JB Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited (NSE: JBCHEPHARM) Q3 2026 Earnings Call dated Jan. 19, 2026
Corporate Participants:
Jason D’Souza — Executive Vice President, Investor Relations
Nikhil Chopra — Whole-Time Director & Chief Executive Officer
Narayan Saraf — Chief Financial Officer
Kunal Khanna — President – Operations
Analysts:
Sumit Gupta — Analyst
Parin Parikh — Analyst
Ananya Khanna — Analyst
Abdulkader Puranwala — Analyst
Bino Pathiparampil — Analyst
Naman Bagrecha — Analyst
Akshaya Shinde — Analyst
Presentation:
Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to J.B. Pharma’s. Q3 FY ’26 Earnings Conference Call as on 19 January 2026. [Operator Instructions]
I now hand the conference over to Mr. Jason D’Souza, Executive Vice President at J.B. Pharma. Thank you, and over to you, Mr. D’Souza.
Jason D’Souza — Executive Vice President, Investor Relations
Thank you, Renju. Welcome to the earnings call of J.B. Pharma. We have with us today, Nikhil Chopra, CEO and Whole-Time Director; Mr. Kunal Khanna, President, Operations; Narayan Saraf, the CFO at J.B. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Limited. Before we begin, I would like to state that some of the statements in today’s discussion may be forward-looking in nature and may involve certain risks and uncertainties. A detailed statement in this regard is available in the results presentation that has been sent to you earlier. I would like to hand over the floor to Mr. Nikhil Chopra to begin the proceedings of the call and for his opening remarks.
Nikhil Chopra — Whole-Time Director & Chief Executive Officer
Jason, thank you. And I would like to welcome everyone today on the call to discuss J.B. Pharma’s performance for Q3 FY ’26. Friends, once again, we have performed well with top line revenues growing at 11% to INR1,065 crores. Our operating EBITDA, excluding noncash ESOP, stood at INR305 crores, up 13% whereas net profit came in at INR198 crores, growing at 22% over the previous year. Gross margins during the quarter three rose by 200 bps to 69.1% as compared to 67.1% last year. This is on the backup of attractive product mix, price improvement realized, and stable raw material costs. The operating EBITDA margin stood at 28.7%, higher by 60 bps year-on-year, given our consistent thrust on driving profitability.
Let me now draw your attention to the detailed discussions beginning with the domestic business. Our domestic business showed 10% growth year-on-year to INR620 crores. As per IQVIA December MAT data, J.B. remains the fastest-growing company within the top 25 names in the Indian pharma market. All of our major brands have continued to deliver and have posted strong growth. Six brands now feature in the top 300 brands in the Indian pharma market. I would like to underline that we have maintained momentum as one of the fastest-growing pharma companies in the country over the past several years. The domestic business franchise now has a strong foundation, which will help the business continue to grow in the future, above the Indian pharma market growth.
Turning to international operations. Quarter three FY ’26 growth saw 12% growth year-on-year to INR445 crores. Our international operations growth was driven by international formulation businesses which saw a revenue of INR306 crores, up 20% year-on-year, given the strong performance in Russia, South Africa, U.S., and other branded export markets. The CDMO business has sustained its momentum and once again performed well in quarter three FY ’26 despite a high base in quarter three FY ’25. Our focus on cost optimization, favorable product mix, and operational efficiencies led to improved operating margins for the quarter FY ’26 as well as for the nine-month FY ’26. J.B. Pharma continues to pursue growth with conviction, driving revenue expansion with a sharper focus on efficiency and organizational agility. Our sustained investments in the domestic business and CDMO platform remains central to realizing consistent growth while protecting margins. Supported by a strong balance sheet and an execution-driven culture, we are well-positioned to adapt to evolving market conditions and advance confidently into the company’s next stage of strategic development. I would now like to urge Mr. Narayan, our CFO, to continue with the views on the financial performance. Over to you, Narayan. Thank you.
Narayan Saraf — Chief Financial Officer
Thank you, Nikhil. Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to J.B. Pharma’s Q3 FY ’26 earnings call. Now to take you through the financial updates for the third quarter, revenues for the quarter were at INR1,065 crores, representing an increase of 11% year-on-year. The domestic business to international business mix was 58% to 42%. In domestic business, the domestic formulation business segment reported revenues of INR620 crores with a 10% year-on-year growth. As per IQVIA MAT December 2025 data within the IPM, the company outperformed with a growth of 12% versus the IPM growth of 9%. In this segment, the company’s franchisee results saw a growth of 11% year-on-year with revenue at INR108 crores.
