BEL: The Defence Giant with a Bulletproof Order
Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) is a leading manufacturer and supplier of electronic equipment to the defence sector. The company develops advanced electronic equipment, systems, and solutions for the defence sector, which includes fire control systems, radar systems, weapon systems, network and communication-centric systems, electronic warfare systems, and more.
During Q1FY26, FIIs increased their holding in this company by 1.01% points, taking the total holding to 18.56%. Within the defence sector, this stock has the highest FII holding. Let's see what is perhaps driving FIIs so strongly towards BEL.
Solid Order Book
One of the reasons why FIIs may be keen on BEL could be its solid order wins.
On 3 July, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved BEL's Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missile project. The company is expecting to get the order by the end of FY26. The potential order size is around ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 crore.
BEL is also expecting an order worth ₹6,000 to ₹10,000 crore for the configuration of subsystems for developing Next-generation Corvettes (NGC). Around 5 or 6 subsystems are being ordered, which are expected to be delivered by Q3 or Q4 of this fiscal year.
BEL, along with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), is developing electronics Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) for 83 aircraft. This order is worth ₹1,000 crore. Also, BEL is expecting the next order for 97 aircraft for which the order value will be around ₹3,000 crore.
The total order book of BEL stood at ₹74,859 Crore as of 1 July 2025.
Firing on All Cylinders: A Look at the Q1 Numbers
Sales at BEL increased from ₹4,244 crore in Q1FY25 to ₹4,440 crore in Q1FY26, rising around 4.6% YoY. The operating profit margin grew from 22% to 28% during the same period. The net profit went up from ₹791 crore to ₹969 crore during the period, registering a 23% YoY growth.
During the June quarter, the company grew its margins owing to a good product mix and reduced their costs by increasing in-house manufacturing. The management has commented that they are anticipating an EBITDA margin of around 27% for FY26.
Financial Snapshot
Particulars | Q1FY25 | Q1FY26 |
Sales | ₹4,244 Cr. | ₹4,440 Cr. |
Net Profit | ₹791 Cr. | ₹969 Cr. |
Operating Profit Margin | 22% | 28% |
Coming to the valuation…
The stock is trading at a PE of 51.2x while its industry median is at 65.9x. This is one of the few stocks in this industry that has a lower P/E than the industry median, underscoring its relatively cheaper valuation. The Price Earnings to Growth (PEG) ratio of BEL is 1.7, which is, however, slightly higher than the industry median of 1.3.
One-Year Stock Price Chart

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