Investors pumped 211 percent more money into the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday and purchased16 percent fewer shares than on Monday and sending more stocks closing higher than those falling with57securities trading, as was the case on Monday, and ended with prices of 27 rising, 21 declining and nine ending unchanged.
A total of 7,945,794 shares were exchanged for $100,709,129 compared to 9,434,901 units at $32,400,825 on Monday.
Trading averaged 139,400 units at $1,766,827 versus 165,525 shares at $568,436 on Monday and month to date, an average of 142,484 units at $1,201,140 compared with 143,252 units at $1,060,336 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 205,236 units at $1,805,558.
JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028, led trading with 2.23 million shares for 28.1 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 1.57 million units for 19.8 percent of the day’s trade and Jamaica Broilers with 855,784 units for 10.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 2,558.42 points to 375,830.59, the JSE Main Index fell 2,316.43 points to 332,917.44 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.64 points to close at 79.06.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.2 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows seven stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints rose $1.06 to $10.41 in an exchange of 1,687 shares, Caribbean Cement advanced $2.23 to $59 in trading 1,133 stocks, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund fell $4 in closing at $40 after 4,657 units crossed the market. First Rock Real Estate gained 60 cents in ending at $12.75 in transferring 1,620 stock units, GraceKennedy rose 89 cents to end at $77.99 in switching ownership of 479,100 stocks, Guardian Holdings declined $9.80 to close at $525 with an exchange of 2,389 units. Jamaica Broilers popped 50 cents to finish at $30.50 in switching ownership of 855,784 stock units, Jamaica Producers rallied $1.87 to close at $21.87 after a transfer of 138 shares, JMMB Group advanced $2.38 in ending at $33.88 with 8,657 stock units changing hands.
Kingston Wharves dipped $1 in closing at $32 after 3,129 shares passed through the market, Mayberry Investments lost 40 cents to end at $8.10 after exchanging 39,563 stocks, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy dropped $23 to end at $75 with a transfer of 75 units. NCB Financial rallied $2 in closing at $77 as investors exchanged 23,990 shares after the price hit a new one year low of $72, 138 Student Living gained 55 cents to settle at $5.70 with the swapping of 1,123 stocks, Palace Amusement popped $31 to close at $2,480 with 409 stock units changing hands. Portland JSX shed $1.54 to settle at $10 with 512 units clearing the market, Proven Investments lost 49 cents in ending at $29.01 with investors transferring 3,048 units, Sagicor Group fell $1.96 to end at $49, trading 73,873 shares. Scotia Group rose 69 cents to close at $33.79 in exchanging 191,619 stocks, Seprod advanced $2.40 to $67.90 after trading 100 stock units, Supreme Ventures lost 43 cents to close at $26.07 in switching ownership of 38,042 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments rose $1.10 to $12.99 with the swapping of 33,048 stock units.
In the preference segment, JMMB Group 7% preference share gained 42 cents in closing at $2.83 with a transfer of 3,904 stocks and 138 Student Living preference share advanced $2.50 to close at a record high of $78 in trading 1,024 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Trading activity drops of the JSE Main market
Trading activity on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market ended on Monday with a 14 percent increase in the volume of stocks traded and the value 68 percent lower than on Friday, from 57 securities trading compared to 60 on Friday, with 16 rising, 31 declining and 10 ending unchanged.
A total of 9,434,901 shares were exchanged for $32,400,825 versus 8,306,314 units at $100,793,32 on Friday.
