Leading consumer companies, including Hindustan Unilever and Asian Paints, are planning price hikes ahead of the festive season as higher commodity costs and inflationary pressures squeeze margins
Driven by price hikes of around 12 per cent during the quarter, Asian Paints posted a 40 per cent Y-o-Y growth in its net profit to ₹1,539 crore.
Shares of the company were up as much as 4.7% to ₹2,864, their highest level since January
Stocks to watch today: L&T, Asian Paints, Tata Capital, TMPV, ONGC, Netweb Technologies, Adani Enterprises, Adani Ports, Radico Khaitan, Pine Labs, among others, will be in focus today.
Brokerages expect the paints sector to witness double-digit value growth, driven by sector-wide price hikes, channel stocking ahead of those hikes, and demand pick-up due to a delayed monsoon.
Aakash Shah of Choice, has recommended buying shares of India Cements, Asian Paints, and CDSL
Gift Nifty futures were trading 168 points or 0.69 per cent lower at 24,050 levels, signalling a gap-down start. Meanwhile, shares of HCL Tech, Asian Paints and Biocon will be in focus today.
Dividend stocks: CARE Ratings, Supreme Industries, Sona BLW Precision Forgings, and Allied Blenders and Distillers are among the companies that will go ex-dividend next week
Leading paint maker Asian Paints expects the business environment to remain dynamic in FY27 amid heightened competition, commodity price movements, supply-chain risks and geopolitical uncertainties, said its Managing Director and CEO Amit Syngle in the annual report. Syngle said the recent escalation in West Asia has added to uncertainty surrounding the global economy, particularly for import-dependent markets such as India. "The business environment will remain dynamic. Competitive intensity, commodity movements, external volatility and supply-chain risks will continue to require discipline," he said while addressing the shareholders. According to Syngle, the tensions in West Asia could have implications for energy costs, logistics and broader cost structures. Despite these near-term challenges, the company remains optimistic about its long-term prospects and believes it is entering the new financial year from a position of strength. "We enter the new financial year with a stronge
Asian Paints reported a 69.15 per cent Y-o-Y increase in consolidated net profit at ₹1,185.49 crore for March 2026 quarter. Its revenue grew by 10.79 per cent to ₹9,228.46 crore.
Strong demand, premium product mix and easing competition boosted paint makers' March-quarter performance, though the impact of price hikes on future volumes remains a key monitorable
India's largest paint maker posted strong double-digit volume growth and margin expansion in Q4FY26, supported by decorative paints demand and industrial coatings growth
Consolidated net profit rose 69 per cent to ₹1,172 crore ($123.1 million) for the quarter ended March 31, topping analysts' expectations of ₹1,116 crore
While companies have started to pass input cost rise to consumers, inflation, according to G Chokkalingam, founder and head of research at Equinomics Research has not become a major issue yet.
For cement manufacturers, the primary concern is the sudden spike in energy costs as the industry relies heavily on imported fuel, which is now becoming significantly more expensive
However, in the calendar year 2026 so far, paint stocks have underperformed the market, falling up to 38 per cent due to poor operational performance and rising crude oil prices.
A total of 100 stocks from the Nifty 500 index registered new 52-week lows on Monday as selling intensified amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
Nomura's top picks include Britannia and Titan. It also prefers Marico, Tata Consumer, Godrej Consumer, Asian Paints and United Spirits
Systematix continues to prefer Berger Paints India, highlighting its consistent growth outperformance and momentum across both decorative and industrial segments
Ambuja Cements, DLF, Dixon, Gail, Indian Hotels, Shree Cement, REC, Tata Motors PV, Wipro, Suzlon, Coforge, and Info Edge, among the BSE 100 index, also hit their respective 52-week lows amid Iran war