ICICI Securities favours data center, defence stocks; says market better placed than in March

ICICI Securities has revised its market outlook, suggesting that India's equity market is currently in a stronger position than it was during the March correction. The firm believes that while global headwinds persist, the domestic market is supported by healthy corporate earnings and increasingly attractive valuations.
The brokerage has identified specific sectors as its top preference. It is particularly bullish on data center infrastructure and defence stocks, citing strong growth potential. Additionally, it sees value in select financial stocks. Conversely, the firm remains cautious about Tier-1 IT companies and most cement manufacturers.
For investors, this signals a shift in focus towards domestic growth themes. The preference for data centers and defence highlights the government's push on infrastructure and self-reliance. Monitoring the performance of these preferred sectors and the broader earnings season will be key to validating this positive stance.
Excerpt from CNBC-TV18
Published On Oct 26, 2026 | 10:05 IST Last Updated On Oct 26, 2026 | 10:05 IST ICICI Securities' Pankaj Pandey says India's market is in a stronger position than during the March correction as earnings remain healthy and valuations have turned attractive. He prefers data center infrastructure, defence and select…Read the original at CNBC-TV18
Key takeaways
- Category: Results.
- AI reads the tone as positive (potentially bullish) for the stock.
- Assessed as a significant, market-relevant update.
Why it matters
A meaningful update worth tracking. The tone is positive — historically associated with upward pressure, though not predictive. Use the price and stock snapshot to gauge how the market is responding.













