PSU Banks Soar to Record High on SBI's Stellar Earnings Beat

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AuthorKavya Nair|Published at:
PSU Banks Soar to Record High on SBI's Stellar Earnings Beat
Overview

The Nifty PSU Bank index soared to a new all-time high, climbing nearly 4% on Monday. State Bank of India's strong Q3FY26 results, featuring robust profit growth and revised credit guidance, powered the rally. Several brokerages reiterated buy ratings on SBI, citing its industry-leading asset quality and resilient margins.

SBI Fuels Sector Rally

The Nifty PSU Bank index surged 3.6% to a record 9,193 on Monday, surpassing its previous high set on January 29. This remarkable gain was predominantly propelled by State Bank of India (SBI), the sector's largest constituent. SBI's shares jumped 7%, reaching a new peak after the bank announced better-than-expected earnings for the quarter ended December 2025.

SBI reported a record-breaking quarterly profit after tax of ₹21,028 crore, a 25% year-on-year increase. This robust performance was attributed to higher other income, including a ₹2,200 crore dividend from SBI Mutual Fund, and lower-than-expected provisions. Net interest income (NII) grew 9% year-on-year to ₹45,190 crore, while net interest margins (NIMs) saw a 2 basis point improvement quarter-on-quarter to 2.99%, with domestic NIMs at 3.12%. The bank's loan book expanded 15.6% year-on-year, and it revised its FY26 credit growth guidance upward to 13-15%. Asset quality also improved, with slippages moderating.

Analyst Optimism

Following SBI's strong performance, brokerages have reiterated 'BUY' ratings on the stock. Motilal Oswal Financial Services raised its earnings estimates for FY27/28E and maintained a target price of ₹1,300, citing SBI's strong business growth, margin resilience, and industry-leading asset quality. JM Financial Institutional Securities echoed this sentiment, maintaining a 'BUY' rating with a target price of ₹1,250, highlighting the bank's consistent profitability drivers and premium valuation.

Macroeconomic Tailwinds

The broader market sentiment for PSU banks is also supported by positive macroeconomic indicators. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has revised its GDP forecast for FY26 upwards to 7.4%, citing a revival in manufacturing, supportive agriculture and corporate activity, and resilient consumption. This optimistic outlook for the Indian economy provides a favorable backdrop for the banking sector's growth prospects. BNP Paribas India noted that incremental rate cuts by the RBI have a positive impact on bank NIMs, suggesting that the absence of an expected cut in the last policy meeting could benefit margins.

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