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Blog posts of '2023' 'May'

Experience Timeline of Infosys Limited

What is Experience Timeline?

Experience Timeline is a visual presentation of a sequence of events, especially historical events which eventually indicates the experience of the entity.

Why Experience Timeline?

Since it indicates the experience of the entity based on which one understands how the company is growing operationally and strategically. Understanding of the entity’s operational and strategic movements is one of the important factors of consideration while performing fundamental analysis of the entity.

About Infosys Limited:

Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. It enables clients in 46 countries to navigate their digital transformation.

 

With nearly four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, it expertly steers their clients through their digital journey. They do it by enabling the enterprise with an AI-powered core that helps prioritize the execution of change. It also empowers the business with agile digital at scale to deliver unprecedented levels of performance and customer delight. Their always-on learning agenda drives their continuous improvement through building and transferring digital skills, expertise, and ideas from their innovation ecosystem.

 

Experience Timeline of Infosys:

Infosys was established in 1981 by Mr. Narayana Murthy and 6 engineers in Pune. It was listed on NSE and NASDAQ in 1995 and 1999 respectively. The major landmark of Revenue of US$ 1 Bn. achieved by the entity in 2004 – within 24 years of establishment. Along with such landmarks, the entity acquired many global entities in this industry to expand the entity at a global level.

Conclusion:

Understanding of operational and strategic experience is one of the important points in fundamental analysis of the entity along with other operational and financial review points.

 
Experience Timeline of Infosys Limited
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Reliance Retail Segments Review

Company Background:

 

  • Reliance Retail Limited founded in 2006 is a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited.
  • The fastest-growing retailer in the world.
  • India’s largest cash and carry chain with 52 stores and more than 4 million registered B2B and B2C customers
  • India’s largest consumer electronics retail chain with 8,249 stores
  • India’s largest fashion destination with 777 stores of Reliance Trends

 

Business Segments:

As per above infographic Reliance Retail is majorly in the 5 segments:

1) Grocery

2) Connectivity

3) Fashion & Lifestyle

4) Consumer Electronics

5) Petro Retail

 

 

The relation between contribution and market growth of the business segments:

To analyze and estimate the future growth of the entity one should focus on major segments of the business of the entity. Not just segmentation, but how much individual segments are contributing to the entire revenue of the entity and the future prospects of those segments can be considered. 

 

Along with economic conditions, one of the factors to be considered is the growth of the segment in the market and whether the contribution of the segments is in line with the expected growth of respective segments. 

For Example – In case of Reliance Retail, Grocery segment of the entity contributes 21% of the total revenue of the entity and the market growth rate of the segment is around 48%, Connectivity segment is contributing around 34% of the total revenue and the segment is growing at 28%. 

If one considers these facts for all the segments and relates to the current economic situations, the expected growth of the segments – strength and opportunities of the business can be estimated to a certain extent. 

Due to the COVID-19 situation, the savings of the general public has gone down to a certain extent as well as other financial stress has affected which can have a good impact in short term over the fashion and lifestyle segment of the entity.

 

Conclusion:

Understanding of business segments and its relation with the economic conditions is one of the most important things for consideration while investment decision.

Reliance Retail Segments Review
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Should I sell Axis Bluechip Fund?

 

Introduction
Axis Bluechip fund is the flagship fund of the AMC with an Asset Under Management (AUM) of more than Rs. 33,000 Cr. as of January 2023, this is a huge AUM. The highest AUM was in August 2022 of Rs. 36,979.68 Cr. The AUM has grown multifold between 2017 to 2020 because of its fantastic returns during these years. To give you an idea about the growth of the fund, you must know that the AUM of the fund in Jan 2017 was Rs. 1,942 Cr only. Wow! If this is the growth in AUM, let us check how the returns were.

