The Stocks That Led The Charts In 2017 (And Why) 

The NSE Nifty 500 Index outperformed India's 50-stock benchmark in 2017. The broader index closed the year with gains of about 36 percent compared to 28.65 percent rise in NSE Nifty 50. Last week, BloombergQuint brought to you the first set of five best performers from the top 500 companies—with a market value of at least Rs 100 crore. Here's the next set of top performers.

Rain Industries

Rain Industries, one of the largest producers of calcined petroleum coke and coal tar pitch globally, surged over six times in 2017. With the restructuring over, the company is now focused on debt reduction. It recently announced that it has refinanced its loans at 5.2 percent interest as compared to 7.5 percent earlier. Calcined petroleum coke prices are at record highs and benefits from U.S. tax cuts are likely to help the company.

Venky's (India)

India's largest poultry firm rose seven times. Better realisations for poultry products aided financials as its margins doubled from two years ago. Debt came down from Rs 700 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 290 crore, boosting its net profit. The company said the demand-supply balance for the poultry business is satisfactory, while its oilseed business is performing well on higher utilisation.

Himadri Speciality

The chemicals maker jumped five times as it turned profitable in 2016-17 after three consecutive years of losses as aluminium and graphite prices rose. Anti-dumping duty on Chinese imports of carbon black till March 2020 and rising prices helped the company. It's been paring debt—debt-to-equity ratio fell to 0.6 times from 1 time in the year ended March 2016.

Avanti Feeds

Avanti Feeds, one of India's leading shrimp processors and exporters, and maker of prawns and fish feeds surged five times last year. It commands superior return ratios in the excess of 25 percent on assets, 42 percent on equity and 40 percent on capital. Steady growth in global sea food market with favorable shrimp prices and rains in shrimp culture areas over the last two years aided its growth.