Citi maintains 'buy' on Maruti stock, sees 24% upside

Maruti share price: Citi is positive about Maruti Suzuki India's (MSIL) outlook after the blip in December 2023. The brokerage expects the company's volume to move northward. Hence, maintaining its optimistic stance, the global brokerage maintained a buy on the counter for a target of Rs 14,200, signalling an up to 24 per cent upside in the heavyweight stock.
 
Amid the fresh buy stance, shares of the company in trade on Thursday (February 22, 2024) traded higher by 0.88 per cent, while at the day's high they scaled to Rs 11,598.2, indicating over 1 per cent gains.

The brokerage has begun a 90-day positive catalyst watch on the passenger vehicle major. Furthermore, the brokerage sees a better Q4 because of higher operating leverage and lower discounts. Moreover, the brokerage said Maruti Suzuki is its top bet.

The leading automaker is also set to suffer a blow amid the Red Sea crisis that has led to disruptions in supply. The Reuters report cited Rahul Bharti, Maruti's investor relations chief, as saying that "the time of dispatches may change and there may be some uncertainty in vessels coming and picking up their consignments."

Buoyed by demand for sport utility vehicles (SUVs), the company in the December quarter posted a 33 per cent increase in third-quarter profit after tax to Rs 3,130 crore.

The contribution of pricier and margin-boosting utility vehicles, mostly SUVs, to total domestic passenger vehicle sales rose to nearly 39 per cent in the December quarter from about 24 per cent the previous year, according to the Reuters report.

Shares of Maruti Suzuki have delivered a 33 per cent return in the last one year as against Nifty Auto's 55 per cent.

Earlier, domestic brokerage KR Choksey, in its report dated February 7, gave an 'accumulate' view on the stock with a target of Rs 12,385.

The brokerage said that the company will likely fare better due to a strong order book, low inventory levels, and continued demand for the SUV and CNG segments.

It also believes that the medium-term outlook for the company is positive due to new product launches, a possible recovery in the small car segment, a strong export trajectory, and new capacities coming on stream over the next few years.