Stock picks of the week: 5 stocks with consistent score improvement and upside potential of up to 38%

In the last two months of the market, while the midcaps have done well, though the pace at which the outperformance was taking place has slowed down. So, there is a profit booking taking place in different parts and sectors. Part of this profit booking is due to the fact the valuations are high and probability that it would continue. At this point of time one should also focus on reducing risk.In reducing market risks, investors should integrate both quantitative and qualitative criteria to assess stocks, aligning expectations with realistic market performances and avoiding impulsive shifts based on short-term fluctuations. This involves a disciplined approach to examining fundamentals, particularly focusing on crucial financial ratios such as Return on Equity (ROE) and Return on Capital Employed (ROCE). These measures help in evaluating a company's efficiency and profitability, guiding investors away from making hasty decisions which are mostly done in a bullish market.

Once again the US banking system has given jitters to global markets. However, even before that market has been under the control of bears. Stocks which have seen a constant improvement in their scores even in such volatile times are worth looking at. 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.

While it should always be followed as the basic principle of investing, in markets when valuations are high it becomes extremely important for an investor to look at a company and their operating and valuation matrix separately. The reason, when there is a change in the operating matrix, the valuation matrix gets impacted more. The reason to be cautious is that when a correction takes place, and it does, stocks which have seen an improvement due to fundamental reasons tend to perform relatively well as compared to others. So look at stocks where analysts' outlook has improved over the last one month. 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.

For the first four trading sessions of the week, it appeared that bears are finally waking up but then on Friday, it was bulls all over the street again. Better than expected GDP numbers, and high GST collections, probably were the trigger point for the bulls to once again stay in control. While it might be too early to say, there is a possibility that the market's may see a more bullishness in nifty than broader market breadth. Essentially, the probability of a selective correction which is essentially led by the profit booking continues to be high. 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.

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 has panned out at the start of 2024, there is probability of a selective correction taking place. So, it is 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.

After what can be described as a short phase of correction, mid-caps are once again on a roll. Both in terms of market breadth and absolute gain, midcap are leading the rally. The valuations which were high have moved even higher, so while there cannot be an argument against the liquidity, there are some safeguard which become important before one take exposure to the stocks and especially mid-caps as the correction in this space can be very brutal. 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 mid cap space.