HSBC Overweight on BHEL + Underweight on HDFC

HSBC is overweight on the prospects of BHEL. BHEL still dominates, with 55% share of incremental orders and 69.4% share of thermal. Increase earnings estimates by 5.6% and 10% for FY09e and FY10e respectively, based on the strong order inflow.

BHEL to outperform the market due to strong order book and potential success in supercritical projects. BHEL to continue to trade at a MACC range of 8.4-10.3% vs. earlier estimate of 8.0-11% MACC range, due to increase in revenue visibility post FY10e. Based on this, increased target price to INR2500 and Maintain Overweight rating.

It may be possible for HDFC to cut rates on the entire stock of floating rate loans. The 28.7% disbursal growth in the quarter ended June was a little higher than in preceding quarters. Target price of INR 2173, up from INR1985 previously, is a weighted average where the DCF is assigned a weight of 50% and the PE and P/B derived forecasts are assigned weights of 25% each. HDFC has risen 33.9% after end of June compared with an 18.8% rise in the Sensex and 19.1% in the Bankex. Rating methodology requires a minimum potential return of 6.3% to rate a non-volatile Indian stock Neutral. The potential return on HDFC is well below this threshold and hence HSBC continue to rate the stock Underweight.

RIL + GAIL + HPCL Join Hands for Petro Complex

Reliance Industries may join GAIL India and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) to set up a mega one million-tonne per annum (mtpa) petrochemical complex in Visakapatnam.

The plant may cost over Rs 6000 crore. The capacity of the plant would equal the polymer manufacturing capacity of RIL and Indian Petrochemicals Corporation (IPCL) put together.

RIL has a capacity of one million tonnes after it acquired IPCL from the government in June 2002 and merged it with itself. Gail has an agreement with RIL for setting up petrochemical plants overseas.

Bayer CropScience Buy Back of Shares

Reports indicate the move could be seen as a precursor to the possible delisting of the company from the Indian stock exchanges.

The promoters currently hold 70% in Bayer CropScience. For reverse book building required for delisting, the existing promoters’ stake would have to be raised to over 90%. This will require announcing a buyback of shares.

At the current price of Rs 314.15, the scrip trades at a PE multiple of 11.99, based on Q1 June 2007 annualised EPS of Rs 26.20.

India Portfolio + Strategy – Kotak

The opening sentence in Kotak’s report on India Strategy expresses concern over expensive valuations. Most Large-Cap stocks are trading above aggressive earnings growth expectations for FY2009. The BSE 30 Sensex is trading at the top end of 14,750-18,500 band based on 12-15x FY09 earnings.

Changes in Kotak’s Top 10 Model Folio,
Reliance Energy and Wipro are out. NTPC and Aditya Birla Nuvo are in. The new top 10 folio looks like, ICICI bank, L&T, ITC, Maruti Udyog, BHEL, Bajaj Auto, NTPC, Aditya Birla Nuvo and PNB.

  • Neutral on sensex heavy weight – Reliance Industries.
  • Overweight on BFSI – Banking Finance Services and Insurance. The size of this sector is expected to increase as a proportion of India’s GDP.
  • Infrastructure – Despite high valuations, Kotak is overweight on infrastructure stocks. ABB, BHEL, L&T, Punj Lloyd, AIA Engg, BEL, Nagarjuna Constructions and Siemens are likely to report good earnings.
  • Power / Utilities – Emerging as a high growth sector. Heavy spending by the government in XIth and XIIth plan
  • Real Estate – Neutral – Good demand for housing and commercial properties. Waiting for correction in residential properties. Will take a stance once correction and interest rates stabilize. Until then DLF is the top pick.
  • Technology – Underweight – Cautious on this sector as the Dollar continues to fall against INR. Sustained foreign investment will put pressure on exporters. Adding to their woes is the US economic crisis.
  • Telecom – Underweight – Deterioration in pricing due to entry of new players and mobile number portability. Any unexpected slowdown in subscriber addition will find it hard to justify valuations.

We agree in most parts with Kotak except that of Telecom as Mobile Number Portability and slowdown are not likely to happen very soon, especially with Bharti Airtel and RCom.

Most Powerful Debut for Power Grid

Power Grid India which created history for generating the highest demand during its IPO in the history of Indian Capital market had a very electrifying debut on the bourses today. The stock listed at a premium of 70% and is currently traded at Rs 106 or up by 104%.

Power Grid Corporation of India owns and operates most of India’s interstate and inter-regional electric power transmission system. In that capacity, as at June 30, 2007 the company owned and operated 61,875 circuit kilometres of electrical transmission lines and 106 electrical substations. In fiscal 2007, it transmitted approximately 298 billion units of electricity, representing approximately 45% of all the power generated in India.

Congratulations to all the retail investors. The Power sector has been re-rated along with Energy stocks. Book Partial profits and hold this stock for Long Term.

Educomp + CS Software Order

Educomp Solutions Ltd has signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Raffles Institution, Singapore. The Scope of Services would include consultancy advice & services of Raffles Institution for schools set up by the company though its related entities. The essence of this MOU is to bring the best of global education in India. Raffles institution is the leading school in Singapore and renowned for its innovative practices and its curriculum. Citigroup has a SELL / Book Profits Recommendation on Educomp.

CS Software Enterprise has bagged orders from Maharashtra State Electricity distribution Company to implement electricity billing in the city of Nasik, Maharashtra. The estimated value of the orders is around Rs 14.20 million.