By Aditya Raghunath
Investing.com -- India’s largest two-wheeler company Hero MotoCorp Ltd (NS:HROM) has seen its shares fall over 18% in 2021. The second pandemic wave and rising input costs have caused numbers for the company to fall.
An ICICI Direct research report said, “July 2021 auto wholesale dispatches were broadly healthy across OEMs and segments, continuing the trend of a QoQ improvement post state-specific unlocking in the previous month.”
Despite this, bellwether Hero Motocorp underperformed, with total volumes down 3.1% to 4.54 lakh units amid 3.9% motorcycle decline and 9.6% scooter growth.
Meanwhile, Bajaj Auto Ltd (NS:BAJA) posted 6.4% overall growth to 3.31 lakh units, comprised of flat domestic sales and 12.5% rise in exports. Eicher Motors Ltd. (NS:EICH)’ Royal Enfield volumes inched up by 2.3% to 44,038 units, with >350 cc sales growing by 12%, said the report.
A report by Axis Securities said, “The auto industry is showcasing a strong comeback riding on stabilization of macro-economic factors and improving consumer sentiments. There has been a sharp increase in inquires, bookings and retail sales.”
It added that the demand momentum for 2-wheelers remains weak, attributable to the lower end of the income group being more impacted due to the second Covid-19 wave, rising fuel costs, and price hikes by OEMs which has led to elevated levels of channel inventory.
But Axis Securities says that market sentiments are improving with the Covid-19 infection rate staying low, and that it prefers Hero Motocorp in the 2-wheeler space.