ITC and HUL hit 52-week lows as broker views split on recovery prospects

ITC and Hindustan Unilever are trading near 52-week lows, while HDFC Bank remains under pressure. Broker targets on HUL range from Rs 2,450 to Rs 2,850, with HSBC citing a volume-led earnings recovery but flagging tea and soap-input inflation as a near-term risk.

— Source published Fri, 21 Aug, 2026, 10:17 IST · First seen Fri, 21 Aug, 2026, 10:47 IST · Source Business Today · Latest

What happened

ITC and HUL shares trade near 52-week lows, with brokerages issuing mixed valuation views. HSBC and Jefferies retain positive HUL calls, citing volume-led

Key facts

  • HDFC Bank: down 20% in six months, 27% in one year, 4% loss over five years; 52-week low Rs 715.05 on August 19, 2026
  • ITC: 52-week low Rs 265.10 on August 20, 2026; down 43% over two years
  • ITC targets: Rs 408 (Antique), Rs 308 (Investec), Rs 310 (JPMorgan); support Rs 268-255 and resistance Rs 285-300
  • HDFC Bank targets: Rs 861 (Goldman Sachs), Rs 950 (Nomura), Rs 920 (Investec), Rs 1,150 (Bernstein)
  • HUL: 52-week low Rs 2,008.45 on August 19, 2026; down 21% in one year, 25% in two years, and up to 20% over five years
  • HUL targets: Rs 2,450 (HSBC), Rs 2,850 (Jefferies); HSBC forecasts 9% FY26-FY29 PBT CAGR versus 2% in FY23-FY26

Why this matters

Depressed FMCG valuations could increase strategic optionality, but divergent recovery outlooks favor targeted capability, brand, or distribution deals over broad acquisitions until demand and commodity-cost trends stabilize.

What to watch

  • HUL quarterly underlying volume growth and management commentary on urban versus rural demand
  • Tea, palm oil, crude derivatives and packaging-cost trends
  • Magnitude and consumer response to FMCG price increases or pack-size reductions
  • ITC cigarette volume growth, tax-policy signals and FMCG segment margin trajectory
  • Foreign institutional flows into Indian defensives and valuation changes versus staples peers
  • Any reduction in HUL broker target prices or FY earnings estimates
  • HUL is likely to emphasize calibrated price hikes, grammage adjustments and cost savings to defend margins without materially hurting volumes.
  • ITC may lean further on cigarette pricing, FMCG distribution expansion and shareholder-return messaging to stabilize sentiment.
  • Brokerages may cut near-term EPS estimates if commodity inflation persists, while maintaining selective long-term buy ratings after the share-price correction.
  • Consumer-goods competitors with lower exposure to tea and soap inputs may attract relative investor flows if cost pressures accelerate.