Reliance shares hit three-year low; HUL trades near five-year lows

Mint reports Reliance Industries shares fell 24.71% year-to-date, while HUL declined 19.29%. SBI Securities’ Sunny Agrawal cited a potential Jio IPO ahead of Diwali as a sentiment and value-unlocking catalyst for Reliance—not a confirmed listing.

Source published First seen Source Mint · Markets

The development

Reliance Industries shares fell 24.71% year-to-date to a three-year low, while HUL declined 19.29% and traded near five-year lows. SBI Securities’ Sunny Agrawal said a potential Jio IPO ahead of Diwali could improve Reliance sentiment and unlock value.

The numbers

  • 24.71%
  • 7.68%
  • 4.92%
  • 19.29%
  • 38.90%
  • 36.27%
  • 28%

Why it matters to operators and investors

Reassess retail and FMCG deal valuation benchmarks after the sell-off, without assuming lower share prices signal distressed assets or greater willingness to transact.

What to watch next

  • Official Reliance or Jio disclosures, regulatory filings and transaction terms—not analyst speculation about Diwali timing.
  • Reliance Retail revenue growth, margins, store additions and inventory trends.
  • HUL volume growth, price-versus-mix contribution, promotional spending and gross margins.
  • Evidence of changing distributor inventory, supplier payment terms or retailer promotional intensity.
  • Reliance may emphasize retail profitability, store productivity and capital-allocation discipline in investor communications.
  • HUL may concentrate promotional spending on price-sensitive categories and affordable packs rather than implement blanket price cuts.
  • Suppliers should prepare for more selective inventory commitments if operating results validate the market's caution.

The counter-case

Multi-year lows do not make either stock cheap. A potential Jio IPO is unconfirmed, and value unlocking would depend on pricing, structure and shareholder economics—not simply a listing. Reliance’s decline also cannot be treated as a pure retail signal given its telecom and energy exposure.