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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

SBI PSU Fund managed by SBI Mutual Fund offered the highest CAGR in the last three years and five years respectively among all the equity mutual funds, an analysis by ETMutualFunds showed. In the last three years, the fund gave a CAGR of 32.14% and around 28.74% in the last five years (Source: ACE MF).

Launched in July 2010, the fund is not given any rating by Morningstar and Value Research. For this fund, according to Value Research, each category must have a minimum of 10 funds for it to be rated, which is not the case for the PSU category as there are five funds. As per Morningstar, this category is a non rateable category fund.

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Based on the trailing returns, the fund has outperformed its category average in the last three and five years whereas in the last 10 years, it failed to outperform its benchmark. As in the last three years and five years, the fund gave 32.14% and 28.74% respectively, the category average was 30.60% and 27.94% respectively. Since its inception, the fund has delivered a CAGR of 8.35%. Note, the data for the benchmark BSE PSU TRI was not available to compare the performance of the fund.

On the basis of daily rolling returns, the fund has delivered a CAGR of 15.23% in the last five years, 8.27% in the last seven years, and 7.79% in the last 10 years.

A monthly SIP made in the fund since its inception would have been Rs 59.25 lakh with an XIRR of 13.67%. A lump sum investment of Rs 1 lakh made in the fund since its inception would have been Rs 3.48 lakh with a CAGR of 8.34%.

How does the fund house decode the performance?

PSU stocks have been strong performers, both on an absolute basis and relative to the broader market post 2020, due to an earnings revival and valuation re rating and this tailwind clearly aided our fund’s performance, Rohit Shimpi, Fund Manager, SBI PSU Fund shared with ETMutualFunds.Top contributors for the fund over the last five years have been our holdings in PSU banks and financial institutions, industrials including defence, utilities including electric utilities, energy and metals. These stocks were aided by improvement in asset quality of PSU banks, growth in defence and power, and a positive commodity cycle impacting metals.

Our fund’s strategy has not changed significantly over time, however in mid 2024, we did feel that certain pockets within PSUs were seeing exuberance, and we realigned the portfolio towards large cap stocks within the PSU space. Overall, while being highly stock specific, we remain more positive on large cap stocks within the PSU space at this point in time, Shimpi further said.

What experts say on SBI PSU Fund

According to an expert, with the fund comfortably outperforming its category average, this strong performance marks a sharp improvement over its long term historical returns and reflects the powerful rally seen in public sector stocks in recent years.

Abhishek Bhilwaria, BhilwariaMF (AMFI registered MFD), shared with ETMutualFunds that the primary drivers of this performance have been favourable macroeconomic conditions for PSUs and focused portfolio positioning. The government led reforms, balance sheet clean ups in public sector banks, higher capital expenditure and policy support for infrastructure, defence and energy companies have significantly improved earnings visibility across the sector.

“In addition, the fund has maintained high exposure to core PSU segments such as financial services, energy and power, which have been among the biggest beneficiaries of the economic cycle.”

He further said that the fund has also benefited from a concentrated portfolio approach, with its top holdings accounting for over half of its assets and stocks such as State Bank of India, Bharat Electronics and NTPC have delivered strong returns and played a major role in boosting overall fund performance, and a measured allocation to mid cap PSUs further enhanced returns during periods of market momentum.

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As per the last available portfolio data, the top 10 stock holding of the fund is SBI with an allocation of 17.80%, followed by NTPC of around 7.70%, and Bank of Maharashtra with an allocation of 3.65%.

Based on the sectoral allocation, the fund holds 30.05% in banks, 13.49% in power, and 13.33% in crude oil. Around 12.32% is allocated to capital goods, 8.53% to gas transmission, and 6.30% to mining.

So has the fund benefited more from stock selection or sector trends? Bhilwaria said that the SBI PSU Fund has benefited more from broad sector trends, with stock selection acting as a differentiating factor rather than the primary driver and the re rating of the PSU sector as a whole has been the foundation of the fund’s strong returns.

“Improved asset quality in PSU banks, sustained government spending on infrastructure and defence, and renewed investor confidence in public sector enterprises lifted the entire category. This is evident from the fact that average PSU funds have also delivered strong multi year returns, indicating that the rally was sector wide.”

