What are LIC shares worth?

Editorial team Published on

The Life Insurance Corporation of India (LICI) share price closed at ₹387.65 on the NSE as of October 5, 2026, marking a decrease of 1.07% (-₹4.20) from its previous close.

Key Stock Metrics

  • Open: ₹392.50
  • Day's Range: ₹385.50 – ₹394.80
  • Previous Close: ₹391.85
  • Market Capitalization: ~₹2.46 lakh crore (consolidated metrics via Moneycontrol estimate overall market valuation near ₹4.95 lakh crore depending on total outstanding shares)
  • 52-Week Range: ₹360.75 – ₹468.48
  • P/E Ratio: ~5.87 – 8.25
  • Dividend Yield: ~2.58%

You can check live tracking and updates directly on Groww.

How much are LIC shares worth today?

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) shares are trading at approximately ₹397.90.

Stock Details

  • Previous Close: ₹400.65
  • Day's Range: ₹394.10 – ₹401.00
  • 52-Week Range: ₹360.75 – ₹468.48
  • Market Capitalization: ~₹2.52 trillion

You can view live charts and financial tracking on the Life Insurance Corporation of India Groww Page.

Should I hold or sell LIC shares?

You should generally hold your LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India) shares if you have a long-term horizon, given its low P/E ratio (~8.2x) and market leadership, though short-term momentum remains subdued following recent government disinvestment.

📊 Strategic Breakdown

  • ✅ The Bull Case (Reasons to Hold)
    • Attractive Valuation: Trading at a low price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of ~8.25 compared to private sector peers.
    • Market Dominance: Massive market share exceeding 66% in new business premiums.
    • Solid Dividends: Consistent dividend yield of around 2.55% to 2.76%.
  • ⚠️ The Bear Case (Reasons to Sell)
    • Slow Wealth Creation: Stock has largely traded sideways or underperformed since listing.
    • OFS Pressure: Recent government Offer for Sale (OFS) at ₹382 created recurring supply pressure.
    • Private Competition: Losing high-margin market segments to faster-growing private life insurers.

🗓 Action Framework

  • 📌 Hold If:
    • You are a long-term investor seeking stable PSU exposure and steady dividend income.
    • Your purchase price is significantly higher than the current market price (~₹392), and you want to avoid booking a realized loss while waiting for public float liquidity to improve.
  • 📌 Sell If:
    • You need capital immediately for higher-growth opportunities or private sector alternatives.
    • You prefer fast capital appreciation over a slow-moving, large-cap public sector undertaking.

On Quora, opinions are mixed; some users advise holding for fundamental value and dividends, while others suggest exiting due to sluggish price action.

How do I sell my LIC shares?

You can sell your Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC) shares by contacting a share broker, using the Sharesies platform, or having LIC's lead broker manage the sale.

Methods to Sell LIC Shares

  • Share Broker: Contact a registered share broker to list and sell your fully paid ordinary shares.
  • Sharesies Platform: Trade excess shares through the digital Sharesies platform. Note that zero brokerage fees apply for eligible farmer shareholders, but you must meet co-operative and participant requirements.
  • Lead Broker (Craigs Investment Partners): Let LIC sell your full share parcel through their lead broker, Craigs Investment Partners.
  • Compulsory Sale Process: Opt to sell your shares via the compulsory sale process when you reach your compliance date.
  • Private Transfer: Complete an Ordinary Share Transfer Form to privately transfer excess shares to another qualifying shareholder.

Important Rules to Remember

  • LIC does not facilitate the sale of excess shares (shares held above the share standard); you must use a broker or Sharesies for those.
  • If you hold nil-paid ordinary shares, you must pay them up before you can trade them.
  • Trading or holding LIC cooperative shares generally requires meeting specific criteria, such as being a New Zealand dairy farmer with a participant code.

What is the highest share price of LIC?

The all-time high share price for the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LICI) on the NSE was ₹611.00, reached on August 1, 2024.

📊 Key Price Milestones

  • All-Time High: ₹611.00 (August 1, 2024)
  • 52-Week High: ₹468.48
  • IPO Issue Price: ₹949.00 (May 2022) (Note: The market price adjusted following subsequent corporate actions/bonus issuance in 2026).

Parag Thakkar's Table-Thumping Buy On LIC | Why He's Bullish

9 related questions found

What is the current price of LIC shares?

The current share price of the Life Insurance Corporation of India is ₹391.85.