Returns
1) Calendar Returns

Source: Value Research
In the above image, you can see that the fund has given amazing returns in 2014 and from 2017 to 2020. In 2021, the fund fell short to perform with the benchmark and the category. 2022 was not good as the benchmark and category both gave positive returns while the fund gave negative returns. This is where it started hurting the investors.
2) Trailing Returns


Source: Value Research
In the short term, the fund is bleeding. But, by now we all are aware that you should invest in large-cap funds with an investment horizon of more than 5 years. So, if we look at long-term returns, it is 12.14%, 15.30%, and 14.64% for 5 years, 7 years, and 10 years respectively which is a fair enough performance.

Risk Return Parameters
Similarly, if we look at the risk-returns parameters –


Source: Value Research
Mean returns should be higher the better, you can see that the fund is lagging in the category where it is ranked second from below. A silver lining can be seen in the form of standard deviation and beta where the fund manager has managed to keep a check on volatility. But the problem lies in Sharpe ratio and Alpha. The Sharpe ratio is low, and Alpha is negative. Those who have taken the course on the Magic of Mutual funds know in detail what these ratios mean, and how important they are in analyzing a fund. If you have still not enrolled in the course, you can click on the image below –


Portfolio Concentration
Now, let us dig deeper and try to understand what caused the problem. For that, we will have to compare the portfolio concentration of Axis bluechip fund with one of its peers. I think this peer can be the SBI Bluechip fund considering that it is the best-performing fund in the peers having an AUM of more than Rs. 30,000 Cr.
1) Axis Bluechip Fund -


2) SBI Bluechip Fund –


Source: Value Research
If we look at the above data, we can see that Axis Bluechip fund has 87% in equity whereas SBI Bluechip has a 93% allocation to equity. So, SBI is in a better position to generate additional returns. The allocation to the top 5 stocks is more in Axis Bluechip funds, this creates pressure on the fund manager that these 5 stocks will decide the fate of the fund. So, now it becomes necessary to see which are these 5 stocks.

Top stocks in the Portfolio
1) Axis Mutual Fund –


2) SBI Bluechip Fund –


Source: AMC website
I think there is no need for any explanation here. In the portfolio of Axis Bluechip fund, 3 out of the top 5 stocks have generated a negative return, while the score for SBI Bluechip fund is only 1 out of the top 5. Another stock that attracts attention in SBI bluechip fund which is missing from the Axis Bluechip fund is ITC Ltd. I hope the reason for underperformance is slowly getting clear now.

Fund Manager History
Usually, when there is a change in fund management, we have seen that the new fund manager takes his time to implement the strategies, which causes the fund to underperform for a brief period of time. Let us see if it is the case with Axis Bluechip Fund –


Source: Morningstar
In this chart, you can see that Shreyas Devalkar has been with the fund house since 2017. It is he who had delivered the golden returns of this fund. So, we cannot say that the underperformance is because of the change in fund management.

Will I redeem my investments in this fund?
We all know that the stock market moves in cycles and there are ups and downs. Axis blue chip fund has witnessed a positive cycle from 2017 to 2020 now it is time for the negative cycle. You cannot expect a fund manager to keep generating amazing performances every single year. It is not like the fund manager is selecting stocks that are not good. His stock picks are simply going through a rough phase. Maybe now he will relate to our merchandise which says “I Buy… Asa Kasa Kay?” :D. Jokes apart I think it is only a matter of time until the fund reverses to its glory days. All we need to do is be patient.
This was all and only about the Axis Bluechip fund, but there is more to this analysis. The lead trader/dealer of Axis Mutual Fund who was also one of the fund managers was recently barred by SEBI in a front-running case linked to the fund house. To know more about the front-running scandal and if this scandal changes my view about investment in this fund don’t forget to watch the video on my YouTube channel. Until then!

 

Should I sell Axis Bluechip Fund?
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Starting a family is a wonderful time, everyone is happy, excited, and a little nervous but it can also be a stressful one. If you are a parent, parents-to-be, or planning a family in the future – one of the most important things to consider is how much it is going to cost. You cannot put a price tag on having a child; it is a priceless experience that adds immense joy and meaning to life. However, smart parents are those who are prepared for the journey emotionally, physically, and most importantly, financially.

