Hero MotoCorp Tumbles 5% on Jefferies Downgrade Amid Market Share Woes

Corp Ltd.'s shares plunged over 5% on Thursday, December 18, 2025, erasing recent gains and marking the fifth straight session of declines, as global brokerage Jefferies slashed its rating and target price on the two-wheeler giant. The stock hit an intraday low of Rs 5,513, its weakest level in nearly five weeks, after closing at Rs 5,817 the previous day. Brokerage Verdict Jefferies downgraded Hero MotoCorp to 'Underperform' from 'Hold', trimming its target price to Rs 4,950—a 11% cut from Rs 5,550—signaling a potential 15% further downside. The firm cited a sharp erosion in domestic market share, which slipped to a 25-year low of 28% during April-November 2025, battered by a consumer pivot away from entry-level motorcycles and weakening grip in the crucial 110-125cc segment. Analysts trimmed FY26-28 earnings per share estimates by 2-7% on softer volumes, though they penciled in a modest 5% uptick in output for the year.