In international business, the international business segment grew by 12% year-on-year with revenues at INR445 crores. The international formulations witnessed a robust growth of 20% year-on-year to INR306 crores, owing to the strong performance of the export business of South Africa, Russia, USA, and branded exports market. The CDMO category remained nearly flat at INR117 crores for quarter three FY ’26. That being said, sales momentum during the quarter was sustained despite a higher base of the previous year and is expected to continue on in Q4 FY ’26. The revenues from API categories were at INR21 crores for quarter three FY ’26. Gross profit margins expanded 200 basis points year-on-year at 69.1 percentage, increasing on the back of a better product mix, stable RM prices, and positive price growth.
Operating EBITDA, which is excluding the ESOP cost, was at INR305 crores, growing 13% year-on-year. Margins expanded year-on-year at 28.7% versus 28.1% in quarter three FY ’25. During the quarter, other income increased to INR18 crores as against INR8 crores in quarter three FY ’25 due to treasury income. Depreciation increased to INR45 crores versus INR42 crores in quarter three FY ’25. Net profit increased by 22% year-on-year at INR198 crores. We reiterate our guidance for operating margins between 27% to 29% for FY ’26. That brings me to the end of my opening remarks. I now request the moderator to open the forum for the Q&A session. Thank you very much.
Questions and Answers:
Operator
[Operator Instructions] The first question comes from the line of Sumit Gupta from Antique. Please go ahead.
Sumit Gupta
Hello, am I audible?
Kunal Khanna
Yes.
Operator
Yes.
Sumit Gupta
Thank you for the opportunity, sir. So first question is on the domestic side, like what kind of price hikes we have taken for this quarter?
Kunal Khanna
Sorry, could you repeat the question, please?
Sumit Gupta
Price hikes in the domestic business for this quarter?
Kunal Khanna
So if you really look at our numbers, we try to maximize the price hike. Our price hike generally for the quarter is close to 7%.
Sumit Gupta
Okay. And with respect to the guidance, like you provide 12% to 14% trend, of course, on domestic market. However, if you see in this quarter, the growth has been 9% to 10%. So you still maintain this 12% to 14%? Or should we revise down to around 10% to 11%?
Nikhil Chopra
Yes, Sumit, if you look at our growth YTD nine months for India business, which is close to around 11% to 12%, our guidance continues to be growing better than the market 200 to 300 bps, which is in line to where we stand today, and that is how it will happen by the end of the year also.
Sumit Gupta
Okay. So basically, you are expecting INR620 crores to INR630 crores kind of revenue for domestic to continue?
Kunal Khanna
So what we were talking about was our growth with respect to market. If you really look at it from a quarterly perspective, March generally is a soft month for all Indian pharmaceutical companies for domestic market situation because of the inventory closing from the distributors’ end. So that quarterly run rate can be impacted because of natural March phenomenon, but overall, our growth will be higher than the industry.
Sumit Gupta
Sure. And second is on the margins, like your margins have increased even though the growth has been normal or slower than — slightly slower than normal. So what is that improvement in margins?
Narayan Saraf
Sorry, your voice is not clear.
Nikhil Chopra
Sumit, we can not hear you.
Operator
Mr. Gupta, sorry for interfering. Please come next to the mic and speak.
Sumit Gupta
Is this fine?
Operator
Yes, this is better. Thank you. Please go ahead.
Sumit Gupta
Okay. Yes. So basically, to understand on the margin side. So apart from the domestic performance, like what has led to improvement in the margin, overall performance in the margin?
Nikhil Chopra
So overall, if you look at the product mix, which is a combination of what we have done in India business with our chronic portfolio contributing on the higher side and our international business mix of CDMO business and what business we have done in some of the geographies that has led to better gross margins for the quarter.
Sumit Gupta
Right. So we can expect this to continue. And in the international side, also South Africa and other geographies, are they doing well?
Nikhil Chopra
So as we see what — as we see quarter 4, the guidance would be that we have a good order book for quarter 4. And our gross margin should range between 68% to 69% by the end of the year.
Sumit Gupta
Okay. Understood. All the best.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Next question comes from the line of [ Parin Parikh ] with [ Shree Capital ]. Please go ahead.
Parin Parikh
Hi, good afternoon. Congratulations on a good set of numbers. I have two questions. One about the dividend policy. Is there any change in the dividend policy? There is no announcement of any interim dividend this time.
Narayan Saraf
Yes. So interim dividend, we have not announced yet. However, once the right time, opportunity comes, we will inform and update you about the dividends.
Parin Parikh
This question was in the context of our regular announcement of interim dividend with the December results which usually, for the last five years, it has been regularly announced, so if there is any change?
Narayan Saraf
So control situation, it will happen over time, and we will update you once we take the decision.
Parin Parikh
All right. Secondly, about this pending merger with Torrent. Any guidance on the timeline?
