Indian equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty50 are expected to open on a positive note on Friday, May 22, amid gains in global markets. According to reports from Business Standard, GIFT Nifty futures were trading 66 points higher at 23,655 levels at 7:37 AM. The optimistic opening comes as investors await a potential US-Iran peace deal to end the war in the West Asia region. Asian markets were trading higher as investors evaluated ongoing diplomatic efforts between the US and Iran, though Tehran's intention to retain its enriched uranium stockpile could complicate talks.
ITC reported a 7% year-on-year decline in Q4FY26 revenue to ₹16,050 crore compared to ₹17,249 crore in the year-ago period, as reported by Business Standard. However, the FMCG major showed resilience with net profit growing 4.9% to ₹5,113 crore from ₹4,875 crore in Q4FY25. This mixed performance reflects the company's ability to maintain profitability despite revenue challenges in the March 2026 quarter. Recent brokerage reports suggest ITC maintains a Buy rating with a target price of ₹1,660, citing strong Q4 performance driven by the cigarettes business and partial impact of tax hikes reflected in Q4 results.
Maruti Suzuki India announced a price hike of up to ₹30,000 across its vehicle portfolio, effective June 2026, according to Business Standard reports. The automobile major cited continued rise in input costs and persistent inflationary pressures as key factors behind the price adjustment. The company stated that an unfavourable cost environment has compelled it to pass on part of the increased expenses to customers. Recent brokerage analysis maintains a Buy rating with a target price of ₹260, highlighting the company's execution capabilities at scale and comfortable debt profile, though valuations are no longer considered cheap.
FSN E-Commerce Ventures (Nykaa) delivered exceptional results with consolidated revenue of ₹2,648 crore, up 28.4% from ₹2,062 crore in the year-ago period, as reported by Business Standard. The company's Ebitda grew 67.2% year-on-year to ₹223 crore, while net profit jumped sharply to ₹78.4 crore, up 286.2% from ₹20.3 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. This strong performance demonstrates the continued growth momentum in India's e-commerce sector. Recent brokerage reports maintain a Buy rating with a target price of ₹350, citing strong growth across segments with fashion business reaching EBITDA breakeven and own brands continuing to perform strongly.
Life Insurance Corporation of India reported strong growth with net premium income growing 11.6% year-on-year to ₹1.65 trillion in Q4FY26, compared to ₹1.47 trillion in the previous year, according to Business Standard. The insurance giant's net profit rose 23.2% to ₹23,420 crore from ₹19,013 crore. Max Healthcare reported net revenue of ₹2,541 crore, up 9% from ₹2,326 crore in the year-ago period, with Q4FY26 profit increasing 3% to ₹387 crore from ₹376 crore. Honasa Consumer's March 2026 revenue increased 23.1% to ₹657.1 crore with net profit jumping 177.9% to ₹69.2 crore, while the company declared a final dividend of ₹3 per share. Recent brokerage analysis maintains mixed views on the sector, with some companies like LIC receiving positive ratings while others face regulatory concerns.
