Paytm’s Antfin exit and Q1 FY26 Performance

Paytm shares saw massive trading volume of ₹5,700 crore in the first 30 minutes of Tuesday’s session as Antfin (Alibaba’s entity) offloaded its remaining 5.84% stake via block deals at a 5.4% discount (₹1,020/share). The sale, valued at ~₹3,803 crore, marks the final exit after Antfin reduced its holding from 30.49% in 2019 to just 4% post-sale. Earlier, Paytm reported a turnaround in Q1 FY26 with a consolidated net profit of ₹122.5 crore—up from a loss of ₹840 crore a year ago. This was driven by sharp cost cuts: marketing expenses fell to under ₹100 crore (from ₹221.4 crore), and employee benefits dropped by ₹300 crore to ₹643 crore. The company is investing in expanding its sales network—sales headcount rose 19% YoY—to strengthen presence in tier-1 cities and grow in tier-2 and tier-3 markets. With improved profitability and disciplined spending, Paytm is shifting focus from aggressive growth to sustainable operations. This might usher new momentum in Paytm's journey with foreign ownership hangover finally going away.