Adani Enterprises Shares Slide 4% as Q1 Profit Growth Halves: A Closer Look

Adani Enterprises Ltd (AEL), the flagship of the Adani Group, reported a sharp decline in its Q1 FY26 earnings, triggering a 4% intraday drop in its share price. The muted performance reflects pressure across its core businesses, particularly coal trading and clean energy, amid broader macroeconomic headwinds.

Financial Snapshot: Q1 FY26 vs Q1 FY25

MetricQ1 FY26Q1 FY25Change (%)
Net Profit₹734 crore₹1,454 crore↓ 49.5%
Revenue from Operations₹21,961 crore₹25,472 crore↓ 14%
EBITDA₹3,310 crore₹3,705 crore↓ 11%
EBITDA Margin15.10%14.60%↑ 50 bps
Other Income₹475 crore₹594 crore↓ 20%
Interest Cost₹1,511 crore₹1,177 crore↑ 28%

Key Drivers Behind the Decline

  • Coal Trading Weakness: Revenue from the coal segment fell 27%, impacted by lower demand for coal-fired electricity due to a milder summer, early monsoon, and subdued industrial activity.
  • Clean Energy Pressure: The solar and wind verticals saw an 11% revenue dip and a 34% drop in pre-tax profit, reflecting softer pricing and volume challenges.
  • Higher Input Costs: Material costs surged to ₹3,393 crore from ₹1,793 crore, squeezing margins.
  • Volatility in IRM and Mining: Trade volume contraction and index price fluctuations in Integrated Resource Management and commercial mining added to the earnings drag.

Segmental Highlights

  • Adani Airports Holdings Ltd (AAHL): Delivered a standout 61% YoY EBITDA growth to ₹1,094 crore, driven by rising passenger traffic and strong non-aero revenues.
  • Adani New Industries Ltd (ANIL): EBITDA fell 26% to ₹1,212 crore, reflecting pricing pressure in the clean energy segment.
  • Mining Services: Dispatches rose 30% to 12.1 million tonnes, showing operational resilience despite pricing headwinds.

Strategic Moves & Post-Quarter Developments

  • Exit from Adani Wilmar: AEL announced a full exit from AWL Agri Business Ltd via a ₹10,874 crore stake sale, streamlining its portfolio.
  • Copper Tube JV: Signed definitive agreements with MetTube Mauritius to manufacture copper tubes domestically, reducing import dependency in HVAC applications.
  • Bond Issue Success: Raised ₹1,000 crore via non-convertible debentures, fully subscribed within three hours—signaling investor confidence.

Market Reaction

  • AEL shares fell as much as 4.3% intraday to ₹2,422.6 before settling 4% lower at ₹2,430.
  • The stock has declined 3.5% YTD, underperforming the Nifty 50, which is up 5.1% over the same period.
  • Market cap stands at ₹2.8 trillion.

Chairman’s Commentary

Gautam Adani emphasized the group’s focus on building next-generation infrastructure platforms, citing upcoming operational milestones like the Navi Mumbai International Airport, Copper Plant, and Ganga Expressway. He reaffirmed confidence in the group’s incubation-led model, which contributed 74% of Q1 EBITDA.

Conclusion

While Adani Enterprises faced a challenging quarter, its diversified portfolio and strategic exits suggest a recalibration toward long-term value creation. The resilience in its airport and mining segments, coupled with proactive capital raising, positions the company to navigate near-term volatility and capitalize on infrastructure-led growth.

Eqwires Research Analyst

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