Trading jumped sharply on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, with a 199 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded as the value surged 176 percent over Wednesday following trading in 42 securities compared with 45 on Wednesday and ended with prices of 21 rising, 17 declining and four closing unchanged.
Investors traded 30,528,396 shares for $77,798,162 up from 10,202,465 units at $28,165,787 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 726,867 shares at $1,852,337, in contrast with 226,721 shares at $625,906 on Wednesday, with the month to date, averaging 505,086 units at $1,038,359 compared to 494,951 stock units at $1,001,159 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Fosrich led trading with 16.34 million shares for 53.5 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 3.75 million units for 12.3 percent of the day’s trade, Regency Petroleum 2.79 million units for 9.2 percent of the day’s trade, Image Plus Consultants with 1.51 million units for 4.9 percent, JFP Ltd 1.40 million units for 4.6 percent of the market and Dolla Financial ended with 1.04 million units for 3.4 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index gained 23.51 points to 3,701.89.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11.1. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed based on the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial gained $2.99 in closing at $25.19 in an exchange of 24,883 shares, Cargo Handlers lost 10 cents to end at $13.40 as investors exchanged 1,487 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers fell 10 cents to close at $1.90 after trading 5,853 stock units. 
Derrimon Trading dipped 24 cents to close at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.81 after an exchange of 125,357 stocks, Dolphin Cove shed 30 cents after ending at $14.70 following an exchange of 6,316 stocks, Express Catering advanced 10 cents in closing at $5.10 with trading of 82,589 shares. Honey Bun rose 50 cents to $6.80 after a transfer of 28,453 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance climbed 18 cents to close at $2.27 after exchanging two units, ISP Finance rallied $5.55 to end at $25.55, with 4 stocks crossing the market. Jamaican Teas dropped 19 cents to $2.10 with a transfer of 606,002 shares, Knutsford Express declined 33 cents to close at $11, with 7,280 units crossing the market, Lasco Manufacturing increased 34 cents to $4.34 in an exchange of 44,885 stock units. Main Event declined 44 cents to $11.66 with 26,394 shares clearing the market, Regency Petroleum popped 10 cents after ending at $2.19 with investors transferring 2,794,741 stocks, Spur Tree Spices popped 23 cents to end 
at $2.73 after 3,751,342 units crossed the exchange. Stationery and Office Supplies gained 35 cents after ending at $14.50 after 35,010 stock units passed through the market and tTech advanced 55 cents to $2.55 in switching ownership of two stocks.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading rises on Junior Market but prices fall
Trading picked up on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Wednesday, but the market value slipped after the volume of stocks traded rose 24 percent and the value 26 percent more than on Tuesday following trading in 45 securities compared with 44 on Tuesday and ended with nine rising, 24 declining and 12 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 10,202,465 shares for $28,165,787 up from 8,256,705 units at $22,347,499 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 226,721 shares at $625,906, compared to 187,652 shares at $507,898 on Tuesday with the month to date, averaging 494,951 units at $1,001,159 compared to 508,761 stock units at $1,020,480 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Fosrich led trading with 2.82 million shares for 27.6 percent of total volume followed by Spur Tree Spices with 2.17 million units for 21.3 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 792,425 units for 7.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index slipped 15.98 points to close at 3,678.38.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed based on the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows six stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and three with lower offers.
At the close, CAC 2000 fell $1.10 to $7.10 after trading 973 shares, Cargo Handlers rose 49 cents to $13.50 with investors transferring 10 stocks, Consolidated Bakeries shed 18 cents to end at $2.01 in switching ownership of 726 stock units. Dolla Financial declined 12 cents after ending at $2.66 with a transfer of 596,131 units, Dolphin Cove climbed 30 cents to close at $15 while exchanging 200 stock units, Everything Fresh dipped 11 cents to close at $1.45 as investors exchanged 2,104 units. 
Future Energy Source lost 12 cents to end at $4.35 with 497,865 shares crossing the exchange, General Accident dropped 35 cents to close at $4.70, with 5,150 stocks changing hands, ISP Finance declined $5.56 in closing at $20 after a transfer of 3,028 units. Jamaican Teas popped 13 cents to end at $2.29 with an exchange of 13,870 stock units, Knutsford Express rallied $1.33 to close at $11.33 with the swapping of 69,943 stocks, Lasco Distributors dropped 23 cents to $2.45 in an exchange of 13,792 shares. Lasco Manufacturing dipped 15 cents after ending at $4 and an exchange of 7,155 stocks, Limners and Bards lost 26 cents in closing at $2.25 after trading 6,624 shares, Main Event shed 15 cents to land at $12.10 in an exchange of 19,599 units. 
