United Spirits posts steady growth in December quarter

MUