SKF India Stock Jumps 5% on Strong Mutual Fund Buying; Ends 10-Day Losing Streak

Shares of SKF India, an auto ancillary company, experienced a notable rebound on Monday, climbing up to 5% and breaking a consecutive 10-day period of declines. During this losing streak, the stock had depreciated by 5% without exhibiting extreme volatility.

Recent analysis by Nuvama Alternative & Quantitative Research indicates that India's Mutual Funds have been increasing their exposure to SKF India for multiple quarters, with further additions seen in October.

Key mutual fund transactions in October included:

• HDFC Mutual Fund: Purchased SKF India shares worth ₹1,300 crore.
• ICICI Prudential Mutual Fund: Acquired shares valued at ₹260 crore.
• Mirae Mutual Fund: Also increased its stake, buying shares worth ₹805 crore.

Conversely, SBI Mutual Fund made a complete exit from the stock last month, having held a 2.37% stake as of September 30.

As of the end of the September quarter, Indian mutual funds collectively held a 23.83% stake in SKF India. Prominent public shareholders include HDFC Mutual Fund with a 9.78% stake, Mirae Mutual Fund (5.99%), ICICI Prudential Smallcap Fund (2.01%), and Sundaram Mutual Fund (1.03%).

SKF India specializes in providing automotive and industrial engineered solutions across five technology platforms: bearings and units, seals, lubrication, condition monitoring, and maintenance services.

Analyst sentiment on SKF India is mixed but leans positive. Out of nine analysts covering the stock, five recommend a 'buy', three suggest 'hold', and one advises 'sell'.

The stock is currently trading around ₹2,127, up approximately 4% for the day. Year-to-date, the stock has been flat. It recently began trading on an adjusted basis following the demerger of its industrial business into a new entity, SKF Industrial. Over the last three years, SKF India has delivered single-digit returns, with a 2.5% fall in 2024 and a 2.2% gain in 2023.

Impact

The significant buying interest from large mutual funds, especially after a period of decline, can positively influence investor sentiment and potentially drive the stock price higher. The company's diversified business and positive analyst ratings further support its outlook. This news is likely to attract attention from investors interested in the auto ancillary and industrial sectors. Rating: 6/10.

Difficult Terms Explained

• Auto Ancillary Company: A company that manufactures parts, components, or accessories for the automotive industry. These companies supply to larger vehicle manufacturers.
• Mutual Funds: Investment vehicles that pool money from many investors to purchase a diversified portfolio of securities, such as stocks, bonds, and money market instruments. They are managed by professional fund managers.
• Stake: An individual's or entity's ownership interest in a company, typically represented by the number of shares they hold relative to the total outstanding shares.
• Demerger: A corporate restructuring process where a company splits into two or more separate entities. One part of the original company (a business division) becomes an independent company, often by distributing shares of the new entity to existing shareholders.
• Year-to-Date (YTD): Refers to the period from the beginning of the current calendar year up to the current date. It is used to track performance metrics over that specific timeframe.
• Analyst Rating: An opinion provided by a financial analyst on whether to buy, sell, or hold a particular stock, based on their research and forecasting.