Time to tilt towards largecaps; 3 sectors to get into on correction: Nitin Raheja

“The next couple of years should be better for pharma companies as the pricing outlook keeps on improving and the cost pressure is moderating as well for inputs like APIs, chemicals, etc. So, generic companies or those with a good specialty portfolio, should do well in the next few years.”

In volatile markets, where there is a readjustment in valuation across midcap space, it is only a matter of time that the concept of relative valuation will come into play and large caps will get more attention from the market. Stocks from different sectors are making to the list, this week, stocks from Oil refining and marketing, private banks, insurance, auto ancillary and fertilizer space. ET screener powered by Refinitiv’s Stock Report Plus lists down quality stocks with high upside potential over the next 12 months, having an average recommendation rating of “buy” or strong buy . The screener applies different algorithms for all BSE and NSE stocks.

“If you are betting into the jewellery sector, the period between Dhuleti and Dhanteras is the best time to accumulate these particular stocks and the moment the festive season starts, that is the best time to book some profit. That is how one can make maximum gain in this kind of business.”

Ramkumar K, Chief Investment Officer, Reliance General Insurance, advises caution in selecting sectors and scrips due to emerging exuberance pockets, with modest equity returns expected. Watch FY25 for market movements, global policies, US elections, interest rate cuts, large banks, bad assets, energy sector as well as FIIs' interest in small & midcap stocks.

Sometimes a rationale which goes against owning a set of stocks at the start of a bull run, comes in handy in the case of a correction in stock markets. There is one sector where business updates from companies talk in the common lingo. First one is: growth will be muted. Second, margins will be under pressure due to cost inflation and third, competition is increasing in different categories. The sector is FMCG where the narrative is that it is a bad time to buy FMCG stocks. Probably, it is time to take a contrarian call in this sector.

While it might be too early to call or to some it might appear to be wish of which bears on the street would have, but the way the market breadth has panned out, there is probability of a selective correction taking place, which is essentially led by the profit booking. At this time if one is looking to increase exposure, it would be better that they should look for stocks where there are some improvements in the business operating matrix that tend to weather the storm better. These selected stocks depict a strong upward trajectory in their overall average score which is based on five key pillars i.e. earnings, fundamentals, relative valuation, risk and price momentum. This implies that there has been a significant improvement in their market outlook in the given time frame.