Bharti Airtel Q4 Profit Plummets 34% YoY to Rs 7,325 Crore Despite 16% Revenue Surge.

Bharti Airtel has reported its financial results for the fourth quarter of FY26, showcasing a consolidated net profit of Rs 7,325 crore, which reflects a significant decline of 34% year-on-year from the Rs 11,022 crore recorded in the same quarter last year. Despite this drop in net profit, the company achieved quarterly revenues of Rs 55,383 crore, marking a commendable 16% year-on-year growth. This revenue increase was predominantly driven by robust performance in its India operations alongside continuous expansion in the African market. The board has also proposed a final dividend of Rs 24 per fully paid-up equity share for FY26, affirming its commitment to returning value to shareholders.

The company’s operational efficiency is seen in the consolidated EBITDA, which rose by 17% year-on-year to Rs 32,038 crore, with an accompanying expansion in EBITDA margin to 57.8%. The performance in India is particularly noteworthy, where the EBITDA reached Rs 23,965 crore with a margin improvement to 60.6%. Mobile revenue in India increased by 8% year-on-year, largely benefitting from portfolio premiumization and higher smartphone penetration. The addition of 5.8 million new smartphone users and 0.8 million postpaid customers reinforces Airtel’s competitive position in a rapidly changing market. Meanwhile, the Homes business demonstrated exceptional growth, with a 37% year-on-year increase in revenue, owing to the expansion of WiFi and IPTV services.

Airtel is also positioning itself for future growth through strategic partnerships and investments. Notably, the collaboration with Google aims to bolster spam protection and enhance messaging capabilities in India. The establishment of an AI and Cyber Threat Research Center in collaboration with Zscaler will further enhance cyber resilience as Airtel embraces AI-driven solutions. The company has ambitious plans for its NBFC subsidiary, Airtel Money Limited, which is set to receive a capital infusion of Rs 20,000 crore to scale its digital lending operations. With a concerted effort on capital expenditures amounting to Rs 16,066 crore, focusing on 5G infrastructure and data centers, Bharti Airtel is evidently committed to maintaining its growth trajectory while strengthening its balance sheet, characterized by a reduced net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 1.29 times.

Source: The Economic Times

(Expert Note: This report was prepared by the Wealthova team.)