Best Blue Chip Stocks in India to Buy in 2024

In this article, we will cover

• What are best Blue chip stocks?
• Characteristics of Blue chip Stocks
• List of Best Blue chip Stocks to Buy now in India
• How to evaluate and build the portfolio of best blue chip stocks
• Detailed overview of the Best Blue Chip stocks to buy now in India

What are Blue chip stocks?

The blue-chip stocks to buy are stocks issued by financially sound and fundamentally strong  blue chip companies with humongous market capitalisation and enviable market reputation. Blue Chip companies refer to equity shares of companies with larger market capitalisation. These companies have entrenched market operations running for many years. The best blue-chip shares to buy now usually are stocks of the bellwethers and trailblazers, currently occupying the highest ranks of any industry. Given the large size, a Blue Chip company is easily recognisable and financially stable with a large distribution network. These companies typically sell quality products and services that are widely accepted across the country. Because of these qualities, such companies are more resilient to economic downturns. They may continue to grow or operate profitably, even in adverse market conditions. And this is one of the reasons these companies are relatively less sensitive to wide market fluctuations when compared to Mid Cap and Small Cap companies. Blue Chip companies are stalwarts in their own industry and belong to the mature lot on exchanges. The term ‘Blue Chip’ originates from the round of poker where the blue colored chips are relatively more valuable. Similar to the game, these stocks which are more valuable in the market and hence are termed Blue Chip stocks .

Characteristics of Top Blue chip Stocks in India:

• Consistent Returns

Blue Chip companies are large and pretty well-established, having a history of consistent performance. The best blue-chip stocks to buy have an enticing history of providing consistent returns to the shareholders in the form of considerable dividend payouts at regular intervals of time. Hence the best blue-chip stocks to buy have a glorious history of attractive returns and reasonable growth in the value of the share even in times of economic doom. Hence, we have dissected the history of the blue-chip companies and undertaken extensive analysis of past performance, in conjunction with the economic environment and duly prepared a list of best blue-chip shares to buy now.

• Financially Resilient

These companies are financially resilient with negligible to zero debt levels and are capable of surviving turbulent economic situations. Most of the best blue-chip stocks to buy are market leaders in their respective industries.. Further, it is often seen that a Blue Chip business is less affected by unfavorable financial conditions during recessionary periods.

• Low Risk

Investing in Blue Chip stocks is recommended for investors with a conservative risk profile to meet their long term goals of at least 5-7 years. But investing in these companies is ideal for all investors to grow their wealth over a long period without exposing themselves to a lot of risk and volatility. Some portion of an investor’s portfolio can always be exposed to blue chip stocks for stable less risky returns.

• Portfolio Diversification

The blue-chip stocks to buy are stocks of well-diversified companies having multiple sources of revenue. Hence, the losses suffered by one channel are mitigated by the profits earned in another medium. Therefore, it allows the investors to diversify the associated risks in investing in blue-chip stocks as the companies have spread their tentacles in different sectors and industries. This not only serves as a cushion against losses suffered by one sector but also provides resilience in times of operational setbacks. Apart from the characteristics discussed above, an investor must keep a few key financial characteristics of blue chip companies in mind before investing. Most Blue Chip companies in India have market capitalization greater than Rs. 50,000 Crs. These companies have a track record of consistently increasing their topline and operating margins on an upward trajectory. They are generally debt free companies, however, a low and stable debt to equity ratio may also be considered as a significant characteristic. Blue Chip companies are known for rewarding their loyal shareholders with consistent and increasing dividends. Also, these companies should have a high return ratio (both return on equity and return on capital employed), high interest coverage ratio, ability to consistently generate cash flows, etc. Loving the valuable content? Invite friends to Samco to explore our informative blogs. Earn voucher rewards for each successful referral. Start referring now and reap the rewards

List of Blue Chip Stocks in India to buy now

*Data as on 9 August 2024

Reliance Industries Ltd.

Reliance Industries is India’s largest company. The company is primarily engaged in the business of oil exploration, refining of petroleum and marketing & distribution of the same along with operations in petrochemicals. Reliance has diversified further by foraying into the retail, telecom and technology space with Reliance Retail and Reliance Jio, respectively. With all the businesses combined, the company pulled in revenues of over Rs. 9.01 Lakh crores in FY24. A majority of the company's cash flows come from the oil sector, but it has been aggressive in diversifying into companies that may help it achieve rapid growth and utilize its size in the proper sequence while mitigating the risks associated with the oil business. The company has is expanding its business in Reliance Jio Infocomm. Apart from this, it has been focusing on its Retail business under Reliance Retail. It has also made a couple of acquisitions under the brands.