However, SBI PSU Fund’s ability to consistently rank at the top of the category stems from its concentrated exposure to high conviction names and its willingness to take calculated bets across market capitalisations. By overweighting leaders such as SBI and Bharat Electronics and maintaining exposure to select mid cap PSUs, the fund was able to capture incremental gains over peers.

The fund holds 97.12% in equity, 0.08% in debt, and 2.80% in others. Based on market capitalisation, the fund holds 68.95% in large caps, 21.21% in mid caps, 2.89% in others, and 6.96% in small caps.

Should one focus on this sector now post Budget 2026?

Bhilwaria said that following the Union Budget 2026, the outlook for PSU funds has turned more cautious in the near term. PSU bank stocks corrected sharply after the budget due to the absence of fresh capital infusion announcements and profit booking after a strong pre budget rally and this highlights the sensitivity of PSU stocks to policy signals and market expectations.

“That said, the longer term structural story remains intact. The government’s continued emphasis on capital expenditure, particularly in power, defence, railways and infrastructure, supports earnings growth for several PSU companies. As a result, PSU funds may still offer opportunities, but a selective and disciplined approach is essential rather than aggressive lump sum allocations.”

And lastly, given their very high risk profile, sectoral and thematic funds such as PSU funds should form only a small part of an investor’s portfolio. Most experts recommend limiting exposure to a single sector fund to around 10% of the overall portfolio.

He further said that these funds should be treated as satellite investments, while the core portfolio remains anchored in diversified equity funds and investors whose PSU allocation has increased significantly due to past rallies may also consider rebalancing to manage risk.

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Key risk ratios and investment style

The PE and PBV ratio of this fund were recorded at 19.66 times and 3.12 times respectively whereas the dividend yield ratio was recorded at 2.39% as of December 2025.

ETMutualFunds analysed the other key ratios of the fund over a three year period. Based on the last three years, the scheme has offered a Treynor ratio of 2.15 and an alpha of 0.18. The Sortino ratio of the scheme was recorded at 0.82. The return due to net selectivity was recorded at 0.12 and return due to improper diversification was recorded at 0.05 in the last three years.

The investment style of the fund is to invest in growth oriented stocks across large cap market capitalisations.

Others in PSU basket

Apart from SBI PSU Fund, there are three other actively managed funds in the category which have completed three years of existence in the industry. Invesco India PSU Equity Fund gave 31.74%, Aditya Birla SL PSU Equity Fund gave 29.49%, and ICICI Prudential PSU Equity Fund gave 29.03% in the last three years.

Post seeing strong performance by these funds, what is the outlook of these funds? The expert said that the outlook for the PSU sector in early 2026 is one of selective long term opportunity combined with near term volatility. Fundamentally, many PSUs are in a stronger position than in previous cycles, with healthier balance sheets, improved governance and steady cash flows and several companies continue to offer attractive dividend yields and benefit from government backed order visibility.

“However, market sentiment has become more discerning. Much of the valuation re rating seen over the past few years is already priced in, particularly in PSU banks. Budget related uncertainty, evolving governance reforms and ambitious disinvestment targets have added to short term fluctuations. As a result, broad based sector rallies may be limited going forward.”

He further said that for PSU funds, this suggests a phase of consolidation rather than runaway gains. Performance is likely to be driven by stock specific fundamentals rather than pure sector momentum. Investors should approach PSU funds with a medium to long term horizon, an ability to tolerate volatility and a clear understanding that returns may be uneven, and a selective and measured exposure remains the most prudent strategy in the current environment.

One should always consider risk appetite, investment horizon, and goals before making any investment decisions.

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

If you have any mutual fund queries, message ET Mutual Funds on Facebook or Twitter. We will get it answered by our panel of experts. Do share your questions at ETMFqueries@timesinternet.in along with your age, risk profile, and Twitter handle.

Minute Maid, owned by The Coca-Cola Company, is preparing to discontinue its frozen juice concentrate products, a move that has sparked a wave of nostalgia among longtime fans online.

The change is expected to take effect in the first quarter of 2026 as the company responds to shifting consumer demand. Remaining cans will stay on shelves until supplies are exhausted, a Coca-Cola spokesperson confirmed to FOX Business on Thursday.