Trading averaged 165,525 units at $568,436 versus 138,439 shares at $1,679,857 on Friday and month to date, an average of 143,252 units at $1,060,336 compared to 135,871 units at $1,223,350 on the previous trading day. January closed with an average of 205,236 units at $1,805,558.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.07 million shares for 43.2 percent of total volume followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.35 million units for 14.3 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 1.32 million units for 14 percent of market share and QWI Investments with 1.13 million units for 12 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 2,647.57 points to 378,389.01, the JSE Main Index fell 2,561.70 points to end at 335,233.87 and the JSE Financial Index lost 0.99 points to settle at 79.70.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.5 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and eight with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints lost 40 cents to close at $9.35 in trading 6,000 shares, Caribbean Cement declined $2.23 to end at $56.77 with 5,525 stocks crossing the exchange, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $4 to close at $44 with a transfer of 1,361 stock units. First Rock Real Estate dipped 58 cents in closing at $12.15 with 4,153 units changing hands, 
GraceKennedy shed $1.70 in ending at $77.10 in switching ownership of 30,914 units, Jamaica Producers fell $1.90 to $20 in exchanging 61,707 stocks. JMMB Group declined $2.97 in closing at $31.50 with the swapping of 28,300 shares, Kingston Wharves shed $2 to end at $33 as investors exchanged 14,071 stock units, Massy Holdings fell $1 to close at $79 with a transfer of 171 units. NCB Financial shed $2 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $75 after 51,005 stocks cleared the market, 138 Student Living dipped 41 cents to end at $5.15 in exchanging 24,651 stock units, Palace Amusement climbed $49.01 to $2,449 in switching ownership of 929 shares. Proven Investments lost 50 cents to end at $29.50 after an exchange of 691 stock units, Scotia Group shed $1.40 to close at $33.10 after trading 16,328 units, Seprod gained 50 cents in closing at $65.50 with investors transferring 19,541 stocks. Supreme Ventures advanced $1.50 to $26.50 after trading 17,652 shares and Sygnus Credit Investments fell $1.11 to end at $11.89 with an exchange of 59,284 shares.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share popped $250 to a 52 weeks’ high of $1,500 with 336 stock units changing hands. Eppley 5% preference share rallied 94 cents to close at $22.94 after 11 stocks crossed the market, Eppley 7.25% preference share declined $3.31 in ending at $18.79 after exchanging 2,427 units, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% dropped $42 to $2,950 trading 142 stocks. JMMB Group 7% preference share lost 43 cents to end at $2.41 as 444 shares passed through the market and JMMB Group 7.25% preference share dipped 47 cents to $3.11 with a transfer of 2,000 stock units but after it traded at a 52 weeks’ intraday high of $3.94.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Two companies exist ICTOP10
As was the case last week, the Jamaica stock market continues to consolidate as it awaits developments that will push investors to act decisively. At the same time, the Main Market traded heavily and sat below the close of the previous week but the Junior Market mostly traded above the prior week’s close.
After just one week in the ICTOP10, Tropical Battery price rose this week and resulted in the stock falling outside the top flight, to be replaced by Lasco Manufacturing that dropped out during the previous week. In the Main Market, Scotia Group slipped out of the TOP10 and Radio Jamaica reentered.
At the end of the week, Tropical Battery rose 9 percent to $2.60, Image Plus Consultants gained 6 percent to close at $2.05, Paramount Trading rallied 5 percent to $2.20 and Iron Rock Insurance rose 4 percent to end at $2.50. Honey Bun fell 8 percent to $7.07 and was the only one of only two stocks to decline for the week, with the other slipping by just one percent.
In the Main Market, 138 Student Living popped 11 percent to $5.56, while Berger Paints fell 8 percent to $9.75, followed by a 5 percent decline for Jamaica Broilers to close at $30.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP 10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 14.7, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.6 versus the market at 12.8, important indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks currently. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 208 percent and the Main Market TOP10 an average of 275 percent, to May this year. The major concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before full interest of investor start to show.
The Junior Market has 16 stocks representing 33 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 31, averaging 21 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 116, with an average of 28 and 21 excluding the highest valued stocks and 28 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
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.
JSE Main Market edged up on trading gains
Trading gained strength on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday with the volume of stocks traded rising 48 percent with a 188 percent rise in value compared to Thursday, after 60 securities changed hands compared to 55 on Thursday, with 23 rising, 20 declining and 17 ending unchanged.
