The quarter revealed a troubling dynamic: whilst the company's core business showed resilience with revenue advancing to ₹303.07 crores from ₹297.86 crores in Q1 FY26, profitability took a severe hit. Net profit for Q2 FY26 stood at ₹119.44 crores, down sharply from ₹159.65 crores in the preceding quarter and ₹154.07 crores in the year-ago period. The stock has endured a brutal year, declining 34.71% over twelve months and underperforming the Sensex by a staggering 34.88 percentage points.
What's particularly concerning is the composition of earnings: non-operating income now constitutes 49.86% of profit before tax, raising questions about the sustainability and quality of the company's earnings stream. This heavy reliance on treasury income rather than core operations signals underlying challenges in the business model that merit close scrutiny from investors.
| Quarter | Sep'25 | Jun'25 | Mar'25 | Dec'24 | Sep'24 | Jun'24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (₹ Cr) | 303.07 | 297.86 | 289.20 | 287.33 | 284.83 | 280.57 |
| QoQ Growth | 1.75% | 2.99% | 0.65% | 0.88% | 1.52% | 3.81% |
| Net Profit (₹ Cr) | 119.44 | 159.65 | 157.60 | 131.31 | 154.07 | 141.22 |
| QoQ Growth | -25.18% | 1.30% | 20.02% | -14.77% | 9.10% | 22.11% |
| Operating Margin (Excl OI) | 28.73% | 29.02% | 29.76% | 30.14% | 28.81% | 28.74% |
| PAT Margin | 39.41% | 53.60% | 54.50% | 45.70% | 54.09% | 50.33% |
Financial Performance: Growth Momentum Stalls Amid Margin Pressure
Just Dial's Q2 FY26 revenue of ₹303.07 crores represented a modest 1.75% sequential increase from Q1 FY26's ₹297.86 crores, whilst year-on-year growth decelerated to 6.40% from the previous quarter's 6.16%. On a half-yearly basis, H1 FY26 revenue totalled ₹600.93 crores compared to ₹565.40 crores in H1 FY25, reflecting a 6.28% year-on-year advance. However, this growth trajectory represents a significant slowdown from the double-digit expansion witnessed in prior years.
The operating profit before depreciation, interest and tax (excluding other income) stood at ₹87.06 crores in Q2 FY26, marginally up from ₹86.44 crores in Q1 FY26. Whilst this marks the highest quarterly operating profit in recent history, the operating margin contracted by 29 basis points quarter-on-quarter to 28.73% from 29.02%. Year-on-year, the operating margin showed marginal improvement from 28.81% in Q2 FY25.
Employee costs, the company's largest expense category, increased to ₹183.72 crores in Q2 FY26 from ₹180.03 crores in the preceding quarter, representing 60.61% of revenue. This persistent elevation in staff costs continues to weigh on operational efficiency, particularly concerning given the modest revenue growth trajectory.
⚠️ Earnings Quality Concern
Other income of ₹73.30 crores in Q2 FY26 constituted 49.86% of profit before tax, highlighting excessive dependence on non-operating income rather than core business profitability. Whilst the company maintains a strong cash position generating treasury income, this structural reliance raises sustainability questions about the business model's fundamental strength.
Profitability Dynamics: Margin Compression and Tax Volatility
The net profit margin contracted sharply to 39.41% in Q2 FY26 from 53.60% in Q1 FY26, primarily driven by normalisation of other income which fell to ₹73.30 crores from an elevated ₹127.31 crores in the preceding quarter. The tax rate increased to 18.75% in Q2 FY26 from 19.74% in Q1 FY26, though it remained below the full-year FY25 average of 11.90%.
Return on equity, a critical measure of capital efficiency, stood at 9.02% for the latest quarter, significantly below the company's five-year average of 10.72% and trailing industry peers. This subdued ROE reflects the challenges in generating adequate returns on shareholder capital, particularly concerning for a company with minimal debt and substantial cash reserves.
The company's balance sheet remains fortress-like with zero debt and net cash of ₹5,279 crores as of March 2025. Shareholder funds totalled ₹4,606.50 crores, translating to a book value of ₹541.69 per share. However, this financial strength hasn't translated into superior operational performance, with the five-year sales CAGR at a modest 5.78%.
Industry Context: Digital Transformation Challenges
Just Dial operates in the intensely competitive IT-software sector, specifically the local search and directory services space. The company faces mounting pressure from well-funded competitors including Google My Business, Justdial's traditional rival Sulekha, and newer entrants leveraging artificial intelligence and mobile-first strategies. The modest 6.40% revenue growth in Q2 FY26 suggests market share pressures and challenges in monetising its user base effectively.
The company's core business model—connecting local businesses with consumers through search services—faces structural headwinds as users increasingly shift to integrated platforms offering broader services beyond simple search functionality. This evolution demands significant technology investments and product innovation, areas where Just Dial's performance has been questioned by market observers.
Competitive Positioning
Whilst Just Dial maintains brand recognition and an established user base, its ability to defend market share against better-funded technology giants remains uncertain. The company's transition from a traditional directory service to a comprehensive local services platform has been gradual, potentially leaving it vulnerable to more agile competitors.
