Stock Picks Today: What Brokerages Are Saying About HDFC Life, ICICI Lombard, ICICI Prudential, And More

Wait 5 sec.

HDFC Life Insurance Co., ICICI Lombard GIC, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Co. were among the top companies on brokerages' radar on Wednesday.Analysts have shared their views on HDFC Life, ICICI Lombard, and ICICI Prudential Life's June quarter earnings.Motilal Oswal has initiated a 'buy' on Vishal Mega Mart Ltd. and Bernstein on Aditya Birla Lifestyle Ltd.NDTV Profit tracked analysts' views on various stocks and sectors. Here are the analyst calls to keep an eye out for today.Buy, Sell Or Hold: Mankind Pharma, Varun Beverages, Mahindra Lifespace, BHEL, Inox Wind — Ask ProfitBrokerages On HDFC Life Q1 ResultsMacquarieMaintain 'Underperform' with a target price of Rs 720.The quarter was in-line, with Value of New Business (VNB) growth also in-line with expectations.Unit-Linked Insurance Plans (ULIP) and Participating (PAR) products are driving Annualized Premium Equivalent (APE) growth, while VNB margin remained flat year-over-year.Valuations are considered expensive, and a regulatory overhang remains a concern.CitiMaintain 'Buy' and hike target price to Rs 975 from Rs 935.The company reported a steady quarter, showcasing a diversified and agile business model.Margin increases were observed across various products.The distribution franchise is actively being scaled up.The business's agility warrants a premium valuation.HDFC Life Insurance Q1 Results: Profit Up 14%, Net Premium Income Rises 15% Brokerages On ICICI Prudential Life Q1 ResultsMorgan StanleyMaintain 'Equal-weight' with a target price of Rs 625.The outlook is muted despite attractive headline valuations.Negatives include a muted Annualized Premium Equivalent (APE) growth outlook, weak persistency, an unusually sharp decline in annuity APE, and product-level margin compressionThe following positives were observed: strong growth in protection and effective cost control.The Value of New Business (VNB) forecast remains unchanged and is below consensus expectations.CitiMaintain 'Buy' and hike target price to Rs 850 from Rs 800.Non-linked savings and protection segments are performing well.Annualized Premium Equivalent (APE) growth is expected to revive, alongside scaling up of the agency channel.Persistency rates are not considered too worrisome.A re-rating of the stock is likely.ICICI Prudential Life Insurance Q1 Results: Profit Rises 34% To Rs 301 CroreBrokerages On ICICI Lombard Q1 ResultsMacquarieMaintain 'Outperform' with a target price of Rs 2,255.Combined Ratio (COR) remains stable, although growth is muted.In Q1, higher investment income was the primary driver for a beat on net profit.COR trends continue to outperform the overall industry.ICICI Lombard has the potential to deliver sustainable improvement in underwriting profitability.Morgan StanleyMaintain 'Equal-weight' with a target price of Rs 1,855.Net profit beat both estimates and consensus, driven by higher investment income from elevated capital gains.We appreciate the focus on profitable growth.However, we see limited upside from the current 36x F26 Price/Earnings (P/E) ratio amidst weak top-line growth.There is sustained competitive intensity and uncertainty regarding a motor third-party hike.ICICI Lombard Q1 Results: Profit Rises 29% To Nearly Rs 750 CroreBernstein On Aditya Birla Lifestyle Brands Initiate 'Market-Perform' with a target price of Rs 170.The company is resetting its growth agenda with strong brands and new investments.Lifestyle brands operate in a well-penetrated category, which constrains their growth potential.Emerging brands are in industry segments offering tailwinds, but they have struggled to grow against larger competitors.Expect to deliver approximately 9.5% growth over FY25-30.Bullish on a strong legacy brand portfolio and capital and management focus on growth.Bearish as the legacy business is swimming against the tide in a slow-moving category. Emerging categories need to establish a right to win against larger, more established competitors.MOSL On Vishal Mega MartInitiate 'Buy' with a target price of Rs 165.The company is positioned as a play on the rising aspirations in Tier 2+ India.It is described as a one-of-a-kind retailer addressing a significant Rs 70 trillion market opportunity.Healthy store economics provide ample room for accelerated store expansions.A well-diversified portfolio enhances the total addressable market and increases the share of wallet.The multi-category, own-brand portfolio acts as a strong moat.It is identified as the lowest-cost retailer with significant potential to improve revenue productivity.Vanguard Picks 1% Stake In Vishal Mega Mart For Rs 655 Crore . Read more on Markets by NDTV Profit.