Archive · 18 Jul 2026
Indian Banks Lag Global Peers
Indian banks like HDFC, Kotak, Axis, and ICICI have not done well compared to other big banks around the world.
Before the pandemic, they were growing fast and investors liked them.
But after the pandemic, even though they kept growing, their profits didn't grow as much as expected.
This made investors unhappy, and the value of their stocks went down.
On the other hand, big banks in other countries started doing better, and their stocks went up.
The main lesson is that buying stocks at high prices can be risky, even if the company is doing well.
Indian private banks have underperformed global peers in shareholder returns since December 31, 2019.
Valuation multiples for HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Axis Bank have significantly contracted.
ICICI Bank has seen a 168% gain with marginal derating.
Global banks have seen multiple expansion due to improving fundamentals and low entry valuations.
Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) have reduced their stakes in Indian banks due to rising global interest rates and the AI trade.
- Who
- Indian private banks (HDFC Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Axis Bank, ICICI Bank) and global banks
- What
- Indian banks have underperformed global peers in shareholder returns due to valuation issues
- When
- Since December 31, 2019 (pre-pandemic)
- Where
- India and global markets
- Why
- Valuation multiples contracted for Indian banks, while global banks saw multiple expansion due to improving fundamentals
- HDFC Bank
- Valuation multiples halved
- Kotak Mahindra Bank
- Valuation multiples halved
- Axis Bank
- Valuation multiples fell by 25%
- ICICI Bank
- 168% gain with marginal derating
- Sensex
- Gained 89% since December 31, 2019
- Global Banks
- Average price-to-book multiple 0.8x as of December 2019
- FII Holding in HDFC
- Decreased from 52% to 42%
- FII Holding in ICICI
- Decreased from 38% to 35%
- FII Holding in Axis
- Decreased from 53% to 43%
- FII Holding in Kotak
- Decreased from 45% to 25%