Shares of Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta Ltd rallied as much as 5% to their intraday high of Rs 727.40 on the BSE on Wednesday after BofA Securities upgraded the stock to “Buy” from “Neutral” and sharply raised its target price to Rs 840 from Rs 480 — an increase of 75%.

The international brokerage cited a more constructive outlook for aluminium prices, supportive silver prices and an attractive dividend yield of over 6% estimated for FY27. It also highlighted that significant deleveraging at the parent level reduces the risk of any increase in brand-fee rates or inter-corporate loans.

BofA has raised its FY26E–FY28E EBITDA estimates for Vedanta by 16–21%, factoring in higher aluminium price assumptions, an increased fair value for Hindustan Zinc, depreciation in the USD-INR rate and a lower holding-company discount of 5%, compared with 15% earlier.

Vedanta Q3 snapshot

Vedanta reported a 61% year-on-year jump in consolidated profit to Rs 5,710 crore for the third quarter, with revenue rising 19% to Rs 45,899 crore. EBITDA climbed 34% year-on-year and 31% sequentially to a record Rs 15,171 crore, while margins expanded sharply to 41%, supported by higher metal prices, stronger premiums, improved volumes and cost efficiencies.

The aluminium business stood out operationally, with alumina production rising 57% year-on-year to a record 794 kilo tonnes, while aluminium cost of production declined 11% year-on-year to $1,674 per tonne, aiding margin expansion. Zinc India and international zinc operations also delivered strong growth on the back of favourable commodity prices and improved volumes.
The stronger operating performance translated into better capital efficiency, with return on capital employed improving to 27%, up nearly 300 basis points from a year ago.

Vedanta share price performance

Vedanta share price has been off to a strong start in 2026, rallying 20% on a year-to-date basis. The stock is up 60% in the last six months.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Indian IT stocks may have faced a bout of market jitters over artificial intelligence (AI) disruption, but industry expert Piyush Pandey from Centrum sees long-term opportunities despite short-term volatility.

According to Pandey, current valuations are “extremely comfortable” and most stocks are trading below their five-year averages. “As of now, it looks like most of the stocks are in oversold zone and I would say, the fears from the AI are overblown. And as most of these management we also believe that AI would provide more opportunities in the medium to long term. In fact, there can be some price deflation for certain legacy projects, but that should be more than compensated with increasing volume of IT projects,” he explained in an interview to ET Now.

Pandey emphasized that while the near-term impact might be temporary, IT companies are well-positioned for growth over the next one to two years.

When asked whether the AI disruption is materially different from previous technology shifts such as cloud and internet adoption, Pandey noted, “Even with this disruption, it is more about improvement in productivity. Revenue per employee would increase, headcount addition would be more measured, and some routine tasks can get automated. IT services companies are well entrenched in the entire IT ecosystem where they understand the client’s context and their tech journey over decades.”

He added that this productivity boost could make previously unviable legacy transformation projects feasible. “Near term we might see some disruption, but I remain positive and it looks like even for FY27 performance would be slightly better compared to what we had in FY26,” Pandey said.

Concerns over AI reducing man-hours and impacting revenue models were addressed as well. “In this AI age I believe it would shift from man-hour base to fixed price or outcome-based projects. There has been significant increase in productivity, especially in coding hours, but for clients who were previously unable to implement IT projects, now it becomes easier and more affordable,” he said.
On margin pressure, Pandey commented, “There would be some margin compression for legacy projects. But as IT companies move towards outcome-based billing, margins would be broadly protected. For global tech companies in the US, if they cannot monetize AI properly, their margins can take a hit. There is more of a bubble case in AI for US tech companies, but for Indian companies, the opportunities are just too huge.”From an investor’s perspective, Pandey recommends patience. “Let the price stabilise, maybe it can take a month or so. But at the current valuations, if somebody has a long-term horizon… and even Q4 would be reasonably good. So, if somebody has a longer term, one can add; otherwise, they can wait for the prices to stabilise.”

He advises a balanced approach between largecap and midcap IT names. “I would say mix of a largecap and Infosys and Coforge one can have 50-50,” he said, highlighting them as top picks.

Pandey also flagged key metrics to monitor in the AI-driven IT cycle: “Companies will start reporting on deal TCV, especially AI-led deal TCV, and one needs to track the pace at which AI-led deal TCV grows. Even Infosys reported around 5.5% revenue from AI-led services and TCS had a similar number at around 5.8%, that $1.8 billion. AI-led revenue, AI-led deal TCV, and how the mix is changing quarter to quarter needs to be tracked. Plus, headcount addition is still important to keep their employee pyramid intact.”

With measured optimism, Pandey believes the Indian IT sector is poised to navigate AI disruption while delivering value to long-term investors.

BANGKOK — Thailand’s automotive industry has marked a significant turning point in early 2026, as a strategic pivot toward electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing—spearheaded by major Chinese players—reinvigorates the nation’s standing as Southeast Asia’s premier automotive hub.

According to recent data released by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), vehicle production in January 2026 reached 118,386 units. This represents a substantial 10.53% increase compared to the previous year, continuing a growth trend that began in December 2025.

Strategic Investment from Chinese Leaders

A primary catalyst for this production surge is the entry and expansion of Chinese EV manufacturers. Companies such as BYD (Build Your Dreams) and Great Wall Motors have established physical manufacturing plants within Thailand. These investments are influencing the regional landscape in two distinct ways:

• Export Base Expansion: These plants are not merely catering to the Thai market but are designed as critical bases for international exports, further cementing Thailand’s role as a global supplier.
• Local Market Penetration: The presence of these manufacturers is fueling a dramatic spike in domestic interest, contributing to a 53.77% year-on-year increase in domestic sales.

Maintaining Regional Dominance

Thailand remains the largest automotive production center in Southeast Asia. While the country has long been the preferred export base for traditional Japanese giants like Toyota and Honda , the document highlights that the influx of Chinese EV makers represents a “strategic shift” in the country’s industrial output.

By diversifying its production capabilities to include high-demand electric vehicles, Thailand is effectively navigating the transition from traditional internal combustion engines to next-generation technology.

The Bigger Picture

Chinese EV makers have supplied the capital, technology, and speed Thailand needed to leapfrog into the EV era while leveraging its decades-old manufacturing ecosystem. The result: Thailand is solidifying its position as Southeast Asia’s premier EV production and export hub, creating jobs, building supply chains (batteries, chargers, components), and positioning itself as a bridge between Chinese innovation and global markets.

By 2030 and beyond, expect Thai-made EVs—many bearing brands like BYD, GWM, or Changan—to appear on roads from Jakarta to Berlin. The “Detroit of Asia” isn’t just surviving the EV transition—it’s thriving, thanks in large part to its Chinese partners.

Outlook for 2026

The integration of Chinese EV production comes at a critical time for the industry. Following a minor 0.9% dip in production during 2025 (which saw 1.455 million units produced), the FTI is forecasting a robust recovery.

With the momentum provided by the EV sector, the industry has set an ambitious production target of 1.5 million units for 2026 , reflecting an expected annual growth rate of 3%. As Chinese manufacturers continue to scale their operations for both local sales and exports, Thailand is well-positioned to meet these targets and maintain its competitive edge in the global automotive market.

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