Stock Summary

  • Previous Close: ₹395.20
  • Open: ₹394.00
  • Day Range: ₹386.00 – ₹396.75
  • 52-Week Range: ₹360.75 – ₹468.48
  • Market Capitalization: ~₹4,95,690 Crore

Will LIC shares go up?

Life Insurance Corporation of India shares have a consensus analyst price target around ₹528 to ₹538, pointing to a potential upside of about 34% to 35% from current trading levels near ₹392.

Current Market Position

  • Price & Range: Recent trading price is around ₹391.85, with a 52-week range between ₹360.75 and ₹468.48.
  • Valuation: The stock features a low Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of roughly 8.2x and strong underlying profitability.
  • Public Float: Management notes that a limited public float has previously constrained price momentum, which is expected to ease as public shareholding increases through government disinvestment initiatives like the recent LIC Offer for Sale.

Growth Factors and Risks

  • Upside Drivers: Market analysts cite deep value, robust market share in new business premiums, and steady earnings performance as reasons the stock could rise.
  • Downside Risks: Disinvestment overhang, mixed short-term technical indicators, and broader market volatility can continue to pressure the share price in the near term.

Why are LIC shares falling down?

LIC shares fell due to the Government of India's Offer for Sale (OFS) which offered up to a 6.5% stake at a steep discount.

Key Reasons for the Decline

  • Discounted Floor Price: The government set the OFS floor price at ₹382 per share, which was roughly 10% lower than the previous market close of around ₹424–₹428.
  • Arbitrage and Market Adjustment: Traders and investors adjusted market prices downward toward the discounted floor price, causing an immediate drop of over 7% to 9%.
  • Increased Share Supply: The massive influx of new shares entering the market via the disinvestment temporarily increased supply and created short-term selling pressure.
  • Regulatory Compliance: The stake sale was executed to help LIC meet SEBI's minimum public shareholding requirement of 10% ahead of its final deadline, rather than reflecting any core business failure.

Is LIC worth investing?

Investing in traditional LIC endowment or savings plans is generally considered a poor choice for wealth creation because they offer low returns that barely match inflation. Financial experts on eztax.in note that mixing insurance with investment gives you low life cover and poor financial growth. A detailed discussion on Quora compares buying an LIC policy for investment to hiring an extra driver while riding in a taxi—it adds unnecessary costs without adding value.

Why LIC is Weak for Investing

  • Low Returns: Traditional plans give an annual return of only 4% to 6%. This is lower than many bank fixed deposits and much lower than equity mutual funds.
  • High Costs: A big part of your money goes toward agent commissions and administrative fees instead of growing your wealth.
  • Poor Liquidity: Your money is locked in for 15 to 25 years. Taking a loan or surrendering the policy early causes financial losses.
  • Low Insurance Cover: The life cover provided by endowment plans is small compared to the high premiums you pay.

The Benefits of LIC

  • Safety: The returns on traditional sum assured amounts are guaranteed and backed by a sovereign guarantee from the government.
  • Tax Savings: Premiums qualify for tax deductions under Section 80C, and maturity payouts are tax-free under Section 10(10D).

Smart Alternatives

  • Pure Protection: Buy a low-cost term insurance policy to secure a large life cover for your family.
  • Wealth Growth: Invest your remaining savings in equity mutual funds, Public Provident Fund (PPF), or the National Pension System (NPS) for higher returns.

What are the top 10 stocks that LIC currently holds?

Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) holds its largest equity investments primarily in massive blue-chip Indian conglomerates, public sector banks, and financial infrastructure.

Top 10 LIC Stock Holdings by Portfolio Value

Based on recent disclosures and portfolio analyses, the top 10 equity holdings of LIC ranked by market value are:

  1. Reliance Industries Limited – Approx. ₹1.18–₹1.20 lakh crore
  2. State Bank of India (SBI) – Approx. ₹83,173 crore
  3. Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) – Approx. ₹68,394 crore
  4. ITC Limited – Approx. ₹57,410 crore
  5. National Stock Exchange of India Limited (NSE) (Unlisted/Infrastructure) – Approx. ₹56,106 crore
  6. Bharti Airtel Limited – Approx. ₹44,849 crore
  7. Infosys Limited – Approx. ₹44,871 crore
  8. HDFC Bank Limited – Approx. ₹46,418 crore
  9. ICICI Bank Limited – Approx. ₹44,237 crore
  10. Tata Consultancy Services Limited (TCS) – Approx. ₹41,845 crore

(Note: Valuations shift continuously based on daily stock price movements and quarterly portfolio rebalancing. You can track ongoing portfolio updates through financial trackers like Trendlyne's LIC Portfolio or financial news portals such as The Economic Times.)