Shares of FMCG major ITC fell today ahead of the dividend payout as announced by the company for the financial year ending March 31, 2026. The dividend payout will be made between Thursday, February 26, 2026, and Saturday, February 28, 2026. The amount will either be credited directly to shareholders’ bank accounts (for demat holders) or dispatched through other approved payment modes. For instance, if an investor holds 200 shares of ITC as of the record date, the total dividend payout would be ₹1,300 (200 × ₹6.50), before applicable taxes such as TDS, if any.The stock had touched a 52-week low of Rs 302 on February 2 but saw mild buying interest thereafter, supported by cigarette price hikes.So far in February, ITC is up about 1.5% after declining for three consecutive months. In January, the stock plunged 20% following a sharp hike in cigarette taxes. Over the past year, the stock has fallen more than 18%.An additional excise duty on cigarettes and other tobacco products, over and above the highest 40% GST slab, came into effect on February 1.
Nandish Shah, AVP–PCG Research and Advisory (Fundamental) Wealth Management at Motilal Oswal Financial Services, has maintained a ‘neutral’ rating on the stock with a target price of Rs 365. According to Shah, ITC’s core cigarette business delivered a steady performance in the third quarter, while the FMCG segment recorded healthy growth in operating profit. However, the changes in GST and excise duty — effective February 1, 2026 — have resulted in a sharp increase in cigarette taxation.
Jigar S. Patel, Senior Manager of Equity Technical Research at Anand Rathi Share and Stock Brokers, pointed out that ITC share price is currently trading within the 50%–61.8% Fibonacci retracement zone of the major rally from the COVID low to the September 2024 top, as highlighted on the chart. This retracement area typically acts as a strong demand zone, indicating that the stock may undergo a phase of consolidation before its next directional move. According to Patel, the stock's price action suggests a probable range-bound movement between ₹335 and ₹300 in the near term.The upside target is projected near ₹385, while maintaining a strict stop loss below ₹285 on a closing basis. The investment horizon for this setup is approximately 3–4 months," said Patel.