15 Companies Announce Dividends, Splits, Bonuses: IRFC, NMDC, Angel One in Focus

Key Companies to Watch This Week: IRFC, NMDC, Angel One Among 15 Firms Announcing Dividends, Splits, and Bonuses

Investors should mark their calendars for an action-packed week ahead as 15 listed companies have scheduled important corporate actions between March 17 and March 23, 2025. These actions include dividends, stock splits, and bonus share announcements from prominent firms like Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), NMDC, Angel One, and Power Finance Corporation.

Understanding Corporate Actions and Their Impact

Corporate actions are significant events initiated by companies that potentially affect their securities and shareholders. They serve as mechanisms for companies to reward shareholders and make their shares more accessible to a broader investor base.

• Dividends: Direct cash payouts to shareholders based on the number of shares held, offering immediate returns on investment.
• Stock Splits: Division of existing shares into multiple shares, reducing the price per share while maintaining the company's market capitalization, making shares more affordable for retail investors.
• Bonus Shares: Additional shares issued to existing shareholders without any cost, based on their current holdings.

These actions typically result in price adjustments on the ex-date, making it crucial for investors to understand the timing and implications of these events.

Key Ex-Dates to Track This Week

Monday, March 17

Sika Interplant Systems will trade ex-date for its 2:10 stock split, which will divide each existing share into two new shares with a corresponding reduction in price. Additionally, IRFC's board will meet to consider a second interim dividend for FY2025. The company has already set March 21, 2025, as the record date to determine eligible shareholders for dividend distribution.

Navratna PSU NMDC is also scheduled to decide on an interim dividend for FY2024-25 on March 17, as announced earlier this month.

Tuesday, March 18

Three companies will trade ex-date on Tuesday:

• Castrol India (dividend)
• DIC India (dividend)
• Padam Cotton Yarns (bonus issue)

Wednesday, March 19

Two companies will go ex-date for dividends:

• AGI Infra
• Power Finance Corporation

Thursday, March 20

Angel One will trade ex-date for an ₹11 per share dividend, while Blue Pearl Agriventures will trade ex-date for a stock split that will reduce the face value of shares from ₹10 to ₹1.

Friday, March 21

The week concludes with five companies trading ex-date:

• Greenlam Industries
• Last Mile Enterprises
• Optimus Finance
• Shukra Pharmaceuticals
• Softrak Venture Investment

Strategic Considerations for Investors

For investors looking to capitalize on these corporate actions, understanding the ex-date concept is crucial. The ex-date (ex-dividend or ex-split date) is the date on which a stock begins trading without the upcoming corporate action value included in its price.

Investors who purchase shares before the ex-date will be eligible to receive the announced dividend, participate in the stock split, or receive bonus shares. Those who buy on or after the ex-date will not be eligible for these benefits for the current announcement.

When planning investment strategies around these events, consider:

• Purchasing shares at least one business day before the ex-date to qualify for the corporate action
• Being aware of potential price adjustments that typically occur on the ex-date
• Evaluating the tax implications of dividends and other corporate actions

For dividend-focused investors, companies like IRFC, NMDC, Angel One, and Power Finance Corporation present interesting opportunities this week. Similarly, those interested in increased liquidity and potential post-split price momentum might find Sika Interplant Systems and Blue Pearl Agriventures worth watching.

With proper planning and timely execution, investors can potentially benefit from these corporate actions while enhancing their portfolio returns.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed in this article are for informational purposes only and do not represent financial advice. The views expressed are those of the sources cited and not necessarily those of this website or its management. Investing in equities or other financial instruments carries the risk of financial loss. Readers must exercise due caution and conduct their own research before making any investment decisions. We are not liable for any losses incurred as a result of decisions made based on this article. Please consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment.

