Trading closed Friday on the Jamaica Stock Exchange after a modest fall in the volume of stocks exchanged, with a steeper lower value than on Thursday. Trading resulted in major indices of the Main Market and the Junior Market index declining and the JSE USD Market rising. At the end of trading the prices of 40 shares rose, 49 declined and 27 remained firm.
At the end of the market activity, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 2,640.94 points to end at 371,856.89, at the same time, the All Jamaican Composite Index skidded 3,548.49 points to close 438,887.15, the JSE Main Index shed 2,690.66 points to conclude trading at 366,751.67, the Junior Market Index skidded 9.51 points to end at 2,952.35 and the JSE USD Market Index popped just 0.09 points to 315.49.
At the close of trading, 28,282,760 shares were exchanged in all three markets, down from 29,952,633 units on Thursday, with the value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets amounted to $196.54 million, down from $299.3 million on the previous day. Trading on the JSE USD market closed with an exchange of 1,084,551 shares for US$79,042 compared to 522,273 units at US$51,007 on Thursday.
In Main Market activity, Stanley Motta led with 10.0 million shares, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 6.36 million stocks and Wigton Energy with 876,185 units.
In Junior Market trading, Woodcats International led with 2.21 million shares, followed by Omni Industries with 2.07 million stocks and Mailpac Group with 1.90 million units.
In Main Market, Guardian Holdings gained $27.97 to end at $377.97 to be the leading ordinary share winner, Pan Jamaica popped $4 to $44.00, Sagicor Group advanced $2.54 and ended at $44.94, Margaritaville rose $1.99 in closing at $11.41 and Jamaica Producers rallied $1.75 to finish at $18.95.
Seprod skidded $2.90 to close at $71.70 as the top losers, followed by Quantas Advantage with a loss $2.10 to $17.90, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped $2 to end at $42.00, NCB Financial fell $1.20 to end trading at $68.80 and Barita Investments declined 67 cents to $67.10.
In the preference share segment, Eppley 7.75% preference share rose by $2 to $19, Sygnus Credit Investments 10% increased $1.80 to $112 and 138 Student Living preference share skidded $25 to finish at $200 and .
Amongst the Junior Market top winners, Main Event increased 63 cents and ended at $3.99, Caribbean Cream climbed 43 cents to $2.69, Elite Diagnostic increased 39 cents and ended at $1.94, Knutsford Express rallied 34 cents to $9.00 and Jetcon Corporation rose 22 cents to finish at $4.21.
Access Financial dropped $1.70 in closing at $16.83, to be the leading top losers, Dolphin Cove shed 38 cents to end at $9.62, Regency Petroleum slipped 20 cents to $4.05, Iron Rock Insurance fell 19 cents to $2.50 and Stationery and Office Supplies shed 16 cents to close at $1.50.
At the close of trading, the PE ratio for the current year, compiled from projected 2026-27 earnings, is 13.3 and 16.2 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 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.