Near-term pain to hit paint, cement stks; long-term outlook robust: Experts

Analysts have downgraded the related sectors, and have cut earnings estimates for FY23 and FY24 factoring the near-term challenges

From rising interest rates to elevated cost pressures, the building material sector that includes ceramics, paints and adhesives, pipes, wood panels, cement, and steel, has witnessed headwinds over the past few quarters.

Omicron wave, subdued volume growth, and the delay in passing on the rise in input costs, analysts said, have impacted the sector in the past few months. An improvement in their fortunes, they believe, is still a couple of quarters away.

"Although the demand environment remained healthy from government infrastructure projects and urban housing in the January – March period of fiscal 2021-22 (Q4-FY22), there was slackness in