ASIANPAINT

Asian Paints reported 9% YoY revenue growth in Q1 FY26, supported by decorative and industrial paints. Input cost pressures are easing, aiding margin recovery to 21%. Competition from Grasim’s entry remains a concern, but Asian Paints’ brand strength and distribution are unmatched. At ~58x FY26 EPS, valuations remain expensive, but leadership justifies the premium. A structural consumer stock for long-term investors.