The company has plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035 thereby focusing on diversifying across energy and other industries while continuing to invest in the oil business. Reliance has successfully become net debt free which is positive as peers are usually more debt laden at the given scale. The stock is expected to offer diverse growth opportunities over the long term. Along with this, the company has Reliance Jio and Reliance Retail among other digital investments which have been effectively contributing to the margins and growth of the company. Some of key risks include volatility in crude oil prices and industry cycles and competitive intensity in Retail and Telecom business.

Britannia Industries Ltd

Britannia is one of the largest FMCG companies in India, with a portfolio across multiple products such as Biscuit, Bread, Cake, Rusk, Dairy and Adjacencies. Biscuits, from which the company derives over 75% of its revenues, is India’s largest food category and is considered as an essential, in practically every Indian family’s consumption basket. It is one of the most deeply penetrated categories in the country, reaching over 90% of the households. Bread is considered as a staple food in many parts of our country. Consumer preference for healthy & premium products is providing significant opportunity in this category. The company derives about 18% of its revenues from bakery products which includes bakery products. Britannia is being well positioned with a strong management team, technology interventions and robust processes. Financially, the company has delivered a robust set of numbers, with strong net profit growth of 19% CAGR over the past 10 years.

It has also delivered a strong ROE of 57.2% while the ROCE stands at 48.9% in FY24, indicating a strong return on capital deployed by the company. The company faces risk from any changes in trends towards its product offerings such as a trend wherein people move away from biscuits towards other products, thereby affecting the business of the company. Another risk the company faces is from any changes in food regulations which might cause it to change its ingredient and product mix, thereby possibly affecting its margins earned. Any impact on the input costs, such as volatility and rise in grain prices can also have an adverse impact on the company profits and result in business slowdown as well.

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.

Tata Consultancy Services Ltd is the largest IT company in India by Market cap and the world’s largest IT Services provider. The company is involved in providing a wide spectrum of services such as IT Services, Consultancy, business solutions, digital transformation, and IT products and platforms. The company is also foraying into newfound and developing technologies such as cloud-based computing, machine learning, AI and Blockchain-based technology. Its majority revenue segment is BFSI which forms about 32% of the total revenue pie for the company followed by Consumer Business, Life Sciences and Healthcare, Manufacturing, Technology & Services, Communication & Media, Energy, Resources and Utilities and Others. TCS’ major revenue generation for FY24 is from North America (51.1%), followed by UK (16.5%) and Continental Europe (14.9%). And Indian market contributed 5.6%.

The company has a proven track record which is reflected in the company’s financials as it has been delivering industry-leading results such as 5-year average ROE and ROCE of 43.8% and 54.6% respectively. TCS has also seen consistent growth with revenue growing at a CAGR of 10.5% over the last 5 years while the net profits saw an 8.21% CAGR for the same period. TCS’ superior execution metrics, full stack portfolio (better deal count across verticals) and industry drivers will support growth going forward. Given TCS is a service export-oriented company, changes in currency rates can affect the demand for the services.

Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL)

Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) is a part of the over 125-year-young Godrej Group. Its portfolio and heritage are in democratisation, and this is what its strategy hinges on- making amazing quality products available at accessible price points. GCPL’s geographic footprint comprises some of the largest and fastest-growing emerging economies in the world. However, its top categories in these countries, such as Household Insecticides, Air Care, and Hair Colour, are underdeveloped, with significant headroom for growth. The firm sees this as a huge opportunity for value creation via the application of its winning strategies for category development. As category leaders, the strategy is to ramp up innovation-led growth and discover new ways to disrupt its categories.

New strategic pillars and philosophy adopted by the New MD & CEO, Mr. Sudhir Sitapati are expected to unleash the incredible potential of the company and propel it into its next phase of growth. His strategic clarity and excellent execution capabilities have already started impacting the company positively. The number one priority is to bring the volume growth back. GCPL will also focus on household insecticides and the growth of its Indonesia business, while profitability and governance will be targeted in Africa.

Company’s five-year average ROCE and ROE is 18.6 and 16.6 respectively. The clear plan for the business is to achieve the ambition of double-digit volume growth in the medium term. However, competitive market conditions and new entrants to the market may lead to an aggressive product pricing strategy.  Moreover, the company remains vulnerable to raw material price fluctuations.

Asian Paints Ltd.

Asian Paints is no.1 paint company in India and enjoys a dominant share of over 50% in the organized domestic paints market. The firm have the largest distribution and retail network in the Indian paints industry. The company derives about 88% of the revenue from the Decorative and Home Décor businesses. Driven by its leadership position, the company has registered revenue at a CAGR of 13.0% and a profit CAGR of 20.5% over the five fiscals. Strong brand equity, extensive distribution network, and wide product portfolio have enabled it to maintain a strong market position. Due to the company's leadership position, it enjoys a healthy operating margin of 21% as of FY24 which is higher than peers. Debt to equity has always been negligible and stands at 0.13 times at the end of FY24. The company’s faces the risk of unprecedented rise in its raw material prices. However, the company took some price hikes to offset this. The long-term structural story remains intact with drivers such as improved traction in business verticals, gains in market share and growth opportunities in rural and small towns.

