GMR Airports Posts First Profit in a Decade; Analysts Weigh In on Q4 FY26

3 min read     Updated on 29 May 2026, 10:17 AM
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AI Summary

GMR Airports reported its first positive PAT in over a decade at ₹472 crore for FY26, with Total Income rising 40% to ₹15,201 crore and EBITDA surging 47% to ₹6,150 crore. Citigroup noted Q4 core profit of ₹1.3bn was 18% below consensus despite FY26 earnings beating Street estimates by 125%, while Jefferies maintained a Buy rating with a ₹125 target, highlighting FY26 EBITDA growth of 60% YoY to ₹60bn and a decline in net debt quarter-on-quarter.

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GMR Airports Limited returned to profitability, reporting its first positive Profit After Tax (PAT) in over a decade at ₹472 crore for FY26. The company delivered a strong financial performance for the year ended March 31, 2026, with Total Income increasing by 40% year-on-year to ₹15,201 crore. EBITDA surged 47% to a record ₹6,150 crore, supported by robust operational scale and efficiency across its airport platform. For the quarter ended March 31, 2026, the company reported a net profit of ₹4 billion against a net loss of ₹2.53 billion in the same period last year, with revenue rising to ₹39.4 billion from ₹28.63 billion year-on-year.

Quarterly Financial Performance

GMR Airports delivered a sharp improvement in its quarterly metrics, with Q4 EBITDA expanding significantly to ₹28.46 billion from ₹11.22 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year. The EBITDA margin widened substantially to 72.28% from 39.21% year-on-year, reflecting strong operating leverage and improved cost efficiency across the airport network. The quarterly turnaround underscores the momentum built through the year, with profitability returning at both the quarterly and annual levels.

Metric Q4 FY26 Q4 FY25 Change (YoY)
Revenue ₹39.4 billion ₹28.63 billion Increase
EBITDA ₹28.46 billion ₹11.22 billion Increase
EBITDA Margin 72.28% 39.21% +33.07 pp
Net Profit/(Loss) ₹4 billion ₹(2.53) billion Turned Profitable

Consolidated Annual Financial Performance

The full-year turnaround was driven by significant improvements in operational metrics and cost management. Interest and finance costs for the year stood at ₹3,859 crore, while depreciation was recorded at ₹1,837 crore. Profit Before Tax (PBT) reached ₹586 crore for FY26, a sharp reversal from the loss of ₹635 crore in the previous year. The company's share of profit from joint ventures and associates contributed ₹240 crore to the bottom line.

Metric FY26 (₹ in Cr) FY25 (₹ in Cr) Change
Total Income 15,201 10,836 +40%
EBITDA 6,150 4,188 +47%
Profit After Tax 472 (817) Turned Profitable
PBT 586 (635) Turned Positive

Operational Highlights

GMR Airports handled a record 121.6 million passengers in FY26 across its network. Delhi Airport led the growth with 78.7 million passengers, while Hyderabad Airport achieved its highest annual traffic of 30.5 million passengers. Mopa (Goa) Airport handled 5.4 million passengers, up 15% year-on-year. The company also commissioned Cargo Terminal 2 at Hyderabad Airport with an initial capacity of 50,000 metric tonnes per annum and converted Pier C at Delhi Airport's Terminal 3 to an international pier, boosting annual capacity by 50%.

Strategic Developments

The board approved the audited financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2026. Key strategic initiatives include the award of a concession to upgrade and operate Cargo Terminal 1 at Delhi Airport and the signing of an MRO agreement with Boeing Defence India for the Indian Navy's P-8I aircraft fleet. Additionally, GHIAL raised ₹21 billion via 15-year Non-Convertible Debentures carrying a coupon of 7.6% to refinance dollar-denominated debt, resulting in expected interest cost savings of over 150 basis points.

