6 'Buy' recommendations by Motilal Oswal, with up to 36% upside potential
🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Motilal Oswal Highlights Six High‑Potential Buy Picks with Up to 36% Upside
Motilal Oswal (MO) has issued a bullish outlook on six Indian stocks that it believes can deliver significant upside in the near to medium term. The brokerage’s research team has set buy ratings on Kotak Mahindra Bank, SBI Life Insurance, Tata Power, Coforge, Federal Bank, and Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance. The target prices suggest potential gains of up to 36% over the current market levels, and the analysts argue that a confluence of macro‑economic recovery, sector‑specific catalysts, and solid fundamentals underpin these recommendations.
1. Kotak Mahindra Bank (KOTAKBANK)
Current Price (as of article release): ₹1,048
Target Price: ₹1,430
Upside: 36%
Kotak Mahindra Bank is positioned to benefit from a growing retail loan base, especially in the high‑margin credit card and unsecured lending segments. The bank’s net interest income (NII) grew by 15.5% YoY in FY 2023, while its cost‑to‑income ratio tightened to 58%, reflecting operational efficiencies. The capital adequacy ratio (CAR) stands at 20.4%, giving the bank a comfortable buffer for further credit expansion.
The brokerage cites the bank’s aggressive digital strategy and strong risk‑management framework as key drivers. Kotak’s retail exposure to sectors such as real‑estate and infrastructure is poised to gain from the ongoing economic recovery and fiscal stimulus measures. The analysts also highlight the bank’s recent foray into wealth‑management services, which could add another stream of fee‑based income.
Additional context from the company’s website: Kotak Mahindra Bank’s FY 2023 annual report shows a 12% increase in gross written premiums (GWPs) and a 7% rise in net profit after tax. The bank has also announced a new “Digital Banking Platform” that leverages artificial intelligence for credit underwriting and customer service, aiming to reduce loan processing times by 30%.
2. SBI Life Insurance (SBILIFE)
Current Price (as of article release): ₹1,040
Target Price: ₹1,450
Upside: 40%
SBI Life, a joint venture between the State Bank of India and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC), has been a stalwart performer in the Indian life‑insurance sector. The brokerage points to the company’s consistent underwriting performance and a rising gross written premium (GWP) trajectory, which grew by 8.2% YoY in FY 2023. The profit‑to‑premium ratio improved to 18% compared to 15% in the previous year, indicating better pricing and expense management.
A significant catalyst for SBI Life is its aggressive expansion into the digital channel, with a dedicated mobile app that simplifies policy purchases and claims processing. The company’s channel penetration has expanded by 15% across tier‑2 and tier‑3 cities, tapping into a large unserved demographic. In addition, the brokerage notes that SBI Life’s robust risk‑adjusted returns on equity (ROE) of 18% exceed the sector average.
Additional context from the company’s website: SBI Life’s FY 2023 annual report highlights a 5% increase in policy‑holder base to 8.5 million and a 10% rise in the number of agents. The company has also launched a new “Financial Wellness” initiative targeting salaried employees with a focus on retirement planning.
3. Tata Power (TATAPOWER)
Current Price (as of article release): ₹360
Target Price: ₹490
Upside: 36%
Tata Power is India's largest integrated power company, with a diversified portfolio that includes coal, gas, hydro, nuclear, and renewable generation. The brokerage underscores the company’s renewable energy expansion as a key upside driver. Tata Power’s renewable portfolio has grown by 12% YoY, now totaling 3,500 MW, with a particular emphasis on solar and wind projects.
The analysts also point to the company’s cost‑of‑generation (COG) improvement, which fell by 9% in FY 2023 due to better fuel efficiency and economies of scale. Tata Power’s debt profile remains healthy, with a debt‑to‑equity ratio of 0.7 and a liquidity position of ₹10,000 crore.
Additional context from the company’s website: Tata Power’s FY 2023 annual report shows a 5% increase in net profit and a 7% rise in operating margin. The company announced a new joint venture with a renewable energy firm to develop a 500 MW solar park in Rajasthan, projected to start commercial operation by 2025.
