Main Market surge failed to ignite ICTOP10

The All Jamaica and the Junior Market indices closed the week higher than the previous week but with the Junior Market trading at its lowest since early June this year. The Main Market index which includes overseas companies, slipped back during the week. Stocks measured by the All Jamaica Index recorded gains of 4,565 points from the end of October in the past week and traded at a near two months high and have been flashing bullish signals with a sharp breakout looking very likely.
Some positives are visible in the market, with a sharp decline in the volume of some stocks being sold. Scotia Group is one such stock, as it approaches the release of full year results and an announcement on dividends, but buying interest is currently low keyed. The stock trades at an extremely low PE of 5.7 times projected 2023 earnings. AMG Packaging trades at 6.5 times 2024 earnings with a very limited supply of stocks on offer.
Even as the Main Market index rose in the past week, winners were hard to find the Main Market ICTOP10, with the highest riser up just 3 percent as Key Insurance dropped 20 percent to $2, followed by Palace Amusement down 14 percent to $1.12 and Sygnus Credit Investments declining 7 percent to $11.11.
The Junior Market has 6 stocks gaining, with Iron Rock Insurance jumping 20 percent to $2.65, Express Catering rallying 7 percent to $4 and AMG Packaging rising 4 percent to $2.59 while Caribbean Creamfell 16 percent to $3.10.
There was just one new addition to the ICTOP10 with a listing for the Junior Market with Access Financial dropping out of the list and replaced by Honey Bun, with projected earnings per share of 70 cents for the fiscal year ended September and $1 for 2024.
Indications of where stock prices could be by May 2024 can be seen from stocks with the highest values in the Main and Junior Markets.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5, well below the market average of 12.9. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 302 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings and now provides better values than the Junior Market.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 20 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 6.9, over half of the market, with an average of 13.1. There are 15 stocks, or 30 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 49, averaging 20 that are well above the market’s average. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, with the market projected to rise by 200 percent on or around May 2024.
Of import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on the full year’s earnings.
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 2024 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 slips into December

The Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange started trading on the final month of 2023 on a bearish tone on Friday, with the volume of stocks traded plunging 77 percent and the value 74 percent compared with trading on Thursday following trading of 41 securities trading down from 46 on Thursday and ended with 14 rising, 20 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 4,811,921 shares for $11,579,633 compared with 20,658,101 units at $44,997,586 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 117,364 shares at $282,430 compared to 449,089 units at $978,208 on Thursday compared with November with an average of 262,280 units at $587,545.
Regency Petroleum led trading with 1.06 million shares for 22.1 percent of total volume followed by EduFocal with 966,631 units for 20.1 percent of the day’s trade and One Great Studio with 583,653 units for 12.1 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 14.05 points to settle at 3,757.04.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows three stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and one with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial skidded 50 cents to close at $25 with shareholders swapping 22,247 units, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 54 cents to close at $2.24 in switching ownership of 37,806 stocks, Derrimon Trading declined 13 cents in closing at $2.04 with traders dealing in 30,011 shares. EduFocal popped 12 cents to end at $2 in an exchange of 966,631 stock units, Fontana shed 9 cents and ended at $10.30, with 232,820 shares crossing the market, Fosrich dropped 16 cents to $2.32 with an exchange of 46,718 units. Future Energy fell 9 cents to end at $3.61 with 126,617 stocks clearing the market, Honey Bun dipped 20 cents in closing at $6.05 with stakeholders exchanging 8,500 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance advanced 29 cents and ended at $2.65 in trading 21,000 shares. Jamaican Teas lost 10 cents to close at $2.38 after 115 stocks crossed the exchange, JFP Ltd declined 17 cents to $1.41 with investors trading 290,287 units, KLE Group rose 15 cents to $1.64 while exchanging 11 stock units. Knutsford Express gained 19 cents in closing at $12.94 after a transfer of 933 shares, Limners and Bards shed 14 cents to end at $1.60 as investors traded 12,021 stock units, Lumber Depot dropped 18 cents to close at $2.39 with a transfer of 37,032 stocks. MFS Capital Partners rallied 38 cents to $2.48 after exchanging 70,032 units, Regency Petroleum fell 24 cents to close at $2.25 with investors transferring 1,064,663 stocks and Spur Tree Spices skidded 19 cents to end at $2.30 after an exchange of 39,063 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Soft start to December for the JSE markets

