Top 5 Sectors to Invest in FY 2010-11

New financial year 2010-11 kicks-off much on the back of pompous global recovery witnessed during the second half of the FY 2009-10. And, equity markets are no laggards in terms of catching these cues before hand.

However, the markets have remained largely range bound since June 2009 to March 2010 within the range of 4500 to 5300 on the Nifty index. This range bound movement can be termed as a broad based consolidation after a scorching pace of market recovery from its recessionary trough levels.

Now, that markets are again back at Nifty 5300 levels, it is on the verge of a likely breakout. Hence, it would be a prudent idea to have a check as to which sectors and industries would it be worthwhile for the investors to plough their hard earned money. Investors would be keen to know which sectors are placed better to be among winners for the FY 2010-11.

1) Power Sector

With the rising population and growth story of India, the need of fast paced growth in power generation is increasingly gaining importance. Energy is one of the major contributors to the economic development of a country.

The government has targeted electricity for all by 2012 by the end of 11^th Five Year Plan. The demand of electricity is growing exponentially. And, herein lays the opportunities for investors to plough their money in public and private sector companies both.

At present, coal based thermal power plants accounts for almost two-thirds of the energy needs of the country. However, the government is increasingly becoming aware about the benefits of generating power through cleaner nuclear power plants.

More recently, during the Budget 2010 announcement, the government has also laid emphasis on the development of non-conventional energy resources such as Solar and Wind Energy. Rural electrification is also a significant initiative by the government to allow access to electricity in remote regions in India.

Stock Picks: NTPC (Power Generation), Power Grid Corporation (Power Transmission), Tata Power (Power Generation) and Rural Electrification (Power Sector NBFC) and BHEL (Power Equipments).

2) Food Processing

As the growth of the economy chugs forward and consequently generates more employment and raises the standard of living of the middle class population; the demand for dynamic and processed food products will witness a manifold rise.

The processed food comes with enhanced food life and value added services to the raw form of food products. It also provides boost to the farmers as increasingly modern techniques goes into production of food and other activities involved thereafter. As per an estimate, Indian food industry is expected to grow to $280 billion by 2015.

The food processing treatment can be spread across various food products like products with low shelf life such as fruits and vegetables, dairy products & grain processing and storage among various other fields related to food products.

The upcoming years are likely to witness a fast growth in ready-to-consume food products like health drinks, frozen food products for low-shelf life food articles, readymade Aata (flour), fruit juices, ready-to-cook meals, quicker snack products like noodles and pastas, etc. with increase in percentage of working couples and busy life style.

The total plan allocation to the food processing industry has gone up sharply from Rs.650 crore during the 10^th Five year plan to Rs.4030 crore during the 11^th Five year plan.

Stock Picks: ITC, Ruchi Soya, LT Foods and REI Agro.

3) Banking & Finance

Banking industry is said to be a mirror of an economy’s health. A Sound banking system serves as a significant trade enabler to the country. During the recent global crisis, Indian banking industry came out with flying colors on the back of stringent stipulations laid down the Central bank.

With the opening up of the sector in early Nineties by the government, the industry has received a significant boost by the emergence of the private sector banks which increased competitiveness and enhanced the level of banking facilities to a top notch level.

However, during the recent global recession, even the lagging public sector banks have made a big come back on the back of large up gradations to suit the hi-tech services provided by the private sector and foreign banks.

For a sustained economic growth for the country, unmatched banking and financial services is a must in order to facilitate the increasing need of swift and hassle-free transactions. Banking sector is an enabler to the economic growth.

Stock Picks: HDFC Bank, SBI, ICICI and Bank of Baroda.

4) Infrastructure

The economic development of a country is directly linked with the infrastructural status of the country. Infrastructure not only acts as a enabler to higher growth but also generates employment and serves the social needs of the people of the country.

If the economy is an emerging one like India which is a laggard on the infrastructural front, the growth in the infrastructure industry gains all the more importance. High transaction costs arising from inadequate and inefficient enabling infrastructure can go a long way in stunting the growth rate of the economy.

The broad term of infrastructure can cover a wide range of infrastructural facilities from ports and road, rail, transport, aviation, water needs, mining and construction among other fields of operations. Better infrastructure can lead to faster enabling services.

Stock Picks: L&T, Patel Engineering, IVRCL Infrastructure, Hindustan Construction (HCC and Thermax.

5) Oil & Gas

One sector that has disappointed until now is Oil and Gas sector. The prospects of the sector have witnessed a lagging demand as the global economy is still to witness a complete recovery. The recent crisis has stolen a huge chunk of the demand of oil and gas which is needed to stoke the growth engines of every major economy.

Most of the large companies were building new capacities before the breakout of the recession. This new capacities led to excess supply and falling demand at a time when the demand was hit on account of slowdown and crisis. This led to plunge in the operating margins of the refiners who were stuck with excess supplies of crude products.

However, with the recent advent of a recovery on the horizon, there is a gradual pick-up in the global demand for oil and gas, as economies are back to pump money for higher capacity utilization of their resources in order to meet increasing demand of goods and products. Demand for petro products is expected to improve over next one year.

Stock Picks: Reliance Industries, Gail, Essar Oil and Cairn India.

Note: With so much of buzz going around in the Education sector, I was inclined to include this fast growing industry in the above article. However, the above article is created taking in to consideration the prospects of equity market returns for investments in FY 2010-11. Whereas, education and healthcare industry holds great prospects in India but from longer time span of more than just one year.

On which sector are you betting the most?

Disclaimer: The above content/report is only for the educational purpose of the readers. It does not qualify as any advice or recommendation to Buy/Sell securities. The author and the blog are not responsible for the reader’s decisions based on the above report.