Bandhan Bank Q1 FY26 Results: Profit Rebounds, But NPA Clouds Remain – Is It Time to Buy?

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Bandhan Bank’s Q1 FY26 financial results have arrived, and they deliver a mix of optimism and caution. While there’s a visible improvement in quarterly profit, the lingering stress in loan quality and shrinking margins raises questions about sustainability.

Let’s break it all down and see what it means for investors 👇


📌 Quick Snapshot: Bandhan Bank Q1 FY26 Performance

MetricQ1 FY26QoQ (Q4 FY25)YoY (Q1 FY25)
Net Profit (PAT)₹370 Cr▲ 17%▼ -65%
Net Interest Income₹2,760 CrFlat (0%)▼ -7.7%
Operating Profit₹1,670 Cr▲ 6.2%▼ -14.1%
GNPA Ratio5.0%▲ 26 bps▲ 74 bps
CASA Ratio27.1%▼ 430 bps QoQ▼ 630 bps YoY
Return on Equity5.9%▲ 70 bps▼ -1283 bps

🔍 Positive Highlights from the Quarter

Profit Regains Momentum

Sequential growth in profit (17% QoQ) shows signs of operational normalization, even after a tough Q4.

Strong Digital Banking Adoption

The bank recorded:

  • 98% of all retail transactions via digital platforms
  • 92% of savings accounts opened through digital channels
  • 91% growth in digital deposits
  • 54% rise in overall digital transaction volume

This positions Bandhan among the tech-forward private banks in India.

Strategic Shift Toward Secured Lending

The share of secured loans now stands at 52.1%, reducing exposure to high-risk unsecured loans. A welcome change for risk-averse investors.

Healthy Capital Buffer

Capital adequacy remains solid at 19.4%, offering stability during macro and credit stress periods.


⚠️ Concerns That Need Attention

Yearly Profit Decline Remains Sharp

While the quarter-on-quarter improvement is encouraging, the 65% drop in YoY profit highlights continued pressure from high provisioning and declining margins.

Asset Quality Still a Worry

GNPA climbed to 5.0%, while NNPA rose to 1.4% — both worsening compared to last year. Credit cost, although slightly improved QoQ, remains elevated at 3.5%.

CASA Ratio Weakens

CASA has fallen significantly YoY to 27.1%, indicating increased reliance on costlier term deposits — a margin headwind.

Microfinance (EEB) Stress Continues

Once Bandhan’s core strength, the Emerging Entrepreneurs Business (EEB) is still shrinking in share and plagued by higher NPAs.


🧩 Segment-Wise Performance

SegmentRevenue (₹ Cr)QoQ TrendCommentary
Retail Banking₹5,469 CrFlatDisbursement stable, but provisioning high
Wholesale Banking₹625 Cr▼ -6.1%Risk-off mode continues
Treasury₹951 Cr▲ 54.6%Benefit from investment gains
Other Ops₹84 Cr▼ -47%Drop in ARC-related recoveries

🔎 Institutional Ownership Trend

StakeholderJun ’25Mar ’25Trend
Promoter40.0%40.0%Unchanged
FII29.5%30.1%Marginal sell-off
DII25.1%24.7%Increasing slowly

FIIs are cautious amid NPA and margin concerns. However, DIIs are gradually adding on valuation grounds.


📈 Market Reaction: Muted Optimism

The stock reaction post-results was subdued. Analysts appreciated the QoQ profit uptick but flagged margin compression and asset quality issues.

Until Bandhan shows consistent improvement in asset performance and loan growth, the stock may remain in a range-bound zone.


📉 Valuation: Is the Stock Undervalued?

  • P/B Ratio: ~0.9x — Below industry average
  • P/E Ratio: 10–12x FY26E — Reasonable
  • Conclusion: Valuation is attractive, but only for investors with a medium-to-long-term view who can stomach volatility.

🧭 Final Take: Should You Invest?

CriteriaVerdict
Growth Visibility⚪ Neutral
Risk Profile🔴 High
Valuation Comfort🟢 Attractive
Strategy Direction🟡 Positive shift

Recommendation: Watchlist the stock for now. Avoid aggressive buying unless asset quality stabilizes. For long-term investors, staggered SIP entries may be considered to average costs while monitoring improvements.

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