MFS Capital Partners fell 14 cents to end at $3.31 as 792,425 stock units passed through the market, Paramount Trading rose 19 cents to close at $2.34 after exchanging 545 units and tTech lost 30 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $2, with 117,880 shares crossing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market climbs
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Tuesday with an 89 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded with a 96 percent greater value than on Monday with trading in 44 securities compared with 45 on Monday. It ended with 25 rising, 12 declining and seven closing unchanged.
A total of 8,256,705 shares were exchanged for $22,347,499 up from 4,366,193 units at $11,400,138 on Monday.
Trading averaged 187,652 shares at $507,898, compared with 97,027 units at $253,336 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 508,761 units at $1,020,480 compared with 525,784 stocks at $1,047,653 on the previous day. Februaryc losed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Fosrich led trading with 1.88 million shares for 22.8 percent of total volume, followed by Limners and Bards with 1.46 million units for 17.7 percent of the day’s trade and MFS Capital Partners with 687,146 units for 8.3 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index jumped 38.90 points to settle at 3,694.36.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.9. The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price and ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial fell 78 cents to $22.20, with 2,283 shares changing hands, AMG Packaging popped 55 cents to end at $3.15 after a transfer of 2,100 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers climbed 10 cents after ending at $2.08, with an exchange of 33,749 units. Dolphin Cove dropped 30 cents to $14.70 with 3,135 stock units changing hands, Elite Diagnostic lost 25 cents in closing at $2.45, with 52,140 units crossing the market, Everything Fresh increased by 15 cents to $1.56 with the swapping of 137 shares.
Express Catering advanced 19 cents to end at $5 in an exchange of 4,636 stock units, Fosrich declined 10 cents in closing at $2.74 after exchanging 1,879,393 stocks, Future Energy Source rose 19 cents to $4.47 in trading 376,387 stocks. GWest Corporation rallied 13 cents to $1.06 in switching ownership of 5,423 shares, Honey Bun gained 30 cents after ending at $6.30 as investors exchanged 6,202 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance rallied 9 cents to close at $2.09 after trading 4,956 units. Jamaican Teas fell 14 cents in closing at $2.16 in an exchange of 201,530 stocks, KLE Group popped 24 cents to $1.70, with 3,177 units crossing the exchange, Knutsford Express dipped 30 cents to end at $10, with 97,416 shares clearing the market. Lasco Distributors advanced 22 cents to $2.68 in trading 28,430 stock units, Limners and Bards rose 22 cents in closing at $2.51 with a transfer of 1,461,352 stock units, Lumber Depot increased 26 cents after ending at $2.40 as 268,060 stocks passed through the market. Mailpac Group gained 19 cents to close at $2 with investors transferring 558,371 shares, Main Event climbed 25 cents to end at $12.25 while exchanging 20,646 units,Medical Disposables popped 15 cents to $5, with 1,877 stocks crossing the market.
Paramount Trading fell 25 cents to end at $2.15, as 350 stock units passed through the market, Regency Petroleum rose 11 cents to close at $2.09 while exchanging 535,937 units, Spur Tree Spices climbed 10 cents after ending at $2.50 with an exchange of 153,009 shares but only after trading at an intraday 52 weeks’ low of $2.33 and Tropical Battery declined 9 cents in closing at $2 after exchanging 141,447 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Key Insurance highest ICTOP10 jumps 37%
Stocks dropped to their lowest levels this past week after falling even lower than they did to close of the previous week as investors continue to shun the market, but the time is not far off that Bank of Jamaica will begin lowering interest rates and fuel a market resurgence as they sent the clearest signal that interest rates have not only peaked but will be headed downwards this past week.
The first signs of an easing of rate came this past week with BOJ CDs rates plunging 16 percent to an average of 8.85 percent from over 10 percent where it stood for several months. Importantly, the central bank cut the stock of CDS it holds from a peak of $109.5 billion on March 3, down to $82 billion at the latest auction, far less than from mid-January to the end of February, as more than $58 billion chasing after the $18 billion that was offered last week. While this happened the foreign exchange market looks very liquid with the rate falling under $152 to one US dollar from $155 earlier in February.
