August 12, 2025
6 mins read
Source: Screener.in/Trendlyne/Economic Times/Live Mint/Moneycontrol
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) is a Navratna public sector company under the Ministry of Railways. It was set up on 27th September 1999 to improve catering services and promote tourism. IRCTC handles online ticketing, tourism, hospitality, and packaged drinking water under Indian Railways. It also manages train-side vending and food services. IRCTC’s main office is in New Delhi. Its paid-up capital is ₹160 crore, and the authorised capital is ₹250 crore. The company has played an important role in modernising railway services and enabling digital ticket booking for millions of passengers across India.
Details | Information |
Founded Year | 1999 |
Industry Type | Travel, Tourism & Hospitality |
Headquarters | New Delhi, India |
Key People | Sanjay Kumar Jain (Chairman & MD) |
IRCTC began its journey in September 1999 as part of the Indian Railways. Its goal was to manage catering and tourism services professionally. In 2002, it launched online ticketing, which changed how people book train tickets in India. IRCTC became a Mini-Ratna in 2008 and got listed on NSE and BSE in 2019 through an IPO worth ₹645.12 crore. In March 2025, the government gave it Navratna status. This status gives IRCTC more financial freedom, allowing it to make larger investments without needing government approval.
IRCTC operates in the transport and hospitality sector. It works closely with Indian Railways, providing support services like ticketing, food, and tourism. The industry is influenced by public policies and passenger demand. As a part of the broader railway network, IRCTC also works within government-set frameworks. This makes it different from private travel and tourism companies, even though it competes with them in areas like air ticketing, hotel bookings, and packaged food.
IRCTC runs four main business segments:
Internet Ticketing: Most of its revenue comes from train ticket bookings on its website and mobile app.
Catering and Hospitality: Provides food on trains and at railway stations.
Travel and Tourism: Offers holiday packages and tour services for domestic and foreign travel.
Rail Neer (Packaged Water): Sells packaged drinking water at stations and in trains.
Source: IRCTC website
IRCTC share price is closely linked to its performance across travel, food services, and online bookings.
IRCTC’s vision is to become the leading provider of travel, tourism, and hospitality services, addressing the needs of diverse customer groups. Its mission is to establish leadership in areas such as hospitality, travel, tourism, internet ticketing, and packaged drinking water through the Rail Neer brand. The company focuses on offering value-added services to both railway and non-railway customers, aiming to build a strong and scalable business model that aligns with its core strengths and customer expectations.
In 2025, IRCTC became India’s 25th Navratna CPSE. This gave it more independence in making business decisions and investing in growth. IRCTC was already well known for online ticketing and tourism services, but this new status gives it the power to invest up to ₹1,000 crore in a single project without seeking prior government approval.
IRCTC plans to merge all of its online travel platforms. The goal is to simplify hotel bookings, MICE events (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions), and air travel services. Around 30% of IRCTC’s total income comes from non-railway tourism, and this change is expected to increase that figure. A single, unified portal will help make its digital services more efficient and better connected.
Let’s explore how IRCTC's revenue and profits have grown in recent years.
In FY25, IRCTC reported revenue of ₹4,674.77 crore, up from ₹4,270.18 crore in FY24 — an increase of about 9.5%. Net profit also rose from ₹1,111.08 crore to ₹1,314.9 crore, marking a growth of nearly 18%. These figures indicates steady performance in its key segments like ticketing, catering, and Rail Neer.
Metric | Value |
Return on Equity (ROE) | 35.89% |
Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) | 43.19% |
Return on Assets | 19.33% |
Interest Coverage Ratio | 105.31x |
Price to Earnings (P/E) | 44.25 |
Price to Book Value (P/B) | 15.88 |
EBITDA Margin | 38.05% |
In Q4 FY25, IRCTC earned ₹358 crore in profit — up 26% from ₹284 crore in Q4 FY24. Revenue rose to ₹1,269 crore from ₹1,152 crore. The Rail Neer segment grew to ₹96 crore from ₹83 crore. However, catering revenue remained stable at ₹529 crore. EBITDA margin slightly dropped to 30.39% from 31.47%.
The IRCTC share price has seen fluctuations due to market conditions and company news.
The IRCTC share price has experienced fluctuations over recent months. On June 16, 2025, it stood at ₹770.10, with an average of ₹762.00 for that week, indicating a slight downward trend. Over the past three years, the stock delivered a return of 28.56%, which is lower than the Nifty 50's return of 60.52% during the same period. This suggests that while the company remains fundamentally strong, its stock has underperformed the broader market recently.
Notably, the Return on Equity (ROE) for IRCTC over the last five years has remained between 12.94% and 40.58%, reflecting a strong ability to generate profit from shareholders’ equity. This consistent profitability, even in periods of slower stock movement, indicates operational strength. Though the IRCTC share price has seen volatility, the underlying financial performance and government backing offer stability. However, market movements remain sensitive to changes in demand and regulatory developments.
