Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 22: As Samvat 2082 begins, brokerages have shared their stock recommendations for the next 12 months, highlighting companies expected to perform strongly.

HDFC Bank leads the list, backed by Samco Securities, SBI Securities, and ICICI Direct. Analysts are confident the bank has returned to a growth phase following its post-merger consolidation. Strong September-quarter results and sustained loan growth could see it outperform industry averages from FY27 onward, with margin pressures from recent rate cuts expected to be offset by lower funding costs and a higher share of granular deposits.

Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is another top pick, described as a “quiet outperformer” by Jefferies, which raised its target price to Rs 4,345. Brokerages such as ICICI Direct and HDFC Securities expect robust execution in international projects to compensate for modest domestic growth. Strategic investments in green hydrogen, semiconductors, and data centres provide further growth potential, with healthy revenue and PAT CAGR forecasted over FY25-FY27.

JSW Energy is the preferred pick in the energy sector, with HDFC Securities and Axis Securities bullish on its capacity expansion plans. Strategy 3.0 aims for 30 GW generation and 40 GWh storage by FY30, alongside carbon neutrality by 2050. A large portion of its portfolio is secured under Power Purchase Agreements, ensuring revenue stability.

In the foodtech space, Swiggy is preferred over Zomato by brokerages like Prabhudas Lilladher and Centrum, citing technical indicators and potential for growth, though Kotak Securities remains positive on Zomato due to market share gains and expected profitability for Blinkit.

These selections reflect a combination of strong fundamentals, strategic growth initiatives, and sector opportunities for the year ahead.