Performance in the past week for the Junior Market TOP10 saw only two stocks rising and seven falling, the majority of the declining stocks registering fell by 3 percent or less. General Accident jumped 20 percent to $5.98, but the bids are not there at the close, to support the price, but selling has abated for this stock currently. Everything Fresh rose 9 percent to close at $1.55 and actually traded at $1.65 during the week. Iron Rock Insurance fell 13 percent to $2 and Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 6 percent to $1.90.
The Main Market TOP10 saw the highest gaining stock rising just 34 percent, after Key Insurance jumped to $3.50 and was followed by 138 Student Living with an 8 percent rise to $5.40, but Caribbean Producers dropped 8 percent to $9.07. All other movements were 3 percent or less.
The Junior Market has a long term pattern, with the market starting to rise around a month before quarterly results are due and declining shortly after results are released. This is a pattern worth noting that can be built into investment decisions that can improve returns.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.5, well below the market average of 13.2, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.9 compared with the market at 10.6. The differences are important indicators of the level of likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 248 percent and the Main Market TOP10 an average of 274 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The Junior Market has 9 stocks representing 19 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 24, averaging 19, well above the average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15, suggesting that this may be a logical value for junior market stocks currently.
The Main Market 16 most valued stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 100, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest valued stocks and 18 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 are likely to deliver the best returns up to the end of May 2023 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 and result 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.
Junior Market rallies on lower volume
Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Friday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 58 percent and the value falling 68 percent compared with Thursday’s activities following trading in 42 securities compared with 43 on Thursday and ended with prices of 16 rising, 17 declining and nine closing unchanged.
A total of 6,478,077 shares were traded for $16,544,909 compared with 15,501,984 units at $52,166,724 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 154,240 shares at $393,926, compared to 360,511 units at $1,213,180 on Thursday with the month to date, averaging 550,362 units at $1,093,187 compared to 57 2,754 stock units at $1,132,714 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Indies Pharma led trading with 1.31 million shares for 20.3 percent of total volume, followed by Dolla Financial with 1.29 million units for 19.8 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 1.01 million units for 15.5 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index increased 34.78 points to settle at 3,629.45.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.5. 
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial rose $2.44 to $22.99 after 8 shares were traded, Blue Power dropped 34 cents to $2.06 in switching ownership of 4,100 stocks, Caribbean Assurance Brokers shed 10 cents to end at $1.90 as investors exchanged 58,622 units. Caribbean Flavours lost 17 cents in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $1.03, with 56,530 stock units crossing the market, EduFocal popped 14 cents to close at $1.93, with 205,458 shares clearing the market, Express Catering advanced 45 cents to end at $5.20, with 40,680 units changing hands. 
Fontana climbed 77 cents in closing at $8.17 after 58,097 stocks crossed the exchange, General Accident rallied 99 cents to close at $5.98 in an exchange of 16,691 stock units, Honey Bun gained 49 cents to close at $6.75 in an exchange of 9,412 shares. iCreate dipped 8 cents to $1.52 after investors traded 17,856 units, Iron Rock Insurance slipped 30 cents to $2 after trading 3,000 stock units, Knutsford Express increased $1.45 to close at $10.30 as 29,957 stocks changed hands. Lasco Financial fell 13 cents to end at $2.37 with a transfer of 1,489 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing dipped 10 cents to $4.05 with the swapping of 10,560 shares, Main Event gained 28 cents in closing at $11.85 after an exchange of 21,203 stock units. Paramount Trading rose 14 cents to end at $2.38, with 54,500 units crossing the market, 
Stationery and Office Supplies declined 33 cents to close at $14.17 as 14,663 units passed through the market and tTech shed 23 cents in closing at $2.30 with investors transferring 700 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Falling stocks overwhelmed Junior Market
Trading jumped on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, but the market suffered more declines with falling stocks overwhelming those rising following a 69 percent rise in the volume of stocks traded with 136 percent more value than Wednesday following trading in 43 securities up from 41 on Wednesday and resulting in prices of 10 rising, 28 declining and five closing unchanged.