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FPIs Withdraw ₹30,000 Crore From Indian Equities in March First Half

FPIs Continue Massive Sell-Off; Withdraw Over ₹30,000 Crore From Indian Equities in March First Half

Foreign investors have maintained their selling spree in the Indian equity markets, withdrawing more than ₹30,000 crore during the first fortnight of March 2025. This continued exodus comes amid escalating global trade tensions and shifting investor preferences toward other markets.

According to the latest data from depositories, Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) have offloaded shares worth ₹30,015 crore from Indian equities this month (till March 13), marking the 14th consecutive week of net outflows from the domestic market.

Persistent Outflow Trend in 2025

The March sell-off follows significant outflows in the previous months, with FPIs pulling out ₹34,574 crore in February and a substantial ₹78,027 crore in January. With these withdrawals, the total FPI outflow has reached a staggering ₹1.42 lakh crore (USD 16.5 billion) in 2025 so far.

This extended selling pressure stands in sharp contrast to the investment patterns observed in previous years. In 2024, FPIs had registered minimal net inflows of just ₹427 crore, while 2023 saw extraordinary inflows of ₹1.71 lakh crore, driven by optimism over India's strong economic fundamentals.

Key Factors Driving the Sell-Off

Market experts attribute this prolonged selling pressure to a combination of global and domestic factors:

1. U.S. Trade Policy Uncertainty

The uncertainty surrounding U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump has raised concerns about a potential tariff-induced recession. This has significantly dampened global risk appetite, prompting FPIs to adopt a more cautious stance toward emerging markets like India.

2. Higher U.S. Bond Yields

Elevated U.S. bond yields coupled with a strong dollar have made American assets more appealing to international investors. This shift in relative attractiveness has led to capital outflows from emerging markets, including India, as investors reallocate their portfolios toward higher-yielding dollar-denominated assets.

3. Indian Rupee Depreciation

The depreciation of the Indian rupee against the U.S. dollar has further exacerbated this trend. A weaker rupee erodes returns for foreign investors when converted back to their home currencies, making Indian investments less attractive in comparative terms.

4. Outperformance of Chinese Markets

Market strategists have highlighted that FPI outflows from India have been mainly redirected toward Chinese stocks, which have been outperforming other markets in 2025. This rotation reflects tactical asset allocation decisions by global fund managers seeking better short-term returns.

Debt Market Dynamics

While equity markets have faced significant outflows, the debt segment has shown a different trend. FPIs invested ₹7,355 crore in the debt general limit category during this period, indicating some level of confidence in Indian fixed-income securities.

However, they withdrew ₹325 crore from the debt voluntary retention route, suggesting a selective approach to different debt instruments.

Market Outlook and Implications

Looking ahead, market experts suggest that the recent decline in the dollar index might limit fund flows to the U.S. However, the heightened uncertainty triggered by escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and other nations is likely to push more money into safe-haven assets like gold and the U.S. dollar.

For Indian equity markets, this continued FPI selling has created significant headwinds. The impact is evident in the market performance, with the market capitalization of five of the top-10 most valued firms declining by ₹93,000 crore recently, with IT giants Infosys and TCS being hit particularly hard.

Historical Context

To put the current outflows in perspective, it's worth noting that 2022 saw a net outflow of ₹1.21 lakh crore amid aggressive rate hikes by global central banks. The current trend appears to be following a similar pattern, though driven by different macroeconomic factors.

For retail investors, these FPI trends underscore the importance of maintaining a long-term investment horizon and focusing on companies with strong fundamentals that can weather such periods of foreign investment volatility.

As global uncertainties persist, domestic institutional investors and retail participation will likely play crucial roles in providing stability to the Indian equity markets in the near term.

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed in this article are for informational purposes only and do not represent financial advice. The views expressed are those of the sources cited and not necessarily those of this website or its management. Investing in equities or other financial instruments carries the risk of financial loss. Readers must exercise due caution and conduct their own research before making any investment decisions. We are not liable for any losses incurred as a result of decisions made based on this article. Please consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment.

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