Market Overview Indian equity benchmarks maintained a positive trajectory on February 18, 2026, with the Nifty 50 trading above the **25,750** mark and the S&P BSE Sensex advancing to **83,584.87**. This resilience comes despite mixed global cues and ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. Market breadth remains strong, with **2,417** shares rising against **1,505** declines on the BSE. Volatility, as measured by the India VIX, has cooled by **4.29%** to a stable level of **12.76**. Sector Performance and Economic Triggers The IT and Defence sectors are leading the current charge. Defence stocks are gaining momentum following Cochin Shipyard's status as the lowest bidder for a **₹5,000 crore** Ministry of Defence project. The manufacturing sector is showing structural recovery with Q2 FY26 growth hitting **9.13%**. Government-led PLI schemes have now attracted over **₹2.0 lakh crore** in actual investment. India's external buffers remain robust with foreign exchange reserves at **$701.4 billion**, providing approximately **11 months** of import cover. Top Brokerage Recommendations **Energy and Infrastructure** Motilal Oswal has reiterated a Buy on **IGL** with a target of **₹235**, representing a potential upside of **41%** from the current market price of **₹166**. **Siemens Energy** has seen its target price raised to **₹3,600** from **₹3,400** by Motilal Oswal, citing a **31%** upside potential from the current level of **₹2,738**. Elara Capital remains bullish on **ONGC**, increasing its target to **₹320** (up from **₹304**), suggesting a **19%** gain from the current price of **₹267**. **Pharmaceuticals and Consumer Goods** Citi has upgraded the target for **Lupin** to **₹2,540**, up from **₹2,260**, following its specialty pharma expansion in Canada. This offers a **15%** upside from the current **₹2,199**. **Britannia Industries** is favored by multiple firms. Motilal Oswal maintains a target of **₹7,150**, while technical analysts eye a shorter-term target of **₹6,570** as long as it stays above **₹5,930**. **Banking and Telecom** Anand Rathi suggests a Buy for **Bharti Airtel** with a target of **₹2,100**, noting strong momentum as the stock holds its support near **₹2,020**. **Canara Bank** is showing a "double-bottom" reversal pattern. Analysts set a target of **₹160** with a stop-loss at **₹144**. **RBL Bank** is also gaining interest with a target range of **₹350–₹355** following a surge in trading volumes. Emerging Opportunities **Coal India** is positioned as a technical buy in the **₹415–₹425** range, with analysts targeting **₹470** as it recovers from a corrective phase. In the mid-cap space, **Delhivery** is highlighted with a target of **₹570** (**36% upside**), driven by its acquisition of Ecom Express and expanding EBITDA margins of **7.4%**. **Amber Enterprises** is recommended by Yes Securities with a high conviction target of **₹8,962**, fueled by the doubling of revenue expectations in its railway business.