Kuantum Papers Q1 net profit falls 48% to ₹6.23 crore on cost pressures
Kuantum Papers Limited reported a 48% drop in Q1FY27 net profit to ₹6.23 crore, despite a 36% increase in revenue to ₹303.75 crore. Rising input costs for materials, chemicals, and power compressed margins, causing EBITDA to fall slightly to ₹401 crore. The Board approved a ₹100 crore NCD issuance to raise funds.

*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
Kuantum Papers Limited reported a net profit of ₹6.23 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, down 48% from ₹12.06 crore in the same period last year. Despite the decline in profitability, total revenue from operations grew 36% year-on-year to ₹303.75 crore, driven by higher sales income. The Board of Directors approved these unaudited financial results on August 12, 2026, and simultaneously authorized the raising of funds up to ₹100 crore through the issuance of Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs). This divergence signals significant margin pressure in the paper manufacturing segment as input cost inflation outpaces top-line growth.
The company’s total income for the quarter stood at ₹306.60 crore, compared to ₹224.35 crore in Q1FY26. However, total expenses increased significantly to ₹295.83 crore from ₹208.11 crore in the previous year’s corresponding quarter. This rise in costs compressed margins, resulting in a profit before tax of ₹10.77 crore, lower than the ₹16.24 crore recorded in Q1FY26. The Board authorized the NCD issue under private placement, with terms and conditions to be finalized by identified persons and disclosed at the time of allotment.
Financial Performance Highlights
| Metric | Q1FY27 (₹ crore) | Q1FY26 (₹ crore) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue from Operations | 303.75 | 222.92 | +36.2% |
| Total Income | 306.60 | 224.35 | +36.7% |
| Total Expenses | 295.83 | 208.11 | +42.1% |
| Profit Before Tax | 10.77 | 16.24 | -33.7% |
| Net Profit After Tax | 6.23 | 12.06 | -48.3% |
| EPS (Basic) | ₹0.71 | ₹1.38 | -48.6% |
The increase in expenses was primarily driven by higher cost of materials consumed, which rose to ₹129.34 crore from ₹75.54 crore in Q1FY26. Power and fuel expenses also jumped to ₹41.95 crore from ₹28.97 crore, while the cost of chemicals consumed increased to ₹60.35 crore from ₹42.05 crore. Employee benefits expense saw a moderate rise to ₹25.36 crore from ₹23.05 crore. Finance costs increased to ₹14.53 crore from ₹10.39 crore in the prior year period.
What the Numbers Show
The divergence between revenue growth (36%) and expense growth (42%) highlights margin pressure in the paper manufacturing segment. While top-line growth was robust, the disproportionate rise in input costs—particularly materials, chemicals, and power—eroded profitability. The net profit margin contracted significantly, indicating that the company has not yet fully passed on input cost inflation to customers or optimized its operational efficiency in this quarter. The tax expense remained relatively stable at ₹4.54 crore, mostly comprising deferred tax.
Operating profitability also faced headwinds. EBITDA for the quarter stood at ₹401 crore, slightly lower than the ₹404 crore recorded in Q1FY26. Consequently, the EBITDA margin contracted sharply to 13.29% from 18.12% in the corresponding period last year. This compression underscores the inability to offset rising input costs through pricing power or volume efficiencies during the quarter.
Debt Issuance Details
The Board approved the issuance of up to 10,000 unlisted, unrated, senior, secured non-convertible debentures with a face value of ₹1 lakh each, aggregating to ₹100 crore. The securities are not proposed to be listed on any stock exchange. The issue is within the borrowing limits previously approved by the Board and shareholders. Specific details regarding tenure, coupon rate, and security charges will be disclosed at the time of allotment. There were no defaults or delays in payment of interest or principal amounts for any existing securities as per the disclosure.
The financial results were reviewed by the Audit Committee and subjected to a limited review with an unmodified opinion by the Statutory Auditors, O P Bagla & Co LLP. The company operates solely in the paper manufacturing segment and has no subsidiaries, associates, or joint ventures, making consolidated financial statements inapplicable.
Historical Stock Returns for Kuantum Papers
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -5.15% | +0.81% | +4.89% | -17.34% | -30.32% | -11.80% |
How will the ₹100 crore NCD issuance impact Kuantum Papers' debt-to-equity ratio and future interest coverage ratios?
What specific strategies is management implementing to mitigate rising input costs for raw materials, chemicals, and power in upcoming quarters?
Will the company be able to pass on increased production costs to customers through price hikes without significantly impacting sales volume?


































