of 502 stock units, JMMB Group gained 45 cents and ended at $24.55 with investors trading 4,499 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing lost 40 cents to close at $6.60, with 150,845 units crossing the market. 
Margaritaville dropped 30 cents in closing at $14.50 after trading of just 5 stocks, Massy Holdings rose $3.75 to finish at $97.75 after 89 shares passed through the market, NCB Financial fell $1.35 to end at $57.65 in trading 61,403 stock units. Pan Jamaica advanced $2.19 in closing at $48.99 after an exchange of 3,619 shares, Proven Investments skidded $1.39 to $18.61with investors clearing the market of 47,204 units, Sagicor Group slipped 30 cents and ended at $40 with an exchange of 35,005 stocks. Scotia Group popped $1.25 to finish at $43.46 with 31,732 stock units crossing the market, Seprod rallied $1.49 to end at $79.99 in an exchange of 3,829 shares, Supreme Ventures shed 48 cents to close at $22.52 with traders dealing in 31,595 stocks and Sygnus Credit Investments fell 49 cents to $10.29 after a transfer of 486,325 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for Junior Market to close week
Rising stocks drove the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange higher on Friday, with the market index touching over 3,760 points before falling back to close 29.00 points higher for the day at 3,717.69, following trading in 40 securities up from 37 on Thursday and ending with prices of 15 rising, 13 declining and 12 closing firm after a 29 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with 42 percent less value than Thursday.
Trading closed with 5,633,135 shares for $10,782,635 down from 7,971,053 units at $18,706,118 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 140,828 shares at $269,566 compared to 215,434 units at $505,571 on Thursday. Trading for the month to date, averages 215,926 units at $441,345 down from 224,156 stocks at $460,170 on the previous day and May with an average of 451,257 units at $953,021.
Omni Industries led trading with 2.45 million shares for 43.4 percent of total volume followed by Lasco Financial with 575,941 units for 10.2 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 569,701 units for 10.1 percent market share.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 12.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2025.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AMG Packaging lost 19 cents to end at $3.30 with investors dealing in 10,000 shares, Blue Power gained 64 cents to $3.69, with 22,683 stocks clearing the market, CAC 2000 sank 22 cents to $3.30 after trading of 283 shares. Cargo Handlers slipped 26 cents to end at $13 after 300 stock units passed through the market, Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 22 cents and ended at $3.55 and closing with 45,389 shares passing through the market, Consolidated Bakeries rose 15 cents to finish at $2.15 with investors trading just 51 stocks. Dolphin Cove rallied $3 and ended at $22.50 in switching ownership of 8,499 units, Express Catering dropped 99 cents to $4 after a transfer of 406,642 stock units, Image Plus popped 11 cents to end at $1.86 with investors swapping 36 shares. 
Jetcon Corporation advanced 10 cents in closing at 80 cents with a transfer of 301 stock units, Lasco Financial climbed 15 cents to finish at $1.70 as investors exchanged 575,941 stocks, MFS Capital Partners shed 18 cents to end at a 52 weeks’ closing low of $1.02 after it hit an intraday low of 95 cents with 428,315 stocks being traded. Omni Industries gained 9 cents to $1.12 with an exchange of 2,447,168 shares, Spur Tree Spices popped 9 cents in closing at $2.35, with 323,059 stocks crossing the market and Tropical Battery rallied 11 cents and ended at $2.23 with traders dealing in 37,485 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Gains for all JSE Markets
Rising stocks pushed the Jamaica Stock Exchange three markets higher on Friday to end the week, resulting in prices of 29 shares rising and 32 declining as the market closed with an increase in the number of stocks changing hands, with a higher value over the previous trading day after Guardian Holdings dropped $15 to be the leading price mover.
At the close of trading on Friday, the JSE Combined Market Index rallied 2,179.26 points to 334,640.14, the All Jamaican Composite Index slipped 158.45 points to close at 356,570.54, the JSE Main Index rose 2,061.91 points to end trading at 322,058.00. The Junior Market Index climbed 29.00 points to close at 3,717.69, after hitting 3760 points in the morning session and the JSE USD Market Index rose 2.09 points to end the day at 221.95.
At the close of trading, 25,075,060 shares were exchanged in all three markets, up from 24,103,951 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $160.33 million, a fraction more than the $153 million on the previous trading day and the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 36,637 shares for US$5,319 compared to 456,359 units at US$13,103 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Wigton Windfarm led trading with 7.43 million shares followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 5.13 million units, GraceKennedy was next with 1.51 million shares, Sagicor Select Manufacturing & Distribution Fund closed with 1.46 million stock and JMMB 9.5% preference share with 1.23 million units.
In the Junior Market, Omni Industries was the leading traded stock with 2.45 million units, to be followed by Lasco Financial with 575,941 stock units and Dolla Financial with 569,701 units.
In the preference segment, no stock ended with a notable price change.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.4 based on 2023-24 earnings and 13.3 times those for 2024-25 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 within a sector and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Pertinent information is required 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.
The chart should be used in making rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector, 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 for investors 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 of the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.