“We are discontinuing our frozen products and exiting the frozen can category in response to shifting consumer preferences,” the spokesperson said. “With the juice category growing strongly, we’re focusing on products that better match what our consumers want.”

COCA-COLA OFFICIALLY ROLLS OUT CANE SUGAR SODA ACROSS US MARKETS FOLLOWING TRUMP’S URGING: REPORT

Minute Maid’s current frozen concentrate lineup includes orange juice, lemonade, pink lemonade, raspberry lemonade and limeade, according to The Coca-Cola Company’s website.

Following the announcement, users took to social media to share their nostalgia after food blogger Markie Devo posted about the change, People Magazine first reported.

Many expressed sadness over the loss of the product.

COCA-COLA INTRODUCES CONTENDER IN PREBIOTIC DRINK TREND AS ‘GUT-HEALTHY’ SODAS GAIN POPULARITY

“NOOOOOO! This is my literal childhood,” one user wrote.

“An end of an era is right! My favorites growing up. Sad to hear this,” another commented.

“My Mom made pies using the lemonade,” another wrote, adding a crying emoji. “They are getting rid of so many childhood memories! Thank you for posting.”

“I hated these but I am somehow still sad to see them go,” another user added.

Minute Maid’s frozen concentrate products have long held a place in U.S. food history, with the brand’s frozen orange juice dating back 80 years, according to The Coca-Cola Company’s website.

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The move comes as Coca-Cola shifts its broader strategy, placing greater emphasis on zero-sugar beverages and brands such as Fairlife milk amid evolving consumer preferences, Reuters reported.

Coca-Cola also recently began rolling out soda made with U.S. cane sugar across the country. 

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A 12-ounce, single-serve glass bottle of the cane sugar version of its signature soda launched in select markets nationwide last fall, a company spokesperson previously told The New York Post.

Q4: 2026-01-29 Earnings Summary

EPS of $1.28 misses by $0.18

 | Revenue of $92.08M (-2.35% Y/Y) misses by $51.07M

This article was written by

This article was written by

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

Three of the nation’s largest housing markets are seeing a sharp rise in the number of homes for sale, giving buyers more choices even as the overall U.S. housing market shows signs of cooling.

In January, 46 of the country’s biggest metro areas had more homes on the market than they did a year earlier. Seattle saw the biggest increase, with inventory jumping 32.4%.

Charlotte, North Carolina, followed at 28.6%, while Washington, D.C., ranked third with a 26.8% rise, according to Realtor.com’s January 2026 Monthly Housing Market Trends Report.

In Seattle and Charlotte, much of the inventory growth is being driven by homes lingering on the market longer rather than a surge of new sellers, Realtor.com Senior Economist Jake Krimmel told FOX Business.

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Homes in Seattle took about 15 days longer to sell than they did a year ago, while Charlotte homes remained on the market roughly 12 days longer. 

“[Washington], D.C., is a little different, where stronger new listing growth seems tied to uncertainty over the local job outlook,” Krimmel told FOX Business.

Seattle’s expanding supply is also being influenced by layoffs in the tech sector, according to Michael Orbino, a managing broker at Compass.

“Several companies, including T-Mobile, Microsoft and Amazon, are repositioning their workforces,” Orbino said in a statement. “This is not a large part of the inventory but often puts buyers in pause mode, which has the effect of slowing down absorption, which increases inventory.”

JUST 17% OF VOTERS THINK NOW IS A GOOD TIME TO BUY A HOME AS AFFORDABILITY CONCERNS WEIGH: POLL

Several other metro areas also saw significant increases in homes for sale.

Louisville, Kentucky, was up 25.6%, while Las Vegas and Indianapolis each rose 25.4%. Baltimore saw inventory climb 24.1%, San Jose increased 23.3% and Cincinnati rose 21%, Realtor.com reported.

Regionally, the West posted the largest year-over-year inventory gain in January, up 12.2%. The Midwest followed at 10.3%, with the South close behind at 10.1%. The Northeast continued to lag, with inventory rising just 6.6%, according to the report.

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Nationally, housing inventory is up 10% from a year ago, but the pace of recovery is slowing. Year-over-year inventory growth has declined for nine consecutive months, and new listings rose just 0.7% compared with last year, Krimmel said.