Investors traded 15,501,984 shares for $52,166,724, up from 9,199,758 units at $22,141,233 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 360,511 shares at $1,213,180 compared to 224,384 units at $540,030 on Wednesday, with the month to date, averaging 572,754 units at $1,132,714 versus 585,792 stock units at $1,127,771 on the previous day. February closed with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Future Energy Source led trading with 7.96 million shares for 51.3 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 3.14 million units for 20.3 percent of the day’s trade and JFP Ltd with 586,143 units for 3.8 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index fell 48.88 points to settle at 3,594.67.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 10.6. 
The PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price divided by ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows two stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and one stock with a lower offer.
At the close, AMG Packaging lost 38 cents to end at $3 after trading 5,025 shares, Caribbean Cream fell 15 cents in closing at $3.30 while exchanging 20,000 units, Dolphin Cove climbed 75 cents to close at $15 in switching ownership of 7,635 stocks. EduFocal declined 12 cents to a 52 weeks’ closing low of $1.79, with 12,319 stock units crossing the market, Everything Fresh dropped 9 cents to $1.54 after 15,311 stocks changed hands, Express Catering dipped 44 cents after ending at $4.75 with investors transferring 15,134 units. Fontana shed 11 cents to end at $7.40 with 54,775 shares clearing the market, Fosrich dipped 15 cents to $2.72 in an exchange of 259,589 stock units, 
Honey Bun increased 16 cents in closing at $6.26 after an exchange of 11,446 stocks. Indies Pharma advanced 9 cents to close at $2.80 after a transfer of 160,593 stock units, ISP Finance gained $1.01 to close at $21.01, with investors exchanging 80 units, Jamaican Teas fell 18 cents to $2.12 in an exchange of 192,340 shares. JFP Ltd rallied 8 cents to $1.68 in an exchange of 586,143 stocks, Knutsford Express lost 15 cents to end at $8.85 following 9,150 stock units passing through the market, Lasco Manufacturing declined 20 cents to $4.15 with the swapping of 6,685 shares. Main Event shed 29 cents to close at $11.57 with a transfer of 12,086 units, Medical Disposables dropped 15 cents to close at $4.85, with 5,000 shares crossing the exchange. MFS Capital Partners shed 11 cents to end at $3.41, with 564,431 stocks crossing the market, 
Paramount Trading declined 15 cents in closing at $2.24 with an exchange of 100 stock units and Stationery and Office Supplies lost 50 cents after ending at $14.50, with 31,821 units changing hands.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Junior Market at 14 months low
The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed on Monday at the lowest point since January last year, with the market Index falling 31.75 points to 3,704.30, with the volume of stocks traded declining 55 percent with the value 61 percent lower than on Friday following trading in 39 securities compared with 40 on Friday and ended with 10 rising, 20 declining and nine closing unchanged.
A total of 4,128,803 shares were exchanged for $10,755,628 down from 9,097,236 units at $27,766,092 on Friday.
Trading averaged 105,867 shares at $275,785, compared with 227,431 units at $694,152 on Friday with the month to date, averaging 614,793 units at $1,154,341 compared with 649,010 stock at $1,213,416 on the previous trading day. February ended with an average of 318,024 units at $782,332.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 855,959 shares for 20.7 percent of total volume followed by Dolla Financial with 478,505 units for 11.6 percent of the day’s trade and ONE on ONE Educational with 402,878 units for 9.8 percent market share.
The PE Ratio, a measure of computing appropriate stock values, averages 11. PE ratios of Junior Market stocks are computed using the last traded stock price in conjunction with 
ICInsider.com’s projected earnings for the financial years ending between November 2022 and August 2023. Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers. At the close, Caribbean Flavours lost 12 cents to close at $1.27 after an exchange of 100 shares, Elite Diagnostic rallied 19 cents in closing at $2.89 with 75,902 stocks clearing the market, Everything Fresh climbed 22 cents to $1.64 in an exchange of 3,200 stock units. Fontana declined 22 cents in ending at $8.18 after 22,925 units crossed the market, Honey Bun dropped 25 cents to end at $6.50 as 12,807 shares passed through the market, iCreate fell 11 cents to close at $1.57 with the swapping of 6,189 stock units. Indies Pharma shed 9 cents to $2.81 with a transfer of 17,869 stocks, 
Jetcon Corporation advanced 12 cents to $1.07, with 2,705 units crossing the market, Knutsford Express gained $1.13 to end at $10.15 as investors exchanged 93 stocks. Lasco Distributors dipped 21 cents in closing at $2.53 after investors exchanged 53,482 shares, Limners and Bards declined 14 cents in closing at $2.36 trading 94,523 units, Main Event fell 10 cents to close at $12.15 with an exchange of 89,562 stock units. MFS Capital Partners popped 9 cents in ending at $3.49, with 242,453 stocks changing hands, Paramount Trading rose 24 cents to end at $2.44 and closed with an exchange of 2,500 units, 
Spur Tree Spices traded 75,047 shares with a gain of 1 cent to close at $2.59 after the price hit a 52 weeks’ intraday low of $2.51 and Stationery and Office Supplies dipped 10 cents to $14.90 while exchanging 39,934 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
KLE Group is Main Event in ICTOP10
Stocks continued to be battered in the past week sending the Junior Market back to January 2022 levels and the Main Market declined for a second week and as far back as September 2018 levels, but some stocks bucked the trend and posted gains.
