Airtel, Axis Bank, TVS Motors Among Jefferies' Top Picks From India

Bharti Airtel Ltd., Axis Bank Ltd., TVS Motors Co., and Macrotech Developers Ltd. are among the nine stocks picked by Jefferies from India in its recent report, where it has also listed its top picks from other Asian countries. Most of the picks are large caps.

In another report earlier this month, the brokerage had advised Indian investors to move from value to quality and to focus on earnings after a weak second quarter. Jefferies had recommended quality at a reasonable price with earnings momentum; sector-agnostic value laggards, and multibaggers.

Here are the nine stocks the brokerage has picked from India.

Bharti Airtel has fallen around 6% in the last three months, but on a year-to-date basis, it has risen more than 55%. At 9:24 a.m., it traded 0.9% higher at Rs 1,600 per share. The stock is Rs 179 lower than the lifetime high it hit on Sept. 26.

The telecom giant reported a 12% sequential drop in its consolidated net profit for the second quarter of the current financial year, missing analysts' expectations. Its net profit came in at Rs 4,153. Analysts tracked by Bloomberg had anticipated a profit of Rs 4,398 crore.

ICICI Bank's share price has risen around 4.7% in the last three months and on a year-to-date basis, it has risen more than 33%. At 9:28 a.m., it traded 0.4% higher at Rs 1,332, near its lifetime high of Rs 1,362.35, hit on Sept. 20. The lender’s net profit for the quarter ended September rose 14.5% on year to Rs 11,746 crore. Net interest income saw a rise of 9.5% on year to Rs 20,048 crore.

SBI's share price has risen around 9.36% in the last three months and on a year-to-date basis, it has risen more than 34.2%. At 9:28 a.m., it traded flat at Rs 861.65, Rs 50 lower than its lifetime high, hit on June 3. State Bank of India's net profit rose 28% on year to Rs 18,331 crore for the quarter ended September.

Sun Pharma's share price has fallen around 6% in the last three months and on a year-to-date basis, it has risen more than 44%. At 9:28 a.m., it traded 0.1% up at Rs 1,815.95, against its lifetime high of Rs 1,960.35, hit on Sept. 30. The drugmaker's profit rose 27.94% to Rs 3,040 crore in the quarter-ended Sept. 30.

Axis Bank's share price has fallen around 7% in the last three months and has risen more than 4% year-to-date. At 9:28 a.m., it traded 0.1% up at Rs 1,148.90, against its lifetime high of Rs 1,339.65, hit on July 12. After Axis Bank reported a mixed bag of earnings for the quarter ended September, most brokerages had downgraded their target price on the private lender's shares.

Coal India's share price has fallen around 19% in the last three months, while on a year-to-date basis, it has risen more than 10%. At 9:28 a.m., it traded 0.4% down at Rs 415.20, against its lifetime high of Rs 543.55, hit on Aug. 26. The coal producer reported a 22% fall in the consolidated profit at Rs 6,275 crore for the July-September quarter.

Macrotech Developers' share price has risen around 15% in the last three months and on a year-to-date basis, it has risen more than 38%. At 9:28 a.m., it traded 0.6% up at Rs 1,419.20, against its lifetime high of Rs 1,649.95, hit on June 18. The net profit of the company that owns the Lodha brand surged 108% year-on-year to Rs 423 crore in the quarter ended September 2024.

TVS Motor's share price has fallen around 11% in the last three months and risen more than 24% on a year-to-date basis. At 9:28 a.m., it traded 0.4% down at Rs 2,522.50, against its lifetime high of Rs 2,958, hit on Sept. 27. The Apache maker had clocked its highest-ever quarterly net profit and revenue in July-September on the back of record two-wheeler sales.

JSW Energy's share price has fallen around 7% in the last three months and on a year-to-date basis, it has risen more than 65%. At 9:28 a.m., it traded 0.2% up at Rs 678.70, against its lifetime high of Rs 804.9, hit on Sept. 24. The company's bottom line rose 2% year-on-year on a consolidated basis to Rs 876.76 crore in the July-September quarter.