Stocks in Focus August 3: Maruti, ITC, ZEE, Persistent in Focus Ahead of RBI Policy and Q1 Earnings

Quick Snapshot 

• Nifty closed Friday at 24,383.60, reclaiming its 200-day EMA with RSI at 59
• Maruti Suzuki’s consolidated net profit fell 9.1% YoY to Rs 3,447 crore even as revenue jumped 36%
• ITC’s standalone net profit dropped 27% YoY to Rs 3,579 crore on West Asia-linked cost pressure
• SEBI barred ZEEL for two months and Goenka, Chandra for a year each, with Rs 1.48 crore in penalties
• Persistent Systems reports Q1 FY27 today with the Nagarro acquisition dominating commentary
• RBI’s August 5 policy verdict lands mid-way through a 350+ company Q1 FY27 earnings week

Indian equity benchmarks head into an eventful week, and Monday’s stock-specific triggers are just the opening act. The Nifty 50 closed Friday at 24,383.60, up 0.27%, while the Sensex advanced 0.21% to settle near 78,094, the index’s second straight monthly gain after a nearly 2.6% weekly rebound. Maruti Suzuki, ITC, Zee Entertainment, Persistent Systems and Muthoot Finance are among the names likely to dominate trading action today.

Market Snapshot

Source: NSE/BSE, Master Capital Services, Swastika Investmart

Check Live: NIFTY50, SENSEX, GIFT NIFTY

Nifty Holds 200-Day EMA, But RBI Verdict Looms Midweek

Technically, the Nifty has strengthened its structure by reclaiming the 200-day EMA, with the RSI improving to 59, according to Dr Ravi Singh, Chief Research Officer at Master Capital Services. The 24,500–24,600 band is the immediate resistance zone; a decisive breakout could open the path toward the 200-day moving average near 24,750, per Pravesh Gour, Senior Technical Analyst at Swastika Investmart.

On the downside, 24,150 is the immediate support, followed by 24,000 and 23,800. Bank Nifty remains stock-specific but constructive, with resistance at 57,400–57,800 opening a move toward 58,300–58,600, while 56,500 and 56,000 are the key supports.

The real test, however, arrives midweek. The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee will announce its rate decision on August 5, and more than 350 companies are scheduled to report Q1 FY27 earnings between August 3 and August 8 — a pile-up that will likely overshadow today’s individual stock triggers by Wednesday.

FIIs stayed net buyers for a third straight session on July 30, purchasing Rs 3,623.51 crore worth of equities, while DIIs turned sellers to the tune of Rs 1,864.03 crore. Global cues, including the US-Iran conflict, Strait of Hormuz shipping activity and crude oil price swings, will also weigh on flows this week.

Check Live – FII-DII DATA

Stocks in Focus Today

Maruti Suzuki reported a 9.1% YoY decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 3,447 crore for Q1 FY27, against Rs 3,792 crore a year ago, even as revenue climbed 36% to roughly Rs 52,470 crore. Rising material costs squeezed margins despite a 29.3% jump in total sales volume. The board also approved four compressed biogas projects worth Rs 561 crore.

ITC’s standalone net profit fell 27% YoY to Rs 3,579 crore, down from Rs 4,911 crore, while revenue from operations rose 28% to Rs 26,943 crore. The company attributed the pressure to volatility in crude-linked input costs stemming from the West Asia conflict, even as its FMCG segment revenue grew 12% YoY.

Zee Entertainment faces a fresh regulatory setback. In a 150-page order dated July 31, SEBI barred ZEEL from the securities market for two months and restrained Punit Goenka and Subhash Chandra for 12 months each, over an unauthorised pledge of the company’s Hyderabad property to secure Essel Group loans. The regulator imposed a combined penalty of Rs 1.48 crore — Rs 30 lakh on ZEEL, Rs 58 lakh on Goenka and Rs 60 lakh on Chandra — payable within 45 days. ZEEL has said the order will not affect its ongoing Rs 2,300-crore fundraise and is expected to challenge it before the Securities Appellate Tribunal.

Persistent Systems reports its Q1 FY27 results and holds its investor call today, alongside its 36th AGM in Pune. Commentary is likely to centre on the all-cash acquisition of Germany’s Nagarro SE at EUR 81 per share, announced on June 26, a deal that carried roughly a 140% premium to Nagarro’s undisturbed price. The stock closed at Rs 5,549 on July 31, valuing the company at nearly Rs 87,000 crore. A two-day non-deal roadshow with institutional investors follows on August 4–5 in Mumbai.

Muthoot Finance, which declared results on Saturday, posted a 25% YoY rise in standalone profit to Rs 2,550 crore, with standalone loan AUM up 43% to Rs 1,72,000 crore and total standalone income up 33% to Rs 7,603 crore. The company also outlined a leadership transition: George Alexander Muthoot moves to Executive Vice Chairman, Alexander George has been recommended as Managing Director, and K R Bijimon has been elevated to CEO, effective October 1, pending shareholder approval at the August 31 AGM.

Also on the Radar

Source: Company exchange filings, PTI, Business Standard

Coal India, NALCO, Divi’s Laboratories, Concord Biotech, Glenmark Pharma, Urban Company, CDSL, Hyundai Motor India, Eicher Motors and Hero MotoCorp are among the other names traders are tracking for stock-specific cues today.

Q1 FY27 Earnings Calendar This Week

Source: NSE/BSE corporate filings, Goodreturns

Also Read: Persistent Systems Q1 FY27 on Aug 3: Will Nagarro Deal Overshadow?

NiftyTrader Desk View

Source: NiftyTrader Desk analysis based on company filings and exchange data

For real-time FII and DII activity ahead of the RBI verdict, track daily flows on the NiftyTrader FII-DII Tracker.

Bottom Line

Today’s stock-specific action, from Maruti and ITC’s earnings misses to Persistent’s Nagarro-driven Q1 and the ZEEL regulatory bar, sets the tone, but this week’s real swing factor is the RBI’s August 5 policy call landing in the middle of India’s heaviest Q1 FY27 earnings stretch. With the Nifty perched just under its 200-day EMA hurdle, how these results and the rate decision land together will likely decide whether the index tests 24,750 or slips back toward 24,150.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Please consult a SEBI-registered financial advisor before making any investment decisions.