The financial conglomerate’s long-suffering insurance arms are rebounding. But is that enough to justify a valuation that’s relied heavily on its stellar lending business? For years, investors saw the financial conglomerate’s underperforming life and general insurance subsidiaries because its flagship lending arm, Bajaj Finance, delivered spectacular returns. Now the insurance businesses are pulling their weight. … Read more
India’s state-owned iron ore miner is digging itself into a profitability hole. Higher output can’t compensate for soaring costs and weak pricing power. NMDC is learning a that in commodities, volume isn’t everything. India’s largest iron ore producer posted impressive production numbers in the December quarter—14.7 million tonnes, up 44% sequentially—yet investors have little to … Read more
India’s second-largest paint maker is chasing market share at the expense of profitability, why that may not paint a good hue on the stock Berger Paints India is discovering that winning the volume war doesn’t necessarily translate into shareholder value. The country’s second-largest decorative paints company delivered 8.5% volume growth in the December quarter, yet … Read more
India’s hotel operator is mastering the art of rate increases while learning the hard way that filling new inventory takes time. . For Chalet Hotels, the average room rates surged 16% year-on-year in the December quarter while revenue per available room climbed 12%, according to Philip Capital. But occupancy slipped to 67.9% from 70.2% a … Read more
Morgan Stanley’s harsh downgrade signals a structural shift threatening the state aerospace champion’s monopoly India’s state-owned aerospace champion may be losing altitude. Hindustan Aeronautics stock tumbled 6% on February 4 as investors digested a reality: the company that once monopolized India’s military aviation is being systematically sidelined by private competitors. Morgan Stanley’s downgrade to underweight … Read more
India’s consumer lending giant is front-loading provisions in a bet that pessimism today beats nasty surprises tomorrow. Investors aren’t convinced—yet. Bajaj Finance delivered a textbook example of financial prudence. Net profit fell 6% year-on-year to Rs 40.7 billion in the December quarter as provisions surged 77%, driven by what Philip Capital describes as an “accelerated … Read more
India’s largest private port operator is shifting gears from mere cargo handler to end-to-end supply chain powerhouse—and investors are taking notice Adani Ports & Special Economic Zone is no longer content being just a gateway for India’s trade. The company reported consolidated revenue growth of 22% year-on-year in the December quarter, beating analyst expectations by … Read more
Rising costs and tepid demand cloud near-term prospects for SAIL, even as long-term bets hinge on execution Steel Authority of India Ltd is caught in a perfect storm of margin pressure and execution uncertainty. Two recent broker reports paint a picture of a company treading water—delivering volume growth but struggling to convert it into meaningful … Read more
Stationery maker’s diverse bets deliver growth, but 60x earnings multiple leaves little room for slip-ups DOMS Industries Ltd. isn’t reinventing the wheel—it’s just making better pencils, pens, and now premium bags. The third-quarter performance exemplifies the company’s steady-as-she-goes approach: consolidated revenue climbed 18% year-over-year to Rs5.92 billion, EBITDA grew 18%, and profit after tax expanded … Read more
New plant costs and commodity pressures squeeze margins even as export machine roars to life Hyundai Motor India Ltd.’s third-quarter earnings tell two stories at once. Revenue climbed a respectable 8% year-over-year to Rs179.7 billion, powered by robust export demand and fresh product launches. Yet profitability stumbled, with EBITDA of Rs20.2 billion missing analyst expectations … Read more