Telecom giant Bharti Airtel reported a massive jump in its net profit for the January–March quarter of FY25, but that wasn’t enough to impress investors on Dalal Street. The Airtel share price closed 2.5% lower at ₹1,824.50 on the NSE, even after the company posted a staggering 432% year-on-year increase in consolidated net profit to ₹11,022 crore.
The unexpected decline in the stock came despite strong numbers and a generous final dividend of ₹16 per share (320%) declared by the board. According to the company, the dividend will be credited to shareholders’ accounts within 30 days of approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting.
Strong Q4 Numbers, but Stock Reacts Bearishly
For the fourth quarter, Bharti Airtel’s revenue from operations stood at ₹47,876 crore — a 27.3% rise compared to ₹37,599 crore in the same period last year. The telecom major attributed this jump to recent tariff hikes and strong subscriber additions.
The company also benefited from a one-time tax gain, which contributed significantly to the bottom line. On a full-year basis, Airtel posted a net profit of ₹33,556 crore, up more than fourfold from the previous fiscal. Annual revenue rose 15.33%.
Despite the strong fundamentals, market sentiment was weighed down by a sequential decline in quarterly profits. Compared to Q3FY25, where the company had reported a higher net profit, the Q4 figure marked a 25.4% drop quarter-on-quarter.
Final Dividend Details: ₹16 Per Fully Paid Share
Airtel’s board also declared a final dividend of ₹16 per fully paid-up equity share (face value ₹5) and ₹4 per partly paid-up equity share for FY25. This amounts to a 320% dividend payout — one of the highest in the telecom sector this year.
In a statement, the company clarified, “The dividend will be credited to shareholders within 30 days from the date of the AGM, subject to approval.”
What’s Ahead for Airtel Share Price?
With strong earnings, steady revenue growth, and a shareholder-friendly dividend policy, many analysts believe the Airtel share price could recover in the coming sessions. However, some caution that rising competition and 5G rollout costs might weigh on near-term margins.
Market watchers are now eyeing the next earnings cycle and any new announcements related to 5G monetization and tariff revisions — both of which could serve as triggers for Airtel stock price movement.