One of the most important things you can do to reduce stress is to establish sound financial habits early on. Here are ten financial tips to keep in mind when starting a family:

1. Create a budget

A budget is the foundation of good financial management. It helps you understand your income, expenses, and how much money you can allocate toward different categories. Create a budget including your income sources, expenses, and savings goals.

a. Save for emergencies
Having an emergency fund can provide peace of mind and financial security. Aim to save at least six months of living expenses in an emergency fund.

b. Consider childcare expenses
Child care can be a significant expense for families. A study by Aditya Birla Capital suggested that the cost of nine months of parental care and delivery might go up to Rs. 2,00,000/- and the two-year cost of raising an infant (0 to 2 years) can go up to Rs. 5,00,000/-. Consider the cost of child care when creating your budget, and start planning for it as early as possible to enjoy the best time of your life.

c. Don't overspend on baby items
Babies need a lot of stuff, but you don't have to spend a fortune on it. Consider buying gently used items or borrowing from friends and family to save money.

d. Plan for education expenses
Planning for your child's education expenses early can help you avoid financial stress later on. There is no need to explain how expensive the education system is. According to a survey by NDTV, in most schools in Tier-I and Tier-II cities, the annual tuition fee might range from ₹ 60,000 to ₹ 1.5 lakhs.

2. Get a life insurance
Life insurance is important if you have dependents who rely on your income. It can provide financial support for your family in case something unexpected happens. If you already have insurance then review your insurance coverage regularly to ensure that it meets your family's needs. Consider getting a term life insurance policy if you don't already have one.

3. Plan for retirement

It's never too early to start saving for retirement. There are numerous government schemes as well as private plans to help you accumulate your retirement fund. Consider setting up a retirement investment as early as possible and contribute regularly to it.

4. Make a will

Creating a will is an important step in protecting your family's financial future. It ensures that your assets are distributed according to your wishes and can help avoid legal complications.

5. Communicate with your partner

Effective communication with your partner is essential for good financial management. Set financial goals together, create a budget, and regularly review your finances to ensure you're on track.

Starting a family is an exciting and challenging time, but by following these financial tips, you can establish good habits that will help you achieve your financial goals and provide security for your family's future. This will help you enjoy the happy moments in your life stress-free. So, stay aware and start investing, until next time!


5 Financial Tips when you start a family
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Establishing financial goals is a crucial first step toward obtaining success and stability in your finances. But a lot of people have trouble figuring out what their financial goals should be and how to achieve them. We'll go through several actions you can take to make sure your financial goals are practical, achievable, and significant in this blog.

1. Determine how you are currently doing financially - Examining your present financial condition is the first step in defining financial goals. This entails figuring out your net worth, figuring out how much money you make, and figuring out how much money you spend. You can use this information to assess your financial situation and make goals since it will assist you to do so.

2. Define your short-term and long-term goals - It's time to define your financial goals after you've evaluated your existing financial status. Start by establishing both short- and long-term objectives. Paying off debt, setting up an emergency fund, or saving for a down payment on a home are some examples of short-term objectives. Long-term objectives can include supporting your children's education, retiring comfortably, or purchasing a home.

3. Be specific and measurable in your goals - It's important to make your financial goals specific and measurable. For example, rather than setting a vague goal of "saving more money," set a specific goal of saving a certain amount each month or increasing your savings rate by a certain percentage. This will make it easier to track your progress and stay motivated.

4. Establish a schedule for accomplishing your goals - Choosing a schedule for reaching your financial goals is a crucial component of goal-setting. Think about your short- and long-term objectives, and decide when you want to accomplish each one. You can use this to prioritize your goals and build a strategy for accomplishing them.

5. Make a plan of action - It's time to make an action plan when you've established your financial goals and the timeframe for reaching them. This should include concrete actions you can take, like raising your income, cutting your costs, or making stock market investments, to reach each goal. Make a timeline for finishing each goal and break it down into smaller, manageable tasks.

6. Consistently assess and modify your goals - Finally, when your circumstances change, it's critical to periodically assess and modify your financial goals. If your income or expenses change, you might need to revise your schedule, modify your goals, or set new ones after you've reached your previous ones.

