Quant Mutual Fund-Owned Realty Stock Inches Higher Despite Stock Market Crash: Here's Why

Market Crash Shakes Dalal Street, but This Realty Stock Defies Gravity

On a day when the Indian stock market witnessed a sharp decline, with the Sensex tanking over 800 points and the Nifty 50 slipping below key support levels, one realty stock held by Quant Mutual Fund managed to inch higher—defying overall bearish sentiment and broader investor pessimism.

The stock in question is Prestige Estates Projects Ltd, which saw marginal gains even as most of its peers and the broader indices bled red. Shares of Prestige Estates edged up by 1.2% intraday on June 22, closing at ₹1,248, while major indices and sectoral real estate stocks tumbled under selling pressure.

What’s Fueling the Resilience?

According to market observers, the resilience in Prestige Estates' stock stems from a combination of strong quarterly performance, robust project pipeline, and continued buying interest from domestic institutional investors—particularly Quant Mutual Fund, which has steadily increased its stake in the company over the past few quarters.

As per the March 2025 shareholding data, Quant Mutual Fund held over 1.1% stake in Prestige Estates, and filings suggest that this holding has either been maintained or marginally increased in the April–June quarter.

“The reason we’re seeing a divergence in stock movement is largely due to earnings quality and institutional conviction,” said Suresh Nair, Senior Analyst at Prithvi Finmart, adding that, “Prestige Estates has shown stellar pre-sales and execution capabilities in FY25 so far, and funds like Quant are betting on consistent free cash flow generation in the coming quarters.”

Sector Overview: Real Estate Stays Volatile

The BSE Realty index closed 1.6% lower on the same day, reflecting overall market sentiment tied to global cues and rising concerns over interest rates. Other major names in the sector like DLF, Godrej Properties, and Oberoi Realty all ended the session in the red.

However, realty as a sector continues to enjoy strong fundamental tailwinds in India. Robust housing demand, increasing urbanization, and favorable government policies like PMAY and RERA compliance are providing long-term support to listed developers.

Prestige’s Project Pipeline and Performance

The Bengaluru-based real estate major reported a 39% year-on-year jump in pre-sales for Q4 FY24, backed by high-value launches in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The company’s total sales bookings crossed ₹15,000 crore in FY24, and its net debt reduced sequentially, improving its financial leverage.

“Prestige is now a pan-India player. Their foray into NCR and sustained launches in Mumbai make them an attractive play in the premium housing segment,” said Ritika Bhagat, Fund Manager at Eastern Capital Partners. “While many stocks are getting punished due to macro selloffs, selective names like Prestige are supported by bottom-up conviction.”

Quant Mutual Fund’s Contrarian Strategy

Quant Mutual Fund is known for its aggressive and sometimes contrarian sectoral plays, often going against the tide. With a heavy bias toward momentum and quant-driven decision-making, the fund house has been increasing its exposure to selective mid-cap and realty stocks over the past year.

Their presence in Prestige Estates has drawn investor attention, especially as the fund has recently pruned its exposure to several high-beta IT and small-cap financials, citing valuation concerns.

“Quant’s investment strategy is data-led and dynamic. Their continued position in Prestige is an indirect endorsement of the stock’s long-term potential despite market hiccups,” noted Mehul Ranka, Portfolio Advisor at Siddhi Investments.

Investor Outlook: Should You Buy the Dip?

While market volatility is expected to persist amid global macroeconomic uncertainties, the resilience of stocks like Prestige Estates offers a lesson in identifying quality amid chaos.

Analysts advise caution in the short term but remain bullish for medium- to long-term investors.

“Real estate remains a high-beta play, and investors should brace for swings. However, for those with a 2- to 3-year horizon, names like Prestige with clear growth visibility and clean balance sheets are worth accumulating,” added Aditi Ghosh, Research Lead at Trivector Securities.

That said, retail investors are encouraged to align entries with broader market stabilizations and keep an eye on the next set of quarterly results, particularly from realty majors, to validate the sector’s momentum.

In a market awash with red, Prestige Estates’ upward move—fueled by Quant Mutual Fund’s stake and strong business fundamentals—stands out. As institutional funds continue to separate wheat from chaff, real estate stocks with solid earnings and execution narratives may emerge as unlikely winners in a choppy market.