Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Nov 27: Whirlpool of India Ltd witnessed one of its most turbulent trading days on Thursday, November 27, 2025, as the stock plunged sharply despite an unprecedented surge in market activity. By mid-morning, more than 164.33 lakh shares had exchanged hands on the BSE — an extraordinary spike amounting to 1,549 times the stock’s average two-week trading volume, signalling intense institutional churn.

However, the frenzy came with a brutal price collapse. Shares tanked nearly 13.2% intraday, slipping to just above Rs 1,040, before recovering slightly. Around 12:40 p.m., the stock was quoted at Rs 1,074, still down 10.57%, as selling pressure refused to ease.

Market chatter quickly pointed to a large promoter-linked block deal as the catalyst. Whirlpool Mauritius, affiliated with the global parent, was widely reported to have offloaded a significant stake at a steep discount. Estimates varied:

• Some reports indicated 1.5 crore shares (11.8% stake) were dumped,

• Others pegged the sale around 95 lakh shares, with a floor price of Rs 1,030 — nearly 14% below the prevailing market price.

The deal value was estimated at Rs 965 crore, and the sheer volume of shares flooded the market, triggering panic among retail investors wary of the parent’s decision to monetise a meaningful stake.

The timing of the sale added to investor unease. Whirlpool India’s financial performance has been under strain:

• Net profit fell 21.9% YoY to Rs 41.80 crore in the September quarter,

• Revenue dipped 3.8% to Rs 1,647.27 crore,

• EBITDA and margins contracted sharply, reflecting weak demand in consumer durables and pressure from competitive pricing.

With fundamentals already shaky, the unexpected promoter sale dealt a fresh blow to sentiment.

Even as the broader market ended the day on a positive note — supported by upbeat global cues and hopes of rate cuts — Whirlpool India remained firmly out of sync. Analysts noted that the massive supply shock from block trades overshadowed broader market optimism, altering demand dynamics in an instant.

Just last month, Whirlpool India's licensing and technology agreements with the parent had eased strategic concerns by securing exclusive branding and IP rights. But the latest stake sale has rekindled questions about promoter commitment and long-term alignment.

In the consumer durables sector, investor confidence is closely tied to parent-company backing. Analysts warn that the sale could trigger a short-term re-rating, with the market demanding clearer signs of recovery before turning bullish again.

Contrarian investors may view the correction as an opportunity — but only if:

• earnings stabilise,

• execution improves,

• or new institutional investors step in to absorb the promoter’s partial exit.

For now, volatility is expected to remain elevated, with near-term price action likely driven more by trading flows and corporate optics than by sectoral or macro fundamentals.

The dramatic episode underscores a broader market lesson: when large shareholders make sudden moves, even buoyant markets offer little protection.