Business
Midcaps offer attractive opportunities amid volatility: Gautam Duggad
Commodity-Led Earnings Boost
Commenting on the theme, Gautam Duggad from Motilal Oswal said, “Metals and oil & gas gave an additional kicker, but even ex-commodities, earnings growth stood at 12%. This is the sixth consecutive quarter of high earnings growth, increasing from 10% to 16% over the period. Out of 27 sectors, 19 delivered double-digit growth, which is encouraging.”
“Strong earnings came from auto, capital goods, NBFCs, and PSU banks. Lending NBFCs grew nearly 30%, non-lending 35%, and PSU banks delivered 18% growth versus an expected 5-6%. Even IT and retail showed healthy growth.”
He also highlighted a smallcap recovery: “Smallcaps posted close to 30% growth after five quarters of zero or negative numbers. Midcaps ex-commodities grew 20%, slowing the pace of earnings cuts significantly.”
Market Sentiment and Valuation Concerns
Duggad noted: “India has underperformed in dollar terms over the last 15-18 months. Largecaps are fairly valued, but midcaps and smallcaps still need selectivity—midcap index trades at 28 times, smallcap at 24 times. Volatility arises from trade deals, IT, and AI disruption, but fiscal and monetary steps by the government and RBI are now reflecting in earnings, particularly in auto and consumer staples.”
IT Disruption and Uncertain Valuations
On IT valuations, Duggad said: “We upgraded IT in November, yet Infosys dropped 15-17% shortly after. It has now retraced to around 1300. Short-term levels remain uncertain.”Narrow Nifty Contributions Mask Broader Strength
Discussing Nifty earnings, he added: “Financials, consumer, and IT account for 60% of Nifty profits. With these sectors growing only 3-10%, headline Nifty growth of 7-8% is concentrated in few stocks. Broader coverage shows 16% growth, highlighting strong opportunities in mid- and smallcaps. This is truly a stock-picker’s market.”
Business
This Copper Stock Is Worth Mining. The Metal’s Boom Is On.
This Copper Stock Is Worth Mining. The Metal’s Boom Is On.
Business
UAE: Fujairah resumes oil loadings after drone strike tests Hormuz bypass

UAE: Fujairah resumes oil loadings after drone strike tests Hormuz bypass
Business
Bonus issue alert: This smallcap stock goes ex-bonus for a 3:1 issue this week. Do you own?
Earlier in February, the company had announced the bonus issue while releasing its October–December quarter results for FY26. The board approved the issue of bonus shares in the ratio of 3:1, meaning three fully paid-up equity shares of face value Rs 2 each for every one fully paid-up equity share of face value Rs 2 each held by shareholders.
Later, on March 10, the company announced that the record date has been fixed as March 20 (Friday).
What does this mean for shareholders?
If a shareholder owns one share of a company worth Rs 100, a 3:1 bonus issue will convert the holding into four shares worth around Rs 25 each. The total value of the holding remains unchanged at Rs 100.Once the stock begins trading ex-bonus, the price appears to fall sharply, but this simply reflects the adjustment following the corporate action.
Only shareholders who owned the stock on the record date are eligible to receive the bonus shares. Bonus issues consist of free shares distributed by a company from its reserves and are often seen as a sign of strong financial health and growth prospects.
While the issue of bonus shares increases the total number of outstanding shares, it does not change the company’s market capitalisation. However, it can improve liquidity and affordability, allowing more investors to invest in the stock.
Metropolis Healthcare share price:
Metropolis Healthcare shares have gained around 4% in the past five days, but declined around 7% in the past one month. The small-cap stock has dropped nearly 11% in the past six months, and around 5% in 2026 so far.The stock currently has a P/E ratio of around 56, and a market capitalisation of Rs 9,382 crore, as per data on NSE.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
Business
Basmati rice exporter Amir Chand to launch Rs 440-cr IPO on Mar 24
The public issue will close on March 27, while the anchor investor bidding is scheduled to take place on March 23, according to the red herring prospectus (RHP).
The Haryana-based company’s proposed IPO will comprise a fresh issue of equity shares entirely, with no offer-for-sale (OFS) component.
The company plans to utilise the net proceeds from the issue to fund its working capital requirements and for general corporate purposes.
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) granted its approval to the IPO in October 2025.
The offer size has been reduced to Rs 440 crore compared to the Rs 550 crore issue size proposed in the Draft Red Herring Prospectus (DRHP) filed in June 2025.
Ahead of the public issue, the company raised Rs 13 crore in a pre-IPO round by allotting 7.55 lakh shares at Rs 172 per share.Amir Chand Jagdish Kumar (Exports) Ltd is a processor and exporter of basmati rice in India. The company markets its products under the flagship brand “Aeroplane”.
It competes with the likes of other large basmati rice companies, including KRBL Ltd, LT Foods and Sarveshwar Foods, and various other unorganised processors.
Apart from its core basmati rice business, the company has diversified into FMCG products, offering staples and other essential kitchen items.
For the nine-month period ended December 31, 2024, the company reported revenue from operations of Rs 1,421.3 crore and a profit after tax of Rs 48.77 crore.
The company’s shares are proposed to be listed on the BSE and NSE.
Business
First Commonwealth Financial: Just Good Enough To Remain Bullish
First Commonwealth Financial: Just Good Enough To Remain Bullish
Business
Israeli forces kill four Palestinians in West Bank, Palestinian health authorities say

