Top 20 Indian stock gainers: Cochin Shipyard, Titagarh, IFCI lead broad-based rally

The Indian stock market witnessed a robust midweek rally on May 16, 2025, with the top gainers list dominated by defence, infrastructure, railway-linked companies, and public sector undertakings. Investor optimism was bolstered by expectations of policy continuity post-election, strong domestic macroeconomic signals, and sectoral tailwinds in capital goods, fintech, and rail transport. The Nifty and Sensex posted modest gains, but broader indices outshone, with the Nifty Midcap and Smallcap indices recording outsized moves, underlining bullish undertones.

Why Did Nucleus Software Share Price Rise 20% on May 16?

Nucleus Software Exports Ltd. surged 20% to ₹1,186.25 from the previous close of ₹988.55. The move came on the back of renewed investor confidence in midcap IT services and fintech software providers. Analysts noted strong trading volumes, with over 3 lakh shares exchanging hands, totaling a turnover of ₹34.80 crore. The rally may have been fuelled by speculation over new enterprise software wins and foreign institutional inflows looking to diversify from large-cap IT into scalable tech exporters.

What Drove Paras Defence Stock to a 20% Gain?

Paras Defence and Space Technologies Ltd. jumped 20% to ₹1,817.40 as defence-linked counters continued to attract institutional flows. Volume soared to over 77 lakh shares, with total traded value exceeding ₹1,313 crore. The company is seen as a key beneficiary of the government’s defence production push under Atmanirbhar Bharat, particularly with orders linked to optoelectronics and drone subsystems. Brokerages expect order pipeline visibility to improve with higher capital expenditure allocations in the upcoming budget.

How Did PK Tea Ltd. Hit the 20% Circuit?

PK Tea Company Ltd. climbed 19.99% to ₹785.60, locking in its upper circuit. With just 12,782 shares traded, the price action likely reflects low-float speculative interest rather than fundamental drivers. Despite the sharp gain, analysts cautioned that the stock lacks institutional coverage and could be sensitive to short-term volatility.

Why Is Zee Learn’s Share Price Up Nearly 20%?

Zee Learn Ltd. surged 19.97% to ₹7.87, boosted by over 44 lakh shares in traded volume. The education company has been in the spotlight due to restructuring talks and asset monetization efforts following recent debt resolutions. Although fundamentals remain under stress, retail traders appeared to drive up the counter as part of broader interest in beaten-down education stocks.

Onward Technologies Gains 17%: What’s Behind the Rally?

Onward Technologies Ltd. rose 17.42% to ₹312.10 after opening at ₹271. The company, a digital transformation and engineering solutions provider, appears to be benefitting from overseas client additions and a favourable outlook for digital product engineering services. Over 12 lakh shares were traded, with the stock seeing increased fund interest from smallcap portfolios.

Pearl Polymers Share Price Jumps 17.17% on Re-Rating Bets

Pearl Polymers Ltd. closed at ₹33.99, up 17.17% after hitting an intraday high of ₹34.50. Market participants pointed to upcoming product line extensions and packaging sector tailwinds driving the stock. While not widely tracked by analysts, the stock’s upward move came with over 3 lakh shares traded, suggesting strong retail and HNI participation.

Lypsa Gems & Jewellery Surges 15.7% on Volume Spike

Shares of Lypsa Gems and Jewellery Ltd. rose 15.73% to ₹7.21, supported by higher-than-average volume of over 4 lakh shares. The rally was seen in the context of broad speculative interest in penny stocks, though the company has limited institutional coverage and lacks clear recent triggers.

Why Did Avantel RE Gain 14.96%?

The rights entitlement of Avantel Ltd. (AVANTEL-RE) rose to ₹79, reflecting strong investor interest in subscribing to the ongoing capital raise. Volume stood at 4.85 lakh shares with turnover exceeding ₹3.45 crore. The parent company’s defence communication systems business continues to attract strategic attention, especially given its order book from Indian Navy contracts.

IFCI Stock Gains Nearly 15% on PSU Optimism

IFCI Ltd. jumped 14.86% to ₹51.40 amid massive volume—over 8.3 crore shares traded. The financial institution is seen as a dark horse in the PSU space, with expectations around government recapitalisation and restructuring plans driving the rally. Total turnover crossed ₹420 crore, with speculative and institutional interest both visible in derivatives activity.

What Boosted RITES Share Price by Nearly 15%?

