Stocks to Watch Today, 31 August 2026: TCS, Lenskart Solutions, Wipro and 5 Other Key Picks After Friday's Close

Stocks to watch today, 31 August 2026, are shaped by a strong IT sector rally, a pending block deal, and fresh brokerage and partnership news reported after Friday's close. Benchmark indices recovered on Friday after two consecutive sessions of losses, with the Sensex rising 330.92 points, or 0.43%, to close at 77,264.51, while the Nifty 50 gained 84.80 points, or 0.35%, to end at 24,175.65. For the week, however, the Sensex still recorded a decline of about 0.4%.

Ankit Jaiswal, Senior Research Analyst at Univest, and Kunal Singla, Associate Director at Univest, have flagged this stocks to watch today list based on fresh corporate developments heading into today's session, the first trading day of the new week.

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Today's Market Overview

• Sensex closed at 77,264.51 (+0.43%); Nifty 50 ended at 24,175.65 (+0.35%) on August 28, recovering after two sessions of losses, though the week still closed down about 0.4%
• IT stocks led the advance: TCS +4.16%, Tech Mahindra +3.12%, Infosys +2.90%, HCL Technologies +2.7%, supported by easing crude oil prices and a positive global tech outlook
• Asian Paints (-1.37%), ITC (-1.30%) and IndusInd Bank (-1.28%) were the biggest laggards; investors await clarity from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's Jackson Hole remarks

Against this backdrop, here is today's watchlist of eight stocks worth tracking closely.

What Makes a Stock Worth Watching Today?

A stock earns a place on a stocks to watch today list when it carries a specific, time-sensitive trigger, such as a pending block deal, a brokerage upgrade, or a fresh partnership announcement, rather than general market sentiment alone. The eight names below meet this bar heading into today's session.

8 Stocks to Watch Today

Check live prices for all these stocks on the Univest Screener

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) — Stock to Watch Today

Change on Aug 28: +4.16% (biggest Sensex gainer)

TCS surged 4.16% on Friday, leading a broad IT sector rally supported by easing crude oil prices and positive global technology sentiment. Ankit Jaiswal flags the stock for continuation of this momentum into today's session, particularly as markets digest Fed Chair Kevin Warsh's Jackson Hole commentary for further policy signals relevant to technology valuations.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to track TCS's live price and IT sector momentum.

Lenskart Solutions — Stock to Watch Today

Pending Block Deal: Up to 20.8 million shares (Alpha Wave Ventures)

Lenskart Solutions is in focus after reports that investor Alpha Wave Ventures is likely to sell up to 20.8 million shares through a block deal. Kunal Singla flags the stock for confirmation of this transaction, noting the counter has already seen repeated large block deals in recent sessions as early investors adjust their holdings.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to track Lenskart Solutions' live price during the block deal.

Wipro — Stock to Watch Today

Development: Expanded AI partnership with Google Cloud

Wipro and Google Cloud are expanding their partnership to scale artificial intelligence across core enterprise operations. Ankit Jaiswal flags the stock for potential positive sentiment spillover from this partnership expansion, coming alongside the broader IT sector rally seen on Friday.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to track Wipro's live price and partnership updates.

SBI Funds Management — Stock to Watch Today

Brokerage Rating: Jefferies initiates Buy

SBI Funds Management received a 'Buy' rating from Jefferies, which cited the company's strong association with State Bank of India and its presence in fast-growing tier-2 and smaller cities. Kunal Singla flags the stock for continued institutional attention following this fresh coverage initiation.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to track SBI Funds Management's live price and brokerage coverage.

Tejas Networks — Stock to Watch Today

Change on Aug 28: +12.6% | Rs 1,537 Cr LoI from TCS for BSNL 4G

Tejas Networks surged 12.6% on Friday, extending its rally following the company's disclosure of a Rs 1,537 crore Letter of Intent from TCS for supply of RAN equipment for BSNL's 4G network across 18,685 sites. Ankit Jaiswal flags the stock for continued momentum as the market digests the scale of this order addition.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to track Tejas Networks' order book and execution updates.