A total of 8,306,314 shares were traded for $100,793,237 compared to 5,605,407 units at $34,963,663 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 138,439 shares at $1,679,857 compared with 101,916 units at $635,703 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 135,871 units at $1,223,350 compared with 134,495 units at $978,777 on the previous day. January closed with an average of 205,236 units at $1,805,558.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 4.53 million shares for 54.5 percent of total volume followed by Massy Holdings with 699,277 units for 8.4 percent of the day’s trade and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 435,064 units for 5.2 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index advanced 394.82 points to 381,036.58, the JSE Main Index rallied 796.94 points to 337,795.57 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.13 points to close at 80.69.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.7 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with financial year ends between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows four stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and 10 with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Producers lost 45 cents in closing at $11.53 with an exchange of 12,342 shares, Eppley advanced $2.49 to $39.99 after trading 30 units, Guardian Holdings rallied $10 to close at $535 after exchanging one stock unit. Jamaica Broilers popped $1 to $30 with a transfer of 179,133 stocks, JMMB Group fell 48 cents to $34.47 with the swapping of 18,477 units, Kingston Properties gained 41 cents to close at $7.40 in switching ownership of 9,606 shares. Kingston Wharves advanced $1 to $35 with one stock unit changing hands, Margaritaville rose 95 cents to $22.95 with an exchange of one stock unit, 
Massy Holdings climbed $1.39 to close at $80 after 699,277 stock units crossed the market. Mayberry Investments rose 76 cents to $8.77 after a transfer of 101 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced $1.81 to close at $12.91 in an exchange of 1,055 shares, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $5.69 to $98 after trading one stock. NCB Financial declined $3 to a 52 weeks’ low of $77 after 122,024 units passed through the market, following the release of first quarter results to December with lower profit before other comprehensive income. 138 Student Living shed 44 cents in ending at $5.56 after 2,450 shares were traded, Palace Amusement climbed $201.99 in closing at $2,399.99 after switching ownership of 375 stocks. Sagicor Group rallied $2 to settle at $51 with the swapping of 25,843 stock units, Scotia Group lost 40 cents to finish at $34.50 as investors exchanged 353,714 units, Seprod dipped $1 to end at $65 in transferring 3,550 shares and Supreme Ventures shed 50 cents to close at $25 after 117,645 stock units cleared the market.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share popped $150 after ending at a 52 weeks’ high of $1,250 with 30 stocks changing hands, Jamaica Public Service 7% gained 50 cents in closing at a record high of $6 in exchanging 128 shares and 138 Student Living preference share rose $1.50 to $75.50 with investors transferring 516 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market Trading drops as rising stocks beat
For a second consecutive day, trading on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market fell at the close of market activity on Thursday, flowing from a 41 percent decline in the volume of stocks passing through the market with a 53 percent fall in value compared to Wednesday, resulting from 55 securities trading versus 57 on Wednesday, with 24 rising, 17 declining and 14 ending unchanged.
A total of 5,605,407 shares were exchanged for $34,963,663 versus 9,458,006 units at $74,659,322 on Wednesday.
Trading averaged 101,916 units at $635,703 compared with 165,930 shares at $1,309,813 on Wednesday and month to date, an average of 134,495 units at $978,777 well below the average of 205,236 units at $1,805,558 for January.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 2.30 million shares for 41.1 percent of total volume, followed by Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 734,269 units for 13.1 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 712,258 units for 12.7 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index shed 1,290.43 points to end at 380,641.76, the JSE Main Index dipped 784.27 points to 336,998.63 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.09 points to close at 80.56.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.3 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with their financial year ends between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows nine stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement gained 47 cents to end at $58.99 after 1,620 shares were traded, First Rock Real Estate fell $1.19 to $12.75 as investors traded 22,840 stock units, GraceKennedy advanced $3.99 to $78.49 with 48,856 stocks changing hands. Guardian Holdings rose $1 to close at $525 with 896 units crossing the market, Jamaica Broilers fell $1.99 ending at $29 with the transfer of 180,788 shares, Jamaica Stock Exchange shed 70 cents to finish at $14.50 with the swapping of 24,001 units. JMMB Group advanced $1.95 to $34.95 in an exchange of 35,031 stock units, 
Kingston Properties rallied 44 cents to $6.99 after 395 stocks cleared the market, Kingston Wharves dipped $1 to $34 trading 10,600 stock units. Massy Holdings declined $1.39 in closing at $78.61 after switching ownership of 5,190 units, Mayberry Investments shed 76 cents to end at $8.01 with investors transferring 723 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities declined $1.83 to close at $11.10 after 94,250 stocks passed through the market. NCB Financial advanced $2.50 in closing at $80 in transferring 15,495 units, 138 Student Living popped $1 to $6 with 197,838 shares changing hands, Palace Amusement climbed $8 in ending at $2,198 with a transfer of 667 stocks. Sagicor Group gained 40 cents to settle at $49 trading 2,252 stock units, 
Sterling Investments lost 40 cents to close at $2.60 with the swapping of 10,000 shares and Supreme Ventures shed 60 cents to end at $25.50 after an exchange of 91,761 units.
