Active managers stay ahead of markets

The markets have been range-bound for the last two weeks, and stock picking becomes all the more challenging during such times. However, we have seen in Smart Portfolios that fund managers Shishir Bajpai and Vinay Khattar were able to pick up some of the winning stocks during the same period. Active churning has helped both fund managers beat the benchmark S&P CNX 500 index by a wide margin.

The Smart Portfolios benchmark portfolio value has declined 1.5 per cent from the Rs 10-lakh mark to Rs 985,000, since its inception on September 1, 2010. On the other hand, Bajpai and Khattar have logged smart gains of 31.2 per cent and 23.6 per cent, respectively. Parmar has remained on the sidelines now for a little over two months, but his performance remains more or less in line with that of the benchmark.

VINAY KHATTAR, RESEARCH HEAD - EDELWEISS WEALTH MGMT
Vinay Khattar has bought shares aggressively amounting to Rs 559,000. His fresh buys include stocks such as Delta Corp, Sabero Organics, LIC Housing Finance, V-Guard Industries and YES Bank. Recently, he booked losses on some of his investments such as Zee Entertainment, IRB Infrastructure and Jyothy Laboratories. Currently, Sabero Organics, Larsen & Toubro, Delta Corp and Mundra Port are the top performers in Khattar’s portfolio. Following his aggressive buying, his cash levels have now dropped to Rs 35,500-odd levels, and his net worth stands tall at Rs 12.36 lakh.

SHISHIR BAJPAI, SENIOR VICE-PRESIDENT, IIFL PRIVATE WEALTH
Shishir Bajpai continued the strategy of quick churning his portfolio. His portfolio is valued at Rs 13.11 lakh, comprising 13 stocks and minimal cash of Rs 540. Of late, Bajpai has booked smart gains in Arvind, Sabero Organics, while significant losses were seen on investments in Jindal South West Holdings, Usha Martin, Himachal Futuristic and Tata Motors — all in excess of 10 per cent each. His fresh heavy investments (close to Rs 100,000 each) include stocks such as Punj Lloyd, Thermax, Educomp Solutions, Tata Motors, Karnataka Bank, Megasoft, Titan, Indiabulls Realestate and Reliance Communications.

AJAY PARMAR, HEAD RESEARCH INSTITUTIONAL EQUITIES, EMKAY
Ajay Parmar continues to remain on the sidelines, with his net worth valued at Rs 987,000, down 1.3 per cent. eClerx Services and Jubilant Foodworks are two of his best buys, with returns in excess of 50 per cent each. On the other hand, sugar majors Bajaj Hindusthan, Balrampur Chini and Renuka Sugars remain the major laggards. Apart from 19 stocks in his portfolio, Parmar holds Rs 112,000 in cash.

For Smart Portfolios, please visit www.smartinvestor.in