Vodafone Idea Advances 76% Over Six Months as Analysts Adopt Cautious Outlook
Vodafone Idea (Vi) is navigating a critical recovery phase as of February 2026, supported by a combination of regulatory relief and aggressive capital expenditure. The stock is currently trading near **₹11.13**, reflecting a notable **26%** gain over the past year. Market sentiment has shifted following a series of technical crossovers, including the 200-day moving average, signaling renewed interest from turnaround traders.
A primary driver of this momentum is the government's decision to freeze Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) liabilities at **₹87,695 crore**. This move includes a **10-year** deferral period where the company will only pay minimal annual amounts—approximately **₹124 crore** through FY31. This restructuring has reduced the net present value of the debt burden by an estimated **60% to 80%**, providing the company with vital liquidity to fund operations and network upgrades.
Promoter confidence has further stabilized the outlook. Billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla recently increased his stake by purchasing **4.09 crore** shares from the open market. This personal investment coincides with a broader **₹45,000 crore** three-year turnaround plan. The strategy aims to achieve 4G parity with competitors and accelerate the 5G rollout across all **17** priority circles to arrest subscriber churn.
Operational performance is showing signs of steady improvement. For the quarter ending December 2025, net losses narrowed to **₹5,286 crore**, a significant improvement from the **₹6,609 crore** loss recorded in the same period the previous year. Revenue from operations grew by nearly **2%** to reach **₹11,323 crore**, supported by a rising Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).
The blended ARPU has increased to **₹186**, up **7.3%** year-on-year. This growth is largely attributed to high-value plan migrations and increased data consumption, which now averages **19.2 GB** per user per month. The 4G and 5G subscriber base has also expanded to **128.5 million**, even as the total subscriber count sits at **192.9 million** due to losses at the lower end of the market.
Despite these gains, the path forward remains challenging. The company still carries a massive total debt of approximately **₹1.83 lakh crore**. While the current liquidity position has been bolstered by a **₹3,300 crore** NCD issuance and cash balances of **₹6,963 crore**, long-term sustainability depends on successful 5G execution and further tariff hikes expected later in 2026. Experts remain cautious, noting that while the risk of immediate insolvency has faded, the company must still navigate intense competition from market leaders.