In the preference segment, Eppley 5% preference share lost 94 cents to end at $22 after a transfer of 6 stocks and 138 Student Living preference share fell $1.50 in closing at $74 in switching ownership of 427 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Winning stocks overwhelmed by main market losers
Trading nosedived to start off the new month on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Wednesday with a 41 percent fall in the volume of stocks following a 25 percent slippage in value compared with Tuesday after 57 securities were traded versus 55 on Tuesday, with 16 rising, 30 declining and 11 ending unchanged.
A total of 9,458,006 shares were traded for $74,659,322 down from 16,071,684 units at $99,612,685 on Tuesday.
Trading averaged 165,930 units at $1,309,813 compared with 292,212 shares at $1,811,140 on Tuesday. January closed with an average of 205,236 units at $1,805,558.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.36 million shares for 35.5 percent of trading, followed by Transjamaican Highway with 1.58 million units for 16.7 percent of the day’s trade and JMMB Group 7.35% – 2028 with 703,349 units for 7.4 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index dropped 3,399.97 points to close at 381,932.19, the JSE Main Index shed 2,544.43 points at 337,782.90 and the JSE Financial Index dipped 0.64 points to end at 80.47.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasts by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 10 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and six with lower offers.
At the close, Caribbean Cement declined $1.46 to $58.52 in exchanging 305 shares, Eppley dropped $2.50 to end at $37.50 with a transfer of 500 units, Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dipped 50 cents to $48 trading 91 stock units. First Rock Real Estate popped $1.64 to close at $13.94 after crossing the market with 5,571 stocks, GraceKennedy declined $4.50 to end at a 52 weeks’ low of $74.50 with the swapping of 54,896 stocks, Guardian Holdings dropped $11 to end at $524 as investors exchanged 387 shares. Jamaica Broilers shed 42 cents after ending at $30.99 in switching ownership of 662,725 stock units, JMMB Group fell $2.94 in closing at $33 after 541,737 units passed through the market, 
Kingston Properties fell $1 to $6.55 after a transfer of 14,251 stocks. Margaritaville fell 95 cents to close at $22 with an exchange of 200 stock units, Mayberry Investments rose 80 cents to $8.77 in trading 29,833 shares, Mayberry Jamaican Equities advanced 93 cents to close at $12.93 with 1,840 units changing hands. MPC Caribbean Clean Energy climbed $8.31 to end at $92.31, with 42 stocks clearing the market, NCB Financial declined $1.25 in closing at a 52 weeks’ low of $77.50 in switching ownership of 52,385 stock units, Palace Amusement dropped $290 in ending at $2,190 trading 824 shares. Proven Investments dipped $1.77 to $30 after a transfer of 10,369 units, Sagicor Group declined $5.39 to end at $48.60 after trading 4,020 units, Seprod shed $3 to close at $66 with the swapping of 18,765 shares. Stanley Motta lost 44 cents in ending at $5.25 with investors transferring 10,687 stock units, 
Supreme Ventures dipped 88 cents to $26.10 with 42,297 stocks changing hands and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rallied 96 cents to close at $10.46 in trading one stock unit.
In the preference segment, Jamaica Public Service 7% rose 75 cents in closing at a record high of $5.21 with a transfer of 2,679 shares and 138 Student Living preference share climbed $5.55 to $75.50 in an exchange of 19 stock units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
Rising Main Market stocks beat decliners 2 to 1
Trading activity ended with prices of 30 rising, 14 declining and 11 ending unchanged on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Tuesday from trading in 55 securities compared to 59 on Monday with a 12 percent decline in the volume of stocks traded, with the value 69 percent lower than on Monday and sending the Main Market Index into decline for the day and month, with a 4.4 percent slippage, with a month gone in the new year.
