ITC, RIL, HDFC Bank among top laggards as Nifty falls over 12% in 2026: Time to buy beaten-down stocks or wait for a recovery?

In 2026, the Nifty 50 index faced significant drops, with 34 out of 50 stocks plummeting by as much as 34%. Analysts believe that the sell-off is driven by foreign institutional investor exits and a conservative outlook on earnings. This decline presents potential opportunities for long-term investors as valuations dip below historical norms.