Hindustan Zinc, HDFC Bank and IREDA shares draw investor focus amid Q2 earnings

Indian stock markets look set for a positive opening on Monday, October 19, with the GIFT Nifty pointing to a higher start around 23,174.5 points. Domestic equities finished Friday higher for a second straight session as information technology stocks climbed more than 3 percent on steady buying and corporate earnings.

Key Stocks In Focus

A total of 35 companies are releasing their Q2 results for 2026 today, placing firms like Hindustan Zinc, IREDA, Bajaj Finance, L&T Technology, and Union Bank squarely in focus for traders. Beyond earnings, several lenders and corporations are drawing attention following major financial updates and business developments. India's largest private-sector bank reported a 4.7 percent year-on-year rise in net profit to ₹19,510 crore for the September quarter, while its net interest income grew by 9.7 percent.

Earnings And Expansion

Other major lenders posted strong growth, with one private lender seeing its net profit jump 37.6 percent to ₹7,003 crore and another recording a net profit of ₹14,843 crore alongside improved asset quality. Meanwhile, Vedanta plans to double the annual zinc production capacity of its South African operations to 500,000 tonnes through a nearly $600 million investment in Phase II of the Gamsberg project. Oil India signed a revenue-sharing contract for a Special Coal Bed Methane block on October 15, and another lender recorded a 65.14 percent jump in net profit to ₹1,080 crore.

Context

Quarterly earnings reports are crucial financial updates released by publicly traded companies every three months to show their revenue, profits, and overall financial health to investors. Stock prices frequently move sharply during earnings season as market participants react to whether corporate financial results beat or miss analyst expectations.