Generally, it is advised to buy a good stock at early stage before it gains heavy market valuation. This is because one gets exposure of hefty returns. That said, midcaps are preferred stocks for investment in long term. Data compiled by Prudent Broking revealed that Midcap index always traded at a valuation premium to Nifty index between August 2015 to April 2019. The average valuation premium which Midcap index commanded during the aforesaid period was 6.3x. This indicates that if  Nifty was trading at 20x price/earnings, Midcap index used to trade at 26.3x. 

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Experts of Prudent Broking in their research note said, "We believe the benchmark & Nifty index is trading at high valuations with Sensex PE trading at 29x which is similar to levels as seen in December 2007. The upside seems to be limited in the expensively valued large-cap stocks. And hence, clients can take shelter to already beaten down Midcap stocks."

Here's a list of seven midcaps where an investor can place their bets, as per the note. 

1. Thomas Cook:

Outbound tourist as an overall percentage of population is just 2% for India, whereas, highly populated countries such as China and USA have a penetration of 8% and 23% respectively. This shows the scale of opportunity available for TCIL in the coming years. 

Also, when it comes to foreign tourism (inbound travel), India's share is minuscule. It was just 0.7% in 2016. This shows there is a huge potential for growth. However, for the first time, more than 10 million foreign tourists visited India in 2017. Similarly, during 2017, a total of 1.7 million foreign tourists arrived on the e-Tourist Visa registering a growth of 57.2%.

The company generates an average free cash flow to the tune of Rs 250 crore in the preceding two calendar years. Further, its sale of stake to the tune of 5.42% in Quess Corp has enabled it to pare its debt. Further, the cash it generates will enable it to make acquisitions which will boost the growth of the company. 

The target price of Rs 335 from an FY21 perspective leaves investors with a point to point return of 56% and a compounded annual growth rate of 23.9%. 

2. Symphony:

Currently, the stock is trading at trailing twelve month price/earnings of 35.5 times. Now, the P/E might look expensive at this juncture as the earnings of the preceding twelve months have been hammered on account of weak summer. If we take normalized earnings, the p/e ratio will trend downwards. 

Further, with the acquisition of Climate Technologies and turnaround in its subsidiaries in Mexico and China coupled with the robust opportunity for the Indian business, there are multiple triggers for the business to grow going ahead. 

With return ratio’s and RoIC north of 40% and 100% respectively, give the company an exit multiple of 33 times and derive at a target price of Rs 1354 from an FY21 perspective. This leaves investors with an absolute return of 34% and 13.5% compounded annual growth rate (CaGR) from an FY21 perspective. 

3. Mahanagar Gas:

As compared to its peer Indraprastha Gas which is trading at a price/earnings multiple of 25.7x, Mahanagar is trading at a considerable discount of around 16.8x. Since getting listed in July 2016, Mahangar has traded at a median price earnings of 21.4x and the recent correction in the stock offers a great entry point for the investors.

Given the strong return ratios, healthy margins, government’s impetus on using cleaner fuel and negligible competition in the areas in which it operates, we have valued the company at a target multiple of 19x from an FY21 perspective and have derived at a target price of Rs 1150. 

This leaves investors with absolute returns of 37% and a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.3% from an FY21 perspective including a dividend yield of 2.3%.

4. PSP Projects:

The company is trading at a price/ earnings of 20x currently. It has been given that, the company can exit multiple of 20x and have derived at target price of Rs 613 from an FY20 perspective. This leaves investor with absolute gains of 53% and a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34% from an FY20 perspective.

With a strong order book and return ratios almost touching 40%, the company is a great proxy play on the revival in private capital expenditure and infrastructure boom in India.

5. CDSL:

CDSL has grown its consolidated core income and profit after tax at a CAGR of 16.1% and 15.6% respectively for a period of five years. If this is not enviable, CDSL return ratios such as RoE and RoIC stands at 16% and 36% respectively over a period of five years.

Not only this, the company boasts of very strong operating leverage. A large part of their expenses are fixed. Hence, in a scenario wherein the revenues spike up, there won’t be a simultaneous spike in the expenses, which will help CDSL to earn higher operating margins. This is the prime reason behind the company earning average operating margins and PAT margins over a period of preceding eight years to the tune of 80% and 57% respectively. These are excellent numbers!

With just one competitor NSDL and globally being just the second depository to get listed, CDSL will continue to deserve a scarcity premium. Value CDSL at a target multiple of 23x and derive at the target price of Rs 453. This essentially leaves investors with an absolute upside of 71% from an FY23 perspective. Also, the target price implies a CAGR of 14.2% (including dividend yield) from an FY23 perspective.

6. Inox Leisure: 

As Inox’s strategy going forward is to add more screens in metro cities & premium locations, the average ticket prices will see a spurt going forward. 

Further, the movie content has improved phenomenally as seen over the last two years. The likes of low budget movies such as Andhadhun, Badhaai Ho, Gully Boy, Uri: The Surgical Strikes, have done phenomenally well at the box office.

However, there is increasing proportion of audiences who want to see good content movies such as the one mentioned above and the demand to watch these movies is high, in-turn leading to theatres charging a higher price for these movies.

Given the multiple triggers ahead,  give Inox Ltd an exit multiple of 23x and derive at the target price of Rs 403 from an FY21 perspective. This leaves investors with absolute returns of 29% and a compounded annual growth rate of 13% from an FY21 perspective.

7. Eicher Motors: 

The profits have grown at a compounded annual growth rate of 43% in the past five years. Having  assumed the profits to grow at 18% in the next three years and have given an exit multiple of 23x to derive at a target price of Rs 26,000, leaving investors with a absolute return of 29% and compounded annual growth rate of 14% including dividend yield from an FY21 perspective.

In the note, experts have given an exit multiple (i.e 23x) which is 31% lower than the preceding ten year average multiple of 33.5x. Hence, even on a conservative estimate we expect the company to deliver handsome returns in the long run. The maximum buy price to buy this stock is Rs 21000-21100.