Stocks to Watch Today (February 18, 2026): Coal India, HAL, ONGC, Bharat Forge, BEL and more

Stocks to Watch Today (February 18, 2026): Indian stock markets will remain stock-specific on Wednesday, February 18, as several heavyweight companies including Coal India, ONGC, Hindustan Aeronautics and Torrent Pharma will trade ex-dividend. Investors will also track corporate announcements, defence-related developments, and global cues such as US industrial production data and FOMC meeting minutes for directional triggers.

Here are the key stocks to watch today:

Coal India

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Coal India shares will trade ex-dividend today for an interim dividend of Rs 5.5 per share. Stocks typically see price adjustment on the ex-date, making Coal India an active counter. The company remains closely tracked due to its strong cash flows and consistent dividend payouts.

Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL)

HAL will trade ex-dividend for an interim dividend of Rs 35 per share, one of the highest payouts among PSU defence companies. The stock has been in focus amid strong defence order inflows and continued government push for domestic defence manufacturing.

ONGC

ONGC shares will trade ex-dividend today for an interim dividend of Rs 6.25 per share. The oil major remains in focus due to its attractive dividend yield and sensitivity to global crude oil price movements.

Oil India

Oil India will also trade ex-dividend for an interim dividend of Rs 7 per share. The stock remains in focus after announcing corporate actions including stake divestment and dividend payout.

Torrent Pharmaceuticals

Torrent Pharma shares will trade ex-dividend for an interim dividend of Rs 29 per share. The company recently reported strong quarterly earnings, driven by growth across India, US and Brazil markets.

Bharat Forge

Bharat Forge will trade ex-dividend for an interim dividend of Rs 2 per share. The company remains in focus due to its exposure to defence, aerospace, and global industrial demand.

Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel is in focus after its subsidiary Airtel Money received a Type-II NBFC licence from the RBI. This allows the company to expand into non-banking financial services, strengthening its fintech and digital ecosystem.

Bharat Electronics (BEL)

BEL will remain in focus following defence cooperation developments between India and France. BEL and Safran are expected to jointly manufacture HAMMER missiles in India, boosting domestic defence manufacturing and strengthening BEL’s long-term order pipeline.

BHEL

BHEL shares will be tracked after the company received a Letter of Award from SAIL for a captive power plant project worth Rs 1,200–1,500 crore. The order strengthens BHEL’s order book and revenue visibility.

Adani Green Energy

Adani Green Energy will remain in focus after its subsidiary formed a new entity, Skyspin Energy Limited. The move reflects the group’s continued expansion in the renewable energy segment.

Bharti Airtel, Info Edge, Hexaware and Jio Financial

These companies will also remain on investors’ radar following strategic investments, AI partnerships and expansion initiatives, which signal long-term growth opportunities.