Buy, Sell, Hold: Here are 4 stocks being tracked by analysts today

ITC

Brokerage: Credit Suisse | Rating: Neutral | Target: Rs 310

Credit Suisse observed that the company’s cigarette volume weakness was in line with expectations and no negative surprises. Further, he believes that the worst is behind the company for now.

Brokerage: Kotak Sec | Rating: Add | Target: Cut to Rs 310

Kotak Securities sad that the below-expectations results were impacted by one-offs due to GST, lower volume. It also cut FY18-20 EPS estimates by 2-3 percent as it cut cigarette business assumptions.

Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Neutral | Target: Rs 304

The global research firm said that Q2 numbers were below our estimates led by sharp decline in cigarette volume. Further, it believes that illegal cigarettes and beedis will continue to thrive a rising price differential.

Maruti Suzuki

Brokerage: Macquarie | Rating: Outperform | Target: Increased to Rs 10,000

Macquarie said that volume growth & market share trends are key catalysts for the stock. Further, it expects net profit CAGR of 17 percent over FY17-20.

Brokerage: Credit Suisse | Rating: Neutral | Target: Raised to Rs 7,300

Credit Suisse said that the Gujarat plan is likely to ramp up to 20,000 units per month by the fourth quarter. It also believes that exports are likely to remain constrained for capacity.

Brokerage: CLSA | Rating: Buy | Target: Raised to Rs 10,000

CLSA said that volume was capped by capacity but margin outlook better. The key positive in its results was 360 bps QoQ expansion of its operating margin.

Brokerage: Kotak Sec | Rating: Add | Target: Raised to Rs 9,100

Kotak Securities said that scale benefits & standardisation are leading to margin improvement. Further, the operating margin will improve due to these scale benefits too. A richer product mix and reduction in discounts is playing out.

IOC

Brokerage: Deutsche Bank | Rating: Buy

The global financial services firms reiterated the rating due to increase in refining segment contribution. It estimates marketing segment gross margin at Rs 8,280 crore during this quarter.

Brokerage: Nomura | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 495

Nomura highlighted that the company is its favourite OMC. Further, the outlook in both refining and marketing is good, while lower GRM is mainly due to refinery maintenance shutdowns.

ICICI Bank

Brokerage: Edelweiss | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 357

Edelweiss said that strong franchise will enable the firm to deliver above average normalised returns by FY20. Meanwhile, corporate earnings visibility remains soft while retail is lending comfort.

Brokerage: Kotak Sec | Rating: Buy | Target: Raised to Rs 385

Kotak Securities said that stable net interest margins (NIMs), lower slippages, improvement in coverage and loan growth are key positives. Further, it said that the bank has all ingredients to rerate from current levels.

Brokerage: UBS | Rating: Buy | Target: Raised to Rs 400

The global broking firm said that operating metrics remained steady and that the management tone was positive after a long time. Going forward, the watchlist declining albeit at a slower than expected pace.

Brokerage: Goldman Sachs | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 355

The global investment bank said that the asset quality is steady even as the RBI audit is underway. Further, fresh slippages 45% lower is against estimates.

Brokerage: Citi | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 365

Citi also said that Q2 was stable on asset quality front, while one off gains were used to boost provisions. Importantly, domestic loan growth is healthy and the bank is confident that gross slippages during the fiscal will be lower than the previous fiscal.

Brokerage: CLSA | Rating: Buy | Target: Rs 380

CLSA said that an improvement in asset quality will drive re-rating. Further, the quality of results was better with stability in slippages and rise in NPL coverage. While stressed loans remain high at 15% of loans, 300 bps YoY Decline in RWA/asset indicates incremental de-risking.