Airtel's share rose about 4% on 15 October, its biggest one-day rise in five months, after Jio announced its IPO price. Jio's ₹10.3 lakh crore value gives investors a clear benchmark, and Airtel, worth roughly ₹11 lakh crore, earns more profit than Jio and is growing fast. April-June 2026 profit was ₹10,012 crore, up 35%.
Jio Platforms set its IPO price band at ₹1,065-1,119, valuing it at about ₹10.3 lakh crore. Airtel rose up to 4.3% the next morning. Analysts said a listed Jio gives investors a clear benchmark for valuing telecom companies. There are also reports that phone tariffs may rise about 15% in December 2026.
Sales grew from ₹1,49,982 crore in 2023-24 to ₹1,72,985 crore in 2024-25 and ₹2,10,973 crore in 2025-26. Profit in 2025-26 was ₹33,823 crore. The 2024-25 figure of ₹37,481 crore was boosted by one-time gains. Each quarter keeps rising: April-June 2026 sales were ₹58,539 crore, up 18%, and profit was ₹10,012 crore against ₹7,422 crore a year earlier.
At about ₹1,854 a share, Airtel is worth roughly ₹11 lakh crore, a little more than Jio's IPO value. Airtel also owns large businesses in Africa and a stake in Indus Towers, and earns more per customer than Jio. The market seems to be saying that if Jio is worth ₹10 lakh crore, Airtel's price is not too high.
Demand for Jio's IPO and its price after listing. Whether the tariff increase happens. Airtel's July-September results, due in the coming weeks. The share is below its 52-week high of ₹2,163, so there is room to recover if the tariff increase arrives.
| Airtel rose up to 4.3% after Jio IPO price band | 15 Oct 2026 |
| Consolidated sales ₹1,49,982 / ₹1,72,985 / ₹2,10,973 crore; profit FY26 ₹33,823 crore | FY24-FY26 |
| Sales ₹58,539 crore; profit ₹10,012 crore vs ₹7,422 crore | Q1 FY27 |
| Close ₹1,854; 52-week high ₹2,162.7 | 14 Oct 2026 |
| Promoter holding 50.07% | 30 Jun 2026 |
Sterlite Technologies: one quarter's profit beat the whole of last year. Can it last?