Stocks to Watch Today: L&T, Vedanta, SBI Cards, Earnings, OFS, Rail Orders | January 29

Stocks to Watch Today are firmly in focus as the share market today reacts to an intense flow of December-quarter earnings, large infrastructure orders, corporate restructuring decisions, bulk and block deals, and senior management changes announced on January 29. Developments across engineering, financial services, telecom, FMCG, real estate, capital markets, and industrial manufacturing are shaping stock-specific attention during the ongoing earnings season.

Share Market News – Highlights

• Top market-moving developments
• Q3 earnings from engineering, BFSI and FMCG
• Insurance, retail and consumer sector updates
• Corporate actions and governance updates
• Infrastructure and rail sector developments
• Bulk and block deal disclosures
• Companies announcing results today
• Market context and compliance note

Key Developments Driving Stocks to Watch Today

The most significant developments influencing stocks to watch today include Vedanta’s decision to expand the size of its Hindustan Zinc offer-for-sale, Rail Vikas Nigam’s emergence as the lowest bidder for a major Ganga river bridge project, and large quarterly earnings from Larsen & Toubro, SBI Cards, and several consumer-facing companies.

In addition, strategic partnerships in technology, shipbuilding contracts in the energy logistics space, and board-level decisions across financial services companies are contributing to heightened stock-specific focus.

Q3 Earnings: Engineering, Industrials and Financial Services

Engineering and Capital Goods

Larsen & Toubro reported a mixed December-quarter performance, with revenue growth supported by execution across infrastructure and engineering projects, while net profit declined year-on-year due to one-time labour code-related costs. Operating profitability improved, with margins expanding compared with the previous year.

Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers delivered a strong quarterly performance, supported by higher execution levels across defence shipbuilding projects. Revenue growth and operating leverage contributed to a sharp increase in profitability.

Cochin Shipyard posted higher revenue on improved order execution, though profitability declined as margins contracted during the quarter.

Banking, NBFCs and Payments

SBI Cards and Payment Services reported robust year-on-year profit growth, supported by strong spending activity, higher card usage, and disciplined cost control, even as operating expenses rose alongside business expansion.

Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services posted lower net profit due to exceptional costs, while core lending income recorded strong growth, reflecting healthy loan book expansion.

Star Health and Allied Insurance reported a decline in profitability despite growth in earned premiums, as underwriting losses widened and operating profit fell during the quarter.

Consumer, Retail and FMCG Sector Performance

Marico delivered steady earnings growth supported by volume-led expansion across its core product categories, while operating margins moderated compared with the year-ago period.

Metro Brands and Vishal Mega Mart reported healthy revenue and profit growth, reflecting stable demand, improved store productivity, and disciplined inventory management.

PC Jeweller posted strong quarterly growth driven by festive and wedding season demand, supported by improved operating leverage.

Bikaji Foods International delivered strong profit growth, aided by operating efficiencies and steady demand across packaged food categories.

Corporate Actions and Governance Updates

Vedanta announced that it will exercise the oversubscription option in its ongoing offer-for-sale of Hindustan Zinc shares, increasing the total number of shares on offer. The decision follows strong institutional demand during the OFS process.

Union Bank of India announced a leadership transition at the senior management level, with the appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer to ensure continuity in financial oversight.

Akzo Nobel India received board approval to change its corporate name, subject to regulatory clearances, reflecting a strategic brand alignment.

Max Financial Services granted in-principle approval for a potential amalgamation involving its life insurance subsidiary, subject to multiple regulatory and shareholder approvals.

Infrastructure, Rail and Energy Sector Developments

Rail Vikas Nigam, through a joint venture, emerged as the lowest bidder for a large Northern Railway project involving the construction of multiple rail-cum-road bridges across the River Ganga. The project includes civil works, electrification, and associated infrastructure.

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, through joint ventures with a Japanese shipping partner, entered into shipbuilding contracts for very large ethane carriers. The initiative is aimed at strengthening long-term energy logistics and supply-chain resilience.

Wipro announced a strategic collaboration with an agent-native software development platform, aimed at helping enterprises adopt AI-driven development practices. The company’s venture arm also participated in the partner’s funding round.

Bulk and Block Deal Activity

Bulk and block deal disclosures highlighted continued institutional portfolio adjustments across multiple stocks, without indicating directional market views.

Companies Announcing Results Today

A broad set of companies across automobiles, FMCG, metals, financial services, power, real estate, technology, logistics, insurance, and capital markets are scheduled to announce December-quarter earnings today. These results are expected to add further stock-specific volatility during the trading session.

Market Context and Compliance Note

The share market today continues to be driven by company-level developments rather than broad-based macroeconomic triggers. Earnings performance, capital allocation decisions, order inflows, regulatory approvals, and leadership changes remain the primary drivers of investor attention.

This article is intended strictly for informational and educational purposes. It does not constitute investment advice, recommendations, or forecasts and is fully compliant with SEBI communication guidelines. All information is based on publicly available disclosures as of January 29.

As earnings season progresses, stocks to watch today will continue to evolve with additional corporate announcements and regulatory filings.