Titan shines as jewelry sales jump 38% - From Titan to Lupin, Motilal Oswal analysts rate buy, hold or skip on 11 stocks post Q1 The Q1 earnings season for Indian stocks revealed a mixed performance, with companies across sectors showing varying degrees of success. Analysts from Motilal Oswal Financial Services evaluated 11 stocks, highlighting winners and laggards based on their financial results and future outlook. The report covered companies in jewelry, banking, power, metals, FMCG, pharma, and two-wheelers, with key insights into revenue growth, profit margins, and strategic moves. Titan emerged as a standout performer, with its jewelry segment driving significant growth. Total revenue for the company rose 29% year-on-year, while standalone jewelry sales—excluding bullion—surged 38%. This growth was fueled by higher spending per customer, with average ticket sizes increasing by 31%. The rise in gold import duty provided a temporary boost to inventory, but even without that factor, jewelry profit margins expanded. However, the Dubai-based Damas business faced challenges, slipping into a loss due to regional tensions. Analysts recommended a "Buy" rating, with a target price of ₹6,000, citing strong domestic jewelry growth of 33%. SBI, India’s largest lender, also exceeded expectations, reporting a profit of ₹211 billion—a 10% increase from the previous year. Strong treasury gains and cost control measures contributed to improved net interest margins, which rose to 2.86%. Loan growth reached 19% year-on-year, and the bank projected continued growth of 14-15% for the year. While bad loans improved slightly, fresh defaults rose during the season, a common trend. Analysts maintained a "Buy" rating, with a target of ₹1,370, and highlighted the bank’s guidance for loan growth.#motilal_oswal #power_grid #titan_jewelry #damas_dubai #sbi_largest_lender
Power Demand Surges to 821MW in Nagpur Amid Heatwave, Exceeding Last Year’s Peak Nagpur: A dramatic increase in electricity consumption, driven by extreme temperatures and widespread use of cooling devices, has pushed the city’s power demand to an unprecedented 821 megawatts (MW). This figure surpasses the previous peak of 753 MW recorded in May of the previous year, marking an early surge that has strained the city’s power grid. The spike has led to frequent tripping of electrical systems and short-term outages in multiple areas, raising concerns about the network’s capacity to handle rising demand in the coming weeks. Residents across various neighborhoods have reported intermittent power disruptions, exacerbating the discomfort caused by heatwave-like conditions. Officials from the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (MSEDCL) acknowledged the grid is under significant stress, though they stated that the situation is expected to stabilize after May 1, once ongoing pre-monsoon maintenance work is completed. A senior MSEDCL official noted that the demand recorded on April 21 alone exceeded last year’s peak, highlighting the unprecedented pressure on infrastructure. “Such a sharp rise is putting pressure on the grid, leading to tripping and breakdowns in some pockets,” the official explained. The maintenance efforts are focused on strengthening key components of the power distribution system, including feeders, transformers, and distribution lines. The official added that post-May 1, outages will likely be limited to unavoidable faults, though the current disruptions underscore the system’s vulnerability. The surge in demand is also attributed to shifting consumption patterns, particularly the increased reliance on air conditioners. Many households now operate multiple units, significantly raising load demand.#nagpur #misedcl #power_grid #air_conditioners