Main Event
Earnings season delivered a few new results during the past week, with Main Event posting positive profit gains for the January first quarter and seeming poised to earn $1.80 for the year. Fosrich released full year results to December, with profit jumping to $325 million from $199 million in 2021 as revenues climbed a solid 43.4 percent, Dolla Financial posted increased profit of 18 cents per share and should go on to earn 40 cents in 2023, but it is not in ICInsider.com TOP10 reporting solid results that augur well for full year’s profit. Limners and Bards delivered disappointing first quarter results of a mere $7 million, down from $66 million in 2022, as revenues dropped sharply from $443 million to $248 million. Lumber Depot suffered a decline in revenues for the January quarter, with a decline in profit and Blue Power reported an increase in revenues year over year, with a profit rising for their third quarter to January, with profit slipping for the nine months.
Performance in the past week for the Junior Market TOP10 saw four stocks rising and three falling. AMG Packaging gained 16 percent to $2.90, followed by Everything Fresh with a 5 percent gain, Lasco Distributors gained 4 percent to $2.74. Tropical Battery lost 10 percent of its value to close at $2.02 and Image Plus lost 4 percent to end at $1.85.
Stationery and Office Supplies is said to continue to enjoy buoyant business into 2023, rose 3 percent to $15 and dropped out of the Junior Market ICTOP10 along with AMG Packaging as Main Event and KLE Group replaced those that fell out, with the former posting strong first quarter results that point to earnings of $1.80 for the year. KLE is now in, based on the fall in the stock price, but investment in the stock is not without above average risk. They are yet to release 2022 earnings, but they should benefit from pick up in business in their associated restaurant business in which they hold a 49 percent interest, with exposure in Montego Bay that will see added inflows from the considerable pick up in tourist patronage and should have income generated from managing the Bessa apartments in Oracabessa on the north coast of Jamaica.
The Main Market TOP10 saw the highest gaining stock rising just 3 percent while Jamaica Broilers dropped 12 percent to $33.50’ following some large trades in the week, Guardian Holdings followed with a fall of 6 percent to close at $480 and 138 Student Living being down by 4 percent to $5.01.
There have been no changes in the listing in the Main Market ICTOP10 this past week.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.4, well below the market average of 13.3, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 5.9 compared with the market at 11.3. The differences are important indicators of the likely gains for ICTOP10 stocks. 
The Junior Market is projected to rise by 245 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 282 percent, to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The Junior Market has 12 stocks representing 25 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 24, averaging 18.3, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 15.
The Main Market 18 highest valued stocks are priced at a PE of 18 to 115, with an average of 30 and 21 excluding stocks with the highest valuations and 20 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market, but not always. 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 up to the end of May 2023 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.
Trading drops on JSE USD Market
Trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange US dollar market ended Wednesday, with a 26 percent fall in the volume of stocks changing hands following a 90 percent lower value than on Tuesday, resulting in seven securities traded, compared to eight on Tuesday with two rising, three declining and two ending unchanged.
Overall, 33,994 shares were exchanged for US$8,059 compared with 45,731 units at US$80,158 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 4,856 shares at US$1,151 versus 5,716 shares at US$10,021 on Tuesday, with a month to date average of 8,281 stock units at US$3,190 compared with 8,596 units at US$3,377 on the previous day. February ended with an average of 43,793 units for US$2,015.
The JSE USD Equities Index lost 1.23 points to end at 220.54.
