Private lenders disappoint in Q4FY25, but small and PSU banks impress. HDFC Bank, SBI among 16 stocks to buy

Indias banking sector saw a mixed Q4FY25, with private banks lagging and small/mid-sized banks outperforming. ICICI and HDFC Bank posted healthy profits, while SBI and Kotak disappointed. Public sector banks reported strong PAT growth. Analysts expect double-digit earnings growth in FY26, with multiple brokerage buy calls on leading banks.