Jewellery Stocks Slide as Profit-Booking Outweighs Strong Q3 Growth
Jewellery stocks, including market leaders Titan Company Ltd and Kalyan Jewellers India Ltd, slid sharply on Thursday. The decline came just a day after strong December quarter (Q3) earnings reports bolstered the sector, underscoring how market sentiment can override fundamental performance.
Robust Q3 Performance Unveiled
Most listed jewellery retailers posted impressive revenue growth ranging from 37% to 51% year-on-year for the October-December period. Titan's core jewellery business surged 41%, with its brands Tanishq, Zoya, and Mia showing gains of around 40%. Subsidiary CaratLane grew 42%. Titan also noted that sales of gold coins nearly doubled compared to the previous year's Q3.
Kalyan Jewellers reported consolidated revenue growth of approximately 42%, with its Indian operations mirroring this trend. The company highlighted healthy same-store-sales growth of about 27%, driven by strong festive demand. Senco Gold Ltd announced a 51% year-on-year increase for the quarter, attributing growth to Dhanteras, Diwali, wedding buying, and a shift in demand.
Market Forces Trigger Sell-Off
Despite these stellar updates, investors initiated significant profit-booking. Elevated gold prices, which have been a persistent headwind, coupled with weak broader market sentiment, exerted downward pressure on the stocks. TBZ Ltd saw the sharpest fall, down 8.7% intra-day. Other decliners included PN Gadgil Jewellers Ltd, Senco Gold, Sky Gold and Diamonds, and PC Jeweller Ltd, which dropped between 3% and 6%.
Even market heavyweights Titan and Kalyan Jewellers closed lower, shedding 0.6% and 1.7% respectively. Analysts suggest that traders cashed in on recent gains, with profit-taking being the primary driver behind the stock price correction.
Sector Eyes Wedding Season for Future Growth
Looking ahead, the sector is preparing for the crucial Q4 wedding season, Valentine's Day, and International Women's Day. Companies are targeting growth in the studded jewellery category through curated collections, with Senco Gold aiming for 18-20% growth in this segment.