15 Stock Picks For October 2025 with up to 32% upside gain potential by Axis Securities

Core Viewpoint - The Indian market has underperformed compared to the US and other emerging markets, presenting a long-term equity investment opportunity as it trades at a 49% PE premium to the EM index, which is attractive historically [2][3] Market Performance - Year-to-date, the Indian market has lagged behind the US and other emerging markets, with a notable 49% PE premium to the EM index, down from a peak of 97% in September 2024 [2] - Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) have invested $65.2 billion in the Indian market, while Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have sold $17.4 billion, indicating a shift towards domestic investment [2] Investment Strategy - The focus remains on "Growth at a Reasonable Price," emphasizing quality stocks, monopolies, and market leaders in domestic sectors [1][3] - A cautious stance is maintained on export-oriented sectors due to tariff concerns and macroeconomic uncertainties [3] Sector Preferences - The market outlook favors sectors such as BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), Telecom, Consumption, Hospitals, and interest-rate proxies [3] - Positive views are held on retail consumption plays and certain capex-oriented stocks that show growth visibility for FY26 [3] Stock Recommendations - Recent changes in top picks include booking profits in Varun Beverages and adding Mahanagar Gas, reflecting a preference for growth at reasonable prices [4] - Recommended stocks include HDFC Bank, Bajaj Finance, Shriram Finance, Avenue Supermarts, State Bank of India, Lupin, Hero Motocorp, Max Healthcare, Kirloskar Brothers, Kalpataru Projects, APL Apollo Tubes, Mahanagar Gas, Bharti Airtel, Prestige Estates, and Sansera Engineering [5]