Synopsis: Info Edge (India) Ltd (NSE: NAUKRI) reported a 11.99% YoY increase in consolidated net profit to ₹271.7 Crore for Q3 FY26, alongside a 13.4% revenue jump to ₹819.4 Crore. Despite declaring a second interim dividend of ₹2.40 per share, the stock plunged over 3.5% to ₹1,133 today. The decline is attributed to a massive sell-off in the Nifty IT index following global AI disruption fears and a one-time exceptional loss of ₹51.9 Crore during the quarter.
On February 13, 2026, shares of Info Edge (India) Ltd faced significant selling pressure, dropping 3.47% to trade at ₹1,133.20 on the NSE. This volatility comes despite the company posting a resilient set of Q3 FY26 numbers, with standalone billings growing 12% to ₹747.2 Crore. The Board also sought to reward shareholders by declaring a second interim dividend of ₹2.40 per share, setting February 20, 2026, as the record date.
However, the “earnings beat” was overshadowed by a broader bloodbath in the Nifty IT Index, which crashed over 4.7% today. Investors are panicking over the “Anthropic Shock”—a new AI agent launch that threatens the traditional outsourcing and recruitment landscape—causing a systemic exit from Indian tech-focused stocks like TCS, Infosys, and Info Edge.
Why is Info Edge stock falling today?
The primary driver is the market-wide IT rout. While Info Edge is technically a consumer internet firm, its heavy reliance on the hiring landscape through Naukri.com makes it highly sensitive to IT sector health. With top software firms freezing hiring due to AI automation fears, investors are questioning the long-term growth trajectory of recruitment billings.
Additionally, while headline profits rose, the company reported a one-time loss of ₹51.9 Crore in Q3. This exceptional item, combined with a slight contraction in EBITDA margins (from 37.6% to 35.9%), triggered a “sell on news” reaction. The 1-2-1 rule of market sentiment was evident: one strong earnings report, two massive macro headwinds (AI & US rates), and one sharp corrective move.
Info Edge Q3 FY26 vs Q3 FY25: Financial Snapshot
| Metric (Consolidated) | Q3 FY26 (Actual) | Q3 FY25 (YoY) | Growth (%) |
| Total Revenue | ₹819.4 Cr | ₹722.4 Cr | 13.4% ↑ |
| Net Profit (PAT) | ₹271.7 Cr | ₹242.6 Cr | 12.0% ↑ |
| Operating EBITDA | ₹294.0 Cr | ₹272.0 Cr | 8.1% ↑ |
The “Analyst Consensus” on Info Edge
Leading brokerages remain divided on the stock’s valuation as it trades near multi-month lows.
- Nuvama Institutional Equities: Maintains that the recruitment business remains resilient, with the Naukri database hitting 113 million resumes, but warns of a “hiring winter” in the IT services segment.
- 99acres Momentum: Analysts are bullish on the real estate vertical, which saw a 14.5% billings growth, outperforming the flagship recruitment segment.
- Technical View: Chartists suggest that the stock is testing a critical support zone at ₹1,110–₹1,120. A breach below this could open the doors for a further slide toward the ₹1,050 mark.
Also Read: Indian Stock Market Crash: Why “Anthropic Shock” and IT Rout Wiped Out ₹4 Lakh Crore
The Bottom Line
Info Edge’s 12% profit growth is a testament to its market dominance, but it cannot escape the “AI-driven” gravity pull affecting all Indian tech proxies today. For the Aam Aadmi investor, the focus should remain on the ₹2.40 dividend and the long-term recovery of the 99acres and Jeevansathi segments.