Trading plunged on Thursday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange after a fall in the volume of stocks traded, with a lower value than on Wednesday, with 12,530,964 shares exchanged in all three markets, down from 25,840,115 units on Wednesday, with the value traded on the Junior and Main markets amounting to $84.99 million, down from $155.54 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 311,627 shares for US$24,255, up from 196,825 units at US$13,167 on Wednesday. At the end of trading, prices of 43 shares rose, 38 declined and 26 remained firm.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index increased by 769.08 points to end at 367,335.33, the All Jamaican Composite Index increased by 1,215.75 points to end trading at 430,666.98, the JSE Main Index rose 955.56 points to 361,862.34, the Junior Market Index dropped 20.14 points to finish at 2,973.71 and the JSE USD Market Index rose 3.63 points to end at 277.69.
At the close of the Main Market trading, Transjamaican Highway led trading with 2.13 million shares, followed by Wigton Energy with 914,161 stocks and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 824,647 units.
In Junior Market trading, Derrimon Trading led with 1.19 million shares, followed by Woodcats International with 1.09 million stocks and Image Plus with 700,803 units.
In Main Market ordinary share movements, among the top winners, Pan Jamaica increased $2.93 and ended at $45.95, Jamaica Producers popped $1.47 to $22.50, Kingston Wharves gained $1.12 to close at $36.37, Sagicor Group rose $1 to finish at $38.50 and Carreras advanced 97 cents to end at $31.97.
Among the top losers, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund slipped $5.50 and ended at $39.00 13,108 shares changing hands, GraceKennedy lost $1.50 to end at $72.00, Sagicor Real Estate Fund skidded $1.47 to $7.38, Seprod fell $1 to close at $74.00 and Mayberry Group dropped 74 cents to end at $5.21.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share lost $9.80 to finish at $180.
In the Junior Market, among the top winners, Lumber Depot rose 20 cents and ended at $2.66, Future Energy advanced by 13 cents to $3.64, Fontana rallied by 10 cents to finish at $6.29, Derrimon Trading rallied by 9 cents to end at $1.36 and Jetcon Corporation rose 5 cents to end at $3.35. Among the top losers, Cargo Handlers dipped $1.99 to end at $16.00, Access Financial lost $1.76 to $17.98, Honey Bun skidded 57 cents to finish at $5.34, Caribbean Cream shed 29 cents and ended at $1.71 and Caribbean Flavours dropped 13 cents to close at $1.05.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 12.9 and 15.6 based on 2025 historical earnings. Major one-off income or expenses are excluded from earnings where applicable. The PE ratio is one of the most commonly used measures in valuing shares. It is calculated by dividing the stock price by earnings per share. The ICInsider.com PE ratio chart and the daily charts provide investors with regularly updated information to assist in making investment decisions. The PE ratio chart includes all ordinary shares listed on the Jamaica Stock Exchange, grouped by industry and facilitates easy comparisons within sectors and the overall market.
Pertinent information is needed to navigate the numerous options in the stock market. The chart should be used to help in decision-making, especially when investing close to the market or sector averages, and not going too far from it unless compelling reasons exist. This approach reduces emotional bias in investment decisions and places them on fundamentals, without straying far from the majority of investors. Investors who buy stocks near the average will not overpay. The net asset value of each company is incorporated into the chart. Investors can use this measure in assessing stock values. The chart also includes daily changes in stock prices and percentage year to date price movements based on the last traded price. Dividends that are paid or due to be paid 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.