Nifty Pharma is the best performing sectoral index in 2024 so far, after Nifty Realty Index which is up by ~10 percent on YTD basis. Nifty Pharma Index is up by ~3 percent on YTD basis.
Between 2005 to 2015, the pharma sector was one of the best performing sectors with stocks creating big wealth for the shareholders. Then came a spate of US FDA inspections and observation and a number of companies witnessed a sharp decline in performance. Over the next few years, stocks underperformed as companies went into introspection and course correction. Some of them have been able to make a comeback both in terms of operations and product portfolio. While there are some risks present in the system but given the fact they have come into under owned category, any positive news may have higher positive impact.
In the past month, Sun Pharma gained 7%, Aurobindo Pharma jumped 20%, Lupin and Mankind Pharma rose 9% each. The gains have pushed these stocks to their 52-week highs. The Nifty Pharma Index has gained 8% in the past month, as against the 3.4% upmove in the Nifty.
According to the data, among individual stocks, Dalmia Bharat, Dixon, and Polycab have significant open interest positions and rollover to the November series, implying strong momentum in these stocks.