ITC

ITC's non-cigarette FMCG portfolio crossed Rs 37,000 crore in annual consumer spend in FY26, driven by strong brand growth, acquisitions and rising household reach

From risk capital taxation and Uttar Pradesh's caste churn to political defections and fractured consumer markets, today's BS Opinion page maps power, money and strategy

5 years ago, Aashirvaad &Surf Excel could run one national television commercial and win. Today, the Zepto shopper in Bengaluru and the kirana buyer in Gidderbaha, Punjab, live in different economies

Among the announced payouts, Page Industries has declared the highest interim dividend at ₹150 per share, with May 27, 2026 fixed as the record date

Given the likelihood of continuing consumer shifts to smuggled brands, the earnings pressure in cigarettes may offset growth in FMCG and Paper

Stocks to Watch today, May 22, 2026: Nykaa, LIC, ITC, Honasa Consumer, and Maruti Suzuki are some of the key stocks to watch today

Among the companies, Bajaj Auto has announced the highest final dividend of ₹150 per share, with May 29, 2026, fixed as the record date

ITC reported a 6.1 per cent rise in adjusted net profit for Q4FY26, aided by strong growth in cigarettes, FMCG and paper businesses

The company, which makes Gold Flake cigarettes, reported profit rose 2 per cent to 66.92 billion rupees ($695.63 million) in the March quarte

Q4FY26 company results: Firms including Max Healthcare, Gail (India), Prestige Estates, Sun TV, Bikaji Foods International, Quick Heal and Icra are also to release their January-March earnings today

Thus far in the month of April, the FMCG index has surged 11.73 per cent, as against a 7.4 per cent gain in the benchmark index

Nomura's top picks include Britannia and Titan. It also prefers Marico, Tata Consumer, Godrej Consumer, Asian Paints and United Spirits

Being consumer-centric and continuously evolving with contemporary trends is paramount for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies

ITC CMD Sanjiv Puri says government tax cuts and GST reductions are aiding consumption, as digitisation, rural demand and evolving GenZ and millennial preferences reshape FMCG growth

At Business Standard's Manthan summit, ITC Chairman Sanjiv Puri said that consumer-centric growth, stronger R&D investment and deeper AI adoption are essentials for FMCG sector

In the case of ITC, Nomura noted that the company has started increasing prices for its premium brands, including Gold Flake and Classic, across most subsegments

In two sessions, ITC shares declined over 5 per cent, Godfrey Phillips over 6 per cent and VST Industries over 3 per cent

The FMCG major is piloting freshness-led packaged foods through its food-tech cloud kitchens, leveraging e-commerce platforms as it sharpens its premiumisation strategy

Firm says GST rate rejig, duty changes have led to an unprecedented increase in tax incidence on cigarettes

The conglomerate warned that a new excise duty on cigarettes will lead to a rise in illicit trade, causing hardship and loss to millions of farmers, MSMEs, retailers, and local value chains