Narayan Saraf
It is a work in progress, and it is progressing at its normal speed. And we will keep on updating as and when we have got any fresh development.
Parin Parikh
So presently, what is the likely — I am sorry, if you have mentioned it in the earlier calls, but just to confirm, what is the guidance on by when this is likely to be completed, any understanding?
Narayan Saraf
So it may happen sometime in quarter 4.
Parin Parikh
Thank you so very much. And all the best.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Next question comes from the line of Ananya Khanna with Alpha Alternatives. Please go ahead.
Ananya Khanna
Am I audible?
Nikhil Chopra
Yes.
Ananya Khanna
First of all, congratulations on a good set of results. So my question to you is regarding the merger with J.B. Chemicals to be completed. Can you give us like a rough timeline? And also, can you shed some light on the synergies created with the merger?
Nikhil Chopra
Sorry, I could not hear your last line, Ananya. What was — your voice was cracking.
Narayan Saraf
Hello, Ananya, can you repeat?
Operator
Mrs. Khanna, please — yes, your voice was breaking. Can you just repeat the question once again?
Ananya Khanna
Yes. So can you give us like a rough estimate as to when the merger can be completed, the merger with J.B. Chemicals, and can you give us a rough timeline for the same, and also shed some light on the possible synergies that can be created via the merger?
Jason D’Souza
So Ananya, first of all, this call is more to talk about the performance for the quarter, but as Narayan told to the previous — in the previous question that this is work in progress. And as and when we get more visibility, we will be happy to share, but it will happen sometime in quarter 4.
Ananya Khanna
Okay.
Jason D’Souza
The merger will — so the closure is expected in quarter four and the merger can happen any time, six to nine months from there on. That is the way to really look at the situation. At this stage, we can only…
Ananya Khanna
All right. Can you shed some light on the possible synergies that can be created via the merger?
Jason D’Souza
We would not like to comment on any of the synergy situation as of now.
Ananya Khanna
All right. Okay. Thank you.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Next question comes from the line of Abdulkader Puranwala with ICICI Securities. Please go ahead.
Abdulkader Puranwala
Hi, sir. Thank you for the opportunity. And congratulations on a good set of numbers. My first question is pertaining to your CDMO business. So I understand there was a high base in the quarter, but then for FY ’27, how should we look at the revenue run rate for this particular segment? And if you could also help us understand the utilization of the CDMO plant at what levels are they currently?
Nikhil Chopra
CDMO, what we shared earlier is that this quarter was a base effect, but our run rate for the quarter — for every quarter continues to be around INR115 crores to INR120 crores for this year. And you should expect us to grow at around 10% to 12% for FY ’27.
Abdulkader Puranwala
Understood. And my next question is for CFO sir. So in this quarter, have we seen any impact coming from the new Labour Law Code or are we still in the process of evaluating the impact?
Narayan Saraf
No, very significant. We have taken the necessary impacts in our P&L, and it was not something substantial enough.
Abdulkader Puranwala
Got it. Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. Next question comes from the line of Bino Pathiparampil with Elara Capital. Please go ahead.
Bino Pathiparampil
Hi, good afternoon. Just a follow-up on the merger question earlier. So you said the deal will close in Q4 and then another six to nine months for the merger, is that correct?
Nikhil Chopra
Yes, yes.
Bino Pathiparampil
Okay. Okay. So what is the — why such a delay between deal closure and merger, six to nine months?
Jason D’Souza
So, I think that’s all we’ll be able to share, I think, on this call. As we said that’s all that we’ll be able to share on this call because we wanted to share the performance that will be more apt.
Bino Pathiparampil
Understood. Thank you.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Next question comes from the line of Naman Bagrecha with IIFL Capital Services Limited. Please go ahead.
Naman Bagrecha
Hello.
Jason D’Souza
Yes. Go ahead, Naman.
Naman Bagrecha
Yes, sir. Can you elaborate on the group export formulation business that we saw for this growth and how could one look at it?
Operator
Mr. Bagrecha, sorry for interrupting. Your sound is not clear. Can you come a little closer to the mic and speak?
Naman Bagrecha
Sure. Sir, can you explain or elaborate more on the export formulation business growth that we saw for this quarter? And how should one look at the next one?
Nikhil Chopra
So Naman, for the quarter, as I think earlier guided, quarter 3 and quarter 4, we had a good order book, which was shared in quarter 2 commentary. So that is how the quarter 3 has performed for the international markets, and that is backed up by good performance in our both subsidiaries, South Africa and Russia. Also, our export branded business has also done well, that is where we stand. And what we guide for the year is we should grow at high single digit by the end of the year, and that is what we had shared in our quarter two commentary in the investor call.
