Will Nifty Reach 29,000 by 2026 as Earnings Propel Market Growth?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nifty projected to reach 29,000 by 2026.
- 11.4% upside potential identified.
- Large-cap stocks likely to outperform.
- Selective opportunities in small and mid-caps.
- Risks skewed towards downside for smaller stocks.
- Focus on sectors like financials and real estate.
New Delhi, Dec 4 (NationPress) - India is poised for a resilient market driven by earnings, with projections indicating that Nifty may touch 29,000, reflecting an upside potential of 11.4%, according to a report released on Thursday.
The analysis provided by Bank of America suggests that large-cap stocks are anticipated to outperform their small and mid-cap counterparts. However, select areas within the small and mid-cap sectors are beginning to reveal promising opportunities, especially in financials, information technology, chemicals, jewellery, consumer durables, and hotels.
The report indicates that risks are leaning towards an upside due to a comprehensive calendar of events, expected policy stability, and a potential reversal of foreign institutional outflows.
Nevertheless, it cautions that any downturn could adversely impact small and mid-caps more severely, given their elevated valuations and heightened sensitivity to risk sentiment.
Bank of America forecasts limited room for valuation growth, as the Nifty currently trades at around 21 times one-year forward earnings, which is approximately one standard deviation above long-term averages.
Historically, such high multiples have been maintained only during periods of significant earnings upgrades.
The brokerage anticipates that earnings growth will gain momentum leading into fiscal 2027, supported by enhanced loan growth in financials, increased discretionary spending due to expected goods and services tax reductions, telecom tariff adjustments, strong performance in non-ferrous metals, and a favorable basis for information technology and staples.
Furthermore, the report advocates for an overweight position in sectors sensitive to interest rates, including financials, real estate, passenger and commercial vehicles, and regulated power utilities. It expects affluent consumption to outpace mass consumption due to stronger balance sheets and more resilient spending power.
However, the report highlights that growth in capital expenditure is projected to decelerate significantly for both central and state governments due to constrained fiscal capacity.
This has led the firm to adopt an underweight stance on Industrials and Cement, while favoring select capital expenditure-linked firms that exhibit clear growth potential.
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