The net profit of private non-financial companies increased 5.2% to ₹1.8 lakh crore in the third quarter of fiscal 2026, as against ₹1.65 lakh crore in the year ago period, according to data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released on February 25, 2026.

The improvement in profit after tax (PAT) came on top of 10% increase in sales revenue coming in at ₹19.4 lakh crore of the over 3,100 companies of which RBI analysed the data. Sales revenue increased at the quickest pace in eleven quarters, RBI said in its statement. In the year ago period, revenue from operations had increased 8% to ₹16.7 lakh crore. Increase in revenue from operations came from improved sales of manufacturing companies.

The cohort of over 1,700 manufacturers increased 11.4% in the reporting quarter, as against 8.5% in the year ago period. The raw material cost and staffing cost increased in the reporting quarter for manufacturers improving 12.5% and 9.2% as against 6.2% and 7.8% in the year ago period.

Fuel costs reduced for the third consecutive quarter falling 6.4% in Q3 FY26, which may have also partly offset the increase in staff and material cost.

The data from the banking regulator becomes important at a time when tepid corporate earnings and subdued private capital expenditure are cited as reasons for foreign institutional investor exodus from Indian stocks.