Shares of FMCG major ITC displayed notable resilience even as Indian equity markets witnessed a weak session as benchmark indices came under pressure, with the Nifty slipping below the 25,900 mark and the Sensex declining by nearly 300 points.The stock traded marginally lower at ₹317.85, down just 0.13%, significantly outperforming the broader indices. While ITC did remain in the red, the limited downside indicates strong investor confidence and defensive buying interest, especially during volatile sessions. Such performance suggests that investors view ITC as a relatively safe haven during periods of uncertainty, helping it withstand broader market declines better than many other stocks. The stock has achieved a remarkable 5-year return of 45.99%. With a 3-month return of -21.78%, ITC's recent performance has raised concerns among investors.
Despite the muted stock performance, the company recently announced an interim dividend of ₹6.50 per equity share of face value ₹1 for the financial year ending March 31, 2026. The board has fixed Wednesday, February 4, 2026, as the record date to determine the eligibility of shareholders entitled to receive the dividend. Investors holding ITC shares in their demat accounts as of February 4 will qualify for the payout, while the dividend will be credited between February 26 and February 28, 2026.While the interim dividend provides near-term support to investor sentiment, the brokerage’s cautious stance suggests limited upside potential in the stock at current levels, keeping ITC shares under pressure in the short term.
On February 6th ITC shares gained nearly 6 percent to trade at Rs 327.7 apiece on Friday, snapping a two-session losing streak. The stock later pared some gains to close at Rs 326.35 (up more than 5 percent).ITC in January reported a 6.4 percent YoY rise in net profit to Rs 5,087.87 crore for the October-December quarter of FY26, as against Rs 5,436.3 crore in the same period of the previous financial year.The company’s revenue from operations meanwhile surged 6.66 percent to Rs 21,706.64 crore during the quarter under review.