Peer Comparison: Valuation Discount Reflects Challenges
Just Dial's valuation metrics reveal a notable discount to several peers in the digital platform space, though direct comparisons are complicated by differing business models. The company trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.14x based on trailing twelve-month earnings, below the peer group average of approximately 29x.
| Company | P/E (TTM) | P/BV | ROE (%) | Debt/Equity | Div Yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Just Dial | 20.14 | 1.82 | 9.02 | -1.13 | 0.00% |
| RattanIndia Ent | NA (Loss Making) | 7.67 | 9.16 | -0.28 | 0.00% |
| Matrimony.com | 27.65 | 4.54 | 18.74 | -0.45 | 1.96% |
| Cartrade Tech | 76.57 | 5.35 | 6.06 | -0.25 | 0.00% |
| Macfos | 37.23 | 10.04 | 26.98 | 0.28 | 0.00% |
Just Dial's price-to-book ratio of 1.82x appears reasonable compared to peers, though this must be viewed in context of its inferior ROE of 9.02% versus Matrimony.com's 18.74% or Macfos's 26.98%. The valuation discount reflects market scepticism about the company's ability to accelerate growth and improve capital efficiency.
Shareholding Pattern: Stable Base with Modest Institutional Interest
Promoter holding remained steady at 74.15% in Q2 FY26, unchanged from the previous quarter, with Reliance Retail Ventures Limited holding 63.84% and founder Venkatachalam Sthanu Subramani maintaining 7.61%. However, 13.90% of promoter shares remain pledged, a factor that warrants monitoring.
| Category | Jun'25 | Mar'25 | Dec'24 | QoQ Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promoter | 74.15% | 74.15% | 74.15% | 0.00% |
| FII | 6.50% | 6.57% | 7.33% | -0.07% |
| Mutual Funds | 8.51% | 8.76% | 8.25% | -0.25% |
| Insurance | 0.02% | 0.07% | 0.00% | -0.05% |
| Other DII | 0.26% | 0.09% | 0.07% | +0.17% |
Foreign institutional investors reduced their stake marginally to 6.50% from 6.57%, whilst mutual fund holdings declined to 8.51% from 8.76%. This gradual institutional exit, though modest, reflects waning confidence in the near-term growth trajectory. The total institutional holding of 15.29% remains relatively low for a company of Just Dial's size and market presence.
Stock Performance: Severe Underperformance Across Timeframes
Just Dial's stock has delivered punishing returns across most timeframes, trading at ₹822.60 as of 14 October 2025, down 4.31% on the day and hovering near its 52-week low of ₹700. The stock has plummeted 34.71% over the past year, dramatically underperforming the Sensex's 0.17% gain by 34.88 percentage points.
| Period | Stock Return | Sensex Return | Alpha |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Week | 0.02% | 0.23% | -0.21% |
| 1 Month | -4.18% | 0.26% | -4.44% |
| 3 Months | -11.98% | -0.17% | -11.81% |
| 6 Months | -1.43% | 9.26% | -10.69% |
| YTD | -17.50% | 5.09% | -22.59% |
| 1 Year | -34.71% | 0.17% | -34.88% |
| 3 Years | 44.25% | 41.77% | +2.48% |
The stock trades below all key moving averages, with the current price of ₹822.60 sitting 6.59% below the 200-day moving average of ₹880.24. Technical indicators remain firmly bearish, with the stock in a "mildly bearish" trend since 10 October 2025. The high beta of 1.35 suggests the stock tends to amplify market movements, adding to volatility concerns.
"With net profit declining 22.5% despite revenue growth and nearly half of earnings coming from non-operating income, Just Dial's Q2 results underscore fundamental challenges in the core business that cannot be masked by treasury returns."
Key Strengths & Risk Factors
KEY STRENGTHS
- Zero-debt balance sheet with net cash position of ₹5,279 crores providing financial flexibility
- Established brand recognition in local search space with decades of market presence
- Strong promoter holding at 74.15% ensuring management stability
- Operating margins above 28% demonstrating some operational efficiency
- Consistent positive cash flow from operations averaging ₹311 crores in FY25
KEY CONCERNS
- Net profit declined 22.50% QoQ and 22.49% YoY despite revenue growth
- Non-operating income constitutes 49.86% of profit before tax, indicating weak core business profitability
- ROE of 9.02% significantly below peer average and company's historical performance
- Stock down 34.71% over past year with severe underperformance versus market
- Modest revenue growth of 6.40% YoY signals market share challenges
- 13.90% promoter pledging remains a governance concern
- Declining institutional interest with FII and MF holdings reducing
Outlook: What Lies Ahead
POSITIVE CATALYSTS
- Potential for product innovation and platform enhancement
- Strong cash position enabling strategic investments or acquisitions
- Gradual recovery in operating margins from recent lows
- Stable promoter base providing strategic continuity
RED FLAGS TO MONITOR
- Further deterioration in core business profitability
- Continued decline in net profit margins below 35%
- Revenue growth slowing below 5% annually
- Additional reduction in institutional holdings
- Increasing competitive pressure from larger technology platforms
The Verdict: Avoid Until Operational Turnaround Materialises
Score: 37/100
For Fresh Investors: Avoid initiating positions. The sharp 22.50% profit decline despite revenue growth, excessive dependence on non-operating income, and deteriorating return metrics suggest fundamental challenges that require resolution before considering entry.
For Existing Holders: Consider reducing exposure on any technical bounce towards ₹850-870 levels. The stock's 34.71% decline over the past year and persistent underperformance warrant a reassessment of the investment thesis. Hold only if convinced of management's ability to revitalise core business growth.
Fair Value Estimate: ₹750 (8.83% downside from current levels based on sustainable earnings power excluding treasury income)
Just Dial's Q2 FY26 results expose the uncomfortable reality that strong balance sheet metrics cannot indefinitely compensate for weak operational performance. Until the company demonstrates consistent improvement in core business profitability and revenue acceleration, the investment case remains unconvincing despite the apparent valuation discount.
