Citi Buys, Morgan Stanley Underweights L&T Finance Amid Strong Q1FY27 Numbers
L&T Finance reported estimated Q1FY27 retail disbursements of ₹23,800 crores (+36% YoY) and a retail loan book of ₹1,27,450 crores (+28% YoY) with 98%+ retailisation. Citi maintained a Buy rating with a ₹340 target, while Morgan Stanley retained Underweight at ₹150, citing margin, asset quality, and valuation concerns.

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L&T Finance reported estimated retail disbursements of ₹23,800 crores for the quarter ended June 30, 2026, representing a growth of approximately 36% year-on-year. The retail loan book at the end of Q1FY27 was estimated at ₹1,27,450 crores, a rise of about 28% compared to the same period in the previous year. The retailisation ratio remained stable at 98%. The company noted that the information provided is estimated and provisional in nature, subject to limited review by the Statutory Auditors.
Analyst Views
The strong quarterly performance has drawn divergent reactions from leading brokerages. Citi maintained its Buy rating on L&T Finance with a target price of ₹340, citing robust retail disbursements of ₹238 billion (+36% YoY) and retail AUM growth accelerating to 28% YoY and 6.6% QoQ to ₹1.27 trillion, with retailisation exceeding 98%. Citi highlighted broad-based momentum across key segments, including urban finance (+57% YoY), MFI (+24% YoY), farmer finance (+11% YoY), and SME finance (+23% YoY) as key drivers of its positive stance.
In contrast, Morgan Stanley maintained its Underweight rating with a target price of ₹150, acknowledging the 28% YoY retail loan growth and 36% YoY retail disbursement growth driven by strong urban, micro, and farm loans. However, the brokerage expressed caution on margins, asset quality, credit costs, and microfinance trends. Morgan Stanley also cited expensive valuations and noted that return on equity (ROE) is likely to take 2.5–3 years to reach 15%.
| Brokerage: | Rating | Target Price |
|---|---|---|
| Citi: | Buy | ₹340 |
| Morgan Stanley: | Underweight | ₹150 |
Retail Disbursements
The company's retail disbursements were driven primarily by the Urban Finance segment, which recorded an estimated ₹10,760 crores in Q1FY27, up from ₹6,851 crores in the prior year. Rural Business Finance disbursements increased to ₹6,960 crores from ₹5,619 crores. Other segments, including Farmer Finance, SME Finance, and Gold Finance, also contributed to the overall growth. The following table presents a segment-wise breakdown of retail disbursements:
| Retail Disbursements (₹ in crores): | Q1FY2025-26 (Actual) | Q1FY2026-27 (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Business Finance: | 5,619 | 6,960 |
| Farmer Finance: | 2,200 | 2,450 |
| Urban Finance: | 6,851 | 10,760 |
| SME Finance: | 1,273 | 1,560 |
| Gold Finance: | 1,530 | 1,920 |
| Acquired Portfolio: | 49 | 150 |
| Retail Finance: | 17,522 | 23,800 |
Retail Book Growth
The retail loan book expanded to ₹1,27,450 crores in Q1FY27 from ₹99,816 crores in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal year, reflecting broad-based growth across segments.
| Particulars (₹ in crores): | Q1FY2025-26 (Actual) | Q1FY2026-27 (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Retail Loan Book: | 99,816 | 1,27,450 |
Historical Stock Returns for L&T Finance
| 1 Day | 5 Days | 1 Month | 6 Months | 1 Year | 5 Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -2.73% | +0.57% | -8.22% | +7.96% | +52.72% | +245.29% |
How will the divergence in brokerage ratings impact L&T Finance's stock volatility in the near term?
What specific measures is L&T Finance taking to address Morgan Stanley's concerns regarding asset quality and credit costs?
Can the Urban Finance segment sustain its 57% YoY growth rate given the current macroeconomic environment?


































