The market presents a buying opportunity for long-term investors, says Anshul Saigal

Even as the Nifty hits new all-time highs, the mood among retail investors remains subdued as most portfolios have not kept pace. But for value investors, this is exactly the time to get bullish, says Anshul Saigal, founder of Saigal Capital.Saigal said that after 12 to 14 months of price and time correction, valuations in key parts of the market have finally become attractive, making this a favorable time for investors with a three- to 10-year horizon.

This is the time to cheer

While retail investors have been disappointed by the lackluster portfolio returns, Saigal believes this is the perfect situation for value-oriented investors.“When everyone is bearish or losing hope, you get opportunities to build high-quality portfolios,” he said on ET Now.

Sectors that offer strong long-term opportunities

Saigal highlighted several themes where earnings visibility and valuations have become attractive:

Renewable energy:

Companies across the clean energy ecosystem are available at reasonable valuations despite strong long-term demand.

Capital goods:

Cap goods, once the hottest sector, have seen meaningful corrections. Saigal expects a strong rebound as India ramps up production and PLI-related investments.

Metal:

Despite years of underperformance, global currency depreciation trends indicate that metals could mirror the recent rise in gold and silver.

Banking and financial sector:

Names from core financial sector sectors continue to offer favorable valuations and healthy growth prospects.

Gold financiers: a powerful proxy for rising gold prices

According to Saigal, gold loan companies provide a direct influence on gold price cycles.

He noted that one major player has already recovered, while another – despite strong governance improvements and a major global shareholder on board – still offers significant room for revaluation.

“These lenders are actually a better gold substitute than jewelry companies,” he added.

Consumption to strengthen; capex is still a long-term winner

Saigal expects near-term tailwinds in consumption, driven by VAT cuts and personal tax cuts.
According to him, business feedback from the field points to stronger demand this quarter and improved sentiment heading into FY26.

In terms of the long-term outlook, he remains firmly optimistic on capital goods and infrastructure.

“India has not seen significant investments for almost a decade. With Make in India and PLI coming in, there is huge catch-up potential,” he noted.

The best time in years to build long-term portfolios

Despite the subdued short-term returns, Saigal believes this phase presents a rare opportunity for patient investors.
“For generational investors – those looking five to 10 years ahead – now is the right time to add quality names, not pull back,” he said.