The PE Ratio, a measure used in computing appropriate stock values, averages 9.4. The PE ratio is computed based on the last traded price of each stock divided by projected earnings forecasts done by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than the last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, First Rock Real Estate USD share shed 0.04 of a cent to end at 6.95 US cents after a transfer of 400 shares, 
MPC Caribbean Clean Energy advanced 1.4 cents to 68 US cents after just two stocks passed through the market, Proven Investments dipped 0.47 of a cent after ending at 18.52 US cents in an exchange of 10,157 stock units. Sterling Investments fell 0.25 of a cent to close at 1.75 US cents with the swapping of 4,980 units and Sygnus Credit Investments USD share gained 0.49 of one cent in closing at 10 US cents while exchanging 14,905 shares.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 5.75% remained at US$2 with 915 units crossing the market and JMMB Group 6% ended at US$1.05 with a transfer of 2,635 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Everything & Guardian head ICTOP10
Everything Fresh and Guardian Holdings continue to head the ICInsider.com TOP10 in a week when the Main Market fell 2.7 percent and the Junior Market dropped a hefty 7.8 percent and reversed all the gains of the previous week, but the Investors Choice bid-offer Indicator is flashing positive signals for both markets on Monday.
Guardian Holdings has a commanding lead over its next rival by almost 100 points, but Everything Fresh likely gain of 344 percent is just above Caribbean Assurance at 333 percent, but the latter is currently far more appealing, with the stock selling at a PE of a mere 7 times 2022 earnings and 4.6 times 2023. Everything Fresh PE based on 2022 earnings is at a much higher 17 and 4.5 based on projected 2023 earnings.
Earnings season had two companies in ICInsider.com TOP10 reporting very strong results that augur well for a full year’s profit.
Caribbean Assurance Brokers is selling at a PE of just 7 based on historical earnings.
Scotia Group reported a net income of $3.4 billion for the quarter that ended January 2023, an increase of $2.2 billion or 173 percent over the prior year period as loans the primary driver of profits increased a solid 18.8 percent to $237 billion while deposits grew only 7.7 percent to $4.05 billion and resulted in net interest income surging $2.6 billion as interest expenses actually declined. These results suggest ICInsider.com forecast for $5 per share may be a bit light with solid prospects that earnings of $5.50 seem possible. It noted that overall comprehensive profit shows a loss of $1 billion after accounting for pension obligations of $9.5 billion and other items of gains.
Jamaica Broilers continues to churn out strong growth in profits with their nine months results more than double that of the prior year while the January quarter is up 27 percent to $1.5 billion as revenues climbed a solid 20 percent after finance cost nearly doubled. With the tourism industry back to normal the company should get a further boost for the rest of 2023. ICInsider.com forecast for $6 per share for the current fiscal year from continuing operations seem well within reach and could be exceeded making it a solid buy for the long haul.
Scotia Group had a significant increase in profits for the January 2023 quarter.
Performance in the past week was mixed for the Junior Market TOP10 but was far better than the near 8 percent fall by that market, with only three stocks rising of which two rose by 2 percent or less. Iron Rock Insurance gained 15 percent this past week to $2.30 after falling 13 percent the previous week. Lasco Distributors fell 6 percent to $2.64, followed by AMG Packaging and Stationery and Office Supplies which fell by 3 percent to $2.51 and $14.50, respectively.
The Main Market TOP10 performed worse than the overall market with only two stocks gaining and six declining. Jamaica Broilers rose 6 percent to $38 as investors warmed to the stock following release of outstanding results, with the price having a far way to run, while JMMB Group a clear winner for the long term, put on just 2 percent to close at $31.01. Key Insurance fell 7 percent to $2.61 followed by a 5 percent for NCB Financial and 138 Student Living to $72 and $5.20 respectively.
There are no new additions in either market to the ICTOP10 this past week.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.5, well below the market average of 13.3, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.1 compared with the market at 11.3. The differences are important indicators of the level of likely gains of ICTOP10 stocks. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 238 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 274 percent to May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
The Junior Market has 11 stocks representing 23 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 25, averaging 19.7, well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 16.
The Main Market 16 highest valued stocks are priced at a PE of 15 to 98, with an average of 30 and 22 excluding the highest valued stocks and 20 for the top half excluding the stocks with the highest valuation.
The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks.
ICTOP10 focuses on likely yearly winners, accordingly, the list includes some of the best companies in the market but not always. 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 up to the end of May 2023 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 and result 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.
