How AI is Changing Commodity Trading in India

Mutual funds have emerged as a popular investment option for people looking to grow their wealth. They offer the benefit of professional management, diversification, and the potential for attractive returns. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced investor, understanding the various types of mutual funds can help you make insightful decisions that align with your financial goals.

In this guide, we’ll explore the different types of mutual funds based on asset class, investment goals, risk appetite, and other factors.

Types of Mutual Funds

These funds also include some subcategories which we will discuss below.

1. Equity Mutual Funds

Equity mutual funds are primarily focused on investing in stocks. The main objective is capital appreciation over the long term. These funds are considered high-risk, but they also offer the potential for higher returns.

Types of Equity Mutual Funds:

• Large-Cap Funds: These funds invest in well-established, large companies with a proven track record. They tend to be more stable but offer moderate returns.
• Mid-Cap Funds: Mid-cap funds focus on companies with medium-sized market capitalizations. These companies have growth potential, offering a higher risk-reward ratio.
• Small-Cap Funds: Small-cap funds invest in smaller companies with the potential for significant growth. These funds carry higher risks but can offer substantial returns if the companies perform well.
• Sectoral/Thematic Funds: These funds invest in specific sectors like technology, healthcare, or real estate. Their performance is closely tied to the growth of that particular sector.
• ELSS (Equity-Linked Savings Scheme): This is a tax-saving mutual fund that qualifies for tax deductions under Section 80C of the Income Tax Act. It comes with a lock-in period of three years.

2. Debt Mutual Funds

Debt mutual funds invest in fixed-income instruments like bonds, debentures, government securities, and treasury bills. They are less volatile than equity funds, making them ideal for conservative investors looking for steady income rather than aggressive growth.

Types of Debt Mutual Funds:

• Liquid Funds: These funds invest in debt instruments with a short maturity period of up to 91 days. They are ideal for parking surplus money for short durations.
• Short-Term and Ultra Short-Term Debt Funds: These funds invest in debt securities with shorter durations, generally up to three years. They are less affected by interest rate changes.
• Long-Term Debt Funds: These funds invest in securities with a longer duration, offering potentially higher returns but with increased sensitivity to interest rate movements.
• Gilt Funds: Gilt funds invest in government securities. These are ideal for risk-averse investors as they come with minimal credit risk.
• Credit Risk Funds: These funds invest in low-rated corporate bonds, which offer higher yields but come with a higher credit risk.
• Dynamic Bond Funds: These funds have the flexibility to adjust the portfolio's duration based on interest rate movements, making them suitable for changing market conditions.

3. Hybrid Mutual Funds

Hybrid mutual funds, also known as balanced funds, invest in both equity and debt instruments, offering a balanced risk-return trade-off. These funds are suitable for investors looking for moderate risk with the potential for growth as well as regular income.

Types of Hybrid Funds:

• Aggressive Hybrid Funds: These funds allocate a significant portion (around 65-80%) of the portfolio to equities and the rest to debt, offering higher growth potential.
• Conservative Hybrid Funds: Conservative hybrid funds have a greater allocation to debt instruments (around 75-90%) and a smaller portion to equities, making them less volatile.
• Balanced Advantage Funds: These funds dynamically manage the allocation between equity and debt based on market conditions, aiming to minimize risks while optimizing returns.

4. Index Funds

Index funds replicate the performance of a specific stock market index like the Nifty 50 or the Sensex. They offer diversification and are ideal for investors looking for long-term returns without the risk of active stock picking. Since these funds are passively managed, they come with lower expense ratios compared to actively managed funds.

5. Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs)

Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) are similar to index funds but are traded on the stock exchange like individual stocks. They offer the benefits of both mutual funds and direct stock trading, including diversification and liquidity. ETFs typically have lower expense ratios and can be bought or sold at any time during market hours.

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How to Choose the Right Mutual Fund?

Selecting the right mutual fund depends on various factors, including:

• Investment Goals: Whether you're looking for short-term gains, long-term growth, or regular income, your financial goals should guide your choice of mutual funds.
• Risk Appetite: Equity funds carry higher risks but offer greater returns, while debt funds are more stable but with lower returns.
• Time Horizon: For short-term goals, debt funds or liquid funds are ideal, while for long-term goals, equity or hybrid funds may be more suitable.
• Expense Ratios: Lower expense ratios mean more of your money is being invested, so it’s important to consider this when choosing between similar funds.

