Here is what HNIs' most bullish stock bets of 2021 delivered so far

NEW DELHI: While calendar 2021 has seen high net worth individuals (HNIs) mostly chase primary market offerings, the risk-taking investors have actively been buying into 11 stocks from the BSE500 for two successive quarters now.

Seven of these stocks have beaten the index returns by delivering up to 128 per cent return year-to-date. These include SAIL, IDFC, Dish TV, Ircon International, Dishman Carbogen Amcis and JK Paper.

In the case of SAIL, HNI holding jumped to 5.69 per cent in the June quarter from 5.13 per cent in March and 2.11 per cent in the December quarter. The scrip has jumped 61 per cent year-to-date. June quarter saw ace investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala buy 1.39 per cent stake in this PSU steelmaker.

In IDFC, a stock owned by seasoned investors Ashish Dhawan and Aakash Bhansali, HNIs hiked their stake by 346 basis points in the two quarters to 24.82 per cent in June quarter from 21.36 per cent at the end of December quarter. This scrip has gained 25 per cent against BSE200's 22 per cent during the period.

Ashish Dhawan also has a stake in Dish TV India, where HNIs have raised their stake by 324 basis points in two successive quarters. This stock, however, has fallen 3 per cent year-to-date.

Ircon International has tanked 7 per cent this year, even as HNIs have hiked their holding by 294 basis points for two straight quarters. Dishman Carbogen Amcis and Alkem Laboratories also saw HNIs stake hike by 200 basis points during the period. These stocks are up 31-32 per cent year-to-date.

Nocil and JK Paper proved to be good bets after the stocks gained 85 per cent and 128 per cent, respectively. HNIs hiked stakes by 167-188 basis points in these.

India Cements (down 4 per cent YTD), Hathway Cable & Datacom (down 30 per cent) and Network 18 Media & Investments (up 33 per cent) were among the other stocks from BSE500 where HNIs raised stake by over 100 basis points in the two quarters of calendar 2021.