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

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
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 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 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?


































