With credit growth guidance raised to 12–14 % on a ₹ 7 lakh crore pipeline and resilient margins, SBI’s digital push and +1% market share strategy drive efficiency and a clean balance sheet. A Bullish technical setup suggesting an 11 % one‑year upside, India’s largest bank looks well positioned to capitalise on an industrial revival
Introduction:
State Bank of India (SBI, NSE: SBIN) is India’s largest commercial bank and an integral part of the country’s financial system. Its scale and deposit franchise give it a natural advantage in funding industrial and retail credit, while long‑term investments in technology have helped it remain competitive with private peers. Recent management commentary and technical indicators point to a rare combination of strong growth visibility, resilient margins and improved asset quality. Below, we outline why the stock stands out and how these factors translate into our outlook.
Corporate‑led growth with strong SME and agri momentum:
Management has raised its FY26E credit‑growth guidance to 12–14% (up from 11%), supported by a ₹ 7 lakh crore corporate pipeline and healthy demand from high‑yield segments. The bank continues to capture share in small‑ and medium‑enterprise (SME) loans, which grew 18.8% YoY, and in agricultural lending, which grew 15.3% YoY. These segments not only drive higher net interest margins (NIMs) but also diversify the credit book away from low‑yield corporate exposures
Key growth metric | Value/Range |
FY26E credit‑growth guidance | 12–14% |
Corporate pipeline | ₹ 7 lakh crore |
SME loan growth | 18.8% YoY |
Agriculture loan growth | 15.3% YoY |
While many peers have seen margin compression, SBI’s domestic NIM rose by 9 bps QoQ to 2.97%, and management has reiterated an H2FY26 NIM target above 3%. Deposit repricing and the recent cut in the cash reserve ratio should support this target. The bank is also delivering a record‑high return on assets (RoA) of 1.10%, reflecting disciplined cost control and a clean balance sheet.
Profitability metric | Latest reading |
Domestic NIM | 2.97% (up 9 bps QoQ) |
NIM target (H2FY26) | >3 % |
Return on assets (RoA) | 1.10% |
Cost‑to‑income ratio | 51.64% (improved from 55.66 %) |
Asset quality remains at multi‑year highs. Gross non‑performing assets (GNPA) stand at 1.73%, while net NPA (NNPA) is only 0.42%. Credit costs are exceptionally low at 0.39%. well below the 60‑basis‑point guidance, reflecting prudent underwriting and healthy recoveries from written‑off accounts. On the liability side, the bank boasts a current‑account–savings‑account (CASA) market share of 23% and a capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of 14.3%. Management has launched a “+1% market‑share gain per district” strategy to reinforce its dominance even in saturated markets.
Asset quality & capital metric | Value |
GNPA | 1.73% |
NNPA | 0.42% |
Credit cost | 0.39% |
CASA market share | 23% |
Capital adequacy ratio (CAR) | 14.3% |
SBI continues to invest aggressively in digital platforms such as YONO 2.0 and Project SARAL, while focusing on high‑growth core fee income streams like debit‑card and remittance services. These initiatives have helped the cost‑to‑income ratio fall to 51.64% from 55.66% YoY, underscoring improving operational efficiency.
SBI is arguably the definitive proxy for India’s industrial recovery. The bank’s large corporate pipeline, diversified credit mix and stable NIMs position it to capture accelerating private‑sector capex in renewables, power and steel. Its clean balance sheet and proactive approach to expected‑credit‑loss (ECL) transitions should ensure a smooth earnings trajectory through FY31. Based on management guidance and our assessment, a medium‑term target price of ₹ 1150 (1.68 × FY28E BVPS) implies moderate upside from current levels. Investors should nonetheless be aware of risks. Slower-than-expected capital expenditures, higher interest rates, or unforeseen regulatory changes could dampen credit growth and margins. As with any bank, deterioration in asset quality or an external shock to the economy could affect profitability. Prospective investors should consider these factors and their own risk profile before taking any position.
The daily price chart shows a bullish rounding‑bottom formation. A breakout above the pattern’s neckline signals renewed momentum, creating a fresh entry opportunity. The weekly MACD is trending higher and remains above its nine‑period moving average, supporting the positive bias. Based on this setup, Bajaj Broking’s technical team suggests a buying range of ₹ 1030–1065 with a target of ₹ 1150 over a one‑year horizon, implying an estimated 11% return.
Technical parameter | Value |
Buying range | ₹ 1030–1065 |
Target price | ₹ 1150 |
Expected return | 11% |
Time horizon | 1 year |
Technical pattern | Bullish rounding‑bottom breakout |
Momentum indicator | Weekly MACD above 9‑period average |
State Bank of India stands out for its raised FY26 credit growth guidance, ₹7 lakh crore corporate pipeline and robust SME/agri momentum, all of which underpin healthy NIMs and a record‑high return on assets. Its asset quality remains at multi‑year bests with GNPA/NNPA of 1.73%/0.42%, while digital investments and a +1% per district market‑share strategy have cut the cost‑to‑income ratio to 51.64%. Trading at only 1.8× forward book value despite its dominant position and strong capital adequacy, SBI offers scope for re‑rating and upside to the ₹1150 target, aided by a bullish rounding‑bottom breakout and positive MACD signal. Still, investors should weigh potential headwinds from slower capex, higher rates or credit shocks, and undertake due diligence before acting.
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