These Are the Most Profitable Stocks for Investors at the Beginning of the Year

The surge in blue-chip stock prices propelled the Jakarta Composite Index (JCI) to a new high, breaking the 6,500 level. This brought significant gains for several second and third-tier companies. Several issuers, such as PT Prima Cakrawala Abadi Tbk (PCAR), LCK Global Kedaton (LCKM), and Indonesia Prima Property (OMRE), saw price increases exceeding 100%.

The stock price of PCAR, a seafood producer and processor, closed at Rp 1,645 per share on Thursday (January 25th), a 547.8% surge from its end-of-2017 position, or an average of 30% per day. This was the highest increase among other stocks. Indeed, PCAR's stock price has risen by more than 900% from its initial public offering (IPO) price of Rp 150 per share at the end of last year.

Meanwhile, LCKM, which was listed on the Jakarta Stock Exchange on January 16, 2018, increased by 140.4% to Rp 500 from its initial price of Rp 208 per share. OMRE also strengthened by 116.15% to Rp 1,900 per share. The increase in these three stocks far surpassed the JCI's four percent rise. Investor optimism regarding economic growth, driven by an upgrade in investment rating and the upcoming release of 2017 financial reports, fueled the stock price surge at the beginning of 2018.