Conclusion

Understanding the different types of mutual funds is essential to making the right investment choices. Whether you're looking for aggressive growth through equity funds or stable returns via debt funds, there’s a mutual fund for every investor. By aligning your investment choices with your financial goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon, you can build a portfolio that helps you achieve your financial objectives.

Introduction

Welcome! Today, we’re going to explore the world of bonds, a key component of the financial markets. Bonds are essentially loans made by investors to borrowers, usually corporations or governments. In return, the borrower agrees to pay interest over a specified period and repay the principal at maturity. Let's break down the different types of bonds you might encounter.

1. Government Bonds

Government bonds are issued by a national government and are considered one of the safest investments since they are backed by the government's credit. In India, these are known as Government Securities (G-Secs).

• Example: Indian Government Bonds, such as the 10-Year G-Sec, offer a fixed interest rate and are a preferred choice for conservative investors.

2. Corporate Bonds

Corporate bonds are issued by companies to raise capital. They typically offer higher interest rates than government bonds to compensate for the increased risk.

• Example: Reliance Industries issues corporate bonds that offer investors a higher return compared to government bonds but with a slightly higher risk.

3. Municipal Bonds

Municipal bonds are issued by local government bodies, such as states or municipalities, to finance public projects like schools or infrastructure. These bonds often provide tax advantages to investors.

• Example: In the U.S., municipal bonds are common, but in India, similar bonds are less prevalent. However, urban development bonds issued by state governments can be considered a counterpart.

4. Zero-Coupon Bonds

Zero-coupon bonds do not pay periodic interest. Instead, they are issued at a discount to their face value and mature at par. The difference between the purchase price and the face value represents the investor's return.

• Example: Treasury Bills (T-Bills) in India are short-term zero-coupon bonds issued by the government, typically maturing in less than a year.

5. Convertible Bonds

Convertible bonds offer the option to convert the bond into a predetermined number of the company's equity shares. This feature provides potential upside if the company's stock performs well.

• Example: A company like Tata Motors might issue convertible bonds that can be converted into equity shares after a certain period, allowing investors to participate in the company’s growth.

6. Inflation-Linked Bonds

These bonds are designed to protect investors from inflation. The principal and interest payments are adjusted based on inflation rates, ensuring that the purchasing power of the investment is maintained.

• Example: The Government of India issues Inflation-Indexed Bonds (IIBs) that adjust the principal amount based on the inflation rate, protecting investors from the eroding effects of inflation.

7. Callable and Puttable Bonds

• Callable Bonds: These bonds can be "called" or redeemed by the issuer before the maturity date, usually when interest rates drop.
• Puttable Bonds: These allow investors to "put" or sell the bond back to the issuer before maturity, typically if interest rates rise or if they need liquidity.
• Example: A callable bond issued by a corporation may be redeemed if interest rates decline, allowing the company to refinance at a lower rate.

8. Foreign Bonds

Foreign bonds are issued in a country by a non-domestic entity and are denominated in the currency of the country where they are issued.

• Example: Masala Bonds are a type of foreign bond issued by Indian companies in Indian Rupees but sold to foreign investors.

Conclusion

Bonds are a versatile investment option, offering something for every type of investor, from the risk-averse to those seeking higher returns. Whether you’re interested in the safety of government bonds or the potential growth from corporate and convertible bonds, understanding the different types of bonds can help you make more updated investment decisions.

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Introduction

Welcome! Today, we’re delving into the intriguing concept of reverse stock splits. Though it might sound complex, it's a straightforward concept once you break it down. A reverse stock split is a corporate action where a company reduces the number of its outstanding shares. This process effectively increases the share price proportionally. Let’s explore what this means and why companies might choose to perform a reverse stock split.

What is a Reverse Stock Split?

In a reverse stock split, a company consolidates its shares. For instance, in a 1-for-10 reverse stock split, every 10 existing shares are merged into 1 new share. This reduces the total number of shares outstanding but increases the share price accordingly.