Trading fell back from Thursday’s surge to start December on a soft note, with the Main index rising but the Junior and JSE USD Markets slipped with lower volumes and value than Thursday to start the final month of the year trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index popped 366.08 points to close at 328,951.43, the All Jamaican Composite Index climbed 1,439.55 points to end the final month of the year at 351,375.40, the JSE Main Index rose 521.37 points to close at 315,669.00. The Junior Market Index after it surged 76.62 points on Thursday, dipped 14.05 points to close at 3,757.04 on Friday as trading fell sharply in the market to start the final month of the year of trading negatively and the JSE USD Market Index dipped 1.01 points to wrap-up trading for the week at 226.85.
Investors traded 11,233,174 shares, in all three markets, down from 38,220,893 units on Thursday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets was $43.75 million down from $102.4 million on Thursday. The JSE USD market closed after
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% shed $1 to close at $45.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 14 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.

Junior Market surged into month end

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Trading closed on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange Thursday, with the volume of stocks traded declining 62 percent and the value 64 percent lower than Wednesday even as eight securities traded more than 1 million shares following activity in 46 securities trading similar to Wednesday and ended with prices of 27 rising, nine declining and 10 closing unchanged.
At the close, the Junior Market Index advanced 76.62 points to lock up trading at 3,771.09 with the market closing 91.78 points lower than the October close and is down 5.4 percent for the year to date.
Investors traded 20,658,101 shares for $44,997,586 compared to 54,284,961 units at $125,759,136 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 449,089 shares at $978,208, compared with 1,180,108 units at $2,733,894 on Wednesday with the month to date, averaging 262,280 units at $587,545 versus 252,391 units at $566,865 on the previous day, and below October’s average of 361,392 units at $863,984.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 3.58 million shares for 17.3 percent of total volume followed by Regency Petroleum with 3.43 million units for 16.6 percent of the day’s trade, Spur Tree Spices ended with 3.15 million units for 15.3 percent of the day’s trade, Image Plus chipped in with 2.01 million units for 9.8 percent market share, Future Energy had an exchange of 1.91 million units for 9.2 percent of trading and Indies Pharma with 1.72 million units for 8.3 percent of total volume.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.4, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and none with a lower offer.
At the close, Access Financial rose $4.40 to end at $25.50, with just 503 shares crossing the market, Blue Power dipped 35 cents in closing at $2.75 with investors exchanging 1,004 shares, Dolphin Cove dropped $1.35 to $16.50 after 12,323 units were exchanged. Everything Fresh advanced 12 cents and ended at $1.68 in an exchange of 336,771 stocks, Fontana shed 20 cents to close at $10.39 after 81,697 units passed through the market, Fosrich popped 32 cents to $2.48 with an exchange of 245,736 shares. Future Energy climbed 26 cents to $3.70, with 1,909,568 stock units crossing the market, Honey Bun increased 20 cents to $6.25 after a transfer of 1,800 stocks, Indies Pharma gained 16 cents in closing at $3.06 while exchanging 1,724,802 units. ISP Finance rallied 50 cents to close at $31.50, with a mere 2 stocks clearing the market, JFP Ltd increased 18 cents to $1.58 after exchanging 1,011,951 stock units, Knutsford Express climbed 55 cents to close at $12.75 with investors dealing in 24,601 shares. Lasco Distributors popped 20 cents and ended at $4.10 with a transfer of 31,102 stocks, Lasco Manufacturing declined 30 cents to end at $4.20 after an exchange of 16,971 units, Lumber Depot advanced 18 cents in closing at $2.57 with shareholders swapping 18,272 stock units. Main Event fell 35 cents to $13.55 and closed after an exchange of 11,214 stock units, MFS Capital Partners rose 9 cents to close at $2.10 with traders dealing in 169,754 shares, Paramount Trading gained 22 cents in closing at $1.70 after switching 11,000 stocks. Regency Petroleum rallied 20 cents to end at $2.49 after 3,431,680 units changed hands, Spur Tree Spices rose 24 cents and ended at $2.49 as investors exchanged 3,151,885 stock units and tTech advanced 12 cents to $2.22 in trading 11 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Big gains for the JSE Main and Junior markets

