India’s mid- and small-cap stocks: India’s mid- and small-cap stocks have started taking the centrestage, thanks to the equity rally. Rising valuations, strong earnings growth and sustained investor interest have catapulted the share of mid- and small-cap stocks in total market capitalisation to record highs.
In an exclusive interaction with ET NOW, Helios Mutual Fund CEO Dinshaw Irani explains why his team is increasing exposure to mid-cap and small-cap stocks despite valuation concerns.
From market opportunities and sector preferences to portfolio construction and investment strategy, this interaction offers a rare look into how a leading fund manager is positioning for FY27.
Will mid-cap stocks outperform large-caps in the current financial year?
“We continue to look at mid-and small-caps. The month of May which went by, you will see my portfolio once it comes out. You will see mix in our portfolio as the overall portfolio is changing, moving away from the large-caps and getting into small-and mid-caps and so we are constantly looking at identifying new names wherever it’s possible,” said Helios Mutual Fund CEO Dinshaw Irani.
How will the next couple of months look like in terms of Buy call?
‘Sharp outperformance of mid-caps, small-caps altered market’s composition’
As of May 2026, mid-cap stocks accounted for 20.3 per cent of total listed market capitalisation, while small-caps contributed 21.1 per cent. In contrast, the share of large-cap stocks has fallen to a record low of 58.7 per cent.
The report attributes this shift to stronger earnings momentum in the SMID (small and mid-cap) segment,alongside elevated valuations and a surge in sectoral indices dominated by these stocks. Several mid- and small-cap-heavy sectors and companies have scaled new all-time highs. On a month-on-month basis, mid-caps led the gains, with metals, capital goods, and healthcare sectors emerging as the top performers.
In terms of valuations, on a 12-month forward price-to-earnings basis, private banks, consumer, technology and retail sectors are trading at discounts of 35 per cent, 10 per cent, 26 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively, to their 10-year averages. In contrast, sectors such as automobiles, capital goods, non-lending NBFCs, healthcare and chemicals are trading at premiums, with capital goods in particular commanding a steep 56 per cent premium over its long-period average.
A similar pattern is visible in other valuation metrics. Private banks are trading at a 24 per cent discount to their long-term price-to-book average, while PSU banks and lending NBFCs are trading at a 36 per cent premium. On an EV/EBITDA basis, real estate remains the only sector trading at a discount, whereas metals, oil & gas, utilities and cement are at or above their historical valuation levels.
(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.)
