Street places hopes on H2, cautious on GST cut effect

Early estimates show India Inc.'s topline may have grown just 5-6% in Sep quarter

- Mayur Bhalerao & Abhinaba Saha

India Inc.'s top executives expect earnings to pick up only in the second half of FY26, and a majority believes the Goods and Services Tax (GST) boost to consumption has been overestimated, Mint's fifth quarterly market survey found, at a time of domestic resilience amid global uncertainty.

Of 36 fund managers, chief executive officers (CEOs) and research heads surveyed between 10 and 15 October, around 83% of the respondents, including those from Kotak Securities and Emkay Global, expect the September-quarter earnings growth to remain moderate and broadly in line with projections. Policy-led momentum is likely to pick up only from the December quarter.