MAM
HUL maintains lead in week 44: Barc
Mumbai: With ad volumes of 5074.45 (‘000s), Hindustan Lever Ltd (HUL) was the most prolific advertiser in week 44 (30 October to 5 November) according to Broadcast Audience Research Council (Barc) data. Reckitt Benckiser grabbed the second spot at 1480.15.
At the third to ninth positions were Ponds India, Brooke Bond Lipton India Ltd, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd, Procter & Gamble, Amazon Online India Pvt Ltd, Cadbury India Ltd, and Colgate Palmolive India Ltd. Lakme Lever Ltd was the new entrant at the tenth spot with ad volumes of 416.15 (‘000s).
Horlicks was the most advertised brand in week 44 with ad volumes of 443.06 (‘000s). At 319.42 Clinic Plus Shampoo was second. It was followed by Brooke Bond Bru Instant (260.48) at the third position.
Amazon Prime Video, Lalithaa Jewellery, Amazon India, Surf Excel Easy Wash, Close Up Ever Fresh (new) Vaseline Intensive Care Deep Moisture Body Lotion (new), and Boost followed.
Brands
Maruti Suzuki posts record FY26 profit of Rs 14,445 crore, dividend at Rs 140
Sales hit 24.22 lakh units as Q4 revenue crosses Rs 50,000 crore mark
NEW DELHI: Maruti Suzuki India Limited reported its highest-ever annual performance for FY2025-26, with record sales volumes, revenue and profit, alongside a dividend of Rs 140 per share.
The company posted net sales of Rs 1,74,369.5 crore for the full year, marking a 20.2 per cent increase over FY2024-25. Net profit stood at an all-time high of Rs 14,445.4 crore, up slightly from Rs 14,297.6 crore in the previous year.
Total sales for the year reached 24,22,713 units, compared to 22,34,266 units last year. Domestic sales accounted for 19,74,939 units, while exports rose sharply to 4,47,774 units from 3,32,585 units a year earlier. The company retained its position as India’s top passenger vehicle exporter for the fifth consecutive year, contributing 49 per cent of total exports.
Exports of the made-in-India e VITARA, the company’s first battery electric vehicle, expanded to 44 countries, highlighting its growing global footprint.
In the January to March quarter, Maruti Suzuki recorded its highest-ever quarterly sales of 6,76,209 units, an increase of 11.8 per cent year-on-year. Domestic sales stood at 5,38,994 units, while exports touched a record 1,37,215 units.
Quarterly net sales crossed the Rs 50,000 crore milestone for the first time, reaching Rs 50,078.7 crore, up from Rs 38,839.1 crore in the same quarter last year.
Operating profit, measured as EBIT, rose 30.4 per cent to Rs 4,409.2 crore, reflecting improved operating efficiency. However, net profit declined 6.9 per cent year-on-year to Rs 3,590.5 crore, primarily due to mark-to-market impacts.
The company said growth in the second half of the year was supported by a reduction in GST rates, which boosted demand in the domestic market. However, production constraints remained a challenge, with around 1,90,000 pending customer orders at the end of the year, including nearly 1,30,000 in the small car segment. Dealer inventory levels were also low, at about 12 days of stock.
During the year, Suzuki Motor Gujarat Private Limited was amalgamated into the parent company, effective 1 December 2025, with financials restated from 1 April 2025 for comparability.
The board recommended a dividend of Rs 140 per share, up from Rs 135 in FY2024-25, marking the highest payout in the company’s history.
With strong export momentum, improving domestic demand and continued capacity constraints, Maruti Suzuki enters FY27 balancing growth opportunities with supply-side challenges, even as it strengthens its position in both conventional and electric vehicle segments.
