Kingston, Jamaica, 18 August 2026
The Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE) almost tripled its profit in the second quarter as busier trading lifted transaction income and management cut costs, although earnings for the first half of the year remain slightly behind 2025.
The quarter in numbers
Net profit after tax for the three months to June rose 191 per cent to $132.4 million, compared with $45.5 million a year earlier, according to the group’s unaudited financial statements. Total income increased 9.6 per cent to $721.9 million, and earnings per share climbed from six cents to 19 cents.
A key driver was cess income, a fee tied to market transactions, which grew 43 per cent to $132 million on the back of heavier trading.
Total expenses fell 12.7 per cent to $531 million. Management credited a drive for greater efficiency, with advertising and promotion costs down $13.4 million and impairment losses on financial assets down $64 million as overdue receivables were collected.
Half-year still slightly lower
The strong quarter was not quite enough to lift the half-year above last year’s result. Year-to-date profit slipped 5.3 per cent to $266.9 million from $281.8 million, and total income for the six months fell 5.7 per cent to $1.43 billion.
At 30 June, total assets were $4.2 billion, up 11.5 per cent on a year earlier, while shareholders’ equity rose 11.4 per cent to $3.27 billion.
Optimism for the rest of 2026
In a joint statement, Chairman Steven Whittingham and Chief Executive Officer Livingstone Morrison said the results showed the resilience of the exchange’s business model. The group said there are signs that market activity is slowly recovering, with rising interest from both investors and companies.
The JSE expects an easing interest-rate environment to encourage more trading in the months ahead, while acknowledging that inflation and geopolitical uncertainty remain risks. It said its diversification strategy should help sustain its performance.
What it means for investors
For Jamaicans deciding where to put their savings, a more active stock market offers an alternative, or a complement, to property and fixed deposits. Busier trading can mean better liquidity for shareholders, including those holding listed real estate companies.
As always, anyone weighing shares against bricks and mortar should consider their time horizon, their appetite for risk and whether they may need quick access to their money.
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