For a volatile market: 6 largecap stocks from different sectors with upside potential of up to 33%

At a time when nifty is moving in and out of green territory, it would be better to add one more parameter to watch, that is market breadth.There are clear signs of profit booking taking place in the broader market with market breadth not being as positive as it used to be. While the initial part of any volatility is led by large caps, there is a higher probability that the large caps are able to stabilize much before any part of the market.So, if one is thinking of fresh exposure to the market it would be better to stick with large caps as they are likely to outperform as and when we see return of FPI flows. 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.

After a strong phase of outperformance , mid cap stocks are witnessing a a wave of profit booking move. Unlike the past few weeks, where a rotational profit booking was taking place, this time the correction is taking place across the board. Now how long it will continue will depend on how the SEBI advisory pans out and also how nifty moves. During this phase, analysts are bullish on select stocks from different sectors, some of which are either the leaders of their sector or part of the top three companies which are known to be well managed.

While the nifty might have recovered, the broader market which went into a correction phase post Ukraine war continues to stay under pressure. A look at market breadth will show that the number of mid caps which have shed weight is far more than stocks which have gained weight. ET screener powered by Refinitiv’s Stock Report Plus applies different algorithms & filters to all BSE and NSE stocks, and lists stocks which fulfill the various criteria as specified into the algorithms & filters to find those which might help navigate the stock market.

Somehow word volatility got associated with bearish trend, while it might appear strange to some, the fact is that even volatility has a bias and that can be toward bulls also. In the last few sessions that bias has changed toward bulls. Broader market indices have been able to recover sharply from their lows when they have opened down lower. At this point of time when sectors like banks are leading it, there is a high probability that we might see more of it in the coming weeks. The only caveat is that the earning season which will be starting with large cap IT companies deliver extremely bad surprises then all bets are off. But don't lower guard in terms of stocks selection, stay with the one where the sectoral macros are positive and individual companies have a track record both in terms of financial and management ability.

Volatility never gives notice before coming. While some might be feeling volatility has come in just the last two trading sessions, the fact is that markets have been volatile since the start of 2024. There is a high probability that we might see more of it in the coming weeks. So, it would be better to stay prepared for volatility. One of the ways for that would be to stay with large caps and especially the ones which have shown streak of outperformance at a time when other large caps have been under pressure. Another reason valuations are high in large part of the mid and small caps and they are the ones which might lose more weight if the markets stay under pressure due to profit booking.

When it comes to volatility, there are four things that one needs to take into account. First, the magnitude of volatility, frequency of volatile movement, sectors that are leading it, and overall market breadth during a volatile phase. If one takes all of these into account, the nifty has been able to inch upward but the fact that market breadth is still not clear is the hurdle rate. There is a high probability that we might see more of it in the coming weeks. So, it would be better to stay prepared for volatility. One of the ways for that would be to stay with large caps, this does not mean they will not face the heat, but over the medium to long term they would be the first ones to bounce back and if one looks at what has happened in last two trading session, it is the largecap which is leading the rally. So, in times of volatility which has come due to valuation readjustment, it would be better to stick with large caps and that too companies where there are some tailwinds of either policy or restructuring of the company.

At a time when everything on the street appears good and green, there is a case of being selective. The reason, if it is in a raging bull market, the street never stays in this all good and green mode forever.when the street starts to become selective, it is stocks where there are some improvement in the business operating matrix tend to weather the storm better. So as an investor, one needs to look at every sector and company and their operating and valuation matrix separately. 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.