ICICI Securities Limited Broker Research reports

LIC Housing Finance (LIC HF) continues to feel the heat from increasing competition, as reflected in AUM growth remaining subdued at 7% YoY / 1% QoQ and asset yield reducing 20bps YoY / QoQ to 9.6% in Q1FY26.

Shree Cement’s (SRCM) Q1FY26 volume declined 7% YoY, yet the EBIDTA surged 34% YoY led by price hikes. With blended realisation rising ~4% QoQ (up 10% YoY), EBITDA/t catapulted 44% YoY (down a mere 2% QoQ) to INR 1,373.

GR Infra reported a steady quarter in Q1FY26 with revenue at INR 18bn (-4% YoY), EBITDA at INR 2.3bn (-6% YoY) and margin at 12.7% (-35bps YoY). Adj. PAT stood at INR 2.1bn (+7% YoY).

Ajax reported a muted set of numbers in Q1FY26 with revenue and volume flat YoY. Sale of slipform pavers (~5% of revenue) in base quarter aided EBITDA margin of 17.1% in Q1FY26 (vs. 15.6% in FY25).

PB Fintech’s (PBF) Q1FY26 tick marked all important growth parameters (65% in new health, 42% in core premium ex of savings, 47% in renewal revenue—all on YoY basis).

Power Grid is riding on transmission tailwinds, as India is augmenting its transmission infrastructure to integrate renewables into the grid. It racked-up projects worth >INR 1trn in FY25; it won 24 transmission projects in bids with estimated cost of INR 920bn.

Our initial estimates factored in spread compression in FY25 vs. FY24. While, in H1FY25, this played out more than expected, there was substantial recovery in H2.

Weak power demand impacted the PLF of operational power plant and merchant prices in Q1FY26. Merchant realisation in Q1 declined to INR 6.5/kWh (vs. INR 7.6/kWh YoY).

Tata Power has been integrating a diverse set of businesses in its portfolio. From a conventional thermal power and integrated Mumbai distribution business, it has come a long way in building its renewable pack – a trifecta of solar manufacturing, solar EPC and RE generation.

Over the last three decades, Suresh Narayanan’s tenure (ten years) as CMD of Nestlé India has been one of the most celebrated.