Analyst Commentary

Citigroup noted that GMR Airports' Q4 FY26 core profit came in at ₹1.3 billion compared to a loss in the same period last year, though it was 18% below consensus estimates. Despite FY26 earnings beating Street estimates by 125%, with ₹3 billion NPAT aided by one-offs, revenue and EBITDA missed estimates. Citigroup observed that passenger traffic remained largely flat, non-aero revenue grew 6% year-on-year across airports, Delhi profits weakened, Hyderabad profits surged, and Goa losses narrowed. Net debt declined to ₹340 billion from ₹345 billion on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

Jefferies Financial Group maintained its Buy rating on GMR Airports with a target price of ₹125. The brokerage noted that Q4 EBITDA came in slightly below estimates at ₹14.8 billion but rose 47% year-on-year, while FY26 EBITDA jumped 60% year-on-year to ₹60 billion despite flat passenger growth. Jefferies highlighted that weakness in international traffic and higher Hyderabad airport costs impacted quarterly performance, while the GAL platform EBITDA nearly doubled year-on-year. PAT turned positive for the full year after several years, and net debt declined on a quarter-on-quarter basis.

Broker Rating Target Price Key Observation
Citigroup Q4 core profit ₹1.3bn; 18% below consensus; net debt ₹340bn
Jefferies Buy ₹125 FY26 EBITDA +60% YoY to ₹60bn; PAT turned positive

Historical Stock Returns for GMR Airports

1 Day5 Days1 Month6 Months1 Year5 Years
+2.59%+6.21%+4.84%-5.92%+15.65%+274.51%

How will the recent refinancing of dollar-denominated debt impact the company's leverage ratios and interest coverage ratios in the coming fiscal year?

Can the record passenger traffic levels be sustained, and what is the projected capital expenditure required to further expand capacity at Delhi and Hyderabad airports?

With the new MRO agreement and cargo terminal commissions, what is the expected contribution of non-aero revenue to the total income mix over the next three years?

GMR Airports appoints M/s. Narasimha Murthy & Co. as cost auditor for FY27

1 min read     Updated on 28 May 2026, 05:38 PM
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GMR Airports Limited appointed M/s. Narasimha Murthy & Co. as Cost Auditor for FY 2026-27 on May 27, 2026. The firm, with over 42 years of experience, will audit the company's cost records. The appointment requires shareholder ratification for remuneration at the next General Meeting.

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GMR Airports Limited has appointed M/s. Narasimha Murthy & Co. as its Cost Auditor for the Financial Year 2026-27 to conduct the audit of the company's cost records. The Board of Directors approved the appointment during its meeting held on May 27, 2026, subject to the ratification of the remuneration by members at the ensuing General Meeting.

The decision was taken pursuant to Regulations 30 and 51 read with Schedule III of the SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015. The firm brings over 42 years of experience in cost audit and related fields, with specialization covering more than 50 industries, including airports, aircraft MRO, construction, and other infrastructure-related businesses.

Appointment Details

The following table outlines the key particulars of the appointment:

Sr. no. Particular Details
1. Reason for Change Appointment of M/s. Narasimha Murthy & Co., Cost Accountants (Firm Registration No. 000042) as the Cost Auditor of the Company for conducting the audit of the Cost Records of the Company, for the Financial Year 2026 - 2027.
2. Date of Appointment & term M/s. Narasimha Murthy & Co., Cost Accountants (Firm Registration No. 000042) as the Cost Auditor of the Company for conducting the audit of the Cost Records of the Company, for the Financial Year 2026 – 2027 subject to ratification of the remuneration by the Members at the ensuing General Meeting of the Company.
3. Brief profile M/s. Narasimha Murthy & Co., Cost Accountants are having more than 42 years of experience in the fields of Cost Audit, Management Information & Control Systems Development, Critical Analysis of Performance & Strategic Planning, Management Audit, Government Assignments, Corporate Restructuring, Foreign Collaborations & Negotiations, Cost Reduction Programmes, Business Valuation, Organization Analysis & Structure, Internal Audit, Concurrent Audit, Pre-Audit and GST-Audit and Other Management Support Services. The firm has Specialization covers more than 50 Industries including Airports, Aircraft MRO, Construction and other Infrastructure related businesses.
4. Disclosure of relationships Not Applicable

The company has requested the stock exchanges to take the information on record.

Historical Stock Returns for GMR Airports

1 Day5 Days1 Month6 Months1 Year5 Years
+2.59%+6.21%+4.84%-5.92%+15.65%+274.51%

What specific cost efficiencies or operational improvements does GMR Airports expect to achieve with this new auditor?

How might the appointment of a specialized cost auditor influence GMR's financial transparency and investor confidence?

Could this move signal a broader strategy for GMR to optimize costs across its infrastructure projects?

More News on GMR Airports

1 Year Returns:+15.65%