The Indian tobacco & FMCG sector has always remained a powerhouse of cash generation. Among all companies in this space, ITC and Godfrey Phillips India (GPI) stand out as the two strongest contenders.
Both companies deliver solid profits, strong cash flow, and consistent dividends — but their long-term potential is very different.
This blog presents a clean, professional, and objective comparison between the two companies, along with a 10-year multibagger evaluation for each.
1. Business Model Comparison
ITC Ltd – A Diversified Powerhouse
ITC operates across multiple segments:
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Cigarettes
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FMCG (Aashirvaad, Sunfeast, Yippee, Fiama, Savlon)
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Hotels
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Paper & Packaging
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Agri-business
Why this matters:
Diversification protects ITC from regulatory shocks in cigarettes and creates long-term compounding potential.
Godfrey Phillips – A Focused High-Margin Tobacco Company
GPI’s business is sharply focused:
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99% revenue from cigarettes and tobacco
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Strong presence through Four Square, Red & White, Cavanders
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Exclusive partnership to manufacture Marlboro for Philip Morris
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Expanding distribution via confectionery + Ferrero tie-ups
Why this matters:
Focused business → faster growth
But also → higher regulatory risk.
2. Revenue & Profit Strength
ITC
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Revenue growth steady at 7–8%
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Cigarettes platform strong with premiumization
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FMCG segment growing consistently
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Hotels & Paper showing cyclical improvement
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High EBITDA margins and healthy cash reserves
👉 Stable and predictable
Godfrey Phillips
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Domestic cigarette volume growth ~25% YoY
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Gross sales growing ~20%+
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Very strong profitability
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Confectionery segment scaling slowly
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Lower contribution from non-tobacco businesses
👉 Fast growth but concentrated risk
3. Valuation (PE Ratio)
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ITC PE: ~25–30
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Godfrey PE: ~34–40
A higher PE for Godfrey indicates:
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Market pricing in higher growth (or)
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Overvaluation risk if earnings slow
4. Long-Term Growth Drivers
ITC
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FMCG brands becoming market leaders
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Hotels business expanding rapidly
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FoodTech vertical scaling
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Cigarette business resilient
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Strong sustainability and governance scores
👉 Long-term compounding story
Godfrey Phillips
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Strong volume growth in cigarettes
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Marlboro partnership secures premium segment
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International business expansion
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Confectionery portfolio growing
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Strong distribution network
👉 High-growth but high-dependence on tobacco
5. Multi-bagger Potential (10-Year View)
A realistic long-term forecast based on fundamentals, scaling capability, risk, and growth momentum:
🔵 ITC – Can It Be a 10-Year Multi-bagger?
Probability: Moderate to High (1.5× to 3× returns)
Why?
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ITC is NOT a fast-moving multi-bagger stock
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But it is an excellent wealth compounder
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Its diversification ensures consistent long-term returns
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FMCG business can unlock massive value in 10 years
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Hotels + Paper + Agri provide additional growth layers
Expected 10-Year Range:
➡ 150% to 250% total return (including dividends)
👉 ITC is a safe compounding machine, not a 10x rocket.
🔴 Godfrey Phillips – Can It Be a 10-Year Multi-bagger?
Probability: High but Risky (3× to 6× returns possible)
Why?
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Cigarette volumes growing faster than the industry
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Strong premiumization through Marlboro
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Distribution expansion
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International business scaling
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Relatively smaller base → faster compounding possible
Expected 10-Year Range:
➡ 300% to 600% return if growth continues & taxation remains stable
(But also higher risk of regulatory impact)
👉 GPI has higher multi-bagger potential than ITC —
but it also carries higher risk.
6. Final Verdict
| Category | ITC | Godfrey Phillips |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Growth Speed | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Risk | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Dividend | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Multi-bagger Potential | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| 10-Year Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
🏆 Winner for Long-Term Safety & Compounding:
ITC
🏆 Winner for High Returns / Multibagger Potential:
Godfrey Phillips
7. Which Should You Choose?
✔ Choose ITC if you want:
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Low risk
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Long-term stability
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Consistent dividends
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Steady compounding
✔ Choose Godfrey if you want:
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High growth
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Higher multi-bagger potential
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Faster upside
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You can handle volatility & regulatory risk
📌 Professional Disclaimer
I am not a SEBI-registered investment advisor. The information provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only. Please consult a certified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.