Bharti Airtel Share Price Down 4% at Rs. 1,921 on NBFC Capital Infusion News

Overview

• Bharti Airtel share price fell nearly 4% to Rs. 1,921 after announcing a Rs. 20,000 crore NBFC investment plan.

• The company’s revenue rose 20% year-on-year to Rs. 53,982 crore, but net profit dropped 55% due to a high base effect.

• Despite short-term weakness, the stock has delivered 154% returns in three years and trades below the sector PE average.

Bharti Airtel share price slipped nearly 4% in intraday trade to touch Rs. 1,921 at press time. This is the stock’s sharpest single-day fall in the past three months. The decline came after the company announced a major capital infusion into its NBFC arm, Airtel Money. The stock opened at Rs. 1,997.30, the same as its previous close, but selling pressure dragged it lower.

The day’s low stood at Rs. 1,921.80, while the high was at the opening level. Over 5.7 million Bharti Airtel shares exchanged hands. The company’s market capitalisation is above Rs. 11 lakh crore, keeping it among India’s largest listed firms. Here’s an in-depth analysis of Bharti Airtel share price based on Moneycontrol data. 

Why Did Bharti Airtel Shares Fall?

Investor concerns rose after the telecom giant announced plans to invest Rs. 20,000 crore in Airtel Money over the next few years. Around 70% of the capital will come from Bharti Airtel, while the remaining 30% will be from promoters. The company recently received an NBFC licence from the Reserve Bank of India. It now plans to expand its digital financial services business.

While the move aims to build a new growth engine by using Airtel’s large customer base, markets reacted cautiously. Investors often view large capital commitments as a near-term financial burden, as returns may take time to show. This explains the sudden weakness in the Bharti Airtel share price.

Airtel Q3 Results and Financial Performance

Earlier this month, Bharti Airtel reported a mixed set of numbers for the October-December quarter. The company’s revenue rose nearly 20% year-on-year to Rs. 53,982 crore. It was supported by strong demand for data services and user upgrades. However, net profit dropped 55% year-on-year to Rs. 6,631 crore. The fall was mainly due to a high base in the previous year, which included a large one-time gain related to Indus Towers.

The company’s average revenue per user (ARPU) improved to Rs. 259 per month, widening the gap with competitors. This steady ARPU growth reflected rising data consumption and premium plan upgrades.

Stock Performance and Valuation

Bharti Airtel shares started 2026 on a weak note, falling over 6% in January. So far, the stock is down nearly 8%. After touching a record high of Rs. 2,174 in late November, the momentum slowed and the stock corrected toward the Rs. 1,900 range.

Despite recent weakness, long-term returns are strong. The stock has gained 154% over the past three years and 243% over five years. The current price-to-earnings ratio is near 37, below the sector average of 49.53. Hence, suggesting reasonable valuation compared to peers. The company also offers a dividend yield of 0.83%.

Bharti Airtel share price chart on Moneycontrol shows a loss of 3.10% in the afternoon trade:

Market Outlook

The recent drop in Bharti Airtel share price reflected short-term concerns over capital allocation instead of weakness in core telecom operations. The company continues to strengthen its digital and financial services footprint while maintaining steady growth in the sector. Investors will closely watch how the NBFC expansion unfolds and whether it supports earnings growth in the coming years.

FAQs

1. Why did Bharti Airtel share price fall today?

Bharti Airtel shares fell nearly 4% after the company announced a Rs. 20,000 crore capital infusion into Airtel Money, its NBFC arm. Investors often react cautiously to large investments because they increase spending in the short term. While the plan may create long-term growth, markets focused on the immediate financial impact.

2. What is Airtel Money?

Airtel Money is Bharti Airtel’s digital financial services arm. The company recently received an NBFC licence from the Reserve Bank of India. This allows it to expand into lending and other financial services. Airtel plans to use its large customer base to grow this segment and build a new revenue stream beyond telecom.

3. How were Bharti Airtel Q3 results?

In the October–December quarter, revenue rose nearly 20% year-on-year to Rs. 53,982 crore. However, net profit fell 55% to Rs. 6,631 crore. The drop happened mainly because the previous year included a one-time gain from Indus Towers. Operational performance remained stable, and ARPU improved to Rs. 259.

4. How has Bharti Airtel stock performed recently?

The stock has corrected in recent months. It is down nearly 8% so far this year and fell over 6% in January. After touching a record high of Rs. 2,174 in November, it moved toward the Rs. 1,900 range. However, long-term returns remain strong over three and five years.

5. Is Bharti Airtel stock a good buy?

Despite the recent drop, the company’s core telecom business remains stable. ARPU continues to grow, and revenue trends are strong. The stock trades at a PE of around 37, below the sector average of 49.53. Investors will watch how the NBFC expansion supports earnings in the coming years.