Partner at Exencial Research, Exencial Research

Viral Kishorchandra Shah

Partner at Exencial Research

Exencial Research

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Largest PepsiCo bottler outside North America with an India-led but fast-diversifying footprint.</li>
<li>Balance sheet reset completed via Rs. 75 bn QIP; company declared net-debt-free at Dec-24.</li>
<li>CSD-Heavy mix remains, but portfolio is skewing “ better-for-you. ”</li>
</ul>


Largest PepsiCo bottler outside North America with an India-led but fast-diversifying footprint.
Balance sheet reset completed via Rs. 75 bn QIP; company declared net-debt-free at Dec-24.
CSD-Heavy mix remains, but portfolio is skewing “ better-for-you. ”


India Equity Analyst - Fundamental & Thematic, Beat the Street

Sudarshan Bhandari

India Equity Analyst - Fundamental & Thematic

Beat the Street

Beat The Street was founded by Nimish Maheshwari and Sudarshan Bhandari, both of whom are Chartered Accountants by Profession, known for their expert analysis in the fields of Business, Sectoral analysis, and Corporate governance.

With a strong social media presence of 45,000+ Subscribers across various platforms, they are considered trusted voices in the industry. Their insights and analysis have been featured in some of India’s most prominent publications, including the Economic Times, Dalal Street Investment Journal, The Morning Context, and The Ken.

Their analysis on Bankrupt & Insolvent companies has been instrumental in saving investors from significant losses. They have a keen eye for identifying red flags and has identified exclusive redflags earlier in Vedanta, Nykaa, Dhani Services, Adani and many more.

Read Business Not Stock Prices

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>India’s GST 2.0 reform slashes tax rates on essentials, durables, autos, and healthcare while exempting insurance and education.</li>
<li>The move could accelerate consumption, especially in rural India, but risks straining government revenues and widening fiscal deficits.</li>
<li>If implemented smoothly, GST 2.0 may drive a multi-sector consumption upcycle, though revenue trade-offs and uneven pass-through pose risks.</li>
</ul>


India’s GST 2.0 reform slashes tax rates on essentials, durables, autos, and healthcare while exempting insurance and education.
The move could accelerate consumption, especially in rural India, but risks straining government revenues and widening fiscal deficits.
If implemented smoothly, GST 2.0 may drive a multi-sector consumption upcycle, though revenue trade-offs and uneven pass-through pose risks.


Thematic Report on GST 2.0 Regime: Who Gains, Who Loses as India Bets on Demand Revival.

Market & Forensics Analyst, Beat the Street

Nimish Maheshwari

Market & Forensics Analyst

<ul>
<li>The GST Council has simplified India’s indirect tax structure, cutting rates across daily essentials and consolidating slabs into 5% and 18%, with a new 40% bracket for sin goods.</li>
<li>
Consumption accounts for over 60% of GDP, and this tax reset is designed to revive household demand. We expect a 0.5-1% boost to GDP growth over the next 4–6 quarters.</li>
<li>
FMCG companies with price-sensitive portfolios, biscuits, hair oils, shampoo sachets, stand to gain most. Retailers and QSRs will ride the consumption uplift, while tobacco taxation remains unresolved beyond 2025.</li>
</ul>


The GST Council has simplified India’s indirect tax structure, cutting rates across daily essentials and consolidating slabs into 5% and 18%, with a new 40% bracket for sin goods.

Consumption accounts for over 60% of GDP, and this tax reset is designed to revive household demand. We expect a 0.5-1% boost to GDP growth over the next 4–6 quarters.

FMCG companies with price-sensitive portfolios, biscuits, hair oils, shampoo sachets, stand to gain most. Retailers and QSRs will ride the consumption uplift, while tobacco taxation remains unresolved beyond 2025.


GST 2.0: Will India’s Biggest Tax Reset Spark a Consumption Boom or Drive Margin Expansion?

Forensic Analyst, Trudence Capital Advisors

Nitin Mangal

Forensic Analyst

Trudence Capital Advisors

Trudence Capital Advisors Private Limited is a SEBI-registered Research Analyst, holding SEBI registration number INH000015747. Our firm is dedicated to providing independent and unbiased research on Indian mid to large-cap companies. Trudence Capital is known for its counter-consensus views, with a focus on forensic research and on-ground primary investigations. Our research approach is thorough, involving detailed analysis of accounting practices and governance, alongside extensive channel checks.

Independent & Unbiased Research

Macroeconomics

<ul>
<li>The Mahakumbh Mela 2025, hailed as the largest gathering of the Hindu faith, is set to host an estimated 400-450 million devotees from India and around the world.</li>
<li>The event’s estimated budget is INR 6,382 crore (USD 800 Mn) for event management and infrastructure development, 72% higher than the budget allocated in 2019 Kumbh.</li>
<li>Kumbh Mela could generate financial transactions totaling INR 2–2.5 lakh crore (USD 25–30 billion) over 45 days. This accounts for an estimated 0.5–0.8% of the country’s GDP.</li>
</ul>


The Mahakumbh Mela 2025, hailed as the largest gathering of the Hindu faith, is set to host an estimated 400-450 million devotees from India and around the world.
The event’s estimated budget is INR 6,382 crore (USD 800 Mn) for event management and infrastructure development, 72% higher than the budget allocated in 2019 Kumbh.
Kumbh Mela could generate financial transactions totaling INR 2–2.5 lakh crore (USD 25–30 billion) over 45 days. This accounts for an estimated 0.5–0.8% of the country’s GDP.


