Your stocks: Investment picks by market expert

Watch the interview of Prakash Gaba of prakashgaba.com and Shahina Mukadam, Independent Market Expert with Surabhi Upadhyay & Ekta Batra on CNBC-TV18, in which they shared their reading and outlook on market and specific stocks.Shahina Mukadam, Independent Market ExpertKarur Vysya BankKarur Vysya Bank is a hold, it has some issues, we have seen the net non performing assets (NPAs) increasing quarter by quarter. At the same time if you look at it on a broader perspective it is still about 1 percent net NPAs. With the book value of about Rs 315 it is about 1.5-1.7 time book, the current valuation, so I think the investors can hold it. I am giving a near-term target of Rs 490 with a stoploss of Rs 440.NHPCI think there are better opportunities in the overall market as of now. So, I am not very positive on the medium-term to longer-term on a comparative basis. In the power sector, there are better opportunities. NHPC has rallied because of the Teesta project of 160 megawatt that went on-stream recently. That has given you that good rally in the stock but I don’t think it is going to have any sustainable impact on the profits at least on Q4. I think the stock is going to remain in this range. So, the short-term investors can look to book and maybe re-enter at lower levels.Coal IndiaCoal production is moving up. So definitely 10 percent increase in coal production is likely to be there. We have also seen that in the last couple of quarters. So that is not the issue. The main issue is that coal prices are coming down. International coal prices also have come down substantially. So we are going to see this impact over a period of time on the Coal India realisations. We are already seeing this. I think it is going to get aggravated. While they may have not immediately cut their prices, that is definitely there on the horizon and the prices are likely to be softer. After that huge dividend that the company gave, the stock has corrected. In my view, there is a strong support of about Rs 272 but if it moves below Rs 272, the likelihood is there for it to go down further Rs 10-15. So, basically my recommendation to the investor - considering that there is going to be huge liquidity coming into the market in Coal India with a disinvestment programme - would be to not be invested in the stock, to sell. I would have a target of about Rs 260 with a stoploss of Rs 290.Cox & KingsOne should hold Cox & Kings. I would have a target of around Rs 200 and keep a stoploss of Rs 175. If you see last year the company reported losses they had a lot of restructuring, sold off some of its subsidiaries business in UK, bought down its debt and now I think even the revenues are coming back on track. It is definitely a hold and one is likely to make some money on this stock if he/she holds it for about six months to a year.Britannia IndustriesI am positive on the business prospects of Britannia Industries. In terms of technical’s it is in a range. There is a very important resistance around Rs 2,700 and may be over a period of time it may go to Rs 2,900-2,950. At the same time in terms of operations the company should do better. The volume growth has been between 5-7 percent. With overall economy growing with a 7 pay commission, rural growth improving with monsoons being good if the company is able to notch a 15 percent type of growth the numbers could be much better next year compared to the current year. So, I would suggest that one holds it, probably keep a stoploss at about Rs 2,640 type of levels which is slightly below the current ruling prices. I think there are better prospects going forward both in the biscuits as well as the milk segment going ahead.United SpiritsIn United Spirits, if you see the overall impact, we have Bihar, then you have Karnataka, they account for quite a bit, percentage in terms of revenue for the company. So this really caps the growth that we are foreseeing. At the same time, what I would say is that it has given a good upmove today and if it can sustain above Rs 2,290, there is possibility that it may go up by another Rs 200. I would say that there are issues, there are concerns, at the same time you have Diageo with very strong brands and balance sheet issues. So, all the negatives have come together for this stock. At the same time, one should keep a very close watch on the stoploss and hold it for a target of about Rs 2,490.Prakash Gaba of prakashgaba.comKarur Vysya BankThe structure of Karur Vysya Bank is positive, so I feel it is a buy. One can hold for a year or so absolutely no issues. The stoploss needs to be deep below Rs 400. Target I think is closer to around Rs 600 or so. It is a good bank, the structure is positive and there is no harm in holding the stock. If someone wants to add it you can add it here but the stop needs to be deep and that is below Rs 400.Coal IndiaI don’t like the structure of Coal India. The structure is weak, typically sideways for the weak structure, why would I buy this stock? To buy a stock, I need to see strength. I don’t see strength. Maybe there is not much downside but I don’t want to be in the stock. It is trading at Rs 274, I will exit. I would not hold the stock.Britannia IndustriesThe structure of Britannia Industries is positive, started going up from Rs 830 went to Rs 3,500 went up just one way, now it is kind of into a pause zone. I won’t worry about it. There is a very strong support in vicinity of about Rs 2,500. Someone wants to buy it, then buy it. Take some time, it might go up since it has gone up, it also needs to correct. There is a correction zone, I would say not a correction one more of a consolidation, I won’t worry about the stock. Add it if you want to add at every dips. It is a good stock, I like it.United SpiritsTechnically, United Spirits looks weak, but it is resting at a place where it is make or break. If it has to survive, the place is beautiful for surviving. So, it can just bounce from here. Now, if it breaks Rs 2,200 or so, I would say Rs 2,200 is a strong support zone. If it breaks Rs 2,225, then perhaps, it can slide down to even Rs 1,835-1,840 zones. There are two places to buy. One is buy here, do not worry about it and have a stoploss below Rs 2,200. Second is if it breaks, then buy around Rs 1,850 zones. That is a place where it will bounce back. Where do add? Add when it crosses Rs 2,600, that is a long haul again. So, I would not worry about it. To my mind, though it looks weak, structurally tells me for buying this is a good place, just have a stoploss below Rs 2,200.