The highest IRCTC share price in the last 52 weeks was ₹1,059.45 (in July 2024), and the lowest was ₹656.00 (in April 2025). This wide range suggests volatility based on external and sector-specific factors.
Strong government backing and Navratna status
Dominant position in railway ticketing
Multiple revenue streams (ticketing, catering, tourism, water)
Heavily dependent on government policies
Limited competition may reduce innovation
Exposure to economic cycles and travel demand
Let’s break down the key numbers that affect IRCTC share price.
Metric | Value |
P/E Ratio | 46.36 |
Earnings Per Share (EPS) | ₹16.44 |
Return on Equity (ROE) | 35.89% |
Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) | 43.19% |
Price to Book (P/B) Ratio | 16.55 |
Debt-to-Equity Ratio | 0.02 |
Book Value | ₹45.80 |
Dividend Yield | 1.06% |
Face Value | ₹2 |
As of March 2025, the shareholding pattern in IRCTC is as follows:
Category | % Holding |
Promoters | 62.40% |
FII | 7.37% |
DII | 13.88% |
2.89% | |
Others | 16.35% |
Pledged Shares | 0.00% |
IRCTC competes in the broader travel and services segment.
Company | Price | MCap (₹ Cr.) | P/E | ROE (%) | 1-Yr Return | Net Profit (₹ Cr.) |
IRCTC | 762 | 60,960 | 46.38 | 35.88 | -24.57% | 1,314 |
Eternal | 255 | 2,46,151 | 125.65 | 5.74 | 28.23% | 1,960 |
Paytm | 898.5 | 57,333 | - | -6.12 | 118.77% | -789 |
Nykaa | 198.36 | 56,724 | 583.41 | 5.86 | 12.40% | 97 |
IRCTC holds a unique place as the only company authorised to sell railway e-tickets in India. Its government support and monopoly in certain areas give it a solid footing, though private competitors have entered tourism and hotel bookings.
IRCTC share price may reflect upcoming developments in tech and operations.
IRCTC is planning to expand its role in digital payments. It expects to receive a payment aggregator licence soon, which would allow it to manage online transactions more smoothly. This could open up new revenue channels in the coming years. As a newly awarded Navratna company, IRCTC also has greater financial freedom to invest in large-scale projects without prior government approval. This status enables it to form global partnerships, explore tourism-related ventures, and expand internationally. These developments suggest that IRCTC is focusing on long-term growth beyond its core railway services.
IRCTC’s business is closely linked to government policies. If there are changes in regulations or pricing controls, its earnings could be affected. The company also faces risks from economic downturns, which may reduce travel and tourism demand—similar to the COVID-19 period. Additionally, if the sector becomes more open to private players, competition could rise. As IRCTC handles large volumes of user data, maintaining cybersecurity and data privacy is a constant challenge that requires ongoing investment.
The IRCTC share price can be tracked on stock exchanges such as NSE and BSE during market hours. Investors can also follow it using financial news websites, stock tracking applications, or through daily market summaries. For detailed updates, including company performance, announcements, and reports, visit the official IRCTC website at www.irctc.com. Monitoring share price trends over time can offer insights into market perception and company developments.
IRCTC or the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited is a public sector company under the Ministry of Railways, Government of India.
IRCTC is listed on both the NSE and BSE.
The face value of each IRCTC share is ₹2.
IRCTC has not announced any recent stock splits or bonus issues.
You can visit the official website of IRCTC at www.irctc.com for services, bookings, and updates. For customer care, IRCTC’s 24x7 helpline number is 139 (for ticketing-related queries). You can also reach their customer support via email at care@irctc.co.in. Additional contact information is available under the “Contact Us” section on the website.
Yes, through its investor relations page, IRCTC shares annual reports and press releases.
Yes, IRCTC is included in several stock market indices such as the BSE 500, S&P BSE PSU, and Nifty 200. Inclusion in these indices reflects the company’s importance within the public sector and broader market. It also increases visibility among institutional investors and mutual funds that track these indices.
IRCTC operates a diversified service-based model. Its key revenue streams include online ticketing (via its website and app), onboard and station catering, Rail Neer packaged drinking water, and tourism services like holiday packages and hotel bookings. These offerings are largely linked to the Indian Railways but also extend into non-railway segments to broaden income sources.
The Indian Railways set up IRCTC on September 27, 1999, as a government-owned PSU under the Ministry of Railways to handle online ticket sales, catering, and all official tourism activities.
The company makes money from more than just selling tickets. It also makes money from internet ticketing fees, food and drink on board and at the station, packaged drinking water (Rail Neer), and travel and tourism packages.
Yes, IRCTC does pay dividends to its shareholders. In the past few years, its board has declared interim and final dividends, with interim payouts of ₹3–₹5 per share and final dividends of around ₹1 per share.
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