Trading fell back from Wednesday’s surge to close November on the Main and Junior markets lower than October, with JSE USD Market closing marginally higher at the end of trading on Jamaica Stock Exchange on Thursday, following reduced traded volume compared to Wednesday.
The JSE Combined Market Index popped 2,530.12 points to finish at 328,585.35, at the same time the All Jamaican Composite Index jumped 2,968.81 points to 349,935.85, the JSE Main Index rallied 1,982.67 points to 315,147.63. The Junior Market Index surged 76.62 points to lock up trading at 3,771.09 and the JSE USD Market Index lost 0.40 points to end at 227.86.
Investors traded 38,220,893 shares, in all three markets, down from 86,557,262 units on Wednesday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets was $102.4 million up from $405.12 million on Wednesday. The JSE USD market closed with trading of 826,627 shares at US$14,407 compared 22,289,394 units at US$1,286,713 on Wednesday.
In the preference segment, there were no stocks trading with notable price movements.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.8 on 2022-23 earnings and 14.1 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.

Indies Pharma dominated Junior Market trading

Trading jumped sharply on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with Indies Pharma trading with 48 million shares and swelled the volume of stocks trading by 787 percent and the value 674 percent more than Tuesday following trading in 46 securities compared with 40 on Tuesday and ended with 19 rising, 20 declining and seven closing unchanged.
Investors traded 54,284,961 shares at $125,759,136 compared to 6,118,187 units at $16,249,732 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 1,180,108 shares at $2,733,894 compared to 152,955 units at $406,243 on Tuesday. Trading month to date, ended with an average of 252,391 units at $566,865 versus  200,539 stocks at $445,744 on the previous day, well below trading in October, with an average of 361,392 units at $863,984.
Indies Pharma led trading with 48.0 million shares for 88.4 percent of total volume followed by ONE on ONE Educational with 3.79 million units for 7 percent of the day’s trade and Dolla Financial with 507,139 units for 0.9 percent market share.
At the close, the Junior Market Index dipped 9.97 points to settle at 3,694.47.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13.1, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows five stocks ended with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Access Financial skidded $1.90 and ended at $21.10, with 5,000 stocks changing hands, AMG Packaging rose 37 cents to $2.52 with investors trading 24,289 units, CAC 2000 fell 50 cents to close at $4 with an exchange of 1,278 shares. Cargo Handlers gained 98 cents to end at $14.48, with 300 stock units crossing the market, EduFocal dropped 26 cents in closing at $1.85 in an exchange of 264,492 shares, Fontana popped 9 cents to $10.59 with investors dealing in 27,769 stocks. iCreate increased 11 cents in closing at 72 cents in an exchange of 167,516 units, Image Plus climbed 8 cents and ended at $1.99 with shareholders swapping 29,364 stock units, Indies Pharma shed 14 cents to end at $2.90 in trading 48,004,250 shares. Iron Rock Insurance advanced 32 cents to close at $2.37 with stakeholders exchanging 126 stock units, Jamaican Teas rallied 13 cents to $2.44 and closed with an exchange of 51,685 units, Knutsford Express rose $1.05 in closing at $12.20 after investors traded 1,254 stocks. Lasco Distributors lost 8 cents to end at $3.90 with a transfer of 11,870 shares, Lasco Manufacturing rallied 23 cents and ended at $4.50 while trading 1,009 stock units, Lumber Depot declined 22 cents to $2.39 after 102,843 stocks were traded. Mailpac Group popped 10 cents to $2.15 with an exchange of 30,116 units, Main Event increased 89 cents to close at $13.90 with 311 shares clearing the market, Medical Disposables dipped 12 cents to end at $2.90 after an exchange of 16,201 stock units. MFS Capital Partners fell 8 cents in closing at $2.01 with investors transferring 21,500 units, Paramount Trading shed 19 cents and ended at $1.48 in switching ownership of 25,028 stocks, Regency Petroleum climbed 8 cents to $2.29, with 392,399 units crossing the exchange and Spur Tree Spices gained 15 cents to close at $2.25 with traders dealing in 41,230 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Big surge in trading for Jamaica Stock Exchange

