TICL Sep surge warrants caution

Tata Investment’s mcap as on 30 September is at 50% premium over total assets’ value after being at a discount in the past.

- Manish Joshi

If Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway’s valuation is the benchmark, Tata Investment Corp. Ltd (TICL) looks overpriced.

Berkshire’s market capitalization (mcap) of $1.08 trillion compared to its $1.15 trillion in assets gives it a mcap-to-assets ratio of -1. By contrast, TICL’s ratio now stands at 1.5x after a 50% September rally lifted its mcap to nearly ₹54,000 crore.

Nearly 70% of TICL’s September gains came in just two sessions—on 23 September after a stock split (10-for-1) announcement, and on 30 September after Tata Capital's IPO details were revealed. A closer look at both reasons suggests the stock’s reaction may be euphoric.