RITES Ltd., the engineering consultancy for railways and transport infrastructure, gained 14.8% to close at ₹285. High volume of over 2.5 crore shares and turnover of ₹695 crore reflect strong buying interest. The company is seen as a front-runner in the government’s ₹10 lakh crore infra spend roadmap. Analysts flagged improving margin profiles on overseas contracts and monetisation of real estate assets as key medium-term catalysts.

Premco Global Stock Soars 14.02% on Expansion Bets

Premco Global Ltd. rose to ₹493.95, gaining 14% on the session. Volume stood at 65 lakh shares with total traded value exceeding ₹318 crore. The stock’s recent outperformance follows its diversification into defence-grade textile manufacturing and export orders from Southeast Asia.

Cochin Shipyard Share Price Rises 13% on Export Order Hopes

Cochin Shipyard Ltd. gained 12.96% to ₹2,047 on speculative buying driven by buzz around a possible Southeast Asian export contract. Volume exceeded 3.3 crore shares, with a mammoth ₹6,720 crore in turnover. The state-run shipbuilder has been in focus after its recent delivery milestones under the Indian Navy modernization plan.

Titagarh Rail Stock Climbs Over 12% on Railway Capex Visibility

Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd. gained 12.72% to ₹912.00, as railway-focused infra stocks continued to rally post-exit poll trends suggesting policy stability. With over 2.25 crore shares traded and ₹2,015 crore in value, the stock has now surged over 35% this month. Analysts expect wagon and metro coach demand to keep earnings growth buoyant in FY26.

BPL Ltd. Gains 11.82% Amid Midcap Electronics Re-Rating

BPL Ltd. rose to ₹84.12, up 11.82% on the day, riding on sectoral momentum in electronics and speculative activity in legacy brands. While its fundamentals remain weak, trading interest was high with over 15 lakh shares exchanged.

Why Did Oriental Hotels Stock Rise 11.8%?

Oriental Hotels Ltd. climbed to ₹151.80, marking an 11.8% gain. Analysts linked the move to improved earnings guidance and expectations of a record summer holiday season. Volume touched 17 lakh shares with turnover over ₹26 crore.

CapTrust Ltd. Gains 11.44% as Smallcap IT Buzz Returns

CapTrust Ltd. gained 11.44% to ₹94.48 on May 16, supported by strong buying in low-float, smallcap tech names. Though volumes were modest (85,000 shares), investor sentiment reflected a broader re-rating of underappreciated IT service firms.

Dhanuka Agritech Stock Jumps 11.3% on Monsoon Outlook

Dhanuka Agritech Ltd. rose to ₹1,616.00, up 11.33%, amid favourable monsoon projections by IMD. With a strong rural distribution network and robust earnings record, the company attracted fund flows from agri-theme mutual funds. Volume touched 5.3 lakh shares with a turnover of ₹84 crore.

THEMISMED Share Price Rises 10.85% on Q4 Optimism

Themis Medicare Ltd. advanced 10.85% to ₹152.60 as investor expectations rose around a strong Q4 print, especially after recent updates on its pain management and anti-inflammatory portfolios. Over 2.4 lakh shares were traded, reflecting renewed institutional interest.

GATDVR-RE & GATECH-RE1: Rights Entitlements Rise 11%

Both GATDVR-RE and GATECH-RE1 rose 11.11% to ₹0.10, likely on speculative retail participation. With massive volume—over 3.5 crore shares traded in GATECH-RE1 alone—the counters are highly volatile and lack fundamental support.

Institutional Sentiment and Sectoral Flows

Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers in midcap and PSU segments, while foreign institutional investors (FIIs) rotated selectively into capital goods and infra plays. Defence and railway-linked themes saw the strongest flows, reflecting investor confidence in the continuity of capital expenditure and Make in India initiatives.

Economic and Policy Context

The broader rally is being supported by expectations of a stable political mandate, supportive crude oil prices, easing inflation, and robust GST collections. RBI’s current monetary stance remains neutral but accommodative, adding liquidity support to midcap and thematic rallies. Policy continuity, especially for defence manufacturing and infrastructure, is expected to accelerate post the June 2025 Budget session.

What’s the Outlook for India’s Top Gainers?

Most analysts maintain a bullish stance on high-momentum names like RITES, Cochin Shipyard, Titagarh, and Paras Defence due to earnings visibility and government order exposure. However, valuations for certain stocks like Nucleus and PK Tea may appear stretched, prompting caution for new entrants. Stocks with strong institutional backing and fundamental growth stories are expected to outperform as sector rotation into domestic themes continues through Q2 FY26.