Trading surged sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange on Wednesday, with the volume jumping 650 percent over that on Tuesday and resulting in the Main Market and the JSE USD Market rising while the Junior Market slipped modestly to close out the day that delivered a big increase in the value of stocks traded including higher volume in the JSE USD Market compared to Tuesday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index rose 793.44 points to close at 326,055.23, the All Jamaican Composite Index declined by 193.70 points to 346,967.04, the JSE Main Index gained 939.00 points to finish at 313,164.96. The Junior Market Index shed 9.97 points to end trading at 3,694.47 and the JSE USD Market Index climbed 4.49 points to end at 228.26.
Investors traded 86,557,262 shares, in all three markets up from 11,376,869 units on Tuesday, with Indies Pharma trading with 48 million shares and First Rock Real Estate USD share in an exchange of 19,350,000 units. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at $405.12 million up from $58.95 million on Tuesday. The JSE USD market closed after 22,289,394 shares were traded, for US$1,286,713 compared to 132,328 units at US$8,195 on Tuesday.
In the preference segment, 138 Student Living preference share rallied $17.21 to close at $106.49.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 13.9 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.

Trading picked up on the Junior Market

Trading activity closed on Tuesday, with a jump in the volume and value of stocks trading on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange with a 149 percent surge in the volume of stocks traded and a 192 percent surge in the value compared to Monday with trading in 40 securities compared with 42 on Monday and ended with 11 rising, 16 declining and 13 closing unchanged.
Investors traded 6,118,187 shares for $16,249,732 compared with 2,456,405 units at $5,558,360 on Monday.
Trading averaged 152,955 shares at $406,243, compared with 58,486 units at $132,342 on Monday with the month to date, averaging 200,539 units at $445,744 compared with 202,969 stock units at $447,761 on the previous day. October closed with an average of 361,392 units at $863,984.
ONE on ONE Educational led trading with 1.23 million shares for 20.1 percent of total volume followed by Lasco Manufacturing with 1.22 million units for 19.9 percent of the day’s trade and Future Energy with 1.14 million units for 18.7 percent of the day’s trade.
At the close, the Junior Market Index shed 4.96 points to cease trading at 3,704.44.
The Junior Market ended trading with an average PE Ratio of 13, based on last traded prices in conjunction with earnings projected by ICInsider.com for the financial years ending around August 2024.
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 dipped $1.10 in closing at $23 in trading 6,000 stocks, Cargo Handlers lost 50 cents to close at $13.50, with 540 units crossing the market, Dolla Financial dropped 8 cents to close at $2.46 with traders dealing in 14,419 shares. EduFocal rallied 11 cents to end at $2.11 as investors exchanged 195,468 stock units, Fontana increased 19 cents and ended at $10.50, with 28,009 shares clearing the market, Honey Bun climbed 10 cents to $6.10 with an exchange of 1,155 stocks. iCreate shed 9 cents to end at 61 cents after 103,596 units passed through the market, Image Plus fell 9 cents in closing at $1.91 in an exchange of 8,390 stock units, Iron Rock Insurance skidded 60 cents and ended at $2.05 after trading 306,500 shares. Jamaican Teas declined 14 cents to close at $2.31 after a transfer of 187,281 units, Lasco Distributors lost 12 cents to end at $3.98 in switching ownership of 10,021 stocks, Limners and Bards rose 13 cents to end at $1.74, with 14,349 stock units crossing the market. Main Event skidded 98 cents in closing at $13.01 in an exchange of 40,000 shares, MFS Capital Partners gained 25 cents and ended at $2.09 with 888,888 stocks changing hands and Spur Tree Spices fell 10 cents to close at $2.10 with a transfer of 107,170 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.

