When a large number of mutual fund schemes hold the same stock, it typically reflects strong institutional interest and can bolster confidence among retail investors. Data as of July 2026 show that 280 stocks were each held by more than 100 mutual fund schemes, underlining broad-based institutional participation in the market. With domestic equity funds absorbing steady systematic investment plan (SIP) inflows month after month, their positioning has become one of the most closely tracked signals in Indian markets.

An ETMarkets analysis of this universe found that 113 of these widely held stocks have gained more than 10% since the start of calendar year 2026 (CY26). Within that group, 15 stocks delivered gains ranging from 50% to 131% over the first seven and a half months of the year, and three of them — Welspun Corp, Apar Industries and Ather Energy — more than doubled, crossing the threshold of a multibagger, the market's shorthand for a stock that returns a multiple of the capital invested. The trend suggests that stocks with broad mutual fund participation have shown strong momentum during the period. (Data Source: ACE MF, ACE Equity)

The 15 names span a recognizable sector map. Power and electrification-linked companies — Apar Industries, which makes cables and conductors; grid equipment players Hitachi Energy India and Schneider Electric Infrastructure; power transmission company Adani Energy Solutions; and Welspun Corp, a supplier of large-diameter pipes — sit alongside pharmaceuticals and contract manufacturing names Gland Pharma, Laurus Labs, Sai Life Sciences and Neuland Laboratories. Electric two-wheeler maker Ather Energy and auto component firm Sona BLW Precision Forgings represent mobility, Data Patterns (defence and aerospace electronics) and Solar Industries India (explosives and ammunition) carry the defence theme, and engine and genset maker Kirloskar Oil Engines and specialty chemicals company Acutaas Chemicals complete the set. The clustering shows where fund-heavy names sit by sector; the analysis itself measures price performance and ownership breadth, and does not attribute the rallies to any single driver.

For fund investors, the significance runs in both directions. Because hundreds of schemes own these stocks, their price moves flow directly into the net asset values of a large number of funds, while heavy scheme ownership also leaves these names sensitive to the direction of overall fund flows. Within the list, Solar Industries India carried both the widest coverage, at 285 schemes, and the largest equity fund holding, at Rs 20,123 crore, followed by Sona BLW Precision Forgings (Rs 17,434 crore) and Adani Energy Solutions (Rs 17,378 crore).

Here are the 15 stocks, listed in descending order of their CY26 price gains, together with their mutual fund ownership positions as of July 2026:

Welspun Corp

Welspun Corp delivered a 132% rally in CY26, with its share price rising from Rs 813 to Rs 1,883. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 111 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 3,624 crore.

Apar Industries

Apar Industries delivered a 106% rally in CY26, with its share price climbing from Rs 8,368 to Rs 17,218. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 164 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 11,969 crore.

Ather Energy

Ather Energy delivered a 102% rally in CY26, with its share price advancing from Rs 755 to Rs 1,527. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 180 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 9,577 crore.

Hitachi Energy India

Hitachi Energy India delivered a 94% rally in CY26, with its share price rising from Rs 18,324 to Rs 35,620. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 229 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 5,359 crore.

Schneider Electric Infrastructure

Schneider Electric Infrastructure delivered a 91% rally in CY26, with its share price climbing from Rs 722 to Rs 1,378. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 103 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 1,286 crore.

Acutaas Chemicals

Acutaas Chemicals delivered an 83% rally in CY26, with its share price rising from Rs 1,703 to Rs 3,111. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 144 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 3,548 crore.

Data Patterns (India)

Data Patterns (India) delivered a 73% rally in CY26, with its share price advancing from Rs 2,624 to Rs 4,531. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 106 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 2,506 crore.

Gland Pharma

Gland Pharma delivered a 72% rally in CY26, with its share price rising from Rs 1,722 to Rs 2,967. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 138 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 10,970 crore.

Kirloskar Oil Engines

Kirloskar Oil Engines delivered a 69% rally in CY26, with its share price climbing from Rs 1,218 to Rs 2,060. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 154 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 7,252 crore.

Laurus Labs

Laurus Labs delivered a 66% rally in CY26, with its share price rising from Rs 1,108 to Rs 1,841. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 215 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 9,490 crore.

Sona BLW Precision Forgings

Sona BLW Precision Forgings delivered a 66% rally in CY26, with its share price advancing from Rs 479 to Rs 795. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 221 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 17,434 crore.

Solar Industries India

Solar Industries India delivered a 66% rally in CY26, with its share price rising from Rs 12,259 to Rs 20,290. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 285 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 20,123 crore.

Sai Life Sciences

Sai Life Sciences delivered a 60% rally in CY26, with its share price climbing from Rs 907 to Rs 1,452. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 158 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 8,263 crore.

Adani Energy Solutions

Adani Energy Solutions delivered a 54% rally in CY26, with its share price rising from Rs 1,029 to Rs 1,581. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 221 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 17,378 crore.

Neuland Laboratories

Neuland Laboratories delivered a 53% rally in CY26, with its share price rising from Rs 15,190 to Rs 23,222. As of July 2026, the stock was held across 117 mutual fund schemes, with total equity mutual fund holdings worth Rs 3,278 crore.

Mutual funds publish scheme-wise portfolios every month, so measures such as the number of schemes holding a stock and the value of those holdings refresh with each disclosure cycle — the July 2026 snapshot is one reading in a series that investors can continue to track.

Source: Economic Times Markets