A total of 16,071,684 shares were exchanged for $99,612,685 versus 18,191,600 units at $322,436,055 on Monday.
Trading averaged 292,212 units at $1,811,140 versus 308,332 shares at $5,465,018 on Monday and month to date, an average of 205,062 units at $1,804,332 compared with 200,806 shares at $1,803,685 on the previous day. Trading in December averaged 604,110 units at $4,072,598.
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 9.23 million shares for 57.5 percent of total volume followed by Stanley Motta with 2.46 million units for 15.3 percent of the day’s trade and Transjamaican Highway with 1.11 million units for 6.9 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index declined 405.49 points to 385,332.16, the JSE Main 
Market Index fell 335.82 points to 340,327.33 and the JSE Financial Index shed 0.47 points to close at 81.11.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.9 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
The Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows 16 stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and five with lower offers.
At the close, Berger Paints gained 41 cents in ending at $10 with an exchange of 562 shares, Caribbean Cement rallied $3.27 in closing at $59.98 after trading 2,408 stocks, Caribbean Producers gained 75 cents to close at $12.25 with investors transferring 129,374 units. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund climbed $4.50 to $48.50 in switching ownership of 20,385 stock units, Jamaica Producers popped $1.99 to close at $22 after a transfer of 44,352 units, Jamaica Stock Exchange rose 51 cents to finish at $15.11 with 105,663 stocks clearing the market. 
JMMB Group advanced $1.64 to end at $35.94 in an exchange of 115,123 stock units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities dipped 50 cents to close at $12 with 123,909 shares changing hands, Palace Amusement dropped $312 to $2,480 with the swapping of 758 units. Portland JSX rose $1.72 to $11.50 after an exchange of 20,370 stocks, Proven Investments advanced $1.76 to $31.77 in trading 8,713 shares, Sagicor Group climbed $4.77 to t $53.99 in transferring 65,670 stock units. Stanley Motta popped 44 cents in closing at $5.69, with 2,455,575 stock units crossing the market and Sygnus Credit Investments gained 50 cents ending at $13 in trading 30,351 units.
In the preference segment, Productive Business 10.50% preference share rallied $88 to $1,100 after exchanging 21 shares. Eppley 7.75% preference share shed $2 in closing at $18 with 310 stocks changing hands, 
Jamaica Public Service 7% gained $1.09 to end at 52 weeks’ high of $4.46 in switching ownership of 606 shares, Jamaica Public Service 9.5% rallied $37 in ending at $2,992 with six stock units crossing the market. JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 fell 41 cents to close at $2.62 with the swapping of 50,000 stocks and 138 Student Living preference share rose 96 cents to $69.95 with an exchange of 9,975 units.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
JSE Main Market rally
Activity picked up sharply on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Monday after a 68 percent jump in the volume of stocks traded, with the value surging 83 percent more than on Friday, with trading taking place in 59 securities compared to 52 on Friday and resulting in prices of 18 stocks rising, 28 declining and 13 ending unchanged.
A total of 18,191,600 shares were exchanged for $322,436,055, up sharply from 10,834,252 units at $176,431,924 on Friday.
