Defying the sell-off: 5 stocks holding firm in a volatile market
standing out in a falling market, and what’s driving their strength.Lupin is trading at ₹2,335, just shy of its 52-week high of ₹2,376, and is up 11% so far in 2026.An integrated pharmaceutical company, Lupin operates across formulations and APIs, with formulations contributing about 95% of revenue. Geographically, the US remains its largest market, followed by India and other developed and emerging markets.It ranks as the third-largest pharmaceutical player in the US by prescriptions and eighth in the Indian market.Financially, Lupin has delivered steady growth.
Sales have grown at a CAGR of 8.1% over the past five years, while profits have nearly tripled. Its average return on equity (ROE) and return on capital employed (ROCE) stand at 9% and 11%, respectively.A recent acquisition of Netherlands-based VISUfarma B.V.
is a strategic move to deepen its European presence. The deal gives Lupin access to relatively underpenetrated and hard-to-enter markets such as Italy and Spain, expanding beyond its existing footprint in the UK, Germany, and France.Sun Pharma is trading at ₹1,795, close to its 52-week high of ₹1,851, with gains of about 5% in 2026 so far.India’s largest pharmaceutical company, it operates in over 80 countries and ranks among the leading specialty generic drug makers globally.
The US remains a key market, both for revenue and pricing.To offset pricing pressure in generics, Sun Pharma is scaling up its specialty drugs segment—Global Innovative Medicines.The company has delivered consistent growth, with sales and net profit rising at CAGRs of 10% and 21%, respectively. Its five-year average ROE and ROCE stand at 12% and 14%.Looking ahead, it is positioning itself to launch semaglutide in India post patent
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