16 stocks form a part of Axis Securities’ top stock picks for 2025. They are a combination of largecap, midcap and smallcap names, though a CNBC-TV18 poll of over 61 market participants has predicted that 2025 will be the year of largecap stocks. The stocks featuring in the list have a potential upside of 10% to as high as 40% Let us take a look at these names.
ICICI Bank | A near-consensus “buy”, ICICI Bank had a good 2024 with returns of close to 30%. Axis Securities has a “buy” on the stock with a price target of ₹1,500, implying a potential upside of 17% from current levels.
SBI | India’s largest lender also had a decent 2024 with 26% returns and that too is a part of Axis Securities’ top picks for the new year. Their price target of ₹1,040 on SBI implies a potential upside of 31%.
Varun Beverages | One of PepsiCo’s largest bottling partner globally, Varun Beverages held on to its record of delivering positive annual returns every year since its listing. The stock gained another 30% in 2024 as well. Axis Securities has a price target of ₹700 on the stock, a 10% upside from current levels, the lowest among the 16 names in the list.
HDFC Bank | HDFC Bank is one among the two Nifty names to have delivered positive annual returns for nine years straight, although three out of the last four years have been single-digit returns for India’s largest private lender. Axis Securities though, is expecting a double-digit return year for HDFC Bank in 2025 as its price target of ₹2,025 implies a 14% upside from current levels.
Bharti Airtel | The telecom service provider was one of the best performing stocks on the Nifty 50 in 2024 with returns of 55%, which also one of its best calendar year performances. Axis Securities expects a further 18% upside for Bharti Airtel as it gives the stock a price target of ₹1,880.
Cholamandalam Investment | One of the two stocks in this list that delivered negative returns in 2024, Axis Securities expects Cholamandalam to be one of the biggest winners in 2025 as its price target of ₹1,675, implies a potential upside of 41% from current levels. The stock had declined 6% in 2024.
HCLTech | The only IT company on this list, and among the best performers among largecap IT last year, Axis Securities sees a modest 10% upside for HCLTech after 2024’s 35% return. The brokerage has a price target of ₹2,110 on the stock.
Aurobindo Pharma | Pharma makes it to this list with Aurobindo, as after years of underperformance, the stock returned 23% in 2024 and Axis Securities expects this to continue, as its price target of ₹1,500 for the drugmaker, implies a potential upside of 15% from current levels.
Lupin | The other drugmaker in this list, Lupin had a strong 2024 with returns of over 80%. Axis Securities anticipates another 10% upside this year, with a price target of ₹2,600.
Dalmia Bharat | The other stock in this list along with Cholamandalam, which delivered negative returns in 2024, Dalmia Bharat may see some recovery in the new year, according to Axis Securities. The brokerage has a price target of ₹2,040 on the stock, which implies a 15% upside from current levels. The stock had declined 22% in 2024.
Prestige Estates | The Nifty Realty index had another positive year in 2024 and Prestige Estates featured among the top performers there, with gains of 44%. Axis Securities expects further upside on the stock as its price target of ₹2,195 implies a potential upside of 30% from current levels.
Chalet Hotels | Hotel stocks too had a positive year in 2024 and Chalet Hotels too delivered returns of close to 40%. Post this move, Axis Securities now sees a 10% return for the stock in 2025, based on its price target of ₹1,075.
Sansera Engineering | Sansera delivered returns of close to 50% for shareholders in 2024 and this move is likely to continue in the new year as well as Axis Securities projects a potential upside of 19% from current levels. The brokerage has a price target of ₹1,780 on the stock.
Healthcare Global | The company has been in the news over reports of some existing investors planning an exit but nothing has materialised so far. The stock returned 34% in 2024 and Axis Securities sees another 18% gain in 2025 as well, based on its price target of ₹575 on the stock.
Gravita India | The stock doubled in 2024. It is also embarking on some expansion plans and Axis Securities expects that to flow into returns as well. The brokerage sees another 38% upside for the stock as it sees Gravita touching levels of ₹3,000 in 2025.
J Kumar Infra | The infrastructure company, known mainly for projects in and around Mumbai, gained close to 33% in 2024 and Axis Securities expects healthy returns in 2025 as well. It has a price target of ₹950 on the stock, implying a potential upside of 25% for the year.