Trading averaged 308,332 units at $5,465,018, up from 208,351 shares at $3,392,922 on Friday and month to date, an average of 200,984 units for $1,803,685 verusu 194,860 units at $1,601,231 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598
Kingston Wharves led trading with 7.50 million shares for 41.3 percent of total volume, followed by Wigton Windfarm with 5.0 million units for 27.5 percent of the day’s trade, Transjamaican Highway with 1.89 million units for 10.4 percent of market share and Sagicor Select Financial Fund with 1.87 million units for 10.3 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index popped 1,098.53 points to close at 385,737.65, the JSE Main Market Index advanced 345.65 points to 340,663.15 and the JSE Financial Index popped 0.37 points to end at 81.58.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 14.6 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and two with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments shed 50 cents in, ending at $85 with 27,575 shares changing hands, Berger Paints dipped $1.01 to close at $9.59 with a transfer of 3,816 stock units, Caribbean Cement declined $2.02 to $56.71 with 12,260 stocks crossing the market. Eppley Caribbean Property Fund dropped $5.49 in closing at $44 with an exchange of 450 units, First Rock Real Estate fell $1.70 to close at $12.30 with the swapping of 1,235 stocks, Jamaica Producers shed 98 cents to end at $20.01 after an exchange of 19,433 stock units. Jamaica Stock Exchange rallied 60 cents to finish at $14.60 in trading 125,705 shares, 
JMMB Group dipped 70 cents to close at $34.30 with a transfer of 160,234 units, Kingston Wharves shed 96 cents to $34.74 in switching ownership of 7,504,922 stock units. Mayberry Jamaican Equities lost 60 cents to settle at $12.50 with 1,650 units changing hands, MPC Caribbean Clean Energy jumped $14 to $84 after a transfer of 3,009 stocks, Palace Amusement surged $189 to close at $2,792 after an exchange of 265 shares. Portland JSX dropped $1.82 to $9.78 with 216 stock units crossing the market, Proven Investments fell $1.79 to $30.01 after 42,601 units passed through the market, Sagicor Group declined $2.78 to close at $49.22 in the trading of 32,689 stocks. Scotia Group lost 60 cents to finish at $34.30 with the swapping of 79,073 shares, Seprod popped $2.99 in closing at $69 in an exchange of 13,750 stock units, Sterling Investments lost 44 cents to close at $2.62 with investors transferring a mere 156 units. 
Sygnus Credit Investments shed 50 cents in ending at $12.50 after switching ownership of 55,319 shares and Sygnus Real Estate Finance rose 49 cents to $9.50 in an exchange of 3,093 stocks.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share rose 98 cents to $8.10 after 1,216 shares cleared the market, Eppley 7.75% preference share advanced $3.64 to $20 as investors exchanged 60 units, Jamaica Public Service 9.5 dropped $45 in closing at $2,955 after the trading of 9,685 stocks and JMMB Group 7.15% – 2028 rallied 52 cents to $3.03 with 35,228 stock units clearing the market.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
A Lasco company exists ICTOP10
The Jamaica stock market continues to consolidate, awaiting a dynamic development to push it decisively in one direction or another as the Bank of Jamaica quietly tightened the money supply further in January, drying up buying power in the short run. The first big likely move is unlikely to be a reduction of interest rates which is seemingly set to occur in the second quarter, but the reporting of substantially increased profits to flow from some companies.
Tropical Battery returns to the ICTOP10 list for this week with projected earnings of 30 cents for the current year, up from 15 cents last fiscal year and replaces Lasco Manufacturing which dropped out with a rise in price during the week as the supply of the stock has drooped sharply recently, with just 11 offers to sell now in the system.
Image Plus Consultants reported nine months results with revenues rising 27 percent in the November quarter to $248 million and 43 percent in the nine months to $803 million, while profit rose moderately to $24 million from $22 million in 2021 and for the nine months profits nearly tripled that of 2021 to reach $148 million. The company reported incorrect earnings per share for the periods, using the incorrect number of shares. As a result, rather than 29 cents per share for the quarter and $1.84, it is 2.3 cents and 15 cents for the nine months. Regardless, the stock is cheap based on these earnings and those to come.
Honey Bun rose 10 percent to $7.69, with the December quarter results due any time now, Lasco Financial gained 9 percent to $2.84 and Lasco Manufacturing gained 5 percent to $4.79. General Accident rallied 6 percent to $4.99. Image Plus Consultants entered the ICTOP10 after just one day of trading and fell to a low of $1.86 during the past week before rebounding to close this past week with a fall of 12 percent to $1.93, Caribbean Assurance Brokers lost 6 percent of its value to close at $2 and Paramount Trading fell 5 percent to $2.10.
All other movements in the Junior Market TOP10 were 3 percent or less. The Main Market Berger Paints popped 12 percent to $10.60, followed by a 9 percent rise for Jamaica Broilers to close at $31.50 and Guardian Holdings with a gain of 4 percent to $535. There were no notable losses.
At the end of the week, the average PE for the JSE Main Market TOP10 is 5.6, well below the market average of 15, while the Junior Market Top 10 PE sits at 6.5 versus the market at 12.6, critical indicators of the level of the undervaluation of the ICTOP10 stocks currently. The Junior Market is projected to rise by 211 percent and the Main Market TOP10 by an average of 274 percent to May this year. The primary concern for the Main Market achieving such gains by May is that the list is dominated by financial companies that are out of favour and may need to see the summer months before the full interest of investor start to show.