Avenue Supermarts Ltd.

Avenue Supermarts Ltd., headquartered in Mumbai, owns and operates D-Mart stores. D-Mart is a national supermarket chain that offers customers a range of home and personal products under one roof. D-Mart has a consistently growing presence across India. As of March 31, 2024 the Company has 365 stores, spread across 10 states, 1 union territory, and NCR. D-Mart offers varied, everyday-use items to its customers with a prudent product mix. The products on offer at its stores can be broadly classified into three categories – Foods, Non-foods (FMCG), and General Merchandise and Apparel having revenue share of 56.96%, 20.68% and 22.37% respectively, in FY24. With a strategy of maintaining cost efficiencies while offering the best customer value, D-Mart has witnessed stable performance across financial and operational parameters over the years. The Company’s revenue increased at a CAGR of 20.5% while net profits rose at a CAGR of 23.2% over the last 5 years.

Strong procurement abilities, lower priced products along with healthy cost control measures all may result in higher growth in footfalls going ahead. This leads to high inventory turnover and revenue per sq. ft. and translates into industry-leading retail store productivity. Avenue Supermarts is an apt benefactor of substantial improvement in geographical diversity and sales channel mix which would result in a higher scale of operations with increased operating profitability over a period of time. Risks would include a significant weakening of operating margin due to large gestation losses from new stores, larger than expected debt-funded capex increasing the now comfortable debt-to-equity ratio.

HDFC Bank Ltd.

HDFC Bank is one of India’s top private sector banks. As of March 31, 2024, the bank’s consolidated advances stand at INR 25.66 lakh crore. In India, the bank operates 8,738 branches and 18,130+ ATMs. The bank offers a wide range of banking products and financial services to corporate and retail customers through a variety of delivery channels and through its group companies. HDFC Bank has long been regarded as a benchmark in the banking industry. HDFC Bank is a rock-solid high-growth banking brand with excellent asset quality and best-in-class return ratios. Despite the sheer size of the bank, it has consistently delivered astonishing loan book growth and has gained market share without diluting the asset quality. This is visible from its GNPAs which have remained best-in-class and have been in the range of 1.2 to 1.4% in the past five years. The bank’s capital adequacy ratio is 18.8% at the end of March 24, and the return on asset ratio is 1.98% for FY24 in the standalone books.

The bank has stated its intention in ramping up its retail loan book. With the Merger being completed, the mighty mortgage book of HDFC Ltd is transferred to HDFC Bank. HDFC Bank’s loan book now has around 30% mortgage. This long tail product would aid the bank in cross-selling and lowering its risk weighted assets thus being able to effectively use its capital. Though, company’s net interest margin (NIM) has fallen from 4.1% pre-merger to 3.4% in Q4 FY24. The Bank would face near term headwinds like pressure on Margins and some short-term hiccup on asset quality. However, this is transient in nature. The stock has corrected significantly and thus appears even more attractive at current valuations.

Model Portfolio

In order to get an exposure to Top 7 Blue chip Stocks in India, you would need a total of Rs. 54,398.50 for the below curated portfolio as on August 09, 2024.

You could invest in the above model portfolio or if you’d like to invest in a ready-made basket of stocks without having to worry about researching the same, you could invest and create wealth with  StockBasket.

How to evaluate and build the portfolio of the Top Blue-Chip stocks?

Check out our video on how to evaluate and build a solid portfolio of the  best blue chip stocks in India.

Detailed overview of the Top Blue Chip stocks in India to buy now

The table below covers some of the most important factors while evaluating Blue Chip stocks such as the return ratios – RoE, operating margins, sales and earning growth, market cap, etc.

Top 17 Blue Chip Stocks in India (Excluding Banking Companies)

*Data as on 9th August 2024

Top Blue Chip Banking Companies

*Data as on 9th August 2024

Other links you may find useful:  https://www.samco.in/knowledge-center/article-categories/stocks-to-buy/ You can check the live prices and trade India’s best large cap stocks at the lowest brokerage with SAMCO, India’s leading discount brokerage. Open a  Free Demat and Trading Account today! Loving the valuable content? Invite friends to Samco to explore our informative blogs. Earn voucher rewards for each successful referral.  Start referring now and reap the rewards , price action, volume and open interest form a complete picture of what is occurring beneath the surface of any derivatives market.  

If you want to learn more about open interest and how to use it in your trading strategy, you can check out Samco’s website. Samco is a leading online broker that offers low brokerage fees, high leverage, and advanced trading platforms. You can also access Samco’s research reports, educational resources, and trading tools to enhance your trading skills and knowledge. To start trading with Samco today, click here and open your free account.