For high risk averse: 5 midcap stocks from different sectors with potential upside of up to 20%

In equity markets, whatever precaution one might take, the probability of a mistake of getting stuck with a wrong stock is always high. But then there are mistakes and silly mistakes, just try to avoid silly mistakes. How ? Stay away from stocks where there is a narrative that this sector will do well because of ABCD reasons or the company will get such and such orders worth this much. There is enough evidence in history to show that more than anything else, checks and balances are most important at a point of time when valuations are high and sentiment extremely bullish. How do one put checks and balances? Integrate both quantitative and qualitative criteria to assess stocks, aligning expectations with realistic market performances and avoiding impulsive shifts based on short-term fluctuations.

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.

After a short rational correction, bulls were once again seen on every corner of the street. While being bullish, it is extremely important not to forget the fact valuations are high and everything seems to be priced to perfection. In such conditions, for investors who are looking to increase their exposure to stocks, it would be better to focus on fundamentals and if there is any improvement in them which has made the overall score go up in the last one month then have a look at those stocks. 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.

One change for making higher provision for unsecured loans and we see all the NBFC stocks tumbling. But four weeks later what is the situation, no one on the street is even talking about it and stocks have crossed the level when the announcement was made. The fact is that some regulatory measures are indicators of overall growth potential which the regulator is just trying to moderate in order to avoid overheating of some segment of industry. The other question is that an industry like NBFC which is bound to grow given the fact that capital was, is and will remain a scarce commodity, which are the benchmark which one should use to take exposure with a long term perspective.

There are some sectors where the macro structure is such that for one or the other reasons the overall growth is higher. This is not to say that growth comes without phases of slowdown, but when tailwinds come they are able to take care of all the slowdown and over a period of time, growth is much better. So, at times valuations are high, take exposure to stocks and sectors where at least there is high probability of growth ensuring that over a period of time, valuations get normalized. When we talk of market size it is not only India but in some cases global markets also. Second, look at business that is bound to grow as markets expand and every transaction brings in some money to the topline and industry structure is such that cost does not grow in the same proportion leading to higher and stable margins.

In a market in which stocks of companies undergoing bankruptcy are quoting at half billion market cap, finding stocks which have value is probably not something which is an easy thing. It is time when the choice has to be made between fairly priced or overpriced. Given the sentiments, investors are more prone to buying stock first and then looking at what is the business of the company, that too is done by very few. It is exactly the time and sentiment when it becomes extremely important to go back to the basic principle of investing. Put more checks and balances before you buy the stock and the reason for buying that stock at that point of time. So as you stay bullish, be selective.

Every industry has different operating conditions which have high correlation with the kind of ROE they generate and how sustainable that number is. Of all the stocks, which our algorithms come up with, we took companies from three sectors, biologics, engineering and an auto ancillary company which is focussed on EV space and has been able to get an early lead. ET screener powered by Refinitiv’s Stock Report Plus lists down stocks with high upside potential over the next 12 months, having an average recommendation rating of “buy” or strong buy .

As broader market indices witness minor consolidation, which normally happens when they are close to all time high as some resistance is bound to come. Some stocks have witnessed consistent improvement in their scores. The 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.

Capital good companies had faced tough times for many years. Given the fact that hardly any capacity buildup was taking place in any industry, a number had to change their product portfolio and had to live with very low margins. But all the efforts have now started to show some results. Given the performance of the stock, a large majority of these stocks have hold recommendations from the analysts.