Analysts at global brokerage Morgan Stanley have reiterated their 'overweight' rating on the second-largest telecom firm -- Bharti Airtel -- following the company's Q3 results.
They have expected a gain of more than 20 per cent, citing strong operational performance, improving cash flows and sustained momentum in India operations.
The brokerage said Airtel's EBITDA beat estimates, driven primarily by robust performance in the India business. It highlighted that India mobile subscriber additions exceeded expectations, supported by lower churn, indicating improving customer quality and retention trends.
Morgan Stanley also flagged strong traction in Airtel's homes (broadband and fixed-line) business, which delivered healthy user growth and EBITDA expansion, strengthening the company's diversified revenue profile.
On the financial side, the brokerage noted a sharp improvement in operating free cash flow -- aided by lower capital expenditure -- while net debt declined significantly, reflecting strong internal cash generation and a healthier balance sheet.
Q3 performance highlights
Bharti Airtel reported a sharp 55 per cent decline in consolidated net profit to Rs 6,630.5 crore for the quarter ended December 2025, compared with Rs 14,781.2 crore in the year-ago period.
However, the topline remained strong. The company's revenue from operations rose 19.6 per cent year-on-year to Rs 53,982 crore, up from Rs 45,129.3 crore in the corresponding quarter last year, reflecting sustained growth in core telecom and digital services.
Bharti Airtel Share Price Target
The brokerage has recommended buying the leading telecom stock for a target of Rs 2435, implying a gain of 22.23 per cent from Thursday's closing.
Telecom stock trades higher
The Bharti Airtel stock on Friday jumped more than 1 per cent to Rs 2018, hitting an intraday high in the morning session, on the BSE.
Bharti Airtel stock vs BSE Sensex: Past performance
Bharti Airtel's share price has seen mixed performance across timeframes, which reflected volatility in the short term but created wealth for investors in the long-term horizon.
Over the past month, the stock has declined by 4.89 per cent. However, the stock has gained by around 4 per cent over the last six months. On a longer horizon, the telecom stock has risen 23.68 per cent over the past year
Over a five-year period, Bharti Airtel shares have delivered exceptional returns of over 250 per cent.
| Duration | Bharti Airtel (%) | Sensex (%) |
| 1 Month | -4.89 | -2.32 |
| YTD | -5.07 | -2.47 |
| 3 Months | -4.37 | -0.27 |
| 6 Months | 3.8 | 3.16 |
| 1 Year | 23.68 | 6.44 |
| 2 Years | 76.6 | 15.1 |
| 3 Years | 153.74 | 37.32 |
| 5 Years | 250.93 | 63.78 |
| 10 Years | 623.51 | 237.52 |
(Disclaimer: The above article is meant for informational purposes only, and should not be considered as any investment advice.)
source: Economic Times

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