Muhurat Trading 2025: JM Financial Shares 10 Stock Picks Ahead of Diwali

The year 2025 has been an eventful one for Indian investors. While headwinds such as tariff troubles with the US, the brutal attack on Pahalgam and a muted first quarter dampened investor sentiments, the second half of the year has been filled with optimism.

As the festival of Diwali nears, the Muhurat Trading Session is expected to further boost this optimism and lift investor sentiment. In 2025, the Muhurat Trading session will be held on October 21 from 1:45 PM to 2:45 PM.

Brokerage firm JM Financial has shared 10 stock picks for the special trading session. The brokerage has picked the stocks across sectors such as auto, financial services, metals, and consumer durables. The brokerage has also shared some key reasons for its bullishness on the stocks. Here’s a look at some of JM Financials' top stock picks for the special session:

Maruti Suzuki India

JM Financial has picked Maruti Suzuki India Ltd as its stock pick for the special trading session among automotive stocks. The brokerage added that it is bullish on the auto-stock as it anticipates a shift towards a more favourable product mix with an increase in CNG SUV offerings.

The brokerage also mentioned that Maruti Suzuki’s upcoming in-house battery plant will enable the company to launch a series of hybrid vehicles. These integrations are expected to drive margin gains and revenue and profit-after-tax growth. However, the brokerage also highlighted risks such as supply disruption risks for critical inputs and probable weak response to new launches. On October 17, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd shares finished at Rs 16,380 apiece up by 0.5 per cent on the NSE.

Fiem Industries

JM Financial has picked Fiem Industries from the auto-ancillary industry. The brokerage believes that the company continues to strengthen its presence in the four-wheeler segment. The brokerage added that the stock is set to benefit from the company’s major order wins such as a second order from Mercedes, new contracts for M&M’s Bolero, and development orders from Force Motors. The brokerage added that lights remain a key driver for the company’s revenue. However, the brokerage cited risks such as reliance on few key clients and slowdown in two wheeler sales.

Shares of Fiem Industries finished lower at Rs 1,935 apiece on the NSE down by 2.32 per cent on October 17.

Axis Bank

JM Financial said that it retains a preference for large private banks over mid-size banks given their stronger return profiles, better liability franchises, lower asset quality risk, and attractive valuations relative to growth. Amid the preference for large banks the brokerage has picked Axis Bank as its stock pick for the special trading session. The brokerage anticipates an improvement in liquidity conditions and normalisation of credit costs. However, the brokerage urged investors to be mindful of risks such as higher than expected Net Interest Margin decline.

Axis Bank shares closed at Rs 1,200.4 apiece on the NSE up by 0.34 per cent on the NSE on October 17.

L&T Finance

JM Financial has given L&T Finance’s stock a buy rating for the muhurat trading session. The brokerage mentioned in a note that the company benefits from its strong parentage and diversified product mix. The company started the fiscal on a stable footing, despite ongoing asset quality challenges in the MFI industry (more residual in nature). The brokerage added that the company is set to sustain growth momentum in Q2FY26 backed by festive demand. However, the brokerage urged investors to not discount risks such as the resurfacing of asset quality concerns.

L&T Finance shares finished 0.98 per cent lower at Rs 266.56 apiece on the NSE on October 17.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise

JM Financial has assigned a buy rating to Apollo Hospitals shares. The brokerage said that the stock is set to benefit from the addition of 1,717 beds, an 8 per cent annual increase in pharmacy outlets and improving operating leverage in the 24/7 segment. The company has also expressed plans to add 3,577 beds over the period with a significant portion of these additions to come online in FY26. However, the brokerage mentioned risks related to the company such as slower-than-anticipated expansion of bed capacity or a delayed ramp-up in occupancy along with regulatory risks driven by increasing public concern over healthcare inflation.

Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd shares closed at Rs 7,882.5 apiece on the NSE up by 0.63 per cent on October 17.

Lloyds Metals & Energy

JM Financial has picked Lloyds Metals & Energy Ltd for the muhurat trading session. The brokerage believes that the stock’s recent underperformance compared to the Nifty Metal index makes it a good buy given the brokerage’s expectation of sharp ramp-up in the iron ore production to 6-7metric tonnes from Q3FY26 onwards. However, the brokerage cited risks such as a decline in Iron ore prices, delay in ramp up of volumes and delay in commissioning of key downstream projects.

Shares of Lloyds Metals And Energy Ltd closed at Rs 1,323 apiece up by 0.03 per cent on the NSE.

Brainbees Solutions

JM Financial has assigned a buy-rating to Brainbees Solutions shares. The brokerage added that the company achieved 24 per cent adjusted EBITDA growth in FY25 and is projected to deliver a 22 per cent CAGR over the next three years. However, the brokerage cited risks such as the company’s COCO store expansion cannibalising its existing footprint and execution challenges in the international segment.

Brainbees Solutions Ltd shares closed at Rs 366.5 apiece on the NSE up by 0.52 per cent on the NSE.

Anant Raj

JM Financial has given a buy call on Anant Raj Ltd shares for the muhurat trading session. The brokerage believes that the real estate developer is set to benefit from its diverse portfolio spanning housing, commercial, hospitality, and data centers for medium to long term. However, the brokerage also cited risks such as delays in launch of real estate project and competition in data center resulting into lower profitability.

Anant Raj shares finished in the red on October 17, declining 1.87 per cent to close at Rs 621.5 apiece on the NSE.

Eureka Forbes

JM Financial has picked Eureka Forbes as a stock pick among consumer durable stocks. The brokerage cited the company’s strong presence in the water purifier market vis-a-vis its competitors such as Havells, Tata Swacch, and V-Guard which have not been able to hold more than 5 per cent market share. The brokerage added that the low penetration of water purifiers implies secular growth potential for a few decades for top brands within the segment.

However, the brokerage also urged investors to be mindful of risks such as competition from domestic and international brands and availability of counterfeit products in the market.

Eureka Forbes shares closed lower by 0.41 per cent at Rs 540.95 apiece on the NSE on October 17.

Astral

JM Financial has assigned a buy rating on Astral Ltd’s stock for the muhurat trading session. The brokerage explained its rationale for the buy rating, citing the company’s initiative to strengthen its CPVC franchise through backward integration into resin which is expected to enhance supply security, support margins, and competitiveness. However, the brokerage urged investors to consider risks such as rising competitive intensity in CPVC pipes segment and execution risks in CPVC resin manufacturing. Shares of Astral Ltd closed at Rs 1,438.7 apiece on the NSE on October 17, down by 0.42 per cent.