Why Do Companies Perform Reverse Stock Splits?

1. Increase Share Price: Companies often use reverse stock splits to boost their share price. This is especially useful for maintaining a minimum share price requirement for listing on stock exchanges. A higher share price can help avoid delisting from major stock exchanges.
2. Improve Perception: A higher share price can positively affect how investors and analysts view the company. It may attract more investment and improve the company's overall market perception.
3. Reduce Volatility: By consolidating shares, companies can reduce the volatility of their stock price. This makes the stock less susceptible to small price fluctuations, which can be beneficial for both the company and its investors.

How Does a Reverse Stock Split Work?

Here’s a simple example to illustrate:

• Before the Split: Imagine a company with 1,000,000 shares outstanding, each priced at ₹10. The total market capitalization is ₹10,000,000.
• After a 1-for-10 Reverse Split: The company will have 100,000 shares outstanding, each priced at ₹100. The total market capitalization remains ₹10,000,000.

Effects on Shareholders

1. Shareholder Equity: Shareholders will own fewer shares after the split. However, the total value of their investment remains the same, assuming no other market changes. For example, if you owned 1,000 shares priced at ₹10 each before the split, you would own 100 shares priced at ₹100 each after the split.
2. Stock Price: The price per share increases proportionally to the reverse split ratio. While the price per share rises, the overall value of the investment does not change immediately.
3. Future Trading: A higher share price might make the stock more attractive to institutional investors and reduce the risk of being delisted from major exchanges. This could lead to increased trading activity and improved market perception.

Risks and Considerations

1. Market Perception: Reverse stock splits can sometimes be viewed negatively. They might signal that a company is struggling or trying to artificially boost its stock price. This perception can affect investor confidence.
2. Impact on Liquidity: Reducing the number of shares can impact trading liquidity. Fewer shares available in the market might make it harder for investors to buy or sell shares, potentially leading to wider bid-ask spreads.

Examples of Reverse Stock Splits

1. Company A: Tata Motors: Tata Motors performed a 1-for-10 reverse stock split in 2018. Before the split, the share price was around ₹40, and after the split, it was adjusted to ₹400. The split was intended to increase the share price and improve liquidity.
2. Company B: Zee Entertainment: Zee Entertainment executed a 1-for-5 reverse stock split in 2022. Before the split, the share price was approximately ₹30, and after the split, it increased to ₹150. This move aimed to meet the listing requirements and attract more institutional investors.

Conclusion

Reverse stock splits are strategic actions by companies to manage their share price and market perception. While they can offer benefits such as increased share price and improved investor perception, they also come with risks and considerations. It’s essential to stay informed and understand the broader context when evaluating the impact of reverse stock splits on your investments.

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Sapphire Foods India limited one of YUM’s franchisee operators in the Indian subcontinent. They are also Sri Lanka’s largest international QSR chain, in terms of revenue. Company also established a presence in the Maldives. Company-owned and operated 209 KFC restaurants in India and the Maldives, 239 Pizza Hut restaurants in India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, and two Taco Bell restaurants in Sri Lanka. They operate their restaurants in high traffic and high visibility locations in key metropolitan areas and cities across India and develop new restaurants in new cities as part of their brand and food category expansion. The company has an in-house supply chain function and works with vendor partners for food ingredients, packaging, warehousing, and logistics. The company operates warehouses across 5 Indian cities and has invested in building technology solutions in their restaurants. The company employs YUM brand's global online and digital channel solutions to enhance customer experience and achieve operational efficiency and financial control.

• Food services is a key segment in the Indian economy, with a market size of US$26.8 billion in the financial year 2021 growth of the food services sector in India is expected to grow more.
• Company’s franchisee Arrangement also provides a right to use YUM’s system and system property covering all aspects of business operations, as well as the flexibility to undertake, with YUM’s approval, local or regional promotions, while meeting YUM’s global quality assurance standards.
• The organized market, consisting of chain and organized standalone outlets, is expected to increase its share in the food services market in India from 37.8% in financial year 2020 to 51.3% in financial year 2025.

