Info Edge Keeps Growing Strong: Q2 FY26 Billings Jump 12% to Rs 729 Crore
Info Edge Keeps Growing Strong: Q2 FY26 Billings Jump 12% to Rs 729 Crore
In a testament to resilience in India’s evolving digital economy, Info Edge (India) Ltd., the parent company behind powerhouse platforms like Naukri.com and 99acres.com, has reported a solid 12.1% year-on-year surge in standalone billings for the second quarter of fiscal year 2026 (Q2 FY26), reaching Rs 729 crore. This robust performance, unveiled just ahead of the full financial results disclosure, underscores the company’s entrenched position in recruitment and real estate services, even as broader economic uncertainties cast long shadows over the job market.
The Noida-headquartered firm, a bellwether for India’s online classifieds sector, disclosed the preliminary figures in a regulatory filing on Wednesday, sparking a modest uptick in its share price. Shares of Info Edge rose 1.65% to close at Rs 1,025 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), reflecting investor confidence in its diversified revenue streams. For the first half of FY26 (April-September 2025), cumulative billings swelled 11.7% to Rs 1,373.2 crore from Rs 1,229.7 crore a year earlier, painting a picture of consistent, if tempered, expansion.
At the heart of this growth lies the recruitment vertical, Naukri.com’s bread-and-butter business, which clocked in Rs 545 crore in billings for Q2 FY26—up from Rs 492 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. This 10.8% increase highlights a rebound in corporate hiring demands, particularly in IT, finance, and manufacturing sectors, as companies navigate post-pandemic recovery and the push towards digital transformation. “The recruitment segment continues to be our anchor, buoyed by increased job postings and premium subscriptions from enterprises seeking specialized talent,” said Hitesh Oberoi, Managing Director and CEO of Info Edge, in a statement accompanying the update. Oberoi, a veteran in the online services space, emphasized the platform’s role in connecting over 60 million job seekers with opportunities, a network that has only grown amid rising youth unemployment concerns in the world’s most populous nation.
Yet, this triumph is not without its caveats. The recruitment space, while leading the charge, has shown signs of moderation compared to the explosive growth seen in prior years. Industry analysts point to a confluence of factors: geopolitical tensions disrupting global supply chains, a lingering slowdown in non-IT sectors like automobiles and retail, and a cautious approach from startups amid funding winter. In Q1 FY26, recruitment billings had grown a healthier 9% year-on-year, but sequential growth from the previous quarter dipped slightly, signaling potential volatility. “While Naukri’s dominance remains unchallenged, the hiring freeze in mid-tier firms could cap upside in the near term,” noted Karan Taurani, Research Analyst at Elara Securities. Taurani’s assessment aligns with broader market sentiments, where India’s unemployment rate hovered around 8% in urban areas as per the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
Diversification, however, emerges as Info Edge’s strategic bulwark. The real estate arm, 99acres.com, delivered a commendable 14% year-on-year billing growth to Rs 122.4 crore in Q2 FY26, up from Rs 107.4 crore. This upswing is fueled by a revitalized residential property market, where urban migration and government incentives like the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) have spurred demand for affordable housing. In key metros like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi-NCR—markets that account for over 60% of 99acres’ traffic—searches for mid-segment apartments surged 25% quarter-on-quarter, according to internal platform metrics. The portal’s pivot towards verified listings and virtual tours has further enhanced user trust, positioning it as a go-to resource for homebuyers in an era of hybrid work models that blur urban-rural boundaries.
Complementing these core pillars is the “Others” category, encompassing education (Shiksha.com), matrimony (Jeevansathi.com), and ancillary services, which posted Rs 61.6 crore in billings—a healthy 21% jump from Rs 50.9 crore last year. Education, in particular, benefited from heightened interest in upskilling programs amid AI-driven disruptions, with course enrollments on Shiksha rising 18%. This segment’s outperformance signals Info Edge’s foresight in betting on lifelong learning, a sector projected to reach $10 billion by 2025 as per a FICCI-EY report.
Financially, these billings translate to promising topline momentum. In Q1 FY26, Info Edge had already clocked consolidated revenue from operations at Rs 791 crore—a 17% year-on-year increase—coupled with a stellar 34.5% profit jump to Rs 342.8 crore. Expenses, primarily employee benefits at 58% of total outlay, rose 12% to Rs 327 crore, reflecting investments in tech infrastructure and talent retention. Advertising and internet costs held steady at Rs 127 crore and Rs 22 crore, respectively, underscoring operational efficiency. For Q2, while full profit figures await the board meeting scheduled for late October, analysts forecast a net profit in the Rs 250-300 crore range, buoyed by lower tax provisions and optimized cash flows from investments in unlisted startups like Zomato and Policybazaar.
Info Edge’s investment portfolio, valued at over Rs 15,000 crore, remains a wildcard asset. The company’s stakes in high-growth unicorns have historically delivered windfall gains, with partial monetization in FY25 contributing Rs 500 crore to the bottom line. However, mark-to-market valuations dipped 5% in Q1 FY26 due to market corrections in edtech and fintech peers. Oberoi remains optimistic: “Our treasury investments are long-term bets on India’s digital ecosystem, and we’re poised to unlock value as these ventures scale.”
Looking ahead, the road is paved with both opportunities and obstacles. India’s digital economy, pegged at $1 trillion by 2026 under the Digital India initiative, offers fertile ground for Info Edge’s platforms. Enhanced data analytics and AI integrations—such as Naukri’s ‘SmartMatch’ algorithm, which boasts a 30% higher placement success rate—position the company to capture a larger slice of the Rs 50,000 crore online recruitment pie. Real estate, too, stands to gain from infrastructure booms like the Bharatmala and Sagarmala projects, potentially inflating property queries by 20% in tier-2 cities.
Challenges persist, though. Regulatory scrutiny on data privacy under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) could raise compliance costs, estimated at Rs 50-70 crore annually for mid-caps like Info Edge. Competition intensifies from global giants like LinkedIn (Microsoft-owned) and domestic upstarts in proptech, eroding market share in premium segments. Moreover, macroeconomic headwinds—such as inflation at 5.5% and RBI’s steady repo rate—may temper corporate spending. “Info Edge’s growth trajectory is commendable, but sustaining double-digit billings will hinge on macro stability and innovation agility,” opines Sneha Purohit, Vice President at Prabhudas Lilladher.
For investors, the metrics are compelling. With a market cap of Rs 89,715 crore and a price-to-earnings ratio of 64x, the stock trades at a premium, justified by 20% CAGR in revenues over the past five years. Promoter holding at 37.6% adds stability, though low return on equity (0.89% over three years) flags efficiency tweaks needed. The trading window closure until post-Q2 results announcement ensures disciplined disclosure.
In the grander scheme, Info Edge’s Q2 update is more than numbers—it’s a pulse-check on India’s aspirational workforce. As Naukri facilitates 1.2 million hires monthly and 99acres logs 50 million visits, the company embodies the nation’s digital aspirations. Yet, in a landscape where one in three graduates remains jobless, per NSSO data, platforms like these bear a societal onus to bridge skill gaps through initiatives like free career counseling, rolled out to 5 lakh users last quarter.
As FY26 unfolds, Info Edge’s ability to harness tech tides while addressing talent mismatches will define its legacy. For now, the Rs 729 crore milestone stands as a beacon of steady progress in turbulent times—a positive affirmation that even in slowdowns, opportunity knocks for the digitally savvy.
Last Updated on: Thursday, October 9, 2025 4:14 pm by Business Max Team | Published by: Business Max Team on Thursday, October 9, 2025 4:14 pm | News Categories: News
About The Author
