Bharti Airtel Q1 FY25-26 Results Preview: What to Expect

Bharti Airtel is set to release its Q1 FY25-26 results on August 5, 2025. Investors are closely watching to see if the telecom giant can sustain its strong momentum from previous quarters. With one of the highest ARPUs in the sector, solid subscriber growth, and steady execution, Airtel enters the new fiscal with high expectations.

How Airtel Performed Last Quarter

In Q4 FY24-25, Airtel reported a massive 432 per cent jump in net profit to Rs 11,022 crore. However, this included a one-time tax gain. Adjusted profit stood at Rs 5,223 crore, up 77 per cent year-on-year. Revenue grew 27 per cent to Rs 47,876 crore, with ARPU holding firm at Rs 245. This premium ARPU level confirms Airtel's focus on high-value users and successful tariff hikes.

In Q3 as well, adjusted profit rose sharply, thanks to another one-off gain. ARPU had jumped from Rs 233 in Q2 to Rs 245 in Q3, reflecting subscriber upgrades and pricing power. As of now, Airtel has maintained ARPU at this premium level.

What to Expect in Q1 FY25-26

For the upcoming quarter, analysts expect a more normalised profit growth, without the exceptional gains that boosted earlier numbers. The focus will be on:

• ARPU stability or improvement: A steady ARPU at Rs 245+ would mark a 16 per cent+ YoY rise, since ARPU was Rs 211 in Q1 FY24-25.
• Subscriber additions: Airtel added 6.7 million 4G/5G users in Q1 last year. A similar trend would reflect strong customer acquisition.
• India vs Africa performance: Currency stability in Africa and continued user growth will support consolidated earnings.
• 5G rollout impact: Airtel's network is now live in 3,500+ cities. Investor attention will be on monetisation efforts.

How Airtel Compares with Jio and Vodafone Idea

Compared to Jio, Airtel has maintained a clear lead in ARPU (Rs 245 vs Jio's Rs 206). It also continues to gain users while Vodafone Idea is losing them. Airtel’s total customer base exceeds 590 million, while Jio has around 488 million, and Vi trails with 198 million.

In terms of profitability, Airtel’s India mobile business has outpaced Jio in growth. Vodafone Idea, meanwhile, continues to report large losses and remains in survival mode.

Value Research Stock Rating & Valuation 

Bharti Airtel currently has a 5-star stock rating. Here's how it scores:

• Quality Score: 6/10 — Good but not exceptional fundamentals due to high capex and one-offs.
• Growth Score: 8/10 — Strong revenue and profit growth, backed by rising ARPU and user base.
• Valuation Score: 4/10 — Stock is richly valued, trading at a P/E of ~35.
• Momentum Score: 10/10 — Strong price momentum with ~30 per cent gains in the last year.

Investor Takeaway

Bharti Airtel’s Q1 results will likely show steady operational growth, supported by strong ARPU and continued user additions. Its leadership in premium pricing, ongoing 5G rollout, and Africa recovery position it well for FY26. However, with the stock already trading at high valuations, any miss on expectations could lead to short-term volatility.

For long-term investors, Airtel remains a high-growth telecom play with strong competitive positioning. As the market consolidates around two major players — Airtel and Jio — Airtel's focus on quality subscribers and digital services is likely to continue delivering value.

A Rs 1 lakh investment in Bharti Airtel five years ago would have more than doubled, powered by rising ARPUs, subscriber growth, and its dominant position in India’s telecom duopoly. With strong fundamentals and a long growth runway, Airtel could be a long-term compounder — but not without short-term volatility or valuation risk.

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Disclaimer: This is not a stock recommendation. This story was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence and has been reviewed by human experts for accuracy and is intended for informational purposes only. Please take it with a grain of salt and conduct your own research or consult a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.