 

In summary, establishing financial goals is a crucial first step toward financial success. You can develop a road map to financial stability and success by analyzing your present financial condition, identifying clear and measurable goals, establishing a schedule, making an action plan, and routinely reviewing and updating your goals. Always keep in mind that setting financial goals requires time and work, but they are ultimately worthwhile.

In addition to this, I have also made a detailed video on “How to set SMART Goals?” 

 

How to set financial goals?
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Is BNPL a boon or bane?
 

A few years ago, we would visit nearby stores to purchase items like clothing, books, gadgets, and other necessities. However, shopping has become more convenient since the rise of online marketplaces like Flipkart and Amazon as we can now access thousands of products at the touch of a button—and at great prices, too! The Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) programs, which let us order items online and pay for them later in flexible payments, improve our online shopping experience. But is this facility a blessing or a curse? Let's find out in this blog.

With a short-term credit product called "Buy Now Pay Later," we can make upfront purchases that can be paid for over the course of four or six payments. In essence, we are taking out a short-term loan and we will need to pay it back in a lump sum or through EMIs. The majority of the time, we use these loans for online shopping.

Paytm Post-paid, Amazon Post-paid, Flipkart Post-paid, Zest Money, Simpl, PayPal, Lazy Pay, and Mobi Kwik Post-paid are the entities providing this facility in India.

We can purchase items with the help of BNPL plans without having to pay for them right away. But we should proceed with caution and only purchase items that we can genuinely afford to pay for; otherwise, we run the risk of purchasing something we didn't really want but ended up doing so because it wouldn't immediately strain our budget. In addition, interest will be added to the amount that was defaulted if we delay or neglect to pay an instalment.

Although BNPL schemes offer flexibility in selecting payback terms and instalment amounts at no additional cost, our credit scores are negatively impacted by late payments. But in all the fuss about BNPL hurting credit scores, the opportunity it affords new borrowers to establish strong credit histories is being disregarded. We can build solid traditional credit ratings by making on-time repayments and using credit responsibly. To do this, we must improve our knowledge of personal finance. With this goal in mind, I am developing "Mastering Money Management," a brand-new course on personal finance. Details will shortly be released on my website www.rachanaranade.com.

Moving on BNPL schemes have their own advantages and disadvantages. Advantages include quick and simple approval of interest-free loans, minimal documentation, low processing fees, customized repayment schedules, and safe and transparent online transactions. Disadvantages include impulsive spending, interest and fees for late payments, and the possibility of a lower credit score.

There is no such thing as a free lunch when it comes to money. The price of our purchases must be paid in any case. Therefore, the choice to buy now and pay now or buy now and pay later is entirely up to us, i.e., the consumer.

Is BNPL a boon or bane?
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Investment lessons from the football field

 

The FIFA World Cup is starting tomorrow. Similar to Cricket, football is a ride of emotions for millions of fans across the country. Remember the 2011 Cricket World Cup? It was Sachin’s last World Cup and everyone wanted him to retire with one in his bag of achievements. Similar is the case with Lionel Messi this year. He has already confirmed that it will be his last try to get the Golden Cup, and we all want to see him hold one. Football has given us some very emotional moments. Remember how Russian Prez’s umbrella attracted more lenses than the trophy in the 2018 Finals, for once no one was annoyed that a non-deserving team won when Germany lifted the cup in 2014, and of course, you either need to be dead or not born to not know Shakira’s Waka Waka that took over the universe in 2010, it still does.

Today, we will understand three investment lessons that this phenomenal game can teach us. Let us begin 

1) Choosing a team:

You may have observed that the team the manager chooses prior to every game attracts a lot of interest. Before revealing his starting lineup, the manager assesses the strengths and weaknesses of both his own squad and the opposition. Similar circumstances apply to stock picking. Research is necessary before selecting the best stocks.

The type of players chosen by a football manager is another analogy. If the manager decides to pitch a squad made up entirely of defenders or strikers, he would get himself into trouble. What would a game look like with eleven strikers? The team's composition would be incredibly unbalanced. They may score a hat trick, but they will also give up a lot of goals. Likewise with choosing stocks, choosing only stocks in the same industry or that are similar is not a good strategy. To reduce risk, you must diversify your holdings.