Outlook & Valuation:

The Company recorded a loss of Rs (99.89) cr. in the financial year FY21 against a loss of Rs (159.25) cr. in the previous year FY20. Revenue from operations in the same period declined to Rs 1,019.62 cr. in FY21 from Rs 1,340.41 cr. in FY20 due to the Covid-19 crisis. The issue is priced at a P/BV of 14.63 based on its NAV of Rs. 80.67 as of June 30. Sapphire Foods is a Leading quick-service restaurant brand with a large market presence and size. Their initial public offer will be a pure offer for the sale of its equity shares; also the company is loss-making in the last three financial years. The company aims to break even in the near future. We are in a bull run of IPO's where new edge businesses are on the front seat. IPO euphoria might lead to listing gain as the IPO is arriving at a P/S of 7x which is half to its peers however we expect the peers to outperform Sapphire Food over the long run. Thus we assign a "SUBSCRIBE" rating with a cautious view.

KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL

• Sanjay Purohit is the Whole Time Director and Group CEO of the Company. He has over 30 years of work experience across consumer product categories including food and apparel retail, packaged food, and paints.
• Sunil Rewachand Chandiramani is the Chairman and Independent Director of the Company. He has experience of over 29 years and has worked in the field of accounting and advisory services.
• Sumeet Subhash Narang is a Non-Executive Director of the Company as a nominee of Sapphire Foods Mauritius Limited.
• Manish Mehta is a Non-Executive Director of the Company as a nominee of Sapphire Foods Mauritius Limited. He has experience of over 17 years.
• Vikram Ranjan Agarwal is a Non-Executive Director of the Company as a nominee of QSR Management Trust for the past 13 years and has worked in the field of private equity.
• Kabir Kishin Thakur is a Non-Executive Director of the Company. He has experience of over 14 years
• Deepa Gopalan Wadhwa is an Independent Director of the Company.
• Anu Ram Aggarwal is an Independent Director of the Company.

COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS

• Leading QSR brands with a substantial market presence and scale
• Strong relationship with YUM
• Continuous focus on delivering great customer experience
• Operational excellence
• Scalable new restaurant economic model for expansion
• Great place to work led by experienced management team and backed by institutional capital

KEY CONCERNS

• Company reported loss for the last three financial years and may incur additional losses in the future.
• The Coronavirus disease (COVID19) pandemic has substantially affected and may continue to affect the business
• Company will not receive any proceeds from the Offer for Sale. The Selling Shareholders will receive the net proceeds from the Offer for Sale.
• Company incurred indebtedness and may incur additional indebtedness in the future which could affect their ability to obtain future financing or pursue any growth strategy.
• There are material outstanding legal proceedings involving the Company, Subsidiaries, and Directors...

Incorporated in 2000, One97 Communications Limited (Paytm) is India’s leading digital ecosystem for consumers and merchants. Paytm offers ‘Payment Services’, ‘Commerce and Cloud Services’, and ‘Financial Services’ to 33.3 crore consumers and over 2.18 crore merchants registered with them, as of June 30, 2021.

Their 2-sided (consumer and merchant) ecosystem enables commerce, and provides access to financial services, by leveraging technology to improve the lives of their consumers and help their merchants grow their businesses.

In 2009, the company launched the first digital mobile payment platform, "Paytm App" to offer cashless payment services to customers and now, it became India's largest payment platform and the most valuable payments brand with a total brand value of US$6.3 billion as per Kantar Brands India 2020 Report.

The app enables customers to do cashless transactions at stores, top-up mobile phones, online money transfers, pay bills, access digital banking services, purchase tickets, play games online, buy insurance, make investments, and more. However, merchants can use the platform for advertising, online payment solutions, offering products to customers, and loyalty solutions. They have created a payments-led super-app, through which they offer their consumers innovative and intuitive digital products and services. They offer their consumers a wide selection of payment options on the Paytm app, which includes:

1. Paytm Payment Instruments, which allow them to use digital wallets, sub-wallets, bank accounts, buy-now-pay-later, and wealth management accounts.
2. Major third-party instruments, such as Debit and Credit Cards and Net Banking.

