2026 Investment Strategy: IT, Metal, Auto & Banking In Focus

With 2026 emerging as the next key focus year for investors, market participants are keen to identify sectors that can outperform. In this segment, Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investments, shares his sectoral outlook and stock ideas for the coming year. He highlights that IT stocks, which have already delivered strong returns in the last quarter, are likely to continue their upward momentum in 2026. Alongside IT, the metal sector is also expected to remain in a bullish phase. Jain also points to selective opportunities in autos, banking, and cement. Stocks such as Bajaj Auto, Hero MotoCorp, IndusInd Bank and Axis Bank are among his preferred picks. He believes the cement sector could see meaningful improvement, supported by capacity expansion, improving margins and a smoother pricing environment after several years of muted returns. Overall, the focus remains on select sector leaders with strong fundamentals and favourable market conditions going into 2026.