Ather Energy — Stock to Watch Today

Change on Aug 28: +4.8%

Ather Energy gained 4.8% on Friday, continuing its strong run following a recent block deal involving 3% of the company's equity. Kunal Singla flags the stock for continuation of this momentum, though notes the stock's valuation has expanded significantly after its sharp rally over the past year.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to track Ather Energy's live price and volume trends.

ICICI Bank — Stock to Watch Today

Change on Aug 28: -1.4% (among biggest Sensex laggards)

ICICI Bank was among the biggest laggards on the Sensex on Friday, bucking the broader market recovery. Ankit Jaiswal flags the stock for tracking whether this weakness extends into today's session or reverses alongside the broader banking pack.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to track ICICI Bank's live price movement.

Asian Paints — Stock to Watch Today

Change on Aug 28: -1.37% (biggest Sensex laggard)

Asian Paints was the single biggest laggard on the Sensex on Friday and has also been among the weaker performers for the week. Kunal Singla flags the stock for continued monitoring of paints sector demand trends as a possible explanation for the sustained underperformance.

Download the Univest iOS App or Univest Android App to track Asian Paints' live price and sector trends.

Why These Stocks to Watch Today Matter

The eight stocks to watch today share a common thread: each carries a specific, unresolved development that could see fresh updates during today's session. TCS, Wipro, and the broader IT pack reflect a sector-wide rally that investors will want to see sustained. Lenskart Solutions carries a pending block deal, while SBI Funds Management and Tejas Networks reflect fresh brokerage and order-book catalysts. ICICI Bank and Asian Paints, meanwhile, are worth tracking for signs of reversal after bucking Friday's broader market recovery.

Conclusion

These stocks to watch today, 31 August 2026, reflect a mix of IT sector momentum, a pending block deal, brokerage upgrades, and notable laggards from Friday's session. Traders should track official exchange filings for confirmation on the pending items, including the Lenskart Solutions block deal, while long-term investors may find ICICI Bank and Asian Paints useful to monitor for signs of stabilisation. Revisit this stocks to watch today list as the session progresses for updates. This article does not constitute investment advice. Consult a SEBI-registered financial advisor before making any investment decision.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Stocks to Watch Today

What are the stocks to watch today, 31 August 2026?

Ans. Stocks to watch today, 31 August 2026, include TCS, Lenskart Solutions, Wipro, SBI Funds Management, Tejas Networks, Ather Energy, ICICI Bank, and Asian Paints. Each carries a specific development heading into today's session.

Why is TCS a stock to watch today?

Ans. TCS surged 4.16% on August 28, 2026, leading a broad IT sector rally supported by easing crude oil prices and positive global technology sentiment. Investors are watching for continuation of this momentum.

Why is Lenskart Solutions in focus today?

Ans. Lenskart Solutions is in focus after reports that investor Alpha Wave Ventures is likely to sell up to 20.8 million shares through a block deal, adding to a pattern of repeated large institutional transactions in the stock.

Why did Tejas Networks surge 12.6% on Friday?

Ans. Tejas Networks surged 12.6% on August 28, 2026, extending its rally following the company's disclosure of a Rs 1,537 crore Letter of Intent from TCS for supply of RAN equipment for BSNL's 4G network across 18,685 sites.

What brokerage rating did SBI Funds Management receive?

Ans. SBI Funds Management received a 'Buy' rating from Jefferies, which cited the company's strong association with State Bank of India and its presence in fast-growing tier-2 and smaller cities.

Should I buy stocks to watch today immediately?

Ans. Stocks to watch today are flagged for monitoring based on pending developments, not as immediate buy recommendations. Investors should assess their own risk tolerance and wait for confirmation of pending catalysts before making decisions. This article does not constitute investment advice.