Rajeev Thakkar, CIO & Director of PPFAS Mutual Fund, shares his insights on the current earnings growth scenario for Nifty companies and the challenges of heightened competition across various sectors. Rajeev Thakkar emphasizes the difficulty in growing sales and profits due to increased competition in sectors like telecom, FMCG, and automotive, especially with the rise of new entrants and technological shifts. He suggests that while short-term growth might be tough, long-term equity investing can be a rewarding strategy. For new investors, Rajeev Thakkar advocates a long-term approach, recommending that young investors (like those in their 20s) allocate a significant portion of their funds to equities while remaining patient through market ups and downs. His advice is to invest for the long haul and not to fixate on short-term fluctuations.