Offer services such as Paytm Wallet, Paytm QR, Paytm Soundbox, Gold investments, and Fixed Deposit, Paytm Postpaid, Merchant Cash Advance and FASTag.

Outlook & Valuation

The revenues of the company have been on the declining side, in FY19 revenue was at ₹3,579 cr while in FY21 it was at ₹3,186 cr. Also, it is a loss-making company with a loss of ₹(4,230.9) cr in FY19 which however reduced to ₹(1,701) cr in FY21.

We are in an era of new-age businesses where we have seen many unicorns getting listed recently. It is really arduous to provide a valuation for such types of companies. We expect only leaders will survive over a period of time and only a few such companies will be wealth creators while many can be wealth destroyers. As India is on the verge of digitalization, we may expect the company to get benefited from the same also new acquisition and strengthening of the PAYTM ecosystem from the IPO will be beneficial for the company. Thus we assign a "SUBSCRIBE" rating only for aggressive investors.

KEY MANAGERIAL PERSONNEL

• Vijay Shekhar Sharma is the Founder, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of the company, and the Chairman of the Board. He oversees the Company's key strategic efforts including engineering, design, and marketing.
• Madhur Deora is the President and Group Chief Financial Officer of the company. He has been associated with the company since October 3, 2016.
• Manmeet Singh Dhody is the Chief Technology Officer, Payments. He has been associated with the company since April 1, 2020.
• Vikas Garg is the Chief Financial Officer of the company. He has been associated with the company since May 21, 2014, and was previously associated with the company from August 25, 2008, to September 28, 2012.
• Sudhanshu Gupta is the Chief Operating Officer of Paytm First Games Pvt Ltd, their Subsidiary. He has been associated with Paytm First Games Pvt Ltd since June 1, 2018.
• Bhavesh Gupta is the Chief Executive Officer of the Lending Business of the company. He has been associated with the company since August 4, 2020.
• Renu Satti is the Chief Operating Officer of Offline Payments of the company. She has been associated with the company since October 11, 2006.
• Praveen Kumar Sharma is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Paytm Payments Services Ltd. He has been associated with the company since September 2, 2019.
• Harinderpal Singh Takhar is the Chief Executive Officer of Paytm Labs Inc, their Subsidiary. He has been associated with Paytm Labs Inc. since June 2013.

COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS

• India's leading digital payment service platform.
• Strong brand identity with a brand value of US$6.3 billion.
• Large customer base with 333 million total customers, 114 million annual transacting users, and 21 million registered merchants.
• Paytm Super-app to access a wide range of digital payment services over mobile phones.
• Strong macro tailwinds.
• Increasing pace of digitization.
• Digital payments in India evolving rapidly
• Under-penetration and rising digitization of financial services

KEY CONCERNS

• They have a history of net losses and we may not be able to achieve profitability.
• The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and measures intended to prevent its spread have had, and may continue to have, a material and adverse effect on the business and results of operations.
• The company may suffer if they are unable to retain existing customers, acquire new customers, grow the amount of consumer transactions, or increase in the client acquisition expenses.
• Their payment services account for the majority of their income. Their attempts to broaden their service offerings and market reach may not be successful, which might have a negative impact on their income.
• The business might suffer if they do not maintain or develop their technological infrastructure.

COMPARISON WITH LISTED INDUSTRY PEERS

There are no listed companies in India that engage in a business similar to that of the Company. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide an industry comparison in relation to the company

India’s leading digital payments system company Paytm made history after successfully launching India’s biggest ever IPO in the current month. As per the sources, the total worth of this public offering was Rs 18,300 Crores with the fixed price band at Rs 2080 to Rs 2,150 for each share.

The company hit headlines when the shares of the company made their market debut after much anticipation on Thursday at a 9 per cent discount. Against the expectations, Paytm Stock listed at Rs 1,955 dropped 9% from its issue price on the BSE. After some hours, the stock prices declined further and reached Rs 1,564 a share (a drop of 27.25%) & hit the lower circuit limit at the end of the day trade.

It has been seen that Paytm's market capitalization dropped to about $13.6 billion from its IPO valuation of $20 billion.

