Stock market recommendations: Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd recommends the top stock picks for the week starting February 9, 2026. These are: SAIL, and Ventive Hospitality. Here’s a detailed analysis:

SAILSAIL delivered an in-line operating performance in 3QFY26, with healthy steel volumes offsetting weak realizations, underscoring improving execution and cost discipline. Sales volumes rose 16% YoY to 5.15 million tonnes, aided by aggressive inventory liquidation and stronger market outreach, while inventory levels declined to 2.4 million tonnes, releasing working capital and strengthening the balance sheet. Although average realizations softened, profitability was supported by scale benefits, stable coking coal costs during the quarter, and disciplined operating controls. Management commentary points to a more constructive near-term outlook, with January price hikes expected to fully reflect in February realizations, further inventory reduction planned in 4Q, and operations normalized across key plants. Medium-term visibility is reinforced by sustained volume targets, ongoing deleveraging, and a structured capex program focused on modernization and efficiency gains, which should structurally improve cost competitiveness over the cycle.Ventive HospitalityVentive Hospitality (VENTIVE) operates marquee luxury assets in the hospitality (77%) and annuity (23%) segments. It is expanding its presence beyond Pune to high-growth cities like Bengaluru & Navi Mumbai, reducing concentration risk. Alongside Soho House partnership (membership-based revenue), these expansions support stronger occupancy, revenue and medium-term earnings visibility. In its hospitality segment, international operations account for 54% of segment revenue, and is expected to deliver 21%/27% revenue/EBITDA CAGR over FY25-28, supported by new developments, rising luxury demand, and improved connectivity. Over FY25-28, we expect VENTIVE to deliver a 21% CAGR in both revenue and EBITDA, driven by rapid multi-city expansion, diversification into membership-led hospitality via Soho House and strong overseas performance led by high-ADR Maldives assets and expansion into Sri Lanka. Adj. PAT is likely to double, supported by operating leverage, lower interest costs and reduced tax burden.(Disclaimer: Recommendations and views on the stock market, other asset classes or personal finance management tips given by experts are their own. These opinions do not represent the views of The Times of India)

The head of Britain’s largest energy supplier has warned that the UK risks being “left behind” if it fails to collaborate with China on renewable technology, suggesting that importing Chinese wind farm innovations could create thousands of jobs.

Greg Jackson, founder and chief executive of Octopus Energy, recently accompanied Sir Keir Starmer on a UK delegation to China. He emphasised China’s significant advancements in technology and renewables, which he believes could provide Britain with crucial energy security.

This push for closer ties follows Octopus Energy’s recent joint venture with Chinese firm PCG Power, marking its first expansion into China.

The agreement will enable Octopus to trade renewable energy within the world’s largest clean energy market.

Furthermore, Octopus has previously indicated its desire to deploy wind turbines from leading Chinese manufacturers across its UK projects, utilising the country’s renewable technology to enhance Britain’s capabilities.

However, these potential collaborations are set against a backdrop of ongoing national security concerns regarding China, following a period of strained relations between the two nations.

Mr Jackson told the Press Association: “However you feel about China, it’s the second-largest economy in the world.

“In many areas it’s setting the global pace because of its investment in research and development, and technology.

“There are many people concerned about China’s motives or the way in which it’s run, but … if you don’t look at how to work with them, then you’ll get left behind.”

He added that working with China and gaining access to its technology was a “golden opportunity” that has the potential to bring down energy bills, create jobs and help boost the UK economy.

He told PA: “We need to be prepared to defend our own sovereignty and ensure our own security while working and trading with countries who can make people in Britain better off.

“There’s this obsession with whether or not we’re helping their economy, but the reality is we need to help our own economy.”

In September last year, Octopus struck a deal to co-operate on wind farm projects with Ming Yang Smart Energy Group in China, which could pave the way for UK firms to bring Chinese turbine machinery into Britain for the first time.

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Mr Jackson said the firm is hoping to start bringing the turbine technology over in the next couple of years, which is said to be around 30 per cent cheaper than from Europe.

“We would hope to create thousands of jobs here to produce some of the wind turbines that the UK is planning on building,” he said.

He insisted security would be the firm’s “number one priority” in rolling out the technology, but that the UK needs to take action to reduce its reliance on imported gas and bring the cost of bills down.

“We should work intelligently and carefully with the appropriate security frameworks,” he said.

“They’re opening up to us in an appropriate way and we need to think about how we’ll work with them here.”

Octopus, which has 7.6 million customers in the UK, overtook British Gas to become the UK’s largest energy supplier earlier this year, with a market share of 24 per cent.

It also has an AI-powered platform, called Kraken Technologies, which is used by other global energy retailers to improve customer service and billing and is valued at around £6.4 billion.

The Government last month said it was investing £25 million into Kraken through the British Business Bank (BBB) ahead of the division being spun out in the next few months.

High street health and beauty chain Superdrug has revealed plans to open 30 new stores this year, reinforcing its commitment to the UK retail sector.

The retailer confirmed this expansion of its store footprint will create around 600 jobs across the UK.

The Croydon-based business, founded in 1964, currently operates more than 780 shops across the UK and Ireland. Bosses at the chain stated the plans for further openings come on the back of “strong customer demand” in its stores.

Superdrug added that it will continue to invest particularly in “large-format destination stores and retail park locations”.

It confirmed that new sites include Dundee Gallagher Retail Park, Kilmarnock Retail Park, East Kilbride, Strathkelvin Retail Park and Linwood Phoenix Retail Park in Scotland; White Rose Leeds, Crawley, Waterlooville Retail Park, Newport Retail Park, Isle of Wight in England; and Cwmbran Retail Park in Wales.

Shoppers will be able to buy new beauty products and treatments such as ear piercing, manicures and eyebrow threading at Superdrug Beauty Studios, the group added.

The retail chain also said it plans to complete 60 store refits during the year as it commits “significant investment” across its estate of site.

Clare Jennings, Superdrug’s property director, said: “Superdrug continues to see strong demand for physical, experience-led retail, and our 2026 store opening programme is a clear vote of confidence in UK bricks and mortar retail.

“By opening 30 stores, we’re not just increasing our footprint, we’re creating destinations that bring together beauty, healthcare and affordable treatments under one roof.

“Our customers want more than convenience, they want expertise, products and services they can trust, delivered in welcoming spaces within their local communities.

“This investment allows us to bring bigger, better Superdrug stores to more locations across the UK, unlocking more access to healthcare, beauty products and treatments, while creating hundreds of new jobs and long-term career opportunities for our colleagues.”

The news comes as high-street pharmacy giants Boots and Superdrug have been accused of misleading customers with “dodgy deals” after an investigation into loyalty pricing at their stores.

Consumer champion Which? compared prices across the two businesses during a six-month period in 2025, finding hundreds of cases where loyalty deals indicated a greater saving for members than in reality.

Which? says it has referred both Boots and Superdrug to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), alleging that the companies have gone against the watchdog’s guidance on loyalty pricing promotions.

One of the examples given by Which? is a Simple skincare bundle that was priced at £4.98 for loyalty members and £9.98 for other customers. However, immediately before that, the bundle was priced at £4.80 for everyone (and marked as “reduced” from £9.98), and afterwards it was £4.49 for everyone (also “reduced” from £9.98).

Superdrug argued that the prices highlighted by Which? only made up a small proportion of its thousands of loyalty price promotions.