Veteran investor Raamdeo Agrawal, Chairman of Motilal Oswal Financial Services, has shared a powerful investing mantra — “Buy what’s unpopular.”
At a time when markets are volatile, his contrarian strategy highlights hidden opportunities in overlooked sectors, especially capital market-linked businesses.
🧠 Core Investment Strategy: Go Against the Crowd
Agrawal believes:
👉 The best opportunities come when:
- A sector is ignored or underperforming
- Sentiment is weak
- Valuations are attractive
📌 His mantra:
“Be bullish when markets are bad and buy what others are avoiding.”
🚀 Sector in Focus: Capital Market Stocks
Agrawal is particularly bullish on:
📈 Capital Market & Financial Services Firms
- Brokerages
- Asset management companies
- Wealth platforms
👉 These businesses benefit from:
- Long-term growth in equity participation
- Rising financialization of savings
📊 He sees strong structural growth ahead in this segment.
⚠️ Caution on IT Sector
- Advises being careful with IT stocks
- Concerns around:
- Global slowdown
- AI disruption
👉 IT may face near-term pressure despite long-term potential.
🏦 Positive View on Banking
- Banks continue to show steady growth
- Improved balance sheets
- Strong credit demand
👉 Banking remains a core long-term theme.
📉 Invest During Downturns
Agrawal emphasizes:
- Market corrections = opportunity, not fear
- Investors should:
- Stay patient
- Avoid panic selling
- Focus on long-term wealth creation
🧠 Key Lessons for Investors
✅ Follow These Principles:
- Buy when sentiment is weak
- Focus on business quality, not hype
- Stay disciplined during volatility
- Book profits when needed
👉 Independent thinking is critical in investing.
🔍 Final Takeaway
- Strategy: Buy unpopular stocks
- Focus: Capital market & financials
- Avoid: Overcrowded / overhyped sectors
- Mindset: Long-term + contrarian approach
👉 In volatile markets, the biggest winners are often those who invest where others are not looking.
