Published Monday May 25, 2026 at 7:00 AM IST. Data from Business Standard, BusinessToday, Upstox, DSIJ, ZeeBiz, Univest (May 21–25, 2026). All targets and stop-losses are analytical reference points only. Not investment advice. Not SEBI registered. Read our full disclaimer.
Why Monday May 25 Has a Unique Edge — Context Before the Open
Monday May 25 opens with a distinctive combination: the Dow Jones hit a record 50,580 on Friday (+0.58%), the S&P 500 clinched its eighth consecutive winning week, and US markets are shut today for Memorial Day — meaning India is the first major global market to absorb any weekend Iran developments. That makes today’s 9:00 AM GIFT Nifty reading critical before any position. If ceasefire holds and Brent stays below $106, the global setup pushes stocks higher. If Iran escalates, all bets are off.
With that context established, here are the eight stocks that carry the strongest event-driven or technical catalysts for Monday specifically — each with a clear reason it belongs on today’s radar and an honest assessment of both sides of the trade.
Stock 1 — Nykaa (FSN E-Commerce): PAT +290%, Revenue Crosses $1 Billion — Reaction Trade or Wait?
What happened: FSN E-Commerce Ventures — Nykaa’s parent — reported Q4 FY26 net profit of ₹78–79 crore, a 290% surge from ₹20 crore a year ago. Revenue grew 28.4% to ₹2,648 crore. Business Standard called it “the highest growth in the last 12 quarters.” For FY26 as a whole, Nykaa crossed the $1 billion revenue milestone — revenue ₹10,022 crore (+26.1%), net profit ₹204 crore (+183%), EBITDA ₹752 crore (+59%), EBITDA margin expanding to 7.5% from 6%. House of Nykaa Beauty GMV reached ₹2,788 crore in FY26 — quadrupling over three years.
Monday trade analysis: On results day (May 21), Nykaa stock was actually trading lower −0.35% at ₹273.55 — a classic “buy the rumour, sell the news” pattern. The numbers beat estimates (PAT estimates were ₹65 crore, actuals came ₹78–79 crore) but the stock had already priced in optimism. Monday presents two clear paths: if the broader market opens strongly on Dow momentum, Nykaa may see fresh buying above ₹275 and could target ₹295–305. If Iran uncertainty keeps the market cautious, ₹265–268 is the support zone to watch.
Key risk: Nykaa’s stock delivered a −18% one-year return before these results. The market may need 2–3 sessions to fully digest the 290% PAT beat before re-rating significantly. Accumulate on dips rather than chasing open. Not investment advice.
Stock 2 — Adani Power: ₹4,194 Crore Jaypee Acquisition — The Power Sector’s Biggest Deal
What happened: Adani Power signed definitive agreements to acquire certain power assets of Jaypee Group entities under an NCLT-approved resolution plan. The total deal value stands at approximately ₹4,194 crore. This is a strategic acquisition in India’s growing thermal power market — Adani Power’s capacity has increased 29% between FY23 and FY25, and the company is targeting 30 GW by 2030. The Jaypee assets accelerate that trajectory without new greenfield cost and construction risk.
Monday trade analysis: Adani Power’s 12-month consensus analyst target is ₹630, implying 20–40% upside from CMP ~₹520. Jefferies maintains a Buy with target ₹690, citing faster capacity expansion and improving merchant tariff mix. The Jaypee acquisition is capacity at distress pricing — a value-accretive deal. For Monday specifically, the stock benefits from both the deal catalyst and the broader power sector tailwind (Iran war = India’s energy security urgency). Immediate technical support: ₹490–500. Resistance: ₹550, then ₹590. Not investment advice.
Stock 3 — ITC: Post-₹8 Dividend, Record Date May 27 — The Last-Chance Income Play
The dividend urgency: ITC declared a final dividend of ₹8/share with record date May 27, 2026. With T+1 settlement, the last day to buy and qualify is Monday May 26. This makes Monday the absolute last session for income investors to capture the ₹8 dividend. At CMP ~₹310, this represents ~2.6% yield on a single payment — plus ITC already paid interim dividends making total FY26 DPS ₹9.35+. The Q4 FY26 result itself was better than feared: revenue +17% YoY, standalone PAT ₹5,113 crore (beat all estimates), FMCG Others +10%.
Monday trade analysis: The dividend deadline creates a technically time-sensitive buy catalyst that only exists on Monday. Expect buying pressure pre-10 AM as income investors who missed the news on Friday rush to qualify. The stock should see support at current levels precisely because of the ₹8 yield floor. Post-record date (Tuesday), expect natural ex-dividend correction of ~₹8. The structural trade: ITC at 11x P/E with ₹8 dividend is compelling for investors who can hold through FY27 cigarette volume data. Not investment advice.
Stock 4 — Infosys: Nasdaq Momentum Meets Rupee Tailwind
The case: Infosys benefits from a three-way tailwind on Monday: Nasdaq gained for 7 of 8 weeks with S&P 500 on an 8-week win streak; rupee at ₹95.68 (weak) directly inflates dollar-denominated revenue in INR terms; and the Nifty IT index is down 26% YTD — meaning it has significant catch-up potential if global tech sentiment sustains. Infosys, as the second-largest Indian IT name, is the cleanest large-cap expression of this theme.
