LOAN GROWTH
ICICI Bank’s sharp drop in provisions signals strength; HDFC Bank treads carefully amid growth concerns: Dnyanada Vaidya
ICICI Bank surprised with a significant drop in provisioning, signaling improved asset quality and a strong recovery pipeline. In contrast, HDFC Bank adopted a cautious growth strategy, prioritizing profitability and asset quality amidst macroeconomic headwinds. HDFC Bank also aims to boost its deposit market share, expecting it to outpace credit growth.
HDFC Bank vs ICICI Bank vs YES Bank: Which one to buy after Q4 results?
HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank and Yes Bank delivered steady FY26 performances with healthy earnings growth and improved asset quality. While ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank attracted positive brokerage outlooks with strong fundamentals, analysts remain cautious on Yes Bank, citing valuation concerns and sustainability risks despite sharp profit growth in the latest quarter.
HDFC Bank shares fall over 1% after Q4. Jefferies, Bernstein, 3 other brokerage weigh in
HDFC Bank's shares dipped despite a 9% net profit rise to Rs 19,221 crore for the March quarter. While interest income saw a slight decline, return on assets improved. Analysts largely maintain buy or outperform ratings, citing strong deposit growth, resilient margins, and attractive valuations, though some caution on near-term growth acceleration.
ICICI Bank shares rise 2% after Q4 results. What Jefferies, Bernstein and other brokerages are saying
Brokerages remain bullish on ICICI Bank after a strong quarter, citing stable margins, healthy loan growth and improving asset quality. Motilal Oswal, Elara Capital and JM Financial maintained buy ratings, with target prices up to Rs 1,783. They expect steady returns, strong buffers and consistent execution to support premium valuations and earnings growth over FY27-28.
In times of war: Take a risk or manage it; different, yet same. 6 small-caps from different sectors with upside potential of up to 29%
Picking the right stock is easier said than done. Especially when valuations are not cheap and noise levels are high. When we say noise levels, it is all about narrative. Think of someone asking you to invest in the market at a time when there is war going on and crude oil prices have moved much higher than anyone had expected.
Fall in provisions help ICICI Bank's net profit in Q4 FY26
ICICI Bank's net profit rose 9% to Rs 13,702 crore in March 2026, driven by stable loan growth and a significant drop in provisions. Total advances increased 16%, with strong contributions from business banking and rural portfolios. The bank maintained a healthy net interest margin and stable asset quality.
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AU Small Finance Bank, ICICI Bank top picks as banking sector shows resilience: Siddhartha Khemka
India's banking sector concluded FY26 strongly, with credit growth hitting 16.1% and deposits surging 13.5%. Banks aggressively mobilized funds, though a credit-deposit gap persists. Despite tight liquidity, regulatory frameworks and strong momentum position the sector for sustained growth. Analysts recommend AU Small Finance Bank and ICICI Bank for their robust strategies and growth potential.
YES Bank Q4 preview: NII to grow up to 12%; PAT estimates diverge. 8 things to watch
YES Bank is poised for a steady Q4FY26 performance, with brokerages forecasting healthy earnings growth driven by stable margins and resilient loan expansion. Analysts anticipate a profit after tax between Rs 765 crore and Rs 1,066 crore, reflecting significant year-on-year growth.
ICICI Bank Q4 preview: PAT to grow up to 6% YoY, NII seen rising up to 8%. 8 things to watch
ICICI Bank is expected to post a steady Q4FY26 performance, with brokerages projecting 2–6% YoY PAT growth and a 4–8% rise in NII. While loan growth and asset quality remain healthy, margins may face mild pressure. Key monitorables include NIM trajectory, deposit trends, credit costs, and provisioning.
HDFC Bank Q4 preview: PAT seen stable with up to 10% YoY growth; NIM pressure persists. 8 things to watch
HDFC Bank is expected to post a steady Q4FY26, with PAT likely growing 6–10% YoY and NIM pressure persisting. Brokerages foresee moderate NII growth, stable asset quality, and healthy deposits. Key monitorables include NIM trajectory, credit costs, loan–deposit gap, and management commentary after the Chairman’s exit.
Gujarat Gas rises 7% after Nomura upgrade. Is the Iran war a buying opportunity?
Gujarat Gas shares saw a significant jump after a major brokerage upgraded the stock. The US-Iran conflict is creating supply chain disruptions, impacting fuel availability. This situation presents opportunities for Gujarat Gas, especially in the Morbi region. The company is poised for potential volume growth and improved margins. Investors are watching closely as the market reacts to these developments.
West Asia War: India’s BBB rating seen stable despite energy shock; S&P flags corporate stress, weaker credit growth
West Asia War: India's sovereign rating remains stable despite rising energy costs. However, supply disruptions for food and fuel could impact company credit quality. Top companies may see earnings drop, increasing debt ratios. Sectors like refining and airlines are most vulnerable. Banks might see slower credit growth. Government revenue could be affected by fuel price support measures.
HDB Financial shares rally 12%. What Jefferies, Morgan Stanley analysts recommend
HDB Financial Services surged over 12% after reporting strong Q4 FY26 results, with profit up 41% and NII rising 22%. Brokerages including Jefferies, Morgan Stanley, Emkay Global, JM Financial and Motilal Oswal issued mixed but largely positive views, citing improved asset quality, stable margins and moderated credit costs.
HDB Financial Q4 Results: Profit jumps 41% YoY to Rs 751 crore; co declares Rs 2 per share dividend
HDB Financial Q4 Results: HDB Financial on Wednesday reported a 41% year-on-year spike in its Q4 profit at Rs 751 crore from Rs 531 crore a year earlier. Alongside the results, the NBFC's Board also cleared a debt fundraising plan of Rs 32,825 crore.
