9 Secret Santa Stocks to Buy This Christmas: 3 smallcaps, 6 midcaps with up to 38% returns in 6–12 months

The experts shortlisted nine stocks this Christmas, including three small-cap and six mid-cap companies, with an upside potential of up to 38 per cent from current levels. The recommendations span sectors such as manufacturing, financial services, digital infrastructure, shipping, engineering, consumer goods and clean energy.

Sharad Awasthi, Head of Research at SMIFS, has recommended Graphite India, currently trading at around Rs 571. He has set a target price of Rs 675, implying an upside of about 18 per cent over 12 months. The company is expected to benefit from margin improvement driven by backward integration and steady demand from the steel sector.

Awasthi has also picked Protean eGov Technologies, which is trading near Rs 777. With a target of Rs 875, the stock offers an upside of nearly 13 per cent over 9–12 months. The company is expected to gain from higher execution of government digitisation projects, including UIDAI-linked contracts.

Another pick from Awasthi is CreditAccess Grameen, trading around Rs 1,302. The target price of Rs 1,600 indicates an upside of about 23 per cent over the next year, supported by improving asset quality and recovery in rural credit demand.

Vikas Sethi, Managing Director at Sethi Finmart, has recommended Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) at a CMP of Rs 218. With a target of Rs 300, the stock offers an upside of nearly 38 per cent over 9–12 months. He cited government support for the shipping sector and strong client relationships as key positives.

Sethi’s second pick is Engineers India Ltd, currently trading near Rs 201. The target of Rs 275 suggests an upside of about 37 per cent, driven by a strong order book and exposure to refinery expansion, energy transition and infrastructure projects.

He has also recommended Oswal Pumps, trading around Rs 543, with a target of Rs 700, implying an upside of nearly 29 per cent over the next year.

Sandeep Jain, MD of Tradeswift Broking, has picked Gillette India, which is trading near Rs 8,292. The target range of Rs 9,450–9,630 suggests an upside of 14–16 per cent over 6–9 months, supported by strong return ratios and consistent earnings growth.

Jain has also recommended Swaraj Engines at a CMP of Rs 3,605, with a target of Rs 4,130–4,250, implying an upside of 15–18 per cent. His third pick is Vesuvius India, trading near Rs 481, with a target range of Rs 570–630, indicating an upside of 19–31 per cent.