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By Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ)
On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, the Indian equity benchmark indices staged a strong rebound from their intraday lows. As of 2:20 PM, the Nifty 50 index was trading above the 25,700 mark, and the India VIX, which measures market volatility, had eased by 5%.
Among sectoral indices, the Nifty PSU Bank index emerged as the top performer on the day, with all constituent stocks trading in the green. The index surged by over 2%, hitting a fresh all-time high. Comprising 12 stocks, the Nifty PSU Bank index includes heavyweights like State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of Baroda, Canara Bank, and Punjab National Bank (PNB), which together account for 71% of the index's total weight.
Year-to-date (YTD), the Nifty PSU Bank index has gained 11.4% in 2026, outpacing the Nifty 50 index, which has seen a decline of 1.66%. In February alone, the index has advanced by 5.4%, extending its rally to the sixth consecutive month, following gains since September 2025.
Here are the top 4 factors that are driving the rally in PSU Bank in 2026.
Q3FY26 Performance of PSU Banks: One of the Key Factors Driving the Rally
The impressive quarterly earnings of public sector banks (PSBs) in Q3FY26 have been a key driver behind the Nifty PSU Bank index's new high. Several PSU banks reported record net profits, fuelled by sustained growth in net interest income, improved non-interest income, controlled operating expenses, and prudent provisioning.
PSU Bank | Net Profit Q3FY26 ₹ in Crore |
State Bank of India (SBI) | 21,028 |
Canara Bank | 5,155 |
Punjab National Bank | 5,100 |
Bank of Baroda | 5,055 |
Union Bank of India | 5,017 |
Indian Bank | 3,061 |
Bank of India | 2,705 |
Bank of Maharashtra | 1,779 |
Indian Overseas Bank | 1,365 |
Central Bank of India | 1,263 |
Uco Bank | 739 |
Punjab & Sind Bank | 336 |
State Bank of India (SBI), the largest public sector lender in India, reported its highest-ever quarterly net profit of ₹21,028 crore for Q3FY26, a 24.49% year-on-year (YoY) growth. This robust performance was driven by higher operating profitability and a reduction in credit costs, which stood at 0.29%. Following its Q3FY26 results, SBI's stock surged to a new 52-week high, elevating the bank to the position of the fourth-largest company by market capitalisation, surpassing its private-sector rival, ICICI Bank.
SBI's new digital strategy, branded as YONO, is set to transform its operating model. The bank aims to double the number of registered users from 10 crore to 20 crore over the next 2-3 years. This expansion is expected to lower customer acquisition costs, increase customer value, and enhance long-term customer retention, all of which will support the bank's operating leverage and return on assets (ROA).
M. Nagaraju, the Financial Services Secretary, expressed confidence that the combined profit of public sector banks (PSBs) will exceed ₹2 lakh crore in FY26, driven by their strong performance. Credit growth for PSBs is projected to reach 12%, while deposit growth stands at 10%.
In an interview with PTI, he said on profitability, “This year (ongoing financial year), we will cross ₹2 lakh crore. We already touched almost ₹1 lakh crore in the first half...I think we will cross 2 lakh crore."
PSB profitability has been on the rise, with PSB profits reaching ₹1.05 lakh crore in FY23, ₹1.41 lakh crore in FY24, and ₹1.78 lakh crore in FY25.
The Finance Ministry is considering raising the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in PSBs from the current 20% to 49% to strengthen their capital base. Nagaraju confirmed that consultations are ongoing regarding the proposed increase, which would bring PSBs in line with private sector banks, where FDI of up to 74% is permitted.
The strong Q3 FY26 results from public sector banks, including record profits from SBI, coupled with expectations of surpassing the ₹2 lakh crore profit milestone for the year, have provided a significant boost to the Nifty PSU Bank index. Additionally, the potential increase in the FDI cap for PSBs has added to the positive sentiment, propelling the index to new heights and contributing to its sustained rally since September 2025.
SEBI Registered Research Analyst (INH000006396).
Founded in 1986, Dalal Street Investment Journal (DSIJ) brings decades of experience in India’s equity markets. DSIJ's research combines fundamental analysis with price action, guided by disciplined risk management and capital preservation. They follow a structured, data-driven approach designed to help investors and traders make informed decisions beyond short-term market noise.
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