Ashish Kacholia shines bright
Ashish Kacholia, often dubbed the "whiz-kid of the stock market", delivered the highest average return among the four portfolios this year, at 79.8%.
His picks delivered some strong returns with the top performer being Shaily Engineering Plastics, which soared by an impressive 345%, followed by Garware Hi-Tech Films at 261%, and Balu Forge Industries at 223%.
Kacholia’s portfolio delivered three stocks with returns over 200%. However, there were seven stocks in his portfolio with negative returns, including HLE Glascoat (-25%) and Barbeque-Nation (-25%).
Dolly Khanna: Traditional picks deliver big gains
Dolly Khanna, known for her focus on traditional sectors like manufacturing and chemicals, also delivered a solid performance. Her portfolio’s average return stood at 75.2%, thanks to big winners like POCL Enterprises, which delivered a phenomenal 382% — the best single stock performance across all four portfolios.
Other top gainers included Pondy Oxides and Chemicals (247%) and Nile (136%). Khanna’s portfolio boasted three stocks with returns exceeding 200%, while she had three stocks in the red, with Chennai Petroleum Corporation (-14.73%) being the biggest drag.
Rekha Jhunjhunwala: A balanced play
Rekha Jhunjhunwala, managing the legacy of Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, delivered a steady performance with an average return of 61.4%. The highlight of her portfolio was Wockhardt which delivered 229% returns, followed by VA Tech Wabag at 188%.
Jhunjhunwala had two stocks that crossed the 100% mark. The laggards in the portfolio had five stocks with negative returns. While the picks didn’t match the highs seen in Kacholia’s and Khanna’s portfolios, Jhunjhunwala's stable performance showcased her ability to navigate a challenging year.
Vijay Kedia bets showed mixed results
Vijay Kedia, known for his favour towards mid and smallcap stocks, delivered an average return of 57.6% for his portfolio. His top performer was Neuland Laboratories, which surged 189%, followed closely by Global Vectra Helicorp at 143%.
Kedia’s portfolio had two standout performers with returns above 100%. The laggards were four stocks delivering negative returns, with Repro India (-28%) and Vaibhav Global (-18%) being the biggest underperformers.
While his strategy delivered select hits, it fell short compared to the stellar results of Kacholia and Khanna.
Overall, while Ashish Kacholia's portfolio emerged as the top performer with the highest average return among all three superstar investors, the year reaffirmed that value often lies in smart sector plays and long-term conviction.