ITC slides 25% in six months as brokerages hold fire post-Q4; targets cluster at Rs 335-350

Excise-driven cigarette price hikes squeezed near-term EBIT, with net cigarette sales down 22% even as gross rose 30% YoY. MOFSL, Axis Direct, Nuvama and Elara stay on the sidelines, citing delayed FMCG and Paper recovery. Stock at Rs 302.65, down 1.74% intraday.

— Source publishedFri, 22 May, 2026, 15:08 IST·First seen Fri, 22 May, 2026, 15:26 IST·Source Business Today · Latest

What happened

ITC shares down 25% in six months as brokerages stay cautious post-Q4FY26. Excise duty hike forced calibrated cigarette price increases, hurting near-term EBIT.

Key facts

  • -25.01% 6M
  • Rs 302.65
  • -1.74%
  • Cigarette sales Rs 11,950 cr +30% YoY
  • Net cigarette sales Rs 5,950 cr -22%
  • TP Rs 335
  • TP Rs 350

Why this matters

A weakened share price and stalled non-cigarette segments open a window to revisit FMCG bolt-ons or Paper consolidation that could re-rate the conglomerate narrative.