January inventory remained more than 17% below 2017 to 2019 levels, according to Realtor.com.

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“Even though January is the slow season for housing, it’s an important moment to take stock,” Krimmel added. “The data and trends coming in right now will set the stage for how the market might behave once things pick up in the spring.”

The Stockton firm updated shareholders on a robust first half, but reiterated how customers have been cautious to invest

North East drinks and vending tech firm Vianet has announced it has sealed a “significant” deal with a US restaurant group. The Stockton business, which specialises in telemetry and data collection, said its subsidiary Vianet Americas Inc has entered a long-term, multi-year agreement with a large full-service restaurant company.

Under the deal, the value of which has not been disclosed, the US restaurant firm will use Vianet’s Beverage Metrics solution – the US-based, inventory software business Vianet acquired in 2023 – in its sites across the nation, within one of its major brands. The system helps hospitality operators to monitor and manage inventory.

James Dickson, president of Vianet Americas Inc and CEO of its parent company Vianet Group PLC, said: “This agreement reflects continued progress in the group’s strategy and together with our recent contract with World of Beer, and new partnership agreement with www.Fintech.com, it reinforces our long-term commitment to investing in the US hospitality market, which continues to perform strongly.

“Deploying Beverage Metrics to a leading restaurant operator validates the relevance of our technology for large, multi-site operators in delivering measurable operational and financial benefits at scale.”

The deal was announced as the company provided a trading update to shareholders, highlighting how its two divisions – hospitality and unattended retail – are expanding their installation footprint by extending existing customer contracts and winning new clients, despite the backdrop of UK economic uncertainty, particularly within hospitality.

Despite delivering recurring income and a healthy pipeline, it said its “customers’ current cautious approach to investment” meant its activities had been slower than previously anticipated in the second half of the year. It said a “robust” performance in the first half of 2026 saw Ebitda rise by 10.5% to £1.88m, but it expects full year profit to be similar to its 2025 performance.

Last June it reported Ebitda of £4.14m for its 2025 financial year. At the year-end, it said net debt is projected to be in line with market forecasts, which it said should facilitate a continued increase in the group’s final dividend.

Mr Dickson added: “I’m pleased with the progress our business is making despite the challenging economic environment. The expansion of existing customer contracts, the acquisition of new clients, and our advancements in the USA underscore the strength and quality of our operations.

“These developments will drive growth in recurring income and enhance cash generation. We remain optimistic about the group’s outlook and expect to deliver increased returns for our shareholders.”

Last November Vianet said earnings grew 11.6% to £1.73m in the six months to the end of September, and described a “solid” performance in which recurring revenues made up 84% of total income, with gross margins said to be healthy. The increase in Ebitda was in line with expectations despite a £140,000 investment in Beverage Metrics.

Like this story? For more news from the tech sector, visit our dedicated page for the latest news and analysis here.

Scottie Scheffler is the dominant force in men’s golf right now, and his rise has been one of the most remarkable stories in modern sports. Here are 10 essential things you need to know about the world No. 1.

1. He is a multiple major champion

Scottie Scheffler has already built a major-championship résumé that puts him in elite company. He owns multiple Masters Tournament titles, winning his first green jacket in 2022 and adding a second Masters victory in 2024. In 2025 he captured the PGA Championship, giving him at least three majors before turning 30 and placing him alongside some of the game’s greatest early-career performers. At The Open, he has also contended on links golf’s biggest stage and is now recognized as a complete player across all major setups.

2. He has already dominated a full PGA Tour season

Scheffler’s 2024 campaign is widely viewed as one of the best single seasons of the modern era. That year he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational for a second time, then became the first back‑to‑back winner in the history of The Players Championship, a tournament often called the sport’s “fifth major.” He followed that with a second Masters title and a win at the RBC Heritage, giving him four victories in five starts during an astonishing spring run. Later that stretch of dominance helped propel him to the FedEx Cup title and the season‑ending Tour Championship, cementing his status as the game’s standard‑bearer.

