United Spirits shares in focus after Adar Poonawalla signals bid for RCB acquisition

Shares of United Spirits Ltd are set to be in focus on Friday after Serum Institute of India Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla said he would table a “strong and competitive” bid for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru Indian Premier League franchise, a team currently owned by the Diageo-controlled liquor maker.

“Over the next few months, I will be putting in a STRONG and COMPETITIVE bid for RCB, one of the best teams in the IPL,” Poonawalla wrote on his official X handle. Royal Challengers Bengaluru is owned by United Spirits Ltd., the Bengaluru-based alcoholic beverage company and the world’s second-largest spirits maker by volume.

“Royal Challengers are the defending IPL champions and, perhaps, have the biggest fan base among the 10 teams in the league,” said a PTI report.

Earnings backdrop

The spotlight on the stock comes days after United Spirits reported a sharp rise in December-quarter earnings. The company on Tuesday posted a 24.77% increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 418 crore for the third quarter of FY26, compared with Rs 335 crore a year earlier, according to a regulatory filing.

Revenue from operations rose 2.71% to Rs 7,942 crore in the quarter, from Rs 7,732 crore in the year-ago period, while total expenses increased 2.56% to Rs 7,442 crore.

Net sales value climbed 7.3% to Rs 3,683 crore in the third quarter. This was “driven by solid performance in the top half of the portfolio, partly offset by the adverse policy-led impact in Maharashtra and lapping the one-time retail pipeline fill in Andhra Pradesh in the prior year comparative,” the company said in its earnings statement.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization rose 5.5% to Rs 599 crore, “driven by the standalone business of the company,” it added.

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Portfolio mix

United Spirits said its Prestige & Above segment accounted for 90% of net sales during the quarter, with net sales in the segment increasing 8.2%. The popular segment contributed 8.7% of net sales, though net sales there fell 4.6% on a year-on-year basis.

Total income for the quarter stood at Rs 7,993 crore, up 2.42%. United Spirits’ portfolio includes brands such as McDowell’s, Royal Challenge, Signature, Johnnie Walker and Black Dog.

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