In today's digital world, search trends often serve as real-time market sentiment indicators, offering a unique lens into investor behavior. The stocks that attract the most searches often correlate with major financial events, corporate actions, or shifts in public perception. By analyzing these search patterns across platforms like Groww, Zerodha, and AngelOne, we can spot rising retail investor interest—an early signal for generating alpha. Investor sentiment often shows up in online search trends, and our latest data highlights a strong connection between market events and digital activity.
Energy & Infrastructure (Adani Enterprises Limited)
One of the biggest spikes came from Adani Enterprises Limited, with searches soaring 137% year-over-year during FY 2022-23. This jump came as the company rebounded from the implications of the Hindenburg report, winning back investor trust through transparency measures, a higher public shareholding, and key acquisitions like NDTV.
Search distribution across platforms during Y1 showed Groww leading with 78%, followed by Angel One (13%), Upstox (7%), and Zerodha (2%). By Y2, searches on Groww rose to 88%, indicating growing investor engagement. Additionally, searches on Zerodha expanded 5x from Y1 to Y3, highlighting increasing traction.
SBI (State Bank of India)
SBI experienced a 113% rise in searches during FY 2023-24, fueled by its digital banking expansion and strategic investments, including a $1 billion partnership with Paytm. This transformation strengthened SBI’s presence in fintech and mobile banking, attracting greater interest.
Searches for SBI on Groww grew from 64% in Y1 to 77% in Y3, while Zerodha searches rose from 3% to 8%. Notably, searches on Groww were 7x higher than on Angel One, underlining its dominance in investor searches.
Indian Railway Finance Corp (IRFC)
Searches for IRFC have surged 9x, particularly during after-market hours (3:30 PM to 5:30 PM), reflecting heightened investor interest. This spike aligns with key financial disclosures and strategic developments, signaling a keen focus on the company’s market movements.
According to IRFC’s annual report, the company’s $1 billion investment in expanding the rail network and forming partnerships with private firms, alongside a growing demand for rail freight services, likely drove higher search volumes. Financial data further supports this trend:
- Stock Price changed from ₹19.65 to ₹32.20 from 1st June 2022 to 31st May 2023 and from ₹32.70 to ₹177.80 during 1st June 2023 to 31st May 2024
- Net interest margin declined from 466.2% in FY22 to 86.7% in FY23.
- Net profit margins fell from 30.0% in FY22 to 26.5% in FY23.
- Debt-to-equity ratio remained stable at 0.0 in both FY22 and FY23.
The sharp rise in searches around these financial indicators highlights how retail investors use search platforms to stay ahead of market movements.
Conclusion
What makes these insights valuable is their alignment with key inflection points in the stock market, demonstrating how search trends can act as early indicators of investor behavior. By analyzing when and where users search for financial assets, we gain a deeper understanding of shifting market sentiment and emerging opportunities. Whether it’s the resurgence of a conglomerate like Adani Enterprises or the revival of a high-growth tech stock like Zomato, search patterns provide a compelling reflection of investment interest in real time.
