Despite a better Q4, higher debt, AGR case weigh on Vodafone Idea stock

Loss in subscriber count offsets gains on ARPU front in the March quarter

Despite a better-than-expected performance in the March quarter, led by tariff increases in December, the Vodafone Idea stock shed over 4 per cent on Wednesday.

This is because, despite the improvement on the operational front, the Street is concerned about the increase in debt, overhang of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) issue, and reduction in subscriber levels. 

The positive is the sharp increase in average revenue per user (ARPU) by 11 per cent on sequential basis to Rs 121 per month in the quarter (Q4) of financial year 2019-20 (FY20). The increase, though, was lower than Bharti Airtel’s 14.3 per cent growth