Elcid Investment Becomes India’s Most Expensive Stock, Surpasses MRF
In an unexpected shift, Elcid Investment has surged to become the highest-priced stock in India. Shares of the lesser-known investment firm closed at a staggering ₹236,250 on Tuesday, boosting the company’s market valuation to ₹4,725 crore. This unprecedented rise surpassed even tyre giant MRF, which was previously the priciest stock, with shares trading at ₹122,577 each.
Elcid’s remarkable price surge follows a year of stagnation, during which its shares were locked at ₹3.21 with minimal trading activity. The recent 73,600-fold increase was triggered by a special call auction session introduced by stock exchanges, aiming to better determine the fair market value of holding companies (holdcos). This session helped uncover Elcid’s true market potential, positioning it at the top in terms of share price.
As one of the promoter entities of Asian Paints, Elcid Investment holds a 2.95% stake in India’s leading paint company. This share is currently valued at around ₹8,500 crore. Despite this substantial holding, Elcid operates with a modest equity base of just 200,000 shares, of which 150,000 shares are held by promoters. The book value per share of Elcid stands impressively at ₹584,225, highlighting the underlying value of the stock even further.
The astronomical jump in Elcid’s stock price has drawn attention to the broader dynamics of price discovery among holding companies, and the company’s stake in Asian Paints reinforces its potential as a valuable investment in the Indian market.
The Rs 1.2 lakh MRF stock is dwarfed by a microcap player with nearly double its price as of Tuesday. Interestingly, this stock was just a penny stock worth Rs 3.21 in July this year.
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