Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), a leading Navratna public sector undertaking, is set to deliberate on an interim dividend for the financial year 2024-25 in its board meeting scheduled for March 5, 2025. The announcement, made through an exchange filing on February 25, 2025, aligns with SEBI (LODR) Regulations, 2015.
The decision holds significant importance for investors and market watchers, as BEL has demonstrated strong financial growth in recent quarters. With a strong order book and an expanding operational scale, the company's dividend consideration is expected to attract considerable attention from those engaged in share market investment.
BEL's performance in the previous quarters has already positioned it as a key player in the defence and aerospace electronics sector, further strengthening market confidence ahead of the meeting.
Strong Q3 results bolster expectations
BEL recently reported strong financial results for Q3 FY25, showing a 47.33% rise in standalone net profit to ₹1,316.06 crores compared to ₹893.30 crores in the same quarter last year. Revenue from operations also saw a significant increase of 39.14%, reaching ₹5,756.12 crores. This strong performance has fuelled anticipation regarding the upcoming dividend announcement.
Stock market reaction and trading window closure
Following the company's announcement after market hours on Tuesday, BEL shares are expected to be in focus in the next trading session. On Tuesday, shares closed at ₹256.1 apiece, marking a slight dip of 0.10% on the National Stock Exchange. Due to Maha Shivratri, Indian stock exchanges will remain closed on February 26, 2025.
Additionally, BEL has announced a temporary closure of its trading window from February 27, 2025, until 48 hours after the board meeting's outcome is declared. This move aligns with SEBI's insider trading regulations and the company's internal compliance framework.
Order book and operational growth
The PSU's order book stood at ₹71,100 crores as of January 1, 2025, reinforcing its strong market position. Its quarterly turnover also surged by 36.97% to ₹5,643.25 crores compared to ₹4,120.10 crores in the same period last year.
BEL's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) climbed by 57.5% to ₹1,653.3 crores in Q3 FY25 from ₹1,049 crores in Q3 FY24. The EBITDA margin improved to 28.7% from 25.4% a year ago, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency.
Impact on investors and market outlook
The upcoming board decision on the interim dividend is set to be a key factor in BEL's stock performance, drawing significant attention from investors. With the company's financials and a strong order book, analysts anticipate a favourable dividend payout, which could impact both short-term traders and long-term shareholders.
As the market remains closed today for Maha Shivratri, BEL shares last settled at ₹256.1 apiece on Tuesday. All eyes will now be on the board's deliberations as investors await a decision that could shape the stock's near-term trajectory.