The value of stock trading on Tuesday climbed but fewer stocks were traded compared with Monday on the Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange, with the volume of stocks traded declining 42 percent valued 82 percent more than on Monday resulting in 19 securities trading compared with 21 on Monday, ending with prices of eight stocks rising, four declining and seven remaining unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 241,386 shares for $4,215,694 versus 412,927 stock units at $2,309,996 on Monday.
An average of 12,705 shares were traded for $221,879 compared with 19,663 units at $110,000 on Monday, with trading for the month to date averaging 17,642 shares at $178,724 compared to 17,895 units at $176,513 on the previous day and an average for March of 28,236 shares at $236,496.
The Composite Index popped 1.77 points to 1,183.03, the All T&T Index rose 3.42 points to 1,784.63, the SME Index remained at 77.71 and the Cross-Listed Index remained unchanged at 75.47.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Agostini’s shed 1 cent and ended at $69.49 with investors transferring 1,441 stock units, Angostura Holdings sank $2.95 to $20 after an exchange of 84,721 shares, Ansa McAl gained 99 cents to finish at $56.99 after 826 stock units passed through the market. Ansa Merchant Bank slipped 5 cents to close at $45.25 with traders dealing in 31 stocks, Calypso Macro Investment Fund ended at $22.75 with 680 shares passing through the exchange, First Citizens Group fell 1 cent to end at $48.15 after the trading of 7,588 stocks. FirstCaribbean International Bank remained at $6.95 and closed with an exchange of 2,105 units, GraceKennedy remained at $4 with investors swapping 40,700 stock units, L.J. Williams B share rose 15 cents to close at $1.95 after a transfer of 2,000 shares. Massy Holdings rallied 3 cents to finish at $4.35 with investors trading 39,730 stock units, National Enterprises ended at $3.70 in an exchange of 9,574 stocks, NCB Financial increased 19 cents in closing at $3.09, with 650 units changing hands. Prestige Holdings ended at $13 with an exchange of 6,530 stocks, Republic Financial climbed 80 cents to end at $119 with 7,857 stock units clearing the market, Scotiabank popped 50 cents in closing at $67.50 after an exchange of 2,462 shares. Trinidad & Tobago NGL advanced 5 cents to close at $8.35, with 682 stock units crossing the market, Trinidad Cement rose 5 cents to $2.60 in switching ownership of 22,000 shares, Unilever Caribbean ended at $11.15 after 3,970 stocks passed through the market and West Indian Tobacco remained at $10 with investors dealing in 7,839 units.
Winning stocks outpace losers on TTSE
Caribbean Cement blockbuster Q1 profits
Caribbean Cement reported blockbuster profits in the first quarter to March this year from an increase of nearly 12 percent in revenues of $7.6 billion versus $6.8 billion in 2023 with profits jumping by 546 percent to $1.9 billion compared to just $289 million in last year first quarter.
Helping with the surge in profits was a sharp drop in the cost of sales from $5.5 billion to just $4 billion in the current quarter as the cost of raw materials fell sharply in the first quarter from $1.3 billion to $505 million.
Total operating expenses remained fairly stable at $673 million in 2024 versus $670 million last year with other operating expenses coming out at $311 million compared with $319 million in the previous year. Taxation jumped to $701 million versus a tax credit of $133 million last year.
Earnings per share ended at $2.27 for the quarter, up sharply from just 34 cents in the 2023 first quarter with full year’s earnings likely to exceed $8 per share.
The company generated $2.2 billion in cash inflows, bringing first quarter balance to $6.3 billion.
Shareholders’ equity climbed to $26 billion from $20 billion at the end of March 2023 and there is just a small amount of long term debt on the books.
Caribbean Cement stock is trading currently around $58 at a PE of just over 7 times this year’s earnings compared with an average of 13 for the Main Market. The company reported that the 30 percent expansion is expected to be completed in 2025. That will allowed for increased sales on the local and the overseas markets and making the stock an attractive investment for the immediate future and longer term.
No gains for JSE USD stocks
Stocks fell in trading on Monday with none rising and resulted in slippage in the Jamaican Stock Exchange US dollar market, with the volume of stocks exchanged dropping 23 percent after 70 percent more US dollars changed hands compared with Friday, resulting in trading in six securities, compared to eight on Friday with prices of none rising, three declining and three ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 113,936 shares for US$36,355 compared to 147,586 units at US$21,362 on Friday.
Trading averaged 18,989 units at US$6,059 versus 18,448 shares at US$2,670 on Friday, with a month to date average of 36,886 shares at US$2,499 compared with 37,587 units at US$2,359 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index lost 0.27 points to close trading at 237.61.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.3. 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, AS Bryden ended at 22.49 US cents after exchanging 20,486 stock units, Sterling Investments dipped 0.1 of a cent to 1.5 US cents with 9,455 shares clearing the market, Sygnus Credit Investments lost 1.29 cents to end at 7.5 US cents with an exchange of 76,267 units. Sygnus Real Estate Finance USD share dropped 0.2 of a cent in closing at 8.8 US cents, with 224 stocks crossing the market and Transjamaican Highway ended at 2.03 US cents in an exchange of 5,050 units.
In the preference segment, Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% remained at US$10.20 with investors trading 2,454 stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
One stock rose on JSE USD market as 7 held firm
The Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market closed on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 43 percent having a 23 percent greater value than on Thursday and resulting in eight securities changing hands, similar to Thursday, with prices of one rising, none declining and seven ending unchanged.
The market closed with an exchange of 147,586 shares for US$21,362 compared to 257,793 stock units at US$17,324 on Thursday.
Trading on Friday averaged 18,448 shares at US$2,670 compared with 32,224 stocks at US$2,166 on Thursday, with trading month to date averaging 37,587 shares at US$2,359 compared with 38,643 units at US$2,342 on the previous day and March that ended with an average of 49,394 units for US$3,593.
The US Denominated Equities Index rose 0.34 points to 237.88.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.6. 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 four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Margaritaville ended at 10 US cents in an exchange of 58 shares, Productive Business Solutions remained at US$1.59 with investors trading just two shares, Proven Investments advanced 1.02 cents in closing at 14.67 US cents with an exchange of 44,924 shares. Sygnus Credit Investments ended at 8.79 US cents with 464 stock units clearing the market and Transjamaican Highway closed at 2.03 US cents after an exchange of 100,000 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group US 8.5% preference share remained at US$1.20 after trading 1,000 stock units, Sygnus Credit Investments US 8% ended at US$10.60 with an exchange of 300 units and Sygnus Credit Investments E8.5% ended at US$10.20 with 838 stocks crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.