Five Stocks to Consider for Short-Term Investment: Himadri Speciality, Sagility Among Recommended Contra Bets

Market Expert Sees Opportunity in Volatile Times

As the US-Iran war continues to impact global markets, Indian economy expert Ambareesh Baliga believes this is the right time to buy select stocks across segments. According to Baliga, the Indian economy is well-positioned to bounce back after the West Asian war, making it an attractive time to invest.

Baliga expects the Nifty 50 to surpass 25,000 in a few weeks if a truce or withdrawal of forces is announced. However, if the war intensifies and the Hormuz Strait is completely shut, the Nifty could fall to 21,000 or lower. Although Baliga assigns a low probability to this scenario, it highlights the potential risks associated with the ongoing conflict.

As part of his contrarian investing strategy, Baliga recommends five stocks to buy at the current juncture. These stock picks are part of his strategy to go against prevailing market trends and buy stocks or other assets when they are underperforming or markets are in a downtrend.

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Stock Picks for the Short Term

Stock Analysis

• Himadri Speciality Chemical: Baliga highlights the company's steady shift from bulk industrial products to high-margin value-added solutions. With a strong presence in export markets, minimal effect from the Iran war, and a balance sheet strength of ₹371 crore net cash, Himadri is an attractive investment opportunity.
• Shakti Pumps (India): Baliga notes the company's 25% market share in the PM Kusum Scheme and a healthy order book position of ₹2,000 crore. With a diversified clean-tech solutions provider, Shakti Pumps is well-positioned for growth.
• Sagality: Baliga points out the company's growth has picked up sharply over the past year, with a longer-term growth outlook remaining encouraging. Revenue is expected to cross ₹10,000 crore by FY28.
• Orkla India: Around 70% of Orkla India's revenue comes from South India, a high-income region with strong packaged food consumption. The company is entering a phase where incremental improvements in distribution, product mix, and channel strategy can steadily compound earnings over time.
• EMS Limited: Baliga highlights the company's nearly ₹1,100 crore order book in early-stage design and engineering, with ₹4,000 crore worth of projects in the pipeline. If execution holds and billing catches up as expected, the numbers should start reflecting the scale already visible beneath the surface.

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