Naman Bagrecha
Thanks, sir. And sir, on the India business front, while for the first nine months, we have grown in double digits, particularly the last three quarters Q3 and Q4, the growth has been, let us say, around 9% to 9.5%. Any particular say slowdown that you are seeing in our portfolio or is it just the market terms?
Kunal Khanna
No. So no real concern with the overall growth for domestic business. Our chronic portfolio has done exceedingly well. And the 1% to 1.5% difference, which we are seeing, instead of that 11% to 12%, being closer to 10%, is largely attributed to some slowdown for our acute business, more specifically the gastro portfolio. Apart from that, if you really look at the numbers of all our key brands and compare that with IPM, we have done exceedingly well. Just to give some numbers, Cilacar has grown at 25% plus, Cilacar-T at almost 33%. Nicardia has grown at almost 30%, Sporlac franchise is showing a growth of 13%. So all our big franchise have — franchisees have done well with essentially some slowdown of the acute gastro, which is showing the difference.
Naman Bagrecha
Okay. Thank you.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] The next question comes from the line of Akshaya Shinde with SMIFS Limited. Please go ahead.
Akshaya Shinde
Yes, good afternoon, everyone, and thank you for the opportunity. Just a follow-up on our export formulation business. Can you give more detail on, like how the international markets are performing, like the growth is driven by the volume or the price hike there also? That is it from my side.
Nikhil Chopra
So we had a good demand in our both subsidiaries in terms of volume, particularly in South Africa and Russia for the quarter. And that is what we are looking forward in quarter 4 also. And our business, if you look at our quarter 2 performance for branded generics, we were flat. But this quarter, as earlier also shared, we had a good order book, so that we could execute for quarter 3 and equally, I am sharing at this moment of time that in quarter 4 also. For quarter 4 also, we have a good order book where we should see double-digit growth for the quarter, but for the year, we should grow at high single digit.
Akshaya Shinde
Understood. Thank you.
Operator
Next question comes from the line of Jason D’Souza. Please go ahead.
Jason D’Souza
No, no. No, I will just take some questions which have come on the wall. So first question is on the ophthalmology business. It seems to be that the business is just 10%. Any guidance on that?
Kunal Khanna
I think we will be double-digit growth in ophthal portfolio as well. Our chronic and glaucoma portfolio has done well. Some bit of slowdown is again attributed to the acute products. But otherwise, we are well poised to reach our aspirations of having a consistent INR17 crores to INR18 crores per month run rate for this portfolio in the next three to four months.
Jason D’Souza
The other question is, which is there on the FY Q4 performance. Any guidance on how the Q4 FY ’26 performance will be there?
Nikhil Chopra
So quarter 4, as what we have earlier shared, is India business should grow 200 to 300 bps better than the market. And international business as we have good order book, we should show the same performance as what we have demonstrated for quarter 3, which by the end of the year should grow at high single digit. So we will be as per what guidance we have been giving in terms of both our businesses, India as well as international market will, plus minus show the same performance as what we have delivered in quarter 3 and margins close to around 28%.
Jason D’Souza
And another question is assuming, as we said that the transaction gets closed in Q4, anything on the ESOP charge that we would like to mention?
Narayan Saraf
So assuming if the change of control event happens in quarter 4, then we are clearly looking at around INR40 crores of ESOP charge, whatever is balance leftover to be charged in the quarter 4.
Jason D’Souza
Great. And the last question, which is there in, a significant increase in other income to INR18 crores. Anything that you would like to highlight?
Narayan Saraf
So it is basically because of the simple reason is that, since we have repaid all our debt, we had some opening debt in last year. And now we have repaid all our debt, and we have got surplus cash which we are investing as per our treasury policy, and that is resulting into higher treasury income.
Jason D’Souza
Great. That is it from my side. Over to you, moderator.
Operator
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, that was the last question for today. We have reached the end of question-and-answer session. I would now like to hand the conference over to Nikhil for closing comments.
Nikhil Chopra
Thank you all for showing all the interest in J.B. Pharma’s performance for the first nine months of the year. And the guidance that we want to give for the current year is we will continue to outperform the market in India business. All our big brands will only get bigger driven by volume growth, particularly showing good performance in the chronic space. Equally, in the international market, we have bounced back in quarter 3, and that momentum will continue in quarter 4, backed up by our subsidiaries doing better, South Africa, Russia, as well as international branded businesses also showed double-digit growth for the quarter. And we should end the year for our international business at high single-digit growth. And we will continue to maintain our EBITDA margins for the year close to 20% to 29%. And that is in accordance to the guidance that we have given to all of you in our previous investor calls. Thank you all.
Kunal Khanna
Thank you.
Narayan Saraf
Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. On behalf of J.B. Pharma, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us. You may now disconnect your lines.