Monday trade analysis: Watch for Infosys to open above ₹1,100 — if it holds and builds above that level in the first 30 minutes, it is a buy-on-dip candidate with a target of ₹1,180–1,200 over the coming 2–3 sessions. Stop-loss: ₹1,078 (below 52-week low support). Conditional on Iran news being quiet Monday morning — if crude spikes, IT benefits from rupee weakness but overall market sentiment could drag. Not investment advice.
Stock 5 — LIC (Life Insurance Corporation): Institutional Radar Post Q4
LIC reported its Q4 FY26 results and remains in focus for several reasons: as India’s largest institutional investor, LIC’s quarterly numbers affect market sentiment disproportionately. The stock trades well below its 52-week high of ₹1,107, creating a recovery opportunity if Q4 VNB (Value of New Business) and premium growth beat estimates. LIC’s embedded value growth trajectory and steady dividends make it attractive for long-term wealth builders at current levels below ₹950.
Stock 6 — Maruti Suzuki: June Price Hike Catalyst
Maruti Suzuki announced it will increase vehicle prices by up to ₹30,000 from June 2026 due to rising input costs and inflationary pressure from the West Asia crisis (higher steel, aluminium, freight costs). Price hikes by the market leader historically signal: (a) industry pricing power is intact, (b) demand is robust enough to absorb higher costs without volume destruction. For Maruti stock, price hikes improve revenue per unit and margin trajectory — a near-term positive. Watch for a gap between announcement and effective date to build positions. Not investment advice.
Stock 7 — Union Bank of India: Board Meeting May 26 — Pre-Event Positioning
Union Bank of India holds a board meeting on May 26 to consider equity fundraising plans. Additionally, Indian Overseas Bank approved plans to raise up to ₹5,000 crore through QIP, FPO, and rights issue. PSU bank fundraising approvals typically see a short-term technical reaction — the stock reacts to dilution concerns on announcement day but often recovers as capital adequacy improves. Pre-event positioning in Union Bank on Monday with a tight stop below ₹115 (or key support) is the trade framework. Not investment advice.
Stock 8 — Sun Pharma: ₹16 Total Dividend + Q4 Beat — The Quality Anchor
Sun Pharma’s Q4 FY26 result was the standout beat of last week — PAT +26.2%, revenue +13.6%, US Innovative Medicines crossed $1 billion. Total FY26 dividend of ₹16/share (₹11 interim already paid + ₹5 final). The Organon acquisition at $11.75 billion signals global ambition. For Monday, Sun Pharma is both the defensive anchor and the quality growth play — benefiting from Iran uncertainty (healthcare uncorrelated to oil) and from the week’s earnings momentum. Analyst consensus target: ₹2,050–2,200.
The Complete Trade Table — Monday May 25, 2026
| # | Stock | Entry Zone | Target | Stop-Loss | Catalyst | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nykaa (FSN E-Comm) | ₹265–275 dip | ₹295–305 | ₹258 | PAT +290% | 🟢 Beat |
| 2 | Adani Power | ₹510–520 | ₹580–630 | ₹490 | Jaypee deal | 🟢 Deal |
| 3 | ITC | CMP — Last day | ₹340–360 | ₹295 | ₹8 Div May 27 | 🟡 Div |
| 4 | Infosys | Above ₹1,100 | ₹1,180–1,200 | ₹1,078 | Nasdaq carry | 🔵 Tech |
| 5 | LIC | ₹920–940 zone | ₹1,000–1,050 | ₹895 | Post-Q4 analyst | 🔵 Recovery |
| 6 | Maruti Suzuki | CMP / dips | ₹12,500+ | ₹11,400 | June price hike | 🟡 Catalyst |
| 7 | Union Bank of India | Pre-event buy | Post-board clarity | ₹115 | Board May 26 | 🟡 Event |
| 8 | Sun Pharma | CMP level | ₹2,050–2,200 | Recent swing low | Q4 beat + div | 🟢 Defensive |
All levels are analytical reference points. Verify live prices at NSE/BSE at open. Not investment advice. Not SEBI registered.
The One Overriding Risk — Iran Before 9:15 AM
All eight trades above assume Iran weekend status quo — ceasefire intact, no military escalation. US markets are closed Monday (Memorial Day), making India the first global market to price in any Saturday-Sunday developments. Before entering any position: check BBC or DD News for Iran update, check Brent crude at finance.yahoo.com/quote/BZ=F, and check GIFT Nifty level at 9:00 AM. If GIFT Nifty is below 23,600, reduce position sizes by half. If it is below 23,400, avoid new positions entirely and wait for the situation to clarify. No trade is worth ignoring the geopolitical override. Not investment advice.
Data from Business Standard (Nykaa Q4, Adani Power deal, Maruti, Union Bank), BusinessToday (Nykaa, Adani), Upstox (Sun Pharma Q4), DSIJ (Nykaa FY26), Univest (Adani Power target), ZeeBiz (stocks to watch May 22), Trading Economics (US markets). Published Monday May 25, 2026 at 7:00 AM IST. Not SEBI registered. Not investment advice. See more Top Stories →
Leave a Reply