Barita Investments Limited’s Sean Davidson has won the Jamaica Stock Exchange’s 2024/2025 Market Research Competition award, topping the field at the grand finals hosted by the Jamaica Stock Exchange at its 40 Harbour Street headquarters on November 20, 2025. He faced off against fellow finalist Jerrylee Young of the Bank of Jamaica, who secured the runner-up position.
In opening remarks, CEO of the JSE Group, Livingstone Morrison, spotlighted the competition’s role in market expansion and investor participation.
“The impact of the Market Research Competition is especially important to our efforts to increase the pool of investors who regularly engage in market activities,” Morrison said. “Many participants are new to the stock market — students, new employees, small business owners, teachers, civil servants, ordinary men and women choosing to build investment portfolios as part of their wealth-management programmes.”
Morrison also reinforced the competition’s value in developing analytical and leadership skills.
“Participation in the Market Research Competition helps to sharpen research skills, expand knowledge and understanding of the market, and cultivate the analytical rigor that is a critical ingredient in strengthening market efficiency,” he added. “The evidence overwhelmingly supports the conclusion that the competition provides a solid foundation on which to build leadership skills that are relevant to the securities industry.”
Market Growth Depends on Trust
David Lowe, Managing Director of the Development Bank of Jamaica, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing that investor confidence is rooted in solid research.
“Research builds confidence in a growing market,” Lowe noted. “Jamaica’s capital market has expanded significantly over the past decade. More Jamaicans are investing, more companies are raising capital, and more instruments are emerging. But this growth can only be sustained if the market remains grounded in trust.”
He added that high-quality research reassures investors: “You are not investing in the dark,” stressing that confidence comes “not by hope, but by reliable information.”
Acting Chair of the Market Research Committee, Dennise Williams, used her platform to acknowledge the depth and reach of this year’s competition.
“This year’s competition spanned four quarters, four winners along the way, and now our finalists,” Williams said. “Twenty-six individuals participated across the four quarters, and we extend our appreciation to each of you for dedicating the time and effort required for such a rigorous process.”
Competition Milestones & Future Plans
Williams also reflected on the competition’s evolution since its launch in 2002, highlighting key developments over two decades, including:
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Expansion beyond brokerage-house entrants to include Jamaican universities and colleges
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The rollout of training programmes to elevate research quality
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Refinement of competition questions to meet tougher, international standards
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Committee expansion to manage a higher volume of submissions
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Plans to extend the competition beyond Jamaica
The JSE Market Research Competition, launched in 2002, was established to stimulate interest in the stock market by encouraging rigorous, quarterly reviews of listed companies. Its core goals also include motivating listed companies to improve the flow of shareholder information, boost investor engagement in corporate governance, and strengthen market efficiency.
