In the midst of high market volatility and consistent foreign investor outflows during the March 2025 quarter, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) stepped in as a key domestic stabilizer. The state-owned insurance giant made net equity investments worth over ₹47,000 crore, offering strong support to the Indian equity markets.
LIC: A Pillar of Strength in a Shaky Market
While global cues and foreign institutional selling kept the markets under pressure, LIC emerged as one of the most active domestic institutional investors, alongside mutual funds and retail participants. This heavy buying not only supported market sentiment but also reaffirmed LIC’s strategic role in stabilizing domestic equities during uncertain times.
LIC’s equity portfolio now spans 351 stocks, with active accumulation seen in around 105 companies, including 13 new stock additions in Q4 FY25.
At the same time, LIC reduced its stake in 86 companies and completely exited (or reduced below 1%) from 15 firms, as their names were no longer visible in shareholding disclosures.
Hero MotoCorp Leads LIC’s Investment List
LIC’s largest investment in the quarter was in Hero MotoCorp, where it increased its stake from 5.53% to a massive 11.84%, investing ₹4,968 crore.
This bold move signals LIC’s confidence in India’s two-wheeler sector.
Other major investments included:
Reliance Industries Ltd: ₹3,675 crore | Stake up to 6.74% from 6.52%
Larsen & Toubro (L&T): ₹2,975 crore
Asian Paints: ₹2,466 crore
Hindustan Unilever: ₹2,361 crore
Bajaj Auto: ₹1,983 crore
These large-cap names reflect LIC’s strategy to bet on quality and fundamentally strong companies even in volatile conditions.
Continued Focus on Banking, Auto, and FMCG
LIC also made significant investments in:
State Bank of India: ₹1,652 crore
Patanjali Foods: ₹1,638 crore
Tata Motors: ₹1,578 crore
Maruti Suzuki India: ₹1,493 crore
HCL Technologies: ₹1,441 crore
Indraprastha Gas: ₹1,333 crore
Additionally, more than ₹1,000 crore was invested each in companies like Bharat Electronics, Nestle India, LTIMindtree, Britannia Industries, and ITC.
LIC Remains a Market Mover
In a quarter marked by uncertainty, LIC’s buying spree acted as a cushion for Indian markets, reflecting its long-term conviction and strong domestic capital strength.
With such a wide and diversified portfolio, LIC continues to play a critical role in India’s equity landscape, especially during phases of external pressure and market turbulence.
