HDFC Bank Share Price: The stock of India’s largest private bank, HDFC Bank, will be in focus in today’s trading session after the bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Sashidhar Jagdishan, opted out of being considered for reappointment after his current term ends on October 26.
The stock will react after the Nifty 50 component settled over 1 per cent higher at Rs 720.30 in the previous session on August 28.
Sashidhar Jagdishan to step down on October 26
Sashidhar Jagdishan, 61, will retire from the bank on October 26 after spending nearly three decades with the lender.
He conveyed his decision not to seek reappointment as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer and reiterated his decision despite “persuasion” from the board, it added.
“The board deeply appreciated his commitment, leadership, contribution to the growth and stability of the Bank and his role in successful completion of one of the largest mergers in corporate India,” the filing said.
Why Sashidhar Jagdishan opting out of reappointment important?
It is important to note that the issue of Jagdishan’s reappointment has been the subject of intense speculation, especially after the surprise resignation of non-executive chairman Atanu Chakraborty in March this year, citing concerns over ethics and governance practices at the lender.
Additionally, a few weeks ago, Jagdishan was fined Rs 1 lakh after being found guilty of poor conduct in the MSRDC case, in which there were allegations that a depositor was paid above the card interest rate for parking large sums of money with the bank.
HDFC Bank share price target after Jagdishan’s exit update
Following the announcement that Sashidhar Jagdishan would not seek reappointment, brokerages such as Bernstein, Morgan Stanley and Nuvama shared their outlooks for the stock, along with price recommendations and share price targets.
Nuvama sees over 21 per cent upside
Nuvama maintained its BUY recommendation on HDFC Bank but cut its share price target to Rs 875 from Rs 1,025. The price target suggested by the brokerage reflects an upside potential of around 21.5 per cent for the stock.
The brokerage said CEO Sashidhar Jagdishan’s exit creates a path for a credible successor. Despite governance concerns, Nuvama does not view the leadership change as a fundamental impairment to the bank’s strong franchise and recovery prospects.
Morgan Stanley maintains ‘OVERWEIGHT’ rating
Morgan Stanley maintained its OVERWEIGHT rating on HDFC Bank with a target price of Rs 1,025, implying an upside of 42 per cent.
The brokerage sees deep value in the stock compared with its fundamentals and historical levels. It noted that the CEO reappointment issue had been an overhang, while the bank’s gradually improving fundamentals could support a recovery in the shares.
Bernstein sees 46 per cent upside in HDFC Bank
Bernstein maintained its OUTPERFORM rating on HDFC Bank with a target price of Rs 1,150, reflecting an upside potential of around 46 per cent.
The brokerage believes Sashidhar Jagdishan’s planned retirement removes concerns around a potentially RBI-restricted short-term tenure. It sees an opportunity for the incoming CEO to reset the bank’s narrative, although HDFC Bank has struggled to consistently meet market expectations.
(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice. ET NOW DIGITAL suggests its readers/audience to consult their financial advisors before making any money-related decisions.)
