Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited vs Reliance Industries Limited
Compared on live NSE market data
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited vs Reliance Industries Limited: which is better?
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) and Reliance Industries Limited (RELIANCE) are both listed on the National Stock Exchange, and both operate in Oil Gas & Consumable Fuels — so this is a like-for-like comparison rather than two unrelated businesses. Everything below is computed from the official NSE daily Bhavcopy: closing price, 52-week range, traded value and, where reported, valuation metrics.
On one-year price return Reliance Industries Limited is ahead, -13.99% against -14.48%. Put concretely: ₹1,00,000 put into Reliance Industries Limited a year ago would be worth about ₹86,011 today on price alone, against roughly ₹85,521 in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited — a difference of ₹490. Dividends are not included in either figure.
Relative to their own trading ranges, Reliance Industries Limited sits 17.8% below its 52-week high while Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited is 19.3% below its own. Both are therefore at broadly similar points in their yearly cycle, so neither looks obviously beaten down relative to the other.
Measured from the other end, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited trades 18.5% above its 52-week low (range ₹266.6–₹391.65) and Reliance Industries Limited 14.9% above its own (₹1,152.2–₹1,611.8). A wider band generally means a more volatile stock over the past year.
Trailing P/E is not available for either company in our NSE dataset, so a like-for-like valuation comparison is not possible here. Check the company's latest reported earnings before judging either on price alone.
Liquidity differs too: Reliance Industries Limited traded about ₹2598.2 Cr on the latest session against ₹206.3 Cr for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. Both see enough daily volume that an ordinary retail order should execute without materially moving the price.
None of these figures identifies a "better" stock on its own, and they frequently disagree — the cheaper name is often cheaper for a reason, and the stronger one-year performer may already have priced in its good news. What the numbers do is narrow the question: if the two look similar on returns and valuation, liquidity and position in the 52-week band become the deciding factors. Read them alongside the companies' actual results, debt and sector outlook.
Figures are end-of-day from the NSE Bhavcopy and may be delayed. This comparison is informational and is not investment advice — consider a SEBI-registered adviser before buying either.
Key takeaways
- Reliance Industries Limited has the stronger 1-year return (-13.99% vs -14.48%).
- Both stocks are down over the past year — this is a comparison of smaller and larger losses.
- Reliance Industries Limited is closer to its 52-week high (17.8% below vs 19.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has given better returns — Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited or Reliance Industries Limited?
Over the last year, Reliance Industries Limited returned more (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited: -14.48%, Reliance Industries Limited: -13.99%). These are price returns from NSE closing data and exclude dividends. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Is Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited or Reliance Industries Limited closer to its 52-week high?
Reliance Industries Limited is closer, trading 17.8% below its 52-week high against 19.3% for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. Being near a high is not automatically bullish, nor is a large drawdown automatically a bargain — both need the underlying business context.
Which is more liquid — Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited or Reliance Industries Limited?
Reliance Industries Limited, with roughly ₹2598.2 Cr of traded value in the latest session against ₹206.3 Cr for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited. Higher turnover generally means tighter spreads and easier exits, which matters most if you ever need to sell in a hurry.
Should I invest in Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited or Reliance Industries Limited?
Neither is universally better — it depends on your horizon, risk appetite and what you already hold. Use the returns, valuation, 52-week position and liquidity above to narrow the question, then check each company's latest results and debt before deciding. A single stock should form only part of a diversified portfolio.
Can I hold both Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Reliance Industries Limited?
Yes, though be aware both operate in Oil Gas & Consumable Fuels. Holding two companies from the same industry gives you less diversification than it appears, since the same sector-wide events tend to move both in the same direction.
Price, turnover and 52-week data from the official NSE daily Bhavcopy; returns computed from our own stored daily history. Figures are not adjusted for stock splits or bonus issues. Analysis computed from that data. Not financial advice — always do your own research before investing.