Contrarian Picks - For Risk Takers

Contrarian investing can at times pay handsome dividends, provided it is weighed properly against various considered inputs. The general consensus of the market is not to be discounted but at times you stand to gain immensely by taking just the opposite stance to that of majority of market participants. When financial institutions were falling like nine pins and every shade of investor treated them like lepers, Warren Buffett took a contrarian view. He went ahead and bought $ 5 bn preferred stocks of Goldman Sachs. One year down the line he grew richer by $ 3 bn.

There have been many instances of taking calculated and considered risk by contrarian investors and succeeding with a bang. Laxmi Mittal of Arcelor Mittal fame bought distressed steel plants around the globe when steel as a commodity was in slump and prospects looked bleak. Result of that brave contrarian investment decision is for all to see.

Coming to Indian markets as of now, to my mind there are some distressed stocks one can consider for contrarian investment. It should be done with a view that one is ready to average the same scrips at lower levels and hold for long term if short term view does not work out. Under no circumstances should one discard the stocks at loss if the trade goes unfavourable. Lets see some of these scrip in succeeding paragraphs.

Unitech

Buy the scrip at current market price ( closing price on 06 Oct was 98.75) for initial target of 160 to 180. If trade goes awry then keep accumulating from 83 to level of 60 in small packets and hold till its long term target of 320/330.

Suzlon

Buy the scrip at current market price (closing price on 06 Oct was 87.15) for initial target of 140. In case trade goes in opposite direction then start accumulating from 77 to the level of 70 in small packets and then hold for for its long term target of 320.

Rcom

Buy the scrip at 250 ( closing price on 06 Oct was 268.3) for initial target of 350. In case trade goes in opposite direction then start accumulating from 220 to the level of 180 in small packets and then hold for its long term target of 600.

PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS - SAMPLE 4 ( S S HUSSAIN )

Here in this portfolio analysis we have a case of Mr Hussain who wants a three year horizon for his portfolio. However my recommendation to him will be to watch for one year targets and take profit there. After that he will have plenty of opportunity to pick up the shares again at a lower price since those targets are at supply zones. Lets begin the exercise.

DLF
Holding134 shares at an average price of Rs 358. Closing price on 22 Sep 09 was 430.1
6 mnth tgt- 700, 1 yr tgt- 900
You should keep holding the share for a target of 900. It may also trade at 1200 around two years down the line.

GMR Infra
Holding 287 shares at an average price of 76. Closing price on 22 Sep 09 was 142.8
6 mnth tgt- 200, 1yr tgt 260
You have a profitable position to hold. At the most GMR may come down to 110 in near future expected correction. Hold till target of 260 is achieved.

BPL
Holding1000 shares at an average price of Rs 24.15. Closing price on 22 Sep 09 was 36.85
6 mnth tgt- 45, 1 yr tgt- 65
Currently BPL may come down to the zone of 25 to 30. Since you will not be in any loss, therefore keep holding till target of 65.

BHEL
Holding 14 shares at an average price of Rs 1504. Closing price on 22 Sep 09 was Rs 2285.
6 mnth tgt- 2800, 1 yr tgt- 3900.
BHEL may come down to 1700 level in the foreseeable correction. It will be very weak if it closes below 2200. However you do not have to worry since your position will not give you any loss even if the correction does take place. Hence keep on holding it till 1 year's target of 3900.

GSPL
Holding 590 shares at an average price of Rs 59. Closing price on 22 Sep 09 was Rs 79.4
6 mnth tgt- 95, 1 yr tgt- 110
GSPL may correct to 50 level in near term. You may like to add to your position if it does come down to 50. What ever be the case, exit position only at 1 year's target of 110.

Rcom
Holding 90 shares at an average price of Rs 359. Closing price on 22 Sep 09 was 307.5
6 mnth tgt- 500, 1 yr tgt- 600, 2 yr tgt- 810
Rcom may come down to 250 level if the markets correct now, of which there is high probability. You can plan to add to your position at 260 and off load your complete position at two year's target of 810.

PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS - SAMPLE 3 ( X -1 )

In this Portfolio Analysis I m constrained to use the name as Mr X, for which I hope you will pardon me. Mr X's portfolio will take quite a few posts to complete since the list of shares in the portfolio is quite long. So I will be breaking the portfolio into small packets and posting the analysis in tranches. And another thing - those scrips already analysed in earlier posts will not contain the reasoning portion of analysis. For that do refer the earlier posts for more information. The first pie of Mr X's portfolio is presented below :-

Reliance
Holding 305 shares @ 2300. CMP- 1971
1 mnth tgt- 2360, 6mnth tgt - 2900, 1 yr tgt - 4000
Sell 50 shares at 2360 . Pick it up again at around 2000 and keep it for 6 mnth's tgt of 2900. In this manner you may trade these 50 shares till it reaches 1 yr's tgt of 4000. Rest of your holdings you can book profit at 4000.

Rcom
Holding 450 shares @ 490. CMP- 276.1
1 mnth tgt- 350, 6 mnth tgt - 500, 1 yr tgt- 600, 2 yr tgt- 810
You can sell 250 shares at 530 and trade these at major dips. Otherwise simply hold all your shares for 1 yr tgt of 600.

Rpower
Holding 104 shares @ 300. CMP- 160.4
1 mnth tgt- 200, 6 mnth tgt- 280, 1 yr tgt- 330, 2 yr tgt-480
Rpower has already completed 50% correction of its 1st leg of bull run. Hold all your shares for 1 yr tgt of 330.

RelCapital
Holding 15 shares. CMP- 892.4
6 mnth tgt- 1420, 1 yr tgt- 2100, 2 yr tgt - 2900
Book your initial profit at 1420 and then start trading strong dips as per your capacity.

TCS
Holding 136 shares @ 850. CMP- 534.6
TCS may correct to 380 in near term and will take about 1 yr to reach 850. Its all time high is 694.5 so I should believe that the buy price may actually be 650 instead of 850. Not withstanding that, I would recommend that you should buy 136 shares more in case TCS falls down to 400.

PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS - SAMPLE 2(R ROHMETRA)

In this series of Portfolio Analysis, now we shall be taking up Portfolio of Mr R Rohmetra who wants a long term view of 3/4 years. Since the definition of long term has somewhat changed I am offering him targets only up to two years. In that also I am not recommending some of the scrips for a two-year view for various reasons like uncertainty, correction phase expected to drag it lower than its 1 year target, etc etc. Similarly I have deliberately refrained from giving one month's target to some of the scrips because these scrips may get churned through some rough correction in near future. So here we go!

ICICI Bank
Holding 20 shares at average price of 1435. Closing price on 28 Aug 09 was 763.6.
6 mnth tgt - 950; 1 yr tgt - 1300; 2 yr tgt - 1650
ICICI Bank has still not corrected to 50% of its run up from Mar 2009. In fact it has not even corrected 38.2%. It has also yet to cover the gap created at 579. This means that in short term this scrip might correct to 535. Hold the scrip for its one year target of 1300 and add 40 shares more in case it falls to 535.

Relcapital
Holding 09 shares at an average price of 1803. Closing price on 26 Aug 09 was 872.5.
6 mnth tgt - 1420; 1 yr tgt - 2100; 2 yr tgt - 2900
Reliance Capital has completed its 38.2% correction of 1st phase of Bull run but has yet to do 50% retracement. It also has not covered a gap it created at 599. However all this does not disqualify it for continuing its march upwards in 2nd phase of Bull run. It only tells us that there is scope for the scrip to correct to 600 in short term. If it does correct to 600 level then buy 18 more shares and hold till 1 yr tgt of 2100. In case it does not correct from here then just keep on holding till its one year target.

State Bank of India
Holding 25 shares at average price of 1359. Closing price on 28 Aug 09 was 1782.
6 mnth tgt - 2050; 1 yr tgt - 2500; 2yr tgt - 3200
SBIN has corrected 38.2% but not corrected 50%. It has also not yet covered its gap at 1327. Hence in short term there is a chance that the scrip may come down to 1300. Just hold for at least 1 year's target. You may consider doubling your position at 1300 level.