Decline for all JSE Markets as trading climbs

The Main Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange closed down on Tuesday, while the Junior Market slipped a few points and the JSE USD Market fell at the close of the market, with an increase in the value and volume of stocks traded compared to Monday.
At the close of trading, the JSE Combined Market Index dropped 3,283.21 points to 325,261.79, the All Jamaican Composite Index dived 3,930.88 points to cease trading at 347,160.74, the JSE Main Index shed 3,454.22 points to 312,225.96. The Junior Market Index shed 4.96 points to cease trading at 3,704.44 and the JSE USD Market Index shed 3.22 points to conclude trading at 223.77.
Investors traded 11,376,869 shares, in all three markets up from 9,923,864 units on Monday. The value of stocks traded on the Junior and Main markets ended at $58.95 million up from $43.02 million on Monday. The JSE USD market closed after 132,328 shares were exchanged, for US$8,195 compared to 837,700 units at US$41,015 on Monday.
In the preference segment, Productive Business Solutions 9.75% preference share dropped $12 to end at $100.
The market’s PE ratio, the most popular measure used to determine the value of stocks, ended at 21.5 on 2022-23 earnings and 14 times those for 2023-24 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 between the same sector companies and the overall market. The EPS & PE ratios are based on 2023 and 2024 actual or projected earnings, excluding major one off items.
Investors need pertinent information to successfully navigate numerous investment options in the local 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.
Investors should use the chart to help make rational decisions when investing in stocks close to the average for the sector and 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 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 pertaining to the highest bid and the lowest offer for each company.

Strong performance in ICTOP10 stocks

The main market has been quietly rising since the start of November and closed the past week at the highest level since the start of the month while the Junior Market declined to the lowest level since early May this year but the performance of the ICTOP10 was mostly positive, with the Junior Market having 4 stocks gaining between 5 and 15 percent and two with declines of 6 and 7 percent. The Main Market had two stocks gaining 5 and 11 percent and two falling by 3 percent.
Against the above market movements, there was just one new addition to the ICTOP10 with listings for the Junior Market with Caribbean Flavours moving out with a 15 percent gain for the week to close at $1.39 and Access Financial taking its place. The other big action in the Junior Market, resulted in Paramount Trading gaining 12 percent to close at $1.68, Caribbean Cream rising 9 percent to $3.70 and Jamaican Teas adding 5 percent to end at $2.35. Lasco Manufacturing dropped 7 percent to $4.20 and Express Catering fell 6 percent to $3.75.
The Main Market closed the week with Key Insurance climbing 11 percent to $2.50, while 138 Student Living rose by 5 percent to $4.22.
Access Financial Services is enjoying a turnaround in its fortunes with profit for the second quarter to September surging 153 percent over the same period in 2022 to reach EPS of 51 cents even with allowances for credit losses rising to $89 million from $54 million in the 2022 period as revenues from interest climbed 25 percent to $556 million and revenues net of finance cost was up 9.5 percent to $567 million. For the half year, profit jumped 76 percent to $234 million as loan granted borrowers rose almost $600 million to $5.36 billion from $4.76 billion in September 2022 and the same amount since March this year. The company had more than $760 million available to lend plus cash flows from profit that should pushed lending up around 25 percent year over year and helped to swell profits for the year substantially above the six months levels.
Elsewhere, we upgraded Scotia Group’s earnings to $6 per share making it a more attractive IC TOP10 stock.
An indication of where stock prices could be by May 2024 can be seen from stocks with the highest values in the Main and Junior Markets.
The average PE for the JSE Main Market ICTOP 10 stands at 5, well below the market average of 13.1. The Main Market ICTOP10 is projected to gain an average of 318 percent by May 2024, based on 2023 forecasted earnings.
In the Main Market ICTOP 10, a total of 15 of the most highly valued stocks representing 31 percent of the Main Market are priced at a PE of 15 to 108, with an average of 29 and 19 excluding the highest PE ratios, and a PE of 23 for the top half and 20 excluding the stocks with overweight values.
The PE of the Junior Market TOP10 sits at 7, over half of the market, with an average of 12.9. There are 15 stocks, or 31 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 47, averaging 20 that are well above the market’s average of 12.9. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, possibly the lowest fair value for Junior Market stocks currently, with the market projected to rise by 260 percent on or around May 2024.
Of great import is that the averages of both markets are now converging around a PE of 20 for close to a third of the market, as the year is coming to a close and with more information available on full year’s earnings.
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 2024 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.