Gold loans soar in India, but it’s southern households leading the charge
Gold loans in India have surged fourfold since March 2022, becoming the second-largest retail credit segment. Southern states, led by Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka, continue to dominate originations, accounting for over half the market. While the south remains the core, emerging regions like Uttar Pradesh are showing significant growth from a lower base.
Banks to report steady profit rise as loans grow, treasury drags
Indian banks are expected to report a steady profit rise in the January-March quarter, four brokers said, aided by credit growth and liquidity buffers, while higher bond yields and forex arbitrage curbs weighed on treasury income.
RBI holds talks with banks on ways to boost deposits
Reserve Bank of India is consulting banks on ways to attract larger and more stable deposits as household savings shift to equities and mutual funds, putting pressure on liquidity. Deposits are growing slower than loans, increasing funding costs and credit-deposit ratios.
Sammaan Capital sells Rs 5,000 crore loan portfolio to stressed loan aggregator Arcil
Sammaan Capital sold a ₹5,000 crore stressed loan portfolio to Arcil at about a 52% discount, valuing it near ₹2,400 crore in one of the largest such deals of the year. The portfolio includes real estate and mortgage-linked loans that are delayed but not yet classified as NPAs.
These 10 private and public banking stocks have an upside potential of up to 30% in one year, according to analysts
As far as fundamentals are concerned, most banks have continued to show improvement on critical parameters like NPAs. But if inflation rises and impacts credit growth (which has been an area of some concern), these stocks could take a hit. Now, why we are talking about inflation is obvious: Rising crude oil prices. That’s bad news for the Indian economy and the markets. Check out Stock Reports Plus, powered by Refinitiv, for price targets of over 4,000 listed stocks along with detailed company analysis focusing on five key components ,earnings, fundamentals, relative valuation, risk, and price momentum, to generate standardised scores. SR+ Reports is a complimentary offering to ETPrime members.
Gold loan delinquency rates send red signal
Borrowers with more than ₹2.5 lakh outstanding showed a delinquency rate of 1.5% at the end of December, about 2.2x higher than those with lower exposures, the credit information company said in a report. The delinquency rate was higher at 1.9% for those accumulating more than five loans.
Gold Loan: Borrowers with big exposure more prone to default, says TransUnion Cibil report
India’s gold loan market is seeing rising stress as borrowers take larger and multiple loans, pushing up delinquency rates and credit risk, according to TransUnion CIBIL. Nearly half of borrowers now have loans above ₹2.5 lakh—where defaults are over twice as high, often with multiple borrowings. While the segment is growing rapidly, lenders are being urged to look beyond collateral and assess overall borrower debt and repayment capacity more carefully.
Private lenders likely to fare better than public peers in Q4
Analysts anticipate divergent March quarter earnings for banks, with private lenders projected to see nearly 12% net profit growth while public sector banks expect a modest 2% expansion. Margins may face pressure, though asset quality is expected to remain stable despite geopolitical uncertainties impacting business loans.
Fidelity, AARP warn Americans on 401(k)s: Are hidden risks, early withdrawal penalties, and retirement savings gaps hurting your future wealth?
Fidelity, AARP warn Americans on 401(k)s as new data highlights serious retirement savings risks. The average Social Security benefit is only $2,071 per month today. That is not enough for most retirees. Experts say early withdrawals can cut savings by up to 35% instantly. High taxes, penalties, and lost growth make the situation worse. Many workers still misuse 401(k) plans for short-term needs. Fidelity and AARP stress smarter planning now. Protecting long-term retirement savings has become more critical than ever.
RBI returns Ujjivan Small Finance Bank's application for universal bank licence
The Reserve Bank of India has returned Ujjivan Small Finance Bank's application to become a universal bank. The central bank cited the need for Ujjivan to diversify its loan portfolio. Ujjivan must now demonstrate a more varied asset base before reapplying.
Credit penetration among women rise 5-fold to Rs 76 lakh crore between 2017 and 2025
Women borrowers have seen a significant five-fold increase in credit access, reaching Rs 76 lakh crore by 2025. This represents 26% of all credit. Business loans for women have grown substantially, indicating a shift towards income-generating activities. Digital sourcing is also playing a key role in improving access for new-to-credit women borrowers.
NBFCs doing well, but Iran war, margins cloud road ahead
Non-banking finance companies anticipate strong growth in the upcoming quarter. However, rising funding costs may limit profit margins. Analysts are closely monitoring asset quality for potential stress in the coming months. The impact of global events on consumer demand and specific sectors is a key concern. NBFCs are preparing for these challenges.
Aavas Financiers may be headed for leadership change; Kotak's Manu Singh likely to be Next CEO
Aavas Financiers is set for a leadership change. Managing Director Sachinder Bhinder will step down following promoter dissatisfaction. Manu Singh, currently heading home loans at Kotak Mahindra Bank, is expected to become the new CEO. This transition follows CVC Capital Partners' acquisition of control and aims to boost the company's growth trajectory.
CreditAccess Grameen looks to scale down microfinance growth, says MD & CEO Ganesh Narayanan
CreditAccess Grameen, a leading NBFC-MFI, is shifting focus from microfinance to secured lending like home loans. The company aims to become a Rs 50,000 crore entity by 2028, with a significant portion from retail finance. It is actively exploring acquisitions to accelerate growth in its secured business segment.
UCO Bank records 19% rise in loan growth in Q4
UCO Bank announced strong financial results for the January-March quarter of FY26. The state-owned lender saw its credit grow by 19 percent to Rs 2.62 lakh crore. Total deposits also rose by 11 percent, reaching Rs 3.27 lakh crore. Low-cost CASA deposits saw an improvement. The bank's total business expanded by 15 percent.
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