JSE Shares List (Complete A-Z)

An Introduction to JSE Shares

  Most investors, even new ones, are familiar with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, but not everyone knows what share investment entails or how to get started.   Our guide provides all the information you need on the JSE, shares, the benefits of investing, and how you can start. Here’s what we cover in our article:

• What is the Role of the JSE in South Africa?
• What are Shares?
• What are the Benefits of Investing in Shares?
• How To Start Trading Shares on The JSE Step-by-Step
• Our Final Thoughts
• JSE Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers).

What is the Role of the JSE in South Africa?

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange is the largest in Africa and a cornerstone locally. The JSE plays a large role in the country's overall financial system. In June 2024, the JSE’s market capitalization stood at ±$971 billion, positioning it as the largest stock exchange in Africa and the 17th largest in the world. To understand more about the JSE, let’s explore its role and functions.  

Drives Economic Impact

The JSE, as the largest stock exchange in South Africa, influences the local economy. In the third quarter of 2024, the JSE All Share Index (ALSI) experienced its strongest performance in over a decade, improving investor sentiment and contributing to South Africa’s overall economic growth. In addition, the ALSI increased by 15.2% during the same period, demonstrating the importance of JSE in boosting economic confidence.  

Facilitates Capital Raising

The JSE operates a platform where companies can raise capital by shares and bonds. During the first half of 2024, the JSE reported a 4.2% growth in operating income across different revenue streams. However, the JSE is not without challenges due to South Africa’s shifting economy, as seen in a 12% decline in equity value traded. Despite this, the JSE remained resilient and allowed businesses to secure funding for expansion and innovation.  

Enhances Market Liquidity

Markets require liquidity, allowing investors to buy and sell securities easily. The JSE has a robust infrastructure that ensures high liquidity. Over 800 securities can be traded across ±400 listed companies on the Main and AltX boards. This translates to substantial and diverse trading opportunities for investors and contributes to the stability and attractiveness of South African financial markets.  

Ensures Investor Protection and Market Integrity

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) is the main regulator in South Africa. The FSCA oversees JSE operations to ensure that all stringent regulatory standards are followed to protect investors and uphold market integrity. In 2024, the JSE introduced initiatives that encouraged new listings and improved market accessibility. These initiatives aligned with the standards upheld by the FSCA, showing its commitment to evolving with global best practices while safeguarding investor interests.  

Our Findings

Overall, the Johannesburg Stocke Exchange is more than merely a marketplace where you buy and sell shares of local companies; it’s important in driving South Africa’s overall economic development. By driving economic impact, ensuring investor protection, facilitating capital raising, contributing to economic growth, and enhancing liquidity, the JSE remains a pivotal part of South Africa’s integration into the global economy and financial health.  

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What are Shares?

  Shares are an investment vehicle that lets you own a piece of a company. This is the shortest, easiest way to explain what shares are. Let’s use a practical example. If, for instance, you shop frequently at Pick n Pay or you bank with FNB in South Africa, you can buy shares in these companies. This makes you more than a dedicated customer—you become an owner. If the company makes a profit, you receive a portion through dividends. When the company grows, your shares become more valuable, and you can sell your shares to make a profit. Should the company’s performance decline, share prices will drop, and dividends are often held back by the companies until things improve. Investing in shares has the potential for profits but also involves taking on risk, as nothing is guaranteed. Shares are South Africa's most popular investment options. Approximately 400 South African companies are listed on the JSE, ranging from mining houses, retailers, and technology businesses down to banking corporations. Whether investing for steady returns, trying to beat inflation, or long-term growth, the type of share you buy matters. Each type of share has a level of risk, rewards, and rights, which we’ll go through in the next few sections.  

Ordinary or Common Shares

These shares are the typical, most straightforward. With these shares, you get voting power in business affairs and can receive dividends. However, dividends are not always guaranteed—they depend on how well the company performs. If the company performs well, you benefit. If the company struggles, your shares lose value, and you’ll not likely receive a payout. Ordinary shares are a higher-risk investment that has the potential for great rewards.  

