Brokerages back Astral's demerger strategy but warn that rising competition, weaker PVC prices and execution risks could weigh on earnings in the near term
Astral demerger: Notably, the company informed the exchanges that its board has approved a scheme to demerge its chemicals business into a separately listed company.
India's PVC demand is projected to remain significantly ahead of domestic supply, supporting long-term growth opportunities
PVC price swings, muted rural demand cloud near-term outlook
Midcaps to buy: Muthuselvaraj, Research Analyst at Mirae Asset Sharekhan expects Adani Total Gas to hit ₹1,350 levels; JSW Energy and Astral to rally over 50% as Nifty MidCap hits new life-time high.
Stocks to Watch today, May 19, 2026: Adani Group stocks, Indian Oil, JSW Steel, Astral, and Lupin are some of the key stocks to watch today
The futures & options market positioning reflects heavy short build-up, creating conditions for sharp but temporary short-covering rallies, says Systematix Institutional Equities.
Higher crude prices are pushing up the cost of petrochemical-based inputs such as plastics, resins, insulation materials, and packaging, while also inflating fuel and logistics expenses
Anand Rathi has assigned 'Buy' ratings to most building material stocks, with Supreme Industries, Cera Sanitaryware, and Greenpanel Industries as its preferred picks
UBS hosted executives from 10 midcap companies, including Astral, Bharat Forge, Kaynes Technology India, Quality Power, Angel One, Bandhan Bank, among others during Emerging India Mid-Cap Conference
The management has maintained a double-digit volume growth forecast for Q4FY26 and FY27E, targeting 17-18 per cent EBITDA margin for Plumbing division and 12 -13 per cent for Paints & Adhesives.
Plastic pipes industry growth remained in the high single digits during the first nine months of FY26, supported primarily by resilient urban plumbing demand