3. He’s a former world No. 1 with a historic reign

Scheffler is not just a one‑year wonder; he has sat atop the Official World Golf Ranking for a sustained period. After his breakout wins in 2022, he ascended to world No. 1 and has repeatedly reclaimed and extended that position. By 2025 he became the first player since Tiger Woods in 2007 to reach 100 consecutive weeks as world No. 1, a milestone that underscores how completely he has separated himself from his peers. As of early 2026, official profiles still list him at No. 1 in the world rankings, with a sizable cushion in advanced statistical metrics and points systems.

4. His college roots are at the University of Texas

Before he was the dominant pro on television, Scheffler was a standout at the University of Texas, one of the premier college golf programs in the United States. At Texas he collected wins and top finishes in major collegiate events, including a Big 12 Championship title and strong showings in NCAA regional and national championships. His performances for the Longhorns confirmed what junior and amateur observers already suspected—that he had the temperament and ball‑striking to thrive against the very best.

5. He tore through the Korn Ferry Tour on his way up

Scheffler did not skip steps on his way to the PGA Tour. After turning professional in late 2018, he spent a full season on the Korn Ferry Tour, the main developmental circuit for PGA Tour hopefuls. There he won multiple titles, finished at the top of the points list and comfortably secured his PGA Tour card for the 2020 season. His dominance at that level hinted that his ceiling was far higher than simply keeping a card; it foreshadowed a quick leap into the game’s top tier.

6. His breakout PGA Tour season came in 2022

Although Scheffler’s rookie year on the PGA Tour in 2020 brought plenty of promise—including a final‑round 59 at The Northern Trust—2022 was the year he became a superstar. That season he picked up his first PGA Tour win at the WM Phoenix Open in February, defeating Patrick Cantlay in a playoff. He followed with victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the WGC‑Dell Technologies Match Play before winning the Masters for his first major championship. The run earned him Player of the Year honors and vaulted him to No. 1 in the world, transforming him from promising talent to the face of men’s golf.

7. He is a prolific winner with huge career earnings

By mid‑2025 Scheffler had compiled 15 PGA Tour wins and 20 professional victories overall, including titles on the Korn Ferry Tour and at the limited‑field Hero World Challenge. Those tallies include his three majors and one World Golf Championship, plus multiple wins in signature events like The Players and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Official PGA Tour records show that he has surpassed $100 million in career earnings, making him one of the highest‑earning players in tour history at a relatively young age. His victory at the 2024 Tour Championship alone delivered a $25 million FedEx Cup bonus, highlighting the financial scale of his dominance in the current era.

8. He is an Olympic gold medalist

Scheffler’s résumé is not limited to the PGA Tour and majors—he has also succeeded on one of the biggest global stages in sports. At the 2024 Paris Olympics he captured the gold medal in men’s golf, representing the United States. The victory added a unique line to his legacy, placing him among the rare modern golfers who can claim both major titles and Olympic hardware. That performance reinforced his reputation as a player who thrives under pressure and delivers when national pride is on the line.

9. He has been a key figure in U.S. team golf

Scheffler has become a fixture on American Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams. He made his Ryder Cup debut in 2021, contributing to a record‑setting U.S. victory and impressing observers with his poise in the intense match‑play environment. Since then, he has been viewed as a cornerstone of U.S. team lineups, often slotted into crucial singles and pairing positions thanks to his reliable tee‑to‑green game. His success at the WGC‑Dell Technologies Match Play further underscores his comfort in one‑on‑one showdowns, a critical asset in team competitions.

10. His game is built on elite ball‑striking and improved putting

Statistical profiles consistently show Scheffler near the top of the PGA Tour in strokes gained tee‑to‑green, reflecting his exceptional driving, iron play and short‑game control. For much of his early career, analysts viewed putting as the one relative weakness in an otherwise complete package. That narrative shifted in 2024, when he changed to a mallet putter—reportedly after a suggestion from fellow star Rory McIlroy—and transformed his performance on the greens, draining virtually everything inside 15 feet during his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. With his putting upgraded to match his ball‑striking, Scheffler’s margin over the field widened dramatically, fueling the historic win streaks that defined his mid‑2020s peak.

Scottie Scheffler’s story is still being written, but the outline is already clear: a college standout who dominated the developmental tour, exploded into multiple‑major stardom, anchored U.S. teams and put together a world‑No.‑1 reign that draws direct comparisons to the game’s all‑time greats.

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