Preference Shares

One of the greatest benefits of preference shares (as the name suggests) is that shareholders receive dividends before others. Preference shares are inherently safer if you want steady income, especially with companies with consistently good performance. However, there’s still a downside. In most cases, you don’t have any voting rights when you hold preference shares. So, while you’re more likely to receive dividends first, you don’t have a say in company decisions.  

Growth Shares

Many South African companies focus more on expanding than paying dividends. Instead of paying dividends, these companies reinvest profits into new projects to grow and boost their share price over time. This doesn’t mean that you won’t benefit. If the company succeeds, growth shares can deliver significant returns. However, the catch is that they don’t offer regular dividends—you have to wait for the share price to increase to see a return. Thus, growth shares are preferred for South Africans with long-term investment horizons.  

Income Shares

Income shares are ideal if you prioritize regular dividend payouts over waiting for long-term growth. These stocks belong to companies that prioritize dividend distributions. Company shares focused on dividend payments don’t always experience rapid price increases like growth stocks, but they provide a steady return. These shares are often the go-to for South African investors who want consistent income.  

Blue-Chip Shares

These shares represent large, well-established companies like those listed in the JSE Top 40. Blue-chip companies have a strong track record and stable earnings and tend to weather economic downturns better than smaller businesses. However, despite their status, Blue-Chip Shares don’t always offer the highest returns. Despite this, they are considered safe and more predictable than other share types.  

What are the Benefits of investing in shares?

While there are always risks to consider, investing in South African shares comes with a few benefits, including the following:

• Capital Growth Potential – Shares let you grow your wealth when your investment value increases over time.
• Exposure to International Markets – Many South African companies operate worldwide, giving you indirect exposure to many international markets.
• Accessibility through JSE – The JSE offers a regulated and transparent marketplace that welcomes both new and experienced investors.
• Passive Income – When you own shares that pay dividends, you secure a passive source of income that can supplement your earnings.
• Lower Capital Gains Tax – Capital gains tax on shares is often lower than other forms of income.
• Protection Against Currency Depreciation – Companies with international operations can provide a hedge against ZAR depreciation.
• Retirement Savings Benefits – Shares can be part of your retirement planning because they could offer higher long-term returns than typical savings strategies.
• Dividend Income – You get a portion of profits as dividends, which can be a regular income.
• Inflation Protection – Money loses value, and shares are a way to counter this because shares help preserve and increase purchasing power.
• Participation in South Africa’s Economic Growth – When you invest in local companies, you contribute to and benefit from South Africa’s economic success and development.
• Ownership Stake in Companies – You own part of a company, receive voting rights in corporate decisions (depending on the share type), and have a stake in the company’s success.
• Market Liquidity – The JSE has high liquidity, making buying and selling shares easier and adding flexibility and investment access.
• Long-Term Wealth-Building – Share investment is a popular strategy to build wealth long-term.
• Diversification – Diversifying your investment portfolio is one of the best strategies to mitigate risk, and you can spread your investment across different companies and sectors.

Best Forex Brokers for Trading Shares Locally and Internationally

To trade shares, locally and internationally, you need to work with a broker – either a stockbroker or a CFD and Forex broker. Local stockbrokers in South Africa approved by the JSE are the only way to access local shares. CFD and Forex brokers don’t always facilitate JSE trading, but some offer CFDs on indices like the JSE Top 40. Below, we’ll cover some popular brokers for local and international trading. Remember, you need to ensure that your broker is regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) to ensure the security of your funds and compliance with standards.  

Top 5 Local Stockbrokers for Trading Shares on the JSE

Below is a comparison of five JSE-approved stockbrokers, highlighting their fees, available tradable shares, and trading platforms:  

How To Start Trading Shares on The JSE Step-by-Step

If you have no prior knowledge or experience with share investment or the JSE, it can seem like a complex, daunting task to get started. We’re here to help you! Here’s how to get started, step by step.  