Maha Kumbh 2025- How Big Is It for Economy?

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning, Copley Fund Research

Steven Holden

Asset Allocation & Fund Positioning

Copley Fund Research

Copley Fund Research provide research and data on asset allocation among Global and Emerging Market equity funds.  The analysis details absolute and relative positioning across countries, sectors and industries together with highly granular data on single stock and single fund allocations.  The data is updated monthly with time series going back to January 2011.

Global Research - Analysis of 165 prominent Global equity funds, combined AUM $335bn
GEM Research - Analysis of 127 prominent global EM equity funds, combined AUM $250bn

Asset Allocation - Global and GEM Equity

Cross Asset Strategy

<ul>
<li>China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan remain key underweights.  Recovery in Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, and South Africa, correction in Indonesia and Mexico. Developed Markets the largest overweight for EM investors.</li>
<li>Discretionary, Staples, and Industrials the key overweights, Materials and Energy the underweights. Rotation out of Tech moves positioning from overweight to underweight for the first time since 2019.</li>
<li>Ownership climbs for Meituan and SK Hynix, Baidu and Yum China see sharp declines. Downtrends persist in Vale, Telkom Indonesia.  Recovery in SK Telekom, Garanti Bank, highs in Emaar Properties. </li>
</ul>


China, India, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan remain key underweights.  Recovery in Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, and South Africa, correction in Indonesia and Mexico. Developed Markets the largest overweight for EM investors.
Discretionary, Staples, and Industrials the key overweights, Materials and Energy the underweights. Rotation out of Tech moves positioning from overweight to underweight for the first time since 2019.
Ownership climbs for Meituan and SK Hynix, Baidu and Yum China see sharp declines. Downtrends persist in Vale, Telkom Indonesia.  Recovery in SK Telekom, Garanti Bank, highs in Emaar Properties. 


India

Varun Beverages Limited (VBL) is an Indian multinational company and one of the largest bottlers of PepsiCo beverages in the world outside the United States. It manufactures, bottles, distributes, and sells a wide range of carbonated soft drinks, non-carbonated beverages, and packaged drinking water under trademarks owned by PepsiCo, including popular brands like Pepsi, Mountain Dew, 7UP, Mirinda, Sting, Tropicana, Gatorade, and Aquafina. The company is headquartered in Gurugram, Haryana, India, and was founded in 1995.

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Varun Beverages (VBL IN)

Primer : Varun Beverages Limited

PepsiCo's largest bottler outside North America, Varun Beverages, diversifies portfolio towards healthier options and becomes net-debt-free after...

Viral Kishorchandra Shah

Thematic Report on GST 2.0 Regime: Who Gains, Who Loses as India Bets on Demand Revival.

India's GST 2.0 reform cuts tax rates on essentials, durables, autos, and healthcare, potentially boosting consumption but risking fiscal deficits.

Sudarshan Bhandari

GST 2.0: Will India’s Biggest Tax Reset Spark a Consumption Boom or Drive Margin Expansion?

India's GST Council cuts rates on essentials, simplifies tax structure to boost household demand and GDP growth, benefiting FMCG companies and...

Nimish Maheshwari

Maha Kumbh 2025- How Big Is It for Economy?

The Mahakumbh Mela 2025, expected to draw 400-450 million devotees, and could generate up to INR 2-2.5 lakh crore in financial transactions,...

Nitin Mangal

Active GEM Funds: Positioning Chart Pack

In this chart pack, we highlight the key country, sector and stock exposures among active Emerging Markets equity funds.

Steven Holden

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52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

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Dividend (Yield)

Primer : Varun Beverages Limited

​PepsiCo's largest bottler outside North America, Varun Beverages, diversifies portfolio towards healthier options and becomes net-debt-free after...

Viral Kishorchandra Shah

Thematic Report on GST 2.0 Regime: Who Gains, Who Loses as India Bets on Demand Revival.

​India's GST 2.0 reform cuts tax rates on essentials, durables, autos, and healthcare, potentially boosting consumption but risking fiscal deficits.

Sudarshan Bhandari

GST 2.0: Will India’s Biggest Tax Reset Spark a Consumption Boom or Drive Margin Expansion?

​India's GST Council cuts rates on essentials, simplifies tax structure to boost household demand and GDP growth, benefiting FMCG companies and...

Nimish Maheshwari

Maha Kumbh 2025- How Big Is It for Economy?

​The Mahakumbh Mela 2025, expected to draw 400-450 million devotees, and could generate up to INR 2-2.5 lakh crore in financial transactions,...

Nitin Mangal

Active GEM Funds: Positioning Chart Pack

In this chart pack, we highlight the key country, sector and stock exposures among active Emerging Markets equity funds.

Steven Holden

PepsiCo's largest bottler outside North America, Varun Beverages, diversifies portfolio towards healthier options and becomes net-debt-free after...

India's GST 2.0 reform cuts tax rates on essentials, durables, autos, and healthcare, potentially boosting consumption but risking fiscal deficits.

India's GST Council cuts rates on essentials, simplifies tax structure to boost household demand and GDP growth, benefiting FMCG companies and...

The Mahakumbh Mela 2025, expected to draw 400-450 million devotees, and could generate up to INR 2-2.5 lakh crore in financial transactions,...