DLF
Holding 97 shares at average price of 285. Closing price on 28 Aug 09 was 413.
1 mnth tgt - 550; 6 mnth tgt - 740; 1 yr tgt - 900; 2 yr tgt - 1200
DLF has completed 50% correction of its 1st phase of Bull run and is cruising in 2nd phase of Bull run. Hold this scrip till it achieves its 1 month's target of 550. After that you may consider liquidating half your holding and buying back those many shares after a substantial correction, this time for 6 month's target. You may repeat this process till you reach two year's target for the scrip.

L&T
Holding 15 shares at average price of 1316. Closing price on 28 Aug 09 was 1618.
6 mnth tgt - 1800; 1 yr tgt - 2200; 2 yr tgt - 2850
L&T has not completed 50% or even 38.2%retracement of 1st leg of Bull run. It needs to cover its gap at 1000. So in short term there is an atmosphere of uncertainty about the stock. However if the scrip reaches its 6 mnth target of 1800 in a month or so, then do sell the stock and book profit. Pick it up again after a strong dip and hold till its one year target.

Power Grid
Holding 1000 shares at average price of 138. Closing price on 28 Aug 09 was 107.6.
6 mnth tgt - 160; 1 yr tgt - 215; 2 yr tgt - 260
Power Grid has corrected 38.2% but not 50%. It may yet correct till 91. If it does come down to 91 then you may pick up 500 more shares and hold till its 1 year target of 215.

PTC
Holding 49 shares at average price of 130. Closing price on 28 Aug 09 was 95.25.
1 mnth tgt - 120; 6 mnth tgt - 160; 1 yr tgt - 200
PTC has technically started breaking out and will be very interesting to watch in the coming month. Hence you can contemplate buying 50 more shares at present level for one month's target. However your original holding of 49 shares should be held till the scrip reaches its one year target of 200.

Tata Power
Holding 09 shares at average price of 1111. Closing price on 28 Aug 09 was 1343.
1 mnth tgt - 1500; 6 mnth tgt - 1700; 1 yr tgt - 2300
Tata Power has not done even 38.2% retracement. However it looks eager to reach its target of 1500. You may like to book your profit at 1500 and then re-enter after it corrects itself in real earnest. After re-entry you should hold the scrip for its 6 month's target of 1700, book profit and employ the same strategy for its 1 year target of 2300.

Reliance
Holding 75 shares at average price of 1309. Closing price on 28 Aug 09 was 2074.
1 mnth tgt - 2360; 6mnth tgt - 2900; 1 yr tgt - 4000
Reliance has completed its 50% correction and should be held at least till 2360. After that you may start trading half your holding to maximise your profits till it reaches its 1 year target.

RNRL
Holding 683 shares at average price of 96. Closing price on 28 Aug 09 was 85.85.
1mnth tgt - 110; 6 mnth tgt - 145; 1 yr tgt - 190; 2 yr tgt - 250
RNRL has already witnessed 50% correction and is well poised to embark on the 2nd leg of its northwards journey. Hold RNRL for its two years' target.

RPL
Holding 1800 shares at average price of 145. RPL closed at 127.9 on 28 Aug 09.
1 mnth tgt - 160; 6 mnth tgt - 200; 1 yr tgt - 235; 2 yr tgt - 290
RPL has also completed 50% retracement and should be held till 290.

RCOM
Holding 40 shares at average price of 766. Rcom closed at 265.6 on 28 Aug 09.
1 mnth tgt - 350; 6 mnth tgt - 500; 1 yr tgt - 600; 2 yr tgt - 810
Rcom has done 50% retracement of its first leg of Bull run. So you may buy 40 shares at current level and sell at its one month's target of 350. In this way you can bring down the Buy Price of your original holding. You can choose to employ this strategy many times in this scrip's journey towards its designated targets. However sell your original holding at 810.