Step 1: Choose a JSE-Registered Stockbroker

You can’t trade shares directly on the JSE—you need a stockbroker. Stockbrokers are companies and licensed professionals who can execute trades on your behalf. Stockbrokers serve different investment types, from hands-on, active traders to long-term, passive investors. The JSE has a list of approved stockbrokers that you can evaluate to find one that aligns with what you want and your investment horizon.  

Step 2: Open a Trading Account and Get FICA-Verified

To start using a stockbroker, you need a trading account. It’s like opening an account with a bank where you complete an application, provide your details, etc. In South Africa, you must submit documents for FICA verification.   These documents verify your identity and are mandatory to prevent fraud and money laundering). Most stockbrokers require:

• A copy of your South African ID or passport.
• Proof of residential address (a recent utility bill or bank statement which can’t be older than 3 months).

  Once everything is complete and you’ve submitted the paperwork, it can take a few days for the stockbroker to review everything. Most applications are done online, and depending on the stockbroker, additional documents might be requested beyond your ID and proof of residence.  

Step 3: Fund Your Account and Understand Fees

To buy shares, you need to deposit funds in your trading account. Each stockbroker will offer different funding methods, including local bank transfer (EFT), digital wallets like OZOW, and credit/debit cards.   Just be mindful of the costs involved with fund transfers, like:

• Brokerage fees, which are charged per trade.
• Account maintenance fees.
• Taxes on your profits are charged as capital gains tax, which you must include when filing annual taxes.

Step 4: Select Shares to Invest In and Conduct Research

Now comes the fun part—choosing which shares to buy. The JSE has approximately 400 listed companies, including banks, retailers, and mining giants. Start with a company's fundamentals and technical aspects like financial and company performance, news, etc. If you’re unsure where to start, some brokers offer tools that help you analyze stocks.  

Step 5: Place Your First Trade and Monitor Your Portfolio

Once you know which shares to buy, you can use your broker’s website, platform, or app to place your first trade. Once you’ve purchased your shares, monitor your portfolio. The markets are dynamic and subject to daily change; companies also change, and economic conditions shift – all these factors can affect your portfolio.  

Conclusion

The JSE is the backbone of South Africa’s financial system and gives traders near-endless investment opportunities across all local sectors. You can own a part of banks, retailers, telecom giants, and major mining companies. When you invest in shares, you can generate income through dividends, increase the long-term value of your investment as companies perform well, and hedge against inflation. The JSE’s high liquidity makes it easy to buy and sell shares. However, the market faces challenges, and you need to consider brokerage fees, capital gains tax, and how economic shifts will impact your share values. Share ownership has many benefits, but there are risks, as with any investment. Despite the challenges, investing in the JSE is not only an opportunity to grow long-term wealth but you are also involved in South Africa’s economic development and success.   You might also like: Best FTSE 250 Forex Brokers You might also like: The High Trees of the Top Ten JSE Companies You might also like: Best Forex Brokers in South Africa You might also like: Best Brokers for Commodity Trading You might also like: Best Forex Brokers in South Africa  

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find a complete list of JSE-listed companies?

You can find an updated list on the official JSE website. Companies listed on the JSE include mining, retail, banking, and technology companies.  

What function does the JSE play in the South African financial system?

The JSE is Africa's largest stock exchange that helps generate funds for firms and has an economic impact, offering a regulated marketplace for individual and institutional investors.  

What types of shares can I purchase on the JSE?

You can buy ordinary shares, preference shares, growth shares, income shares, and blue-chip shares. Each type of share has benefits, risks, and voting rights.  

How can I start trading stocks on the JSE?

You can choose a JSE-approved stockbroker, register an account, complete FICA verification, and choose your shares. Once you know what to trade, you can deposit funds into your account for your trades and pay any fees incurred.  

Do all JSE-listed companies pay dividends?

No, not all companies pay dividends. Some companies listed on the JSE reinvest earnings for future growth. Dividend-paying companies fall into the “income share” category.

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