While most sectors have struggled to generate returns this year, pharma stocks have emerged as one of the market's best-performing defensive bets. The Nifty Pharma index has gained about 6% year-to-date, sharply outperforming broader markets. In comparison, the Nifty is down 11%, Nifty IT has fallen 24%, while both Nifty Bank and Nifty Auto have declined around 8% over the same period.
The outperformance has come at a time when investors have been grappling with geopolitical tensions, tariff uncertainties, slowing corporate earnings growth and concerns over global economic momentum.
