Stocks To Watch Today: HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, PNB, DLF And Bharat Forge On 19 October 2026

Indian equity markets ended higher on Friday, 16 October 2026. The Nifty 50 rose 0.65% to close at 23,146.15, while the Sensex gained 0.56% to finish at 74,729.27. IT stocks led the recovery after stronger-than-expected quarterly results. The benchmarks also recorded their strongest weekly performance in six months.

Several companies are in focus ahead of Monday’s trading session. Investors will track September-quarter earnings from major banks, real estate companies and other businesses.

Key Stocks In Focus

HDFC Bank

HDFC Bank reported a 4.7% year-on-year increase in net profit to ₹19,510 crore for the September quarter. Net interest income (NII) grew 9.7%. However, the bank’s net interest margin declined to a record low of 3.16%. Treasury trading income also fell 67.4% compared with the same quarter last year.

Axis Bank

Axis Bank’s second-quarter net profit rose 37.6% year on year to ₹7,003 crore. Net interest income increased 11.8% to ₹15,372 crore, exceeding market estimates. Asset quality improved during the quarter. Gross non-performing assets (NPAs) stood at 1.16%, while net NPAs declined to 0.35%.

ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank reported a 20.1% year-on-year increase in net profit to ₹14,843 crore. Net interest income grew 17.7% to ₹25,339 crore. Both figures exceeded estimates. The lender also reported an improvement in asset quality, making it one of the banking stocks to watch today.

Yes Bank

Yes Bank’s net profit increased 65.14% year on year to ₹1,080 crore. Net interest income rose 22.7% to ₹2,822 crore. Gross NPA improved to 1.2% from 1.3% in the previous quarter. Net NPA remained unchanged at 0.2%.

Provisions declined to ₹317.3 crore in the September quarter. This compared with ₹394.4 crore in the previous quarter and ₹419 crore a year earlier.

IDBI Bank

IDBI Bank reported a 39% year-on-year decline in second-quarter net profit to ₹2,206 crore. However, the comparison was affected by a one-off gain from the sale of an NSDL investment in the year-ago quarter.

Excluding that gain, profit increased by 14%. Net interest income rose 28.7%, while net interest margin expanded to 4.11%.

Central Bank of India

Central Bank of India posted a 21.1% year-on-year increase in second-quarter net profit to ₹1,469 crore. Net interest income grew 26.3%, supporting the improvement in earnings. Asset quality strengthened, with gross NPA declining to 2.39%. The bank’s board also approved fundraising of up to ₹7,000 crore through bonds.

India Cements

India Cements, a subsidiary of UltraTech Cement, reported a sharp increase in second-quarter profit. Improved operational efficiency and higher capacity utilisation supported its performance. Investors will monitor the company’s earnings and operating trends for further indications of demand in the cement sector.

Bajaj Healthcare

Bajaj Healthcare’s net profit increased 26.9% year on year. Revenue rose 18.9%, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased 15.8% to ₹31 crore. Despite the growth in earnings, the EBITDA margin narrowed to 17.7% from 18.2% in the year-ago quarter.

Ixigo

Ixigo reported a net profit of ₹61.3 crore for the September quarter. The company had recorded a loss of ₹3.2 crore in the corresponding period last year. Revenue increased 12.9% to ₹321 crore. EBITDA also turned positive at ₹18.1 crore, compared with an EBITDA loss of ₹3.7 crore a year earlier.

Himadri Speciality Chemical

Himadri Speciality Chemical reported a 28.9% year-on-year rise in net profit to ₹239.8 crore. Revenue increased 44.2% to ₹1,543 crore from ₹1,070 crore. The company aims to double its profit by FY28. Its strategy includes expanding its battery-materials business and increasing its presence in international markets.

LTM Limited

LTM Limited declared an interim dividend of ₹25 per equity share. Revenue increased 1.7% quarter on quarter to ₹11,807.6 crore from ₹11,608 crore. EBIT rose 2.2% to ₹1,838 crore. Net profit, however, declined 4.8% sequentially to ₹1,397.9 crore from ₹1,468.6 crore.

Punjab National Bank

Punjab National Bank (PNB) reported a 12.8% year-on-year rise in net profit to ₹5,532.2 crore. Net interest income increased 10.8% to ₹11,601 crore from ₹10,468 crore. Domestic net interest margin stood at 2.74%, compared with 2.72% a year earlier. Gross NPA declined to 2.55% from 2.78% in the previous quarter.

DLF

DLF reported a 10.3% year-on-year increase in second-quarter net profit to ₹1,301 crore. Revenue fell 23.3% to ₹1,261 crore from ₹1,643 crore. EBITDA dropped sharply by 91.9% to ₹23 crore from ₹284 crore. The EBITDA margin contracted to 2%, compared with 17% in the year-ago quarter.

Oberoi Realty

Oberoi Realty’s net profit edged up 0.2% year on year to ₹761.7 crore. Revenue declined 6.1% to ₹1,671 crore from ₹1,779 crore. EBITDA remained largely unchanged at ₹1,019.2 crore. It stood at ₹1,020 crore in the corresponding quarter last year.

Jindal Saw

Jindal Saw reported a 69% year-on-year decline in second-quarter net profit to ₹47 crore. Revenue increased 5.6% to ₹4,472 crore from ₹4,234 crore. EBITDA fell 42% to ₹261 crore from ₹451 crore. The contrasting revenue and profit trends will remain important for investors assessing the company’s operating performance.

Bharat Forge

Bharat Forge invested ₹240 crore in equity shares of its wholly owned subsidiary, Kalyani Strategic Systems Limited (KSSL). The investment was made through a rights issue at fair value.

KSSL will use ₹163 crore from the proceeds to invest in equity shares of its wholly owned subsidiary, Agneyastra Energetics Limited. The investment will be made through a rights issue, potentially in multiple tranches, at fair value.

RBL Bank

RBL Bank received approval from the Reserve Bank of India for the amalgamation of Emirates NBD Bank PJSC’s Indian branches with the bank. The amalgamation will take effect on 1 December 2026. From that date, the Indian branches of Emirates NBD will operate as branches of RBL Bank.

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