Here comes a question: How did India’s greatest IPO fail to give an outstanding performance? Let’s figure it out.

High Valuation Led to Losses for the Investors

Experts said that the company’s high valuation, loss-making business decisions and muted investor’s response are some of the primary reasons for the downfall, even though the company expects to break even by next year or in early 2023.

HNIs or and other powerful investors usually borrow funds for the IPO offerings at highly competitive rates. Hence, the investors will make a profit only if the IPO lists at a higher premium than the cost of funding.

After June 2021, merely 25% of the IPO were listed at a discount which led to a huge loss for the investors.

In the case of Paytm, the debut price was lower than anticipated as the stock opened at Rs 1,955 against the issue price of Rs 2,1050 at the upper end at BSE. The stock price is falling at 9.1 per cent. According to Money control, only aggressive investors were requested to put their money for future investments.

The weak response is being viewed as a sign that investors had become disillusioned with a recent string of IPOs with high valuations.

There are numerous reports out there that have claimed that Paytm’s business model lacks focus and attention.

Macquarie Stock Market Research firm has further said that achieving scale with profitability is the biggest challenge for the company. Also, the target price of Rs 1200 for the stock against its issue price of Rs 2,150 clearly shows the 40 per cent downside risks.

Competition May Drive Down Unit Economics

Also, the research firm points out that competitors of Paytm such as Amazon, Flipkart, Google etc are offering the same services. The competition became tough when new services such as Buy Today Pay Later were launched by the competitors.

This can be clearly seen from the fact that despite Paytm’s offering being much larger than other offerings, the demand was weaker than the recent stock sale. This is because Paytm has lost much of its market share to its competitors like Google and Flipkart.

Stiff Competition with Disruption in Business

Paytm holds its major competition with significant giants in the eCommerce industry like Amazon, GooglePay and Flipkart's Phone Pe. It faces intense competition from these adversaries in specific business areas like purchase currently pay later or buy today and pay later (BTPL)

Although Paytm's Rs. 18,300 crores IPO was listed at the top of the indicator range, it neglected to earn a lot of interest rather than other ongoing IPO events.

The biggest reason behind the market loss to Google Pay and Phone Pe was mainly responsible for this. It is also believed that the company’s FCF (Free cash flow) will not regain its pace till FY 2030.

In addition, the huge development in UPI-based payment structure hampered Paytm's business model.

UPI was presented by GOI in 2019 to build and promote a unified platform for payment in the whole country.

At this point, UPI represents almost 65% of Paytm's GMV, with a strong possibility to reach 85% by FY26

In any case, Paytm actually procures around 70% of its income from the payment business. It is a key part of the mobile wallet section. Nonetheless, this section has lost pertinence because of the advent of UPI payments.

Trouble to Achieve Scale with Profitability

According to a report by Macquarie Research, Paytm needs concentration, innovation and development in its business model. The firm accepts Paytm doesn't have the ability to accomplish scale with productivity.

The digital payment platform is associated with various business verticals, including consumer lending, payment gateway, monetary services etc. It has been consuming a lot of its money while attempting to maintain a few business fragments along with no emphasis on accomplishing benefits. In addition, Paytm procures lower revenue for every dollar it spends through advertising.

As such, the organization has been forced to move into other business segments as it is continuously looking for profitability. In any case, Paytm enjoys a huge client base with 50 million active customers and 22 million merchant banking clients.

Major Decline in Ecommerce Revenue

Paytm Mall, Paytm's internet business arm, contributes around 55% of its income in this income. During FY2019-21, the segment saw a sharp fall in income. This was predominantly because of rising competition from other significant adversaries.

Paytm neglected to stay aware of the internet business giants like Amazon and Walmart-possessed Flipkart. These players accompany a huge client merchant ecosystem and huge buyer offers.

Conclusion

Paytm stock crash tells us a lot. Only a good company is not the one that can offer you amazing benefits. There are certain things you need to ponder before subscribing to an IPO.

Therefore investors, keen to subscribe to SME IPOs must check the company’s financial and fundamentals. Carefully read the financial statements of a company, analyze its strength and weakness and valuations of a company before subscribing to the IPOs.