Page 3 - Industry Report

West Asia war may push cement prices higher; Nomura, Emkay pick top stocks

West Asia tensions may raise fuel and packaging costs for cement firms. Analysts see near-term margin pressure but suggest accumulating large-cap cement stocks.

Systematix prefers RIL, Petronet LNG, Gulf Oil as crude scales $100/bbl

The brokerage noted that upstream players benefit from stronger realisations, while integrated players, such as Reliance, can be supported by stronger refining and petrochemical economics

Iran war: Auto earnings at risk as demand sputters, margin worries mount

Rising input costs, export risks to the Middle East and fears of gas supply disruptions weigh on Indian auto stocks amid the escalating Iran conflict

Gail, IGL, MGL: Is any gas stock worth buying now? Analysts guide

Going ahead, analysts expect natural gas prices to stay elevated in the backdrop of developments in West Asia. In March alone, prices of natural gas have climbed 16 per cent to $3.277/MMBtu

Voltas, Blue Star, LG: Will the LPG crisis weigh on air conditioner stocks?

Analysts are positive on AC stocks amid strong summer demand outlook, though they caution that LPG/PNG shortages and rising input costs could impact production in near-term

QSR stocks in a soup on LPG shortage: Don't sell in a panic, say analysts

LPG shortage triggered by Strait of Hormuz disruption is forcing QSR kitchens to shut or cut menus. Analysts say earnings may take a hit in Q4FY26 but advise investors not to panic

LPG shortage may hurt food delivery order growth in Q4FY26: Motilal Oswal

LPG supply disruption could slow Zomato and Swiggy order volumes as restaurants cut operations. Motilal Oswal expects a temporary impact on food delivery growth

Nomura bets on AI-led NBFC growth; Piramal, LT Fin, Tata Capital rated Buy

AI could transform NBFC lending and drive faster growth, according to Nomura. The brokerage has initiated coverage on Piramal Finance, L&T Finance, Tata Capital and HDB Financial.

NBFC stock picks: Why Ambit prefers Tata Capital, SHFL over Bajaj Finance

Competition in affordable home loans intensified as industry players are waiving login fees to drive volumes, even as the sector's risk appetite remains elevated

Bank stocks fall as Iran war fuels inflation fears, Nifty Bank drops 2%

Banking stocks witnessed a sharp decline today as West Asia conflict raised oil-linked inflation risks. Nifty Bank index fell 1.8 per cent on the NSE led by Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank

InCred Equities sees "buy on dips" in AMCs; bets on Nippon Life, UTI AMC

InCred Equities suggested that any softness in select AMC stocks due to current market volatility presents a "good opportunity to add" to positions.

Anand Rathi bullish on renewables; starts coverage on Emmvee, Vikram Solar

Analysts at Anand Rathi see strong long-term growth in India's renewable energy sector. They have initiated coverage on Emmvee Photovoltaics with 'Buy' and Vikram Solar with 'Hold' ratings

IHCL, ITC Hotels: Nomura sees 8-9% YoY ADR growth despite West Asia woes

In February, Lemon Tree Hotels shares plunged 16 per cent, Chalet Hotels tanked 14 per cent, Indian Hotels Company (IHCL) slipped 5 per cent and ITC Hotels fell 8 per cent

New gas order 2026: Nomura decodes impact on MGL, IGL, Gujarat Gas, GAIL

Mahanagar Gas (MGL) and Indraprastha Gas (IGL) are less vulnerable compared to Gujarat Gas, according to Nomura

Crude surge may trigger paint price hikes; Systematix prefers Berger Paints

Systematix continues to prefer Berger Paints India, highlighting its consistent growth outperformance and momentum across both decorative and industrial segments

Export demand, margins of tile sector likely to take a hit in Q4 FY26

The tile industry could see drops in production and drastic margin compression, as energy costs, which are usually 20-25 per cent of net sales, could spike enormously

IndiGo, SpiceJet shares rally up to 8% on easing oil prices

Notably, airline companies benefit from lower fuel prices, as aviation turbine fuel (ATF) accounts for a significant portion of their operating costs

Nomura retains confidence in Indian steel cos; Tata, JSW among top picks

Among sector players, Nomura has maintained Buy recommendations on Tata Steel with a target price of ₹220 per share, JSW Steel at ₹1,340, Jindal Steel at ₹1,280, and Lloyds Metals & Energy at ₹1,600

Middle East crisis to boost defence demand; Motilal Oswal favours 4 stocks

Motilal Oswal Financial Services has a 'Buy' rating on Bharat Electronics, Hindustan Aeronautics, Bharat Dynamics, and Astra Microwave Products

Infosys, HCL Tech FY27 guidance may steer IT stocks amid AI fears: HSBC

With AI concerns continuing to put pressure on Indian IT stocks, analysts at HSBC expect Infosys and HCLTech's FY27 guidance could be the key catalyst for the sector