Bajaj Auto top Nifty50 loser as two-wheeler maker posts over 19% decline in November sales volumes

Bajaj Auto share price, November Auto Sales: Shares of Baja Auto Limited dipped more than 4 per cent to emerge as top Nifty50 loser on Thursday, December 1, on the back of decline in sales volumes in November. The stock opened 1 per cent lower at Rs 3,744.05 apiece on NSE, mainly reacting to the lower-than-expected November sales figures. The selling pressure dragged the stock to day's low of Rs 3594.35, declining more than 4 per cent.

The large cap stock trades higher than 200-day moving averages but lower than 5-day, 20-day, 50-day and 100-day moving averages.

The auto heavyweight reported November total auto sales at 3.06 lakh units, down over 19 per cent year-on-year. The company had registered nearly 3.8 lakh unit sales in November 2021.

Even the exports of the two-wheeler company declined by 30 per cent YoY to 1.53 lakh units in November 2022 from 2.2 lakh units in November 2021. Domestic sales also declined by 4 per cent to 1.52 lakhs from 1.58 lakhs YoY.

Gautam Duggad, research analyst at Motilal Oswal, had said that after a good festive season, retail sales may remain positive between mid-to-high single-digit YoY growth in November 2022. However, Wholesale growth is expected to be lower, given the difference in the timing of Diwali vis-à-vis last year, the analyst had said in a report, adding that the Scooter segment is faring better than Motorcycles due to their urban-centric approach.

The analyst at Motilal Oswal had expected two-wheeler wholesales for Bajaj Auto to decline by 15 per cent YoY, while domestic sales to grow by 5 per cent.

Additionally, correction in raw material prices should act as a tailwind to margins, Saksham Kaushal, Research Analyst, at Philip Capital said. “We tweak our estimates owing to export weakness but maintain a Buy rating on stock with a target price Rs 4,260 apiece and value it at 15x FY24.”

The stock in the last one year has jumped over 13.5 per cent, while it has declined marginally by 1 per cent in the last one month on the exchanges.