Ram Prasad Sahu And Amritha Pillay

Stories by Ram Prasad Sahu And Amritha Pillay

10 Largecaps Stocks To Lead Bulls Charge

10 Largecaps Stocks To Lead Bulls Charge

Rediff.com   3 Oct 2023

These stocks offer the best combination of maximum 'buy' recommendations from brokerages and share price upside over the next 12 months.

Skid marks may appear in Street as oil prices wear out tyre stocks

Skid marks may appear in Street as oil prices wear out tyre stocks

Rediff.com   2 Oct 2023

Tyre stocks have been on a tear over the past six months, with average returns exceeding 45 per cent. Except for Apollo Tyres, which has seen a slight correction in the last month and a half, limiting its gains to 16 per cent, listed peers such as MRF, CEAT Tyres (formerly Cavi Elettrici e Affini Torino), and JK Tyre & Industries have delivered returns exceeding 30 per cent during this period. Production-related constraints and sluggish demand in Europe, where sales are expected to remain flat, coupled with high valuations, have contributed to Apollo Tyres' underperformance. The tyre sector's gains can be attributed to robust growth trends driven by the replacement market, which constitutes more than two-thirds of sales.

RIL seeks postal ballot for Ambani third-gen's board appointment

RIL seeks postal ballot for Ambani third-gen's board appointment

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2023

Oil to telecom conglomerate Reliance Industries (RIL) has initiated the process to seek shareholders' approval for the appointment of the third generation of the Ambani family on the company's board. The remote voting through postal ballot will start from September 27 onwards. In a separate note, CreditSights said a trust and hold-co model could be a possibility for the anticipated succession at RIL.

Higher fuel cost and low-demand headwinds seen for cement companies

Higher fuel cost and low-demand headwinds seen for cement companies

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2023

Even as cement companies continue to announce ambitious expansion plans, analysts turn cautious over the sector as incremental supply is expected to coincide with a weak demand growth period, and other headwinds of higher fuel costs, weak monsoons and general elections. In August, JSW Cement said it will take its current 19 million tonnes (MT) capacity to 60 MT in the next five years. The country's top producers have massive expansion plans underway - UltraTech Cement targeting 200 MT, Adani Cement aiming for 140 MT and Dalmia Cement planning for 110-130 MT.

2 major factors that will weigh on demand and margins of FMCG

2 major factors that will weigh on demand and margins of FMCG

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2023

Irregular rainfall and a pick-up in commodity costs are expected to weigh on the demand and margins of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies. Most companies reported a sharp expansion in gross margins in the April-June quarter (first quarter, or Q1) of 2023-24 (FY24), given the lower prices of key raw materials and earlier price hikes. Furthermore, there were expectations that cost savings being passed on could reflect in volume growth going forward. However, these hopes could be dashed if demand recovery, especially in the rural segment, stalls, and gains on the raw material front start to recede.

Volume, margin movement to be key drivers for Concor stock going ahead

Volume, margin movement to be key drivers for Concor stock going ahead

Rediff.com   20 Sep 2023

Container Corporation of India (Concor) has been the worst performer among major logistics & port stocks registering returns of about 4 per cent over the past three months as compared to 10-12 per cent for peers Gateway Distriparks and Adani Ports and SEZ. Uncertain outlook on the export-import (EXIM) trade front, market share loss, lack of progress on divestment, and weak June quarter results weighed on the stock. Volume and margin movement will be key triggers for the stock going ahead. As was the case in the previous quarter, margin performance was muted even in the June quarter. Operating profit in the quarter was down 17 per cent at Rs 391 crore missing estimates by over 15 per cent. Operating profit margins at 20.4 per cent, too, were down sharply by 350 basis points over the year-ago quarter.

Brokerages positive about medium-term outlook for liquor stocks

Brokerages positive about medium-term outlook for liquor stocks

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2023

After underperforming its peers in the consumer space in 2022-23, and experiencing a mixed bag in the 2023-24 (FY24) April-June quarter (first quarter, or Q1), brokerages are positive about the medium-term outlook for liquor stocks. Higher raw material costs, concerns regarding increased duties, regulatory changes, and competitive pressures weighed on performance returns in the past quarters. Analysts believe that the sector could experience a reversal of fortunes due to better demand and margin improvements.

Robust Q1 numbers set to drive Emami stock

Robust Q1 numbers set to drive Emami stock

Rediff.com   13 Sep 2023

The stock of consumer goods major Emami has corrected nearly 3.5 per cent since its 52-week high of Rs 546.25. On August 29, the stock closed at Rs 521.90 on the BSE. After underperforming the Nifty FMCG index for a long time, the stock is now doing a catch up and surged over 13 per cent in the past one month.

