Brands
WhatsApp named India’s strongest brand in YouGov 2026 rankings
MUMBAI: WhatsApp has cemented its place as India’s most powerful brand, topping YouGov’s Best Brand Rankings 2026 with an Index score of 60.5. In a market where usefulness often matters more than glamour, the messaging app’s everyday indispensability has paid off handsomely.
YouGov’s rankings measure brand health through a composite Index that tracks impression, quality, value, reputation, satisfaction and recommendation. WhatsApp scored strongly across all six, reflecting how deeply it is woven into daily life, from family chats and work groups to payments and customer service.
Close behind are fellow digital heavyweights YouTube, which secured second place with a score of 58.7, and Google at 56.6. Together, the top three underline a clear trend: brands that simplify life and deliver consistent value are winning Indian consumers’ confidence.
E-commerce and digital payments also made a strong showing. Amazon placed fourth overall with 55.2, followed by Google Pay at 54.6. Among homegrown names, Amul held its own in sixth place with a score of 53.6, while Flipkart and Tanishq featured comfortably within the top ten. Samsung and Instagram rounded off the list, highlighting the continued pull of technology and social platforms.
Beyond the established leaders, YouGov’s data also spotlighted brands gaining momentum at speed. Quick commerce player Blinkit emerged as India’s fastest-improving brand, posting the largest year-on-year jump in Index score at plus 6.3. Spotify followed with a gain of 4.9, while Samsung and LG both recorded improvements of 4.6.
Consumer services and lifestyle brands were not far behind. Coca-Cola, Urban Company and Threads all posted notable gains, while travel and subscription services such as Singapore Airlines, Philips and YouTube Premium also climbed steadily.
On the global stage, the picture looks strikingly similar. WhatsApp leads worldwide brand health rankings, ahead of Samsung and YouTube, with Google and Netflix also featuring prominently. Retail, household and automotive brands including Adidas, Nike, Dettol, Colgate and Toyota round out the global top performers.
The message from YouGov’s 2026 rankings is clear. In India and beyond, brands that combine trust, frequency of use and genuine utility are not just liked, they are relied upon.
Brands
Motilal Oswal posts record PAT of Rs 2,360 crore in FY26
Q4 PAT at Rs 661 crore; AMC and wealth drive strong growth.
MUMBAI: Money may not grow on trees but at Motilal Oswal, it seems to be compounding rather nicely. Motilal Oswal Financial Services (MOFSL) reported its highest-ever quarterly and annual operating profit after tax (PAT), clocking Rs 661 crore in Q4FY26, up 25 per cent year-on-year, and Rs 2,360 crore for the full year, marking a 16 per cent rise. The performance was powered largely by its asset management and private wealth management businesses, both of which delivered strong growth across key metrics.
The asset management business, including alternates, saw Q4 PAT jump 63 per cent YoY to Rs 249 crore, while FY26 PAT rose 55 per cent to Rs 798 crore. Total assets under management (AUM) grew 32 per cent to Rs 1.76 lakh crore, led by a 31 per cent increase in mutual fund AUM and a sharp 104 per cent surge in private alternates. SIP inflows rose 78 per cent to Rs 16,479 crore, with a market share of 4.7 per cent.
Private wealth management also delivered steady gains, with Q4 PAT up 18 per cent YoY to Rs 88 crore and FY26 PAT rising 15 per cent to Rs 368 crore. Net flows grew 66 per cent in Q4 to Rs 5,535 crore and 41 per cent annually to Rs 20,154 crore, while AUM climbed 36 per cent to Rs 1.97 lakh crore.
In the wealth management segment, Q4 PAT increased 7 per cent to Rs 204 crore, although full-year PAT declined 7 per cent to Rs 727 crore. Brokerage revenue grew 33 per cent YoY in Q4, with average daily turnover market share at 9.2 per cent. The distribution book expanded 41 per cent to Rs 40,662 crore, while the loan book rose 32 per cent to Rs 6,094 crore.
The capital markets business reported Q4 PAT of Rs 75 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, and Rs 336 crore for FY26, up 30 per cent. The firm ranked first in QIP deals and second in IPO league tables during the year, covering 366 companies and serving over 900 institutional clients.
Housing finance posted strong momentum, with Q4 PAT rising 61 per cent YoY to Rs 59 crore and FY26 PAT up 22 per cent to Rs 159 crore. AUM grew 19 per cent to Rs 5,829 crore, supported by a $100 million fundraise from the Asian Development Bank.
Meanwhile, the treasury book grew 12 per cent YoY to Rs 9,403 crore, delivering an estimated 5 per cent alpha for FY26. However, total reported PAT, including other comprehensive income, stood lower at Rs 2,043 crore due to mark-to-market accounting impacts.
With a 10-year operating PAT CAGR of 33 per cent and an average return on equity of 23 per cent achieved without equity dilution MOFSL continues to lean on its annuity-driven businesses to build a more predictable earnings engine. In a market riding the twin waves of wealth creation and financialisation, the firm appears well-positioned to keep the compounding story going.