The Junior Market has 15 stocks representing 31 percent of the market, with PEs from 15 to 29, averaging 21 compared with the above average of the market. The top half of the market has an average PE of 18, with prices of Fosrich and Future Energy adjusting downwards closer to the average of the TOP15. The above average shows the extent of potential gains for the TOP 10 stocks. The situation in the Main Market is similar, with the 18 highest valued stocks priced at a PE of 15 to 116, with an average of 27 and 20 excluding the highest valued stocks and 27 for the top half excluding the highest valued stock.
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.
JSE Main Market bounces Friday
Stocks mostly bounced on the Jamaica Stock Exchange Main Market on Friday, with the market indices recording moderate gains following a 35 percent fall in the volume of stocks traded and a 30 percent lower value than on Thursday, as there was trading in 52 securities compared to 55 on Thursday. The market closed with prices of 24 stocks rising, 12 declining and 16 ending unchanged.
A total of 10,834,252 shares were traded for $176,431,924 versus 16,679,571 units at $253,751,659 on Thursday.
Trading averaged 208,351 shares at $3,392,922 compared to 303,265 units at $4,613,667 on Thursday and month to date, an average of 194,860 stock units at $1,601,231 compared to 194,169 shares at $1,509,440 on the previous day. December closed with an average of 604,110 units at $4,072,598
Wigton Windfarm led trading with 3.51 million shares for 32.4 percent of total volume, followed by PanJam Investment with 2.24 million units for 20.7 percent of the day’s trade, Stanley Motta with 1.78 million units for 16.4 percent market share and Transjamaican Highway with 1.38 million units for 12.8 percent market share.
The All Jamaican Composite Index rallied 1,622.56 points to 384,639.12, the JSE Main Index advanced 1,967.53 points to 340,317.50 and the JSE Financial Index gained 0.25 points to end at 81.21.
The PE Ratio, a formula to ascertain appropriate stock values, averages 15 for the Main Market. The JSE Main and USD Market PE ratios incorporate earnings forecasted by ICInsider.com for companies with the financial year ending between November 2022 and August 2023.
Investor’s Choice bid-offer indicator shows ten stocks ending with bids higher than their last selling prices and four with lower offers.
At the close, Barita Investments dipped 50 cents to $85.50 after 4,720 shares passed through the market, Caribbean Cement fell $1.16 to $58.73 with a transfer of 1,396 units, Caribbean Producers shed 60 cents in closing at $11.15 in trading 174,859 stock units. Eppley advanced $2.50 to $40 after trading one stock, First Rock Real Estate rose $1.99 to close at $14 after an exchange of 1,269 stock units, Guardian Holdings climbed $15 to end at $535 with the swapping of 625 stocks. 
Jamaica Broilers popped $1.50 to close at $31.50 in exchange for 178,129 shares, Jamaica Producers rallied 99 cents to $20.99 with 168 units changing hands, JMMB Group lost 50 cents to close at $35 following trading of 206,544 stocks. Kingston Wharves advanced $5.45 to $35.70 with a transfer of 319 units, Mayberry Jamaican Equities gained $1.10 while ending at $13.10 with 5,497 stock units changing hands, Palace Amusement dropped a hefty $647 to end at $2,603 following investors exchanging 2,483 shares and pushing the stock to an intraday record high of $3,300. PanJam Investment rose $2.20 to $57.20 after trading 2,238,835 units, Proven Investments popped 80 cents to close at $31.80 with the swapping of 38,842 stock units, Scotia Group rallied $1 in closing at $34.90 in trading 3,504 shares. 
Seprod shed $1.89 to end at $66.01 with an exchange of 6,860 stocks, Stanley Motta advanced 99 cents to $5.24 with investors transferring 1,778,058 stock units and Supreme Ventures popped 85 cents in closing at $27 after 132,915 units crossing the market.
In the preference segment, Eppley 7.50% preference share gained $1.50 to settle at $7.12 in trading 800 shares.
Prices of securities trading are those for the last transaction of each stock unless otherwise stated.