Aviation stocks may lose altitude over ATF prices, traffic seasonality

Aviation stocks may lose altitude over ATF prices, traffic seasonality

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2023

Rising crude oil prices and muted passenger traffic in the July-September quarter (second quarter, or Q2) of 2023-24 (FY24) have raised concerns about the profitability of listed aviation players. These two concerns have caused the stock of InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo), the largest player in the sector, to slip by 11 per cent since its highs at the end of July. Nuvama Research expects yields to cool down in the near term due to seasonality, rising crude oil prices, and higher capacity.

Sales, outlook strong for P&G Hygiene and Healthcare

Sales, outlook strong for P&G Hygiene and Healthcare

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

P&G Hygiene and Healthcare's June quarter numbers were better than Street estimates, led by strong sales and robust margins. The company, which owns leading consumer brands like Whisper, Vicks and Old Spice, posted a 12.6 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in sales at Rs 852.5 crore during the quarter. The double digit sales growth, led by expansion of its distribution reach, reverses a sluggish sales graph with three of the last four quarters reporting a fall in sales.

'There is not a major worry on the price front'

'There is not a major worry on the price front'

Rediff.com   7 Sep 2023

'I believe that as we produce more, our cost will come down further. We will maintain our competitiveness.'

TVS Motor revs up with strong outlook

TVS Motor revs up with strong outlook

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2023

TVS Motor Company has been one of the best-performing two-wheeler stocks in the current financial year (FY24), enriching investors with gains of 24 per cent. Among listed two-wheeler stocks, only Hero MotoCorp has done better in this period. New launches, market share gains, steady margins and expectations that its performance will continue in FY24 are expected to support TVS Motor's stock.

'India will be beneficiary of China plus one strategy'

'India will be beneficiary of China plus one strategy'

Rediff.com   5 Sep 2023

'Our factories are world-class and are becoming increasingly attractive for our global business leaders to use to serve other markets.'

Crop protection companies to reap bumper Q2 harvest

Crop protection companies to reap bumper Q2 harvest

Rediff.com   4 Sep 2023

After being underweight on domestic agrochemical companies and preferring global plays, brokerages believe that the former may perform better in the quarters ahead. Domestic crop protection companies have faced multiple headwinds over the past year and a half, given high inventory costs, pricing pressures, lower realisations in the generic segment, increased stocks due to lower infestations, and demand-led hits to volumes. Some of the overhang from previous quarters was reflected in the April-June quarter (first quarter, or Q1) of 2023-24 (FY24) as well, with aggregate revenues and operating profit for the sector down 12 per cent and 27 per cent, respectively.

Defence business to drive growth for Bharat Forge

Defence business to drive growth for Bharat Forge

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2023

Since its results for the first quarter of the 2023-24 financial year (Q1FY24) earlier this month, the stock of auto component major Bharat Forge is up nearly 15 per cent and hit its all-time high in the process. The recent gains have extended the returns over the last three months to over 34 per cent. After a strong Q1 performance which beat expectations, brokerages had revised their earnings estimates upwards to factor in the improved outlook.

Why India Has Shortage Of Skilled Workers

Why India Has Shortage Of Skilled Workers

Rediff.com   31 Aug 2023

'The second generation of migrant labourers is not enthusiastic about continuing in this field.' 'The parents of the next generation do not wish their children to be part of this trade.'

Moderation in demand is where the shoe pinches for footwear majors

Moderation in demand is where the shoe pinches for footwear majors

Rediff.com   28 Aug 2023

Notwithstanding lower growth rates recorded in the first quarter (Q1) of 2023-24 (FY24), which spanned from April to June, footwear stocks have seen some gains in the past two trading sessions. Bata India saw an increase of approximately 5 per cent, driven by positive expectations surrounding a potential tie-up in the sports/athleisure segment. This development is viewed favourably due to the segment's higher growth rates.

Why private manufacturers shun super-critical thermal plants

Why private manufacturers shun super-critical thermal plants

Rediff.com   27 Aug 2023

This includes distancing themselves from the new and emerging super-critical technology.

Occupancy surge, pharmacy profitability key triggers for Apollo Hospitals

Occupancy surge, pharmacy profitability key triggers for Apollo Hospitals

Rediff.com   24 Aug 2023

The June quarter numbers of the country's largest listed healthcare services provider, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise (Apollo), were in line with Street estimates on the operational front. Net profit estimates, however, missed expectations due to higher interest and tax outgo. The revenue performance of the core hospital segment was robust, registering a 13 per cent increase over the year-ago quarter.

Street positive on Trent after a strong Q1 results, sales trajectory

Street positive on Trent after a strong Q1 results, sales trajectory

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2023

Riding on strong June-quarter numbers and positive brokerage outlook, the stock of retail major Trent hit a fresh all-time high on Monday (August 14). The stock has gained 14 per cent in five trading sessions. Continuing the trend of strong revenue growth over the last few quarters, the company posted 53.5 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) growth in top line to Rs 2,536 crore in the June quarter (first quarter of financial year 2023-24 or Q1FY24).