2) Profile of the players:

Players vary from one another, just like stocks do. The energy of the fresh blood, the serenity of the seasoned, and the undisclosed magic of the great players must all be in perfect proportions in order for the team to succeed. Different needs are served by each player. Take Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo as an example, whichever team they play for they are the ones chosen first by the manager. That's a result of the legends' extraordinary consistency throughout the years. For an investor, they resemble the stocks of reputable businesses that have historically produced significant returns.

Managers love the next-generation players. We are talking about the Mbappes, Kluiverts, and Scholes of the world. The rookies have something to prove, are simple to manage, and have skill reserves that can only be discovered if they are selected for the squad. However, not all young people make a splash. Playing a young gun definitely has its drawbacks. Here, managers take a calculated risk, something like investing in stocks of an unproven small-cap firm. Either these stocks turn out to be multi-baggers or they disappear without a trace. Therefore, a wise bet can be made by researching the company's business plan.

If you gave it any thought, you'd see that stable large-caps have a lot in common with defenders, unstable mid-caps have a lot in common with midfielders, and promising small-caps have a lot in common with forwards.

3) Game plan:

The strategies used on a football pitch also apply to the stock market. The manager chooses a starting lineup for his team based on the team's capabilities and the opposition's strengths. The most common football lineups have been 4-4-2, 4-3-3, and 3-5-2.

Balanced Strategy: 4-4-2 lineup is used when a manager wants to ensure that his side plays creatively while still avoiding taking any unnecessary risks. This is accomplished by keeping the ratio of defenders, midfielders, and strikers in check. The following strategy can be used by an investor to balance his portfolio for the best outcomes: He can invest 20% in small-cap stocks, 40% in mid-cap stocks, and 40% in large-cap stocks.

Aggressive strategy: When the manager decides it is time to put all of his efforts into scoring goals, he deploys a 4-3-3 aggressive lineup that consists of three strikers, three midfielders, and four defenders. The manager needs to choose players with excellent offensive talent in order for this method to succeed.

Defensive strategy: The manager occasionally wants to be conservative and avoid giving up goals. This is where he uses the 3-5-2 formation. To support the three midfielders and two tenacious strikers up front, he deploys three central defenders and two fullbacks. This is comparable to a person who prefers to take small risks and is content with steady profits. Such investors choose portfolios that are heavily weighted in defensive large-cap stocks, with the balance held in mid-cap stocks that are performing well.

Hah! I somehow see finance in everything that I see around me. But, enough learning for today, now let us drench ourselves in the wild energy and emotions that this World Cup has in its purse for us. Until then Tsamina mina, eh, eh Waka waka, eh, eh…

Investment lessons from the football field
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Top investments of top 3 investors

 

It is human tendency to imitate success stories. We frequently follow eminent Indian stock market investors who have achieved phenomenal success and attempt to participate in the same kinds of ventures that they have had. While it might not be a fine decision to duplicate their portfolios because we have our own restrictions and distinct investment philosophies, we can learn a few things from their investing and life experiences that will help us plan our own successful investing journey.

Let us have a look at the top investments of the top 3 individual investors.

1. Mr. Radhakishan Damani

Radha Kishan Damani, a low-profile trader, investor, entrepreneur, and veteran known as "Mr. White and White," is one of the top investors in the Indian market. He liked to speculate and watch the stock market tactics rather than getting personally involved in trading because he was a beginner in the broking industry in his 20s.

At the age of 32, he made his first investment and got registered with SEBI. He gained wealth through trading and soon understood that he could make money by investing in MNCs. He wasn't always successful; rather, he had some losses as well and picked himself up after them.

Mr. Damani had an interest in the consumer goods industry. He also acquired the franchise of the co-operative retail chain "Apna bazaar" prior to founding D-Mart.

