Major global financial institutions have released a fresh set of recommendations for several key Indian stocks, providing crucial insights for investors navigating the current market landscape. The calls cover companies from the energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals, and consumer internet sectors, highlighting both growth opportunities and potential risks.
Energy Regulator's Decision Impacts GAIL Outlook
HSBC has maintained a buy rating on GAIL (India) Ltd with a target price of Rs 235 per share. The analysts' view comes after the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) issued an interim order on pipeline tariffs. The regulator approved a 12% increase in tariffs, which is notably lower than GAIL's request for a 33% hike. The final order on this matter has been deferred until 2028.
While this interim decision may have disappointed some investors in the short term, HSBC analysts believe the smoother transition will ultimately support both volume and value growth for the company. They have, however, flagged key downside risks. These include a potential steep decline in marketing margins and a sharp rise in liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices, which could dampen demand in the Indian market.
Brokerage Views on Tech, Pharma & Consumer Stocks
In the financial technology space, Jefferies has a buy rating on Kfin Technologies with a target price set at Rs 1,460. The firm's management expressed optimism about pricing trends, which are expected to support healthy revenue growth from mutual fund services. The issuer solutions segment is also reported to be performing well. Furthermore, Kfin Tech anticipates that its international revenue growth could accelerate starting April-June 2026 (Q1 FY27) as it begins to monetise recent client wins more effectively. The integration of Ascent is progressing smoothly, which could lead to margin expansion.
Contrastingly, Citigroup has adopted a sell stance on Laurus Laboratories, assigning a target price of Rs 590. The analysts pointed to the company's aggressive capital expenditure plans, which involve spending around Rs 1,000 crore annually over the next few years. While the order book from existing customers remains healthy, the company is investing in building new capacities in advanced segments like peptides and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Laurus aims to grow its contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) sales from about 30% of revenue to approximately 50% over the next five years.
Food Delivery and Quick Commerce in Focus
Kotak Institutional Equities is bullish on Swiggy, issuing a buy rating with a target of Rs 450. At the current market price of Rs 378, analysts estimate that the stock assigns only about Rs 18 per share (or Rs 4,500 crore) of its valuation to the Instamart quick commerce business, with the bulk of the value attributed to food delivery and cash/investments. Recent checks indicate Swiggy is gradually reducing customer reliance on discounts. The key challenge remains whether it can increase orders per store while improving its average order value (AOV), which is crucial for better unit economics in the intensely competitive quick commerce sector.
Goldman Sachs has taken a more cautious view on Jubilant FoodWorks, assigning a neutral rating with a Rs 650 target price. The company, which operates the Domino's pizza chain in India, is confident of achieving 5-7% like-for-like growth and has multiple levers for margin expansion and free cash flow generation. Analysts noted that Domino's growth has been driven by its own initiatives despite a weak industry environment, and the business has the potential to expand to 1,200 cities in the long term.
(Disclaimer: The recommendations and views expressed by the analysts are their own and do not represent the views of The Times of India. Investors are advised to consult certified experts before making any investment decisions.)
