** Shares of Hindalco Industries HALC.NS up 2.3% in early
trade
** Brokerage CLSA ups rating on one of the country's largest
aluminium and copper producers to "Buy" from "Underperform"
earlier
** "Following a sharp correction, we believe concern is
overdone and upgrade our rating... on favourable risk reward,"
CLSA
** Stock logged its steepest drop since March 2020 - down
12.5% on Feb. 13 post weak project returns forecast for unit
Novelis, which accounts for three-fifths of HALC's revenue
** While medium-term concerns are justified, co's operations
continue to gain strength with Novelis' profitability potential
and strong growth in domestic business, CLSA added
** CLSA PT is at ~8.6% premium on median PT of 21 analysts -
LSEG; it is 26% higher than co's last close
** Stock lost 13% in Feb, its lowest monthly loss in a year
(Reporting by Manvi Pant in Bengaluru)
((Manvi.Pant@thomsonreuters.com; +918447554364;))