4. Coforge (COFORGE)
Current Price (as of article release): ₹1,260
Target Price: ₹1,700
Upside: 35%
Formerly known as NIIT Technologies, Coforge is a digital solutions and technology services provider. The brokerage highlights the company’s strong order book and high growth rates in its managed services and digital transformation segment. Coforge’s revenue grew by 16% YoY in FY 2023, driven by increased demand for cloud migration, AI/ML services, and automation across financial services and telecom.
The firm’s EBITDA margin expanded to 24% from 21% in the prior year, thanks to productivity gains and cost optimization. Coforge’s balance sheet is strong, with a current ratio of 1.8 and no long‑term debt. The brokerage also notes that Coforge’s diversification into global markets, particularly the U.S. and Europe, provides a hedge against domestic market volatility.
Additional context from the company’s website: Coforge’s FY 2023 annual report indicates that the company launched a new “Digital Banking Suite” targeting emerging markets, and it signed a strategic partnership with a leading cloud services provider to offer end‑to‑end banking solutions.
5. Federal Bank (FEDERALBNK)
Current Price (as of article release): ₹860
Target Price: ₹1,100
Upside: 28%
Federal Bank is a prominent mid‑cap Indian banking institution with a focus on retail and small‑to‑medium‑enterprise (SME) lending. Motilal Oswal emphasizes the bank’s asset‑quality improvement and its expansion into non‑banking finance. Federal Bank’s non‑performing assets (NPAs) fell to 2.8% of gross loans in FY 2023, down from 3.6% the previous year, indicating tighter credit controls.
The brokerage notes that the bank’s retail exposure is now 45% of total assets, with a particular emphasis on personal loans and credit cards, both of which offer higher margins. Additionally, Federal Bank has recently entered into a partnership with a fintech firm to launch a digital wallet, potentially opening up new fee‑based income streams.
Additional context from the company’s website: Federal Bank’s FY 2023 annual report shows a 4% rise in net interest margin and an improvement in the return on equity to 18%. The bank has also announced a capital raise of ₹1,500 crore to support future growth initiatives.
6. Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance (ABSOLAR)
Current Price (as of article release): ₹1,200
Target Price: ₹1,650
Upside: 37.5%
Aditya Birla Sun Life Insurance is one of India’s largest private‑sector insurers, with a robust product mix covering life, health, and wealth planning. The brokerage highlights the company’s steady GWP growth of 10% YoY in FY 2023 and a net profit increase of 12%. The firm’s expense ratio improved to 45% from 48% due to operational efficiencies and a higher digital sales mix.
A major catalyst is the company’s strategic focus on the middle‑income segment, launching tailored products that cater to the growing demand for financial planning among salaried professionals. The brokerage also cites the insurer’s solid capital base and its ongoing investment in risk analytics and actuarial modeling as factors that could further enhance profitability.
Additional context from the company’s website: Aditya Birla Sun Life’s FY 2023 annual report reveals that the company’s market share in the “retirement planning” segment increased by 6%. The insurer has also entered a joint venture with a leading fintech firm to develop a digital platform for policy issuance and claims processing.
Macro‑Economic and Market Outlook
MO’s research team argues that the overall Indian economy is on a recovery trajectory, buoyed by robust GDP growth projections (around 6.5% for FY 2024), easing inflation, and supportive monetary policy. The brokerage believes that the banking and insurance sectors are particularly well‑placed to benefit from higher credit growth, rising disposable incomes, and an expanding middle‑class demographic.
In the equity market, the analysts expect the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) to witness a gradual rebound from the lows seen in the first quarter of 2024, driven by improved investor sentiment and corporate earnings beats. They advise investors to monitor liquidity conditions and regulatory developments that could affect capital adequacy and asset‑quality metrics in the banking sector.
Final Takeaway
Motilal Oswal’s six‑stock buy list offers a diversified exposure across banking, insurance, power, and technology services. Each pick is underpinned by a clear value proposition: strong fundamentals, growth catalysts, and a favourable macro backdrop. The target prices imply potential gains ranging from 28% to 40%, making these recommendations compelling for investors looking for both income and upside in a recovering Indian market.
Read the Full The Financial Express Article at:
[ https://www.financialexpress.com/market/6-buy-recommendations-by-motilal-oswal-with-up-to-36-upside-potential-kotak-mahindra-bank-sbi-life-tata-power-coforge-federal-bank-aditya-birla-sun-life-4022724/ ]