investment philosophy: ETMarkets Smart Talk: India’s structural growth story backed by the 3Ds—democracy, demand, and demography

Q) Thanks for taking the time out. The month of May started on a volatile note with benchmark indices witnessing wild swings on either side. How are you reading into markets?

A) The volatility in May is largely a function of mixed global signals and sectoral rotations playing out in real time. We’re seeing a tug of war between sticky inflation data in the U.S., speculation around the Fed’s next move, and ongoing geopolitical tensions that are keeping global risk appetite in check.

Despite the Geopolitical unrest, Indian markets are demonstrating resilience, supported by strong corporate earnings, robust domestic consumption, and healthy credit growth.

At Ashika Global Family Office Services, we believe this volatility is a healthy reset—allowing markets to consolidate before the next leg up.

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We are advising clients to stay invested, remain stock- and sector-specific, and use corrections to accumulate high-conviction ideas. This is not a time for broad-based aggression, but a moment for focused, disciplined investing.

Q) What is the sense you are making from the March quarter results? Are downgrades more than upgrades this time around?
A) The March quarter results have been a mixed bag, but overall, they reaffirm the resilience of the Indian corporate sector. While topline growth has moderated for some sectors due to base effects and softening global demand, margin expansion has been a key positive—especially in segments like manufacturing, auto, and select industries where input costs have come down meaningfully.In terms of revisions, it’s been fairly balanced. While there have been downgrades in a few export-facing sectors like IT and chemicals due to global headwinds, we’ve also seen upgrades in domestic-oriented sectors such as banking, capital goods, and consumer discretionary.

At Ashika Global Family Office Services, we believe the market is rewarding companies that have demonstrated cost efficiency, pricing power, and strong balance sheets.

The key takeaway this earnings season is that the leadership is becoming narrower, and investors need to be selective and forward-looking in their approach.

Q) We have seen IndusInd bank results, and more skeletons could come out of the closet in near future. What should investors do who are invested in these types of companies with corporate governance issues?
A) Corporate governance is non-negotiable especially in the current market environment where capital is discerning and trust is paramount.

Incidents like what we’ve seen with IndusInd Bank serve as a reminder that strong financials alone are not enough; the quality of management and governance practices are equally critical.

We always advocate a ‘governance-first’ approach to investing. If there are red flags, whether it’s lack of transparency, aggressive accounting, or board-level issues, we prefer to step aside, even if the stock appears attractive on valuations.

For investors currently holding such names, it’s important to reassess the risk-reward framework. If trust is eroded, capital preservation should take precedence over potential upside.

In such cases, a phased exit into cleaner, fundamentally stronger alternatives is often the most prudent path forward.

Q) What is the long-term outlook for Indian equities over the next few years?
A) At Ashika Global Family Office, our investment philosophy is anchored in India’s structural strengths, which we call the 3Ds: democracy, demand, and demography.

These are not just buzzwords; they form the foundation of India’s long-term growth story and the reason we remain firmly bullish on Indian equities over the next three to five years.

A robust democratic framework ensures policy continuity and institutional strength. Rising domestic demand, driven by aspirational consumption and increasing urbanization, provides a solid base for earnings growth.

Our demographic dividend, with a young, tech-savvy population, is set to fuel productivity and innovation across sectors. Together, these drivers make India a structural, multi-decade opportunity.

Volatility will come and go, but for long-term investors focused on quality businesses and strong governance, Indian equities will continue to be a powerful engine for wealth creation.

Q) Which sectors are expected to deliver strong returns going forward? Any safe bets which investors can consider?
A) We remain positive on banking, FMCG, and select PSUs like capital goods and power. Banking benefits from strong credit growth and improving asset quality, while FMCG is supported by easing input costs, and rural demand recovery.

PSUs in capital goods and power are seeing a structural re-rating thanks to government infrastructure focus.

For conservative investors, large-cap quality stocks in these sectors offer a relatively safe and steady opportunity aligned with India’s long-term growth

Q) How can high-net-worth individuals effectively build wealth in the current market environment?

A) High-net-worth individuals should follow Ashika’s philosophy of Invest Rightly, Switch Timely—investing initially in quality businesses with strong fundamentals and then actively adjusting portfolios as market conditions change.

Balancing growth and capital preservation through disciplined stock selection and timely portfolio shifts, while focusing on governance and sustainable cash flows, is key to building resilient wealth amid volatility.

Q) What is your take on Gold? Recently, it has crossed Rs 1 lakh in the physical market. Right time to increase allocation or should investors wait for some cool off?
A) Gold has historically served as a reliable hedge against global uncertainty and volatile markets—evident from the aggressive buying by central banks in recent years.

However, with macro conditions gradually stabilizing, the safe-haven appeal of gold may wane as investor sentiment shifts back toward equities.

At this juncture, it may not be the most opportune time to enter gold. Investors would be better served by observing how global dynamics unfold before making fresh allocations.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views, and opinions given by experts are their own. These do not represent the views of the Economic Times)