ICICI Bank shares rose around 2% in morning trade after the private lender reported a strong March quarter performance, with investors responding positively to higher profit, healthy loan growth and a dividend announcement.
At 10:10 am, ICICI Bank stock was trading at Rs 1,373.10 on the BSE, up Rs 25.60 or 1.90% for the day.
The bank reported a net profit of about Rs 13,702 crore for the fourth quarter, up 8.5% from a year ago. It also announced a dividend of Rs 12 per share for FY26, higher than the Rs 11 per share declared last year, adding to investor confidence.
One of the key positives in the results was strong core income growth. Net interest income, which is the difference between interest earned on loans and interest paid on deposits, rose 8.4% year-on-year to around Rs 22,980 crore. That was stronger than many peers and reflected healthy lending demand.
Loan growth also remained robust. ICICI Bank’s advances grew 15.8% from a year ago, led by business banking, retail loans and mortgages. Deposits rose 11.4%, while CASA deposits improved, indicating continued customer traction.
Brokerages were upbeat after the results. JM Financial called it a “picture-perfect quarter” and reiterated ICICI Bank as its top pick in the banking sector, citing sector-leading loan growth, strong margin management and healthy asset quality.
Motilal Oswal described the quarter as a “strong all-round performance” and said the bank is well placed to sustain healthy returns because of steady growth, resilient margins and controlled bad-loan costs.
Asset quality remained another major positive. Gross bad loan ratio improved to around 1.4%, while provisions dropped sharply due to recoveries and write-backs. That reassured investors that the bank’s balance sheet remains strong.
Most brokerages remain bullish on the stock. Motilal Oswal has a target price of Rs 1,750, while JM Financial raised its target to Rs 1,630 and maintained a Buy rating.
So, should you buy now? For long-term investors, analysts continue to see value in ICICI Bank because of its consistent growth, improving asset quality and strong profitability. However, after today’s rally, short-term moves may depend on overall market sentiment and banking sector trends.
(Disclaimer: The views, opinions, recommendations, and suggestions expressed by experts/brokerages in this article are their own and do not reflect the views of the India Today Group. It is advisable to consult a qualified broker or financial advisor before making any actual investment or trading choices.)