FY26 IPO performance: Only 1 in 3 delivered returns amid market volatility

ET Intelligence Group: FY26 was a challenging year for the primary equity market, with most initial public offerings (IPOs) failing to earn returns since listing till March 31 amid heightened volatility. While geopolitical tensions in West Asia and weakening rupee amid the exodus of foreign investors affected the overall equity performance, there were a select few IPOs that managed to stay in the green. Of the 109 mainboard IPOs that were listed in FY26, 32 or one out of three IPOs posted positive returns while 16 IPOs yielded double-digit returns over the listing price. This also implies that by and large, the primary equity market did not earn returns after listing.

Among the top gainers were electric bikes maker Ather Energy (139% return), auto ancillary manufacturer Belrise Industries (98%), and Aditya Infotech (78%), which provides video surveillance solutions.

Instead of listing price, if offer price is considered, then the proportion of companies improves – 37 IPOs generated returns while 31 yielded double-digit returns. The same three companies made it to the top three slots. Aditya Infotech took the lead with 168% return over the offer price while Ather Energy and Belrise gained 143% and 116%.

It was also the year when majority of the large IPOs based on the issue size or money raised failed to generate returns. Only a quarter of the top 12 IPOs – four to be precise – earned returns. These include Lenskart and Groww generating 26% return each, followed by 11% return by ICICI Prudential AMC and 8% by Tenneco Clean Air India.

Among the worst performing IPOs of FY26 were steel products maker VMS TMT, which fell 62% from the listing price followed by construction company Highway Infrastructure and renewable energy equipment provider Solarworld Energy Solutions which lost 60% each.