Mr. Damani's top investments as of the June 2022 quarter include a 67.5% ownership in Avenue Supermarts Limited, valued at roughly 1.88 lakh crores. In addition to Avenue Supermarts Limited, he possesses around 32.3% of VST industries through his various entities.

2. Mr. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

Undoubtedly, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala ruled the Indian stock market. His success has encouraged millions of Indians to trade stocks, and his tale is now used as a case study in nearly all business schools.

Mr. Jhunjhunwala’s lack of capital to trade or invest in was his biggest obstacle. After all, making money also costs money! Additionally, he didn't have the option of borrowing money from friends or relatives and only had 5000 rupees in his account.

His portfolio, which he started with just 5000 rupees, is now worth more than 40,000 crores. He holds almost 5.1% of Titan company limited valuing roughly 12000 crores making it one of the top investments in his portfolio.

3. Mr. Vijay Kedia

Born into a Marwari stockbroker family he joined the family business of stockbroking at the age of 19, after his father's death. While in Kolkata, Vijay Kedia discovered the "Punjab Tractor" for Rs 50, which increased tenfold over the following three years. However, he had relatively little investment in that stock.

Vijay believes that an investor must have three qualities: Knowledge, Courage, and Patience. He has been keeping himself updated since the beginning of his profession in investing by reading business publications, newspapers, and annual reports of companies. He continues to engage in these activities and has developed an interest in watching interviews with managers or CEOs of various companies

One of his top investments in his portfolio as of June 2022 is Tejas networks limited in which he has a 2.6% stake which is roughly valued at 278 crores.


I hope you enjoyed reading the blog and by now you likely have a better understanding of these top investors' best investments, and I hope you find it motivating and inspiring.

Top investments of top 3 investors
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The Best and Worst Investments of Mr. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

The Best and Worst investments of Mr. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala the veteran Indian investor also known as the Big Bull of India recently lost his life on the 14th of August 2022.

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala was the crown jewel of the Indian Stock market who believed in the Indian growth story and was so optimistic about the Indian Capital markets and was always bullish on the Indian stock markets.

As we all know Rakesh Jhunjhunwala started his investing career way back in 1985 with a mere amount of Rs.5,000 with his own investment philosophy which backed every investment he made in the markets but what separated him from the crowd was the size of his bets whenever his conviction was high which led him to invest a large chunk of money in his best stocks which are Titan, Lupin and Crisil back in 2002-03. In an interview, Ramesh Damani pointed out that Jhunjhunwala’s investments logged a whooping CAGR of 54% over the last 35 years.

In an interview, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala said “If a girl is pretty then the suitor will come” which means if the company is good the investors are going to come and invest. He further mentioned that he likes to invest in stocks that are not popular because you get a good company at a cheaper price.

Let us understand what are the top 5 lessons which we can learn from his investing career

1. Be ready to grab an opportunity - He firmly believed that the volatile nature of markets is what creates opportunities

2. Invest in a business that is Hard to replace – Investing in such businesses will give you a competitive advantage.

3. Success requires obsession – He used to say that people become shy of investing in stocks after booking losses. His advice for investors was to prepare themselves for the market and continue investing with a thumb rule of 'buy, hold and forget.' He used to advise investors to hold a stock as long as they can.

4. Never time the market - Stock markets are always right and no one can time the market. He was of the opinion that one should enter or exit on the basis of market timing instead of timing the market on its own.

5. Be Bold - He believed that “whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it." So, one should take stock market shopping like any other shopping. As you try to buy goods at the cheapest possible rates, you should do the same while buying stocks as well.

When he was asked in an interview about his worst investment, Mr. Jhunjhunwala said that his worst investment was in his own health. Shankar Sharma one of his close friends said that “with Rakesh, you need to have a strong liver to match up to his capabilities both in terms of thinking and drinking as well” So irrespective of the net worth that Mr.Jhunjhunwala had health is something where he got a pullback in life because of his habits.

Finally, India will remember him as the biggest bull, and his investment rules or philosophies cannot be written down in a book as the man himself along with his ideas were unique.

The Best and Worst Investments of Mr. Rakesh Jhunjhunwala
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