Shares of Eternal Ltd (formerly Zomato) are back in focus after the company posted a 77.71 per cent year-on-year drop in consolidated net profit for the March 2025 quarter. While revenue grew to Rs 5,830 crore, in line with estimates, the operating performance fell short of Street expectations.
EBITDA margin slipped 180 basis points sequentially to 1.2 per cent, below the estimated 1.7 per cent. PAT stood at Rs 39 crore, nearly matching analyst forecast of Rs 42.10 crore.
Brokerage verdict
Brokerages remain divided on Eternal’s outlook, particularly amid rising competitive intensity in the quick commerce (Q/C) space and underperformance at Blinkit due to ongoing expansion.
Brokerage |
Rating |
New Target |
Old Target |
---|---|---|---|
JP Morgan |
Overweight |
Rs 290 |
Rs 340 |
Jefferies |
Hold |
Rs 250 |
Rs 255 |
Citi |
Buy |
Rs 290 |
Rs 280 |
Macquarie |
Underperform |
Rs 150 |
– |
Nomura |
Buy |
Rs 280 |
– |
Morgan Stanley |
Overweight |
Rs 330 |
– |
Blinkit: Still expanding, but yet to reach profitability sweet spot
Blinkit has added 40 per cent of its current 1,301 stores over the last two quarters. These newly launched stores remain underutilised and sit at the bottom of the profitability curve, according to Nuvama. However, contribution margins improved to 3.1 per cent in Q4, while adjusted EBITDA margins fell to -1.9 per cent due to higher marketing spends.
Nuvama on Eternal
The brokerage maintained a ‘Buy’ call with a revised target of Rs 290 (earlier Rs 300), citing lower-than-expected Blinkit losses. It expects adjusted EBITDA losses to start narrowing from Q1FY26, assuming the store expansion cycle peaks out.
JM Financial view
The brokerage remains bullish for long-term investors, recommending buying into dips. It forecasts a slowdown in Blinkit’s expansion from Q2FY26 and expects losses to peak in Q1FY26, aiding operational leverage.
Jefferies flags caution
Despite a decent Q4 print, Jefferies maintained a ‘Hold’ rating, trimming its target to Rs 250. It highlighted cautious management commentary and slashed adjusted EBITDA estimates by 5–15 per cent, citing rising threats from players like Amazon and Flipkart.
Citi, Nomura stay bullish
Citi raised its target price to Rs 290 from Rs 280 and retained its ‘Buy’ rating. Nomura echoed this stance with a Rs 280 target, noting that Eternal is not burning cash at EBITDA level and remains well positioned despite the Q/C drag.
Macquarie
Macquarie continues to see downside risk and kept its ‘Underperform’ rating with a low target of Rs 150.
Morgan Stanley
Morgan Stanley maintained its ‘Overweight’ stance and set a price target of Rs 330, among the highest on the Street.
Key metrics from Q4FY25:
-
Revenue: Rs 5,830 crore (vs estimate of Rs 5,820 crore)
-
EBITDA Margin: 1.2% (vs 1.7% expected)
-
PAT: Rs 39 crore (vs Rs 42.1 crore estimate)
-
Food Delivery Contribution Margin: 8.6% (Q3: 8.5%)
-
Blinkit EBITDA Margin: -1.9% (down 60 bps QoQ)
While near-term pressures persist due to Blinkit’s aggressive scaling and Q/C rivalry, long-term broker sentiment remains divided. Traders should watch for signs of operating leverage from Q1FY26 onward. For now, Eternal remains a stock to track closely especially if competition in quick commerce intensifies.
Anurag Dhole is a seasoned journalist and content writer with a passion for delivering timely, accurate, and engaging stories. With over 8 years of experience in digital media, she covers a wide range of topics—from breaking news and politics to business insights and cultural trends. Jane's writing style blends clarity with depth, aiming to inform and inspire readers in a fast-paced media landscape. When she’s not chasing stories, she’s likely reading investigative features or exploring local cafés for her next writing spot.