Israeli forces kill four Palestinians in West Bank, Palestinian health authorities say
Business
Japan: Takaichi signals ‘high hurdles’ for naval dispatch to Strait of Hormuz

Japan: Takaichi signals ‘high hurdles’ for naval dispatch to Strait of Hormuz
Business
Mutual fund NFOs: 2 ETFs will open for subscription now on Monday. Check details
Two new passive funds, a commodity-based ETF and a mid-cap ETF, are opening for subscription on Monday. The HSBC Gold ETF closes on March 18, and the SBI Nifty Midcap 150 ETF closes on March 24, both with a minimum investment of Rs 5,000. Investors are advised to choose funds based on their individual risk profiles and financial goals.
Business
Your Private-Credit Fund Has One More Risk to Consider
Your Private-Credit Fund Has One More Risk to Consider
Business
M-cap of top 10 firms tumbles by Rs 4.48 lakh cr; SBI, HDFC Bank top laggards
Last week, the BSE benchmark Sensex tanked 4,354.98 points or 5.51 per cent, and the NSE Nifty dropped 1,299.35 points or 5.31 per cent as surging crude prices raised concerns over inflationary pressures and global economic stability amid the widening conflict in West Asia.
“The primary driver behind the market weakness was the sustained rise in crude oil prices following the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel. Brent crude surged past USD 101 per barrel, raising concerns over India’s fiscal position and inflation outlook,” Ajit Mishra – SVP, Research, Religare Broking Ltd, said.
The market valuation of State Bank of India tumbled Rs 89,306.22 crore to Rs 9,66,261.05 crore.
HDFC Bank faced an erosion of Rs 61,715.32 crore to Rs 12,57,391.76 crore.
The valuation of Bajaj Finance dived Rs 59,082.49 crore to Rs 5,32,053.54 crore and that of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) tanked Rs 53,312.52 crore to Rs 8,72,067.63 crore.
The market capitalisation (mcap) of ICICI Bank dropped by Rs 42,205.04 crore to Rs 8,97,844.78 crore and that of Bharti Airtel plunged Rs 38,688.78 crore to Rs 10,28,431.72 crore.Reliance Industries’ valuation fell by Rs 33,289.88 crore to Rs 18,68,293.17 crore.
The mcap of LIC diminished by Rs 31,245.49 crore to Rs 4,88,985.57 crore and that of Infosys declined by Rs 24,230.96 crore to Rs 5,06,315.58 crore.
Hindustan Unilever’s mcap dipped by Rs 15,401.57 crore to Rs 5,07,640.94 crore.
Reliance Industries remained the most valued domestic firm, followed by HDFC Bank, Bharti Airtel, State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, TCS, Bajaj Finance, Hindustan Unilever, Infosys and LIC.
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