Maharatna marvels - Exploring India's top maharatna companies which gave more than 100% return in last year

The bellwether public sector corporations known as Maharatna companies in India are impressing all investors with their brilliant performance in the stock market. It was not long ago that most of us could never imagine that all of these 13 Maharatnas could turn into the most profitable investment for the year. Yet every single one recorded positive return, while a number were quoted as having multibagger returns in a year.

Maharatna status is a designation given to some of the biggest and most profitable Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) in India. It essentially grants these companies a higher level of autonomy and freedom to make strategic decisions

Here is the list of the stocks that gave multibagger returns last year

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd stock currently trades at ₹295.15 with a market capitalization of ₹99,231.84 crore. The shares have risen significantly over the past one year posting a return of 247.06%. Most recently, BHEL bagged significant orders including one from Mirzapur Thermal Energy (UP) Private Limited for a 2x800 MW thermal power project at Mirzapur Phase I, Uttar Pradesh, and another from Adani Power Ltd for setting up a 2x800 MW TPP at Raipur, Chhattisgarh.

GAIL (India) Ltd

Trading at ₹216.92, GAIL (India) Ltd, has a market capitalization of ₹1,39,092.08 crores. For one year now, the company’s shares have gone up by 101%. Its highest price during the last 52 weeks was ₹233. Just now, Gail Ltd Co released plans for building the 1500 KTA Ethane Cracker Project in Ashta, District Sehore in Madhya Pradesh with investment estimates amounting to about ₹60,000 crore.

Coal India Ltd

The market cap of Coal India Ltd. is ₹3,01,002.13 crore as it has a current trading price of ₹488. In the last year alone, the return rate stands at 111.31% with an all-time high of ₹527.4 within the past 52 weeks. Recently, Coal India recorded a 7.5% increase in coal production to 64.4 million tonnes (MT) in May 2024, compared to 59.9 million tonnes in May 2023. The coal offtake for May 2024 also rose by 7.2% to 68.2 million tonnes, up from 63.7 million tonnes in May 2023.

NTPC Ltd

NTPC Ltd is trading at ₹ 371.3, with a market capitalisation of ₹3,56,961.33 crore. Over the past year, its stock price has increased by 101.61%. NTPC recently declared the commissioning of the second and last part capacity of 33 MW out of the 90 MW Anta Solar PV Project in Anta, Rajasthan, effective from May 31, 2024. With this, NTPC's total installed and commercial capacity has reached 59,168 MW on a standalone basis and 76,048 MW on a group basis.

REC Limited

Power Finance Corporation Ltd

REC Ltd. engages in the provision of financial services. The company offers financial assistance to state electricity boards, state governments, central and state power utilities, independent power producers, rural electric cooperatives, and private sector utilities.

Oil India Ltd

Oil India Ltd is trading at ₹662.25, with a market cap of ₹ 68,028.38 crore. Over the past year, its stock price has increased by 164.26%, with a 52-week high of ₹ 689.85 and a low of ₹240.8. The company has embarked on a strategic vision to produce 4 MMT of crude oil & 5 BCM of gas in the coming years. The production was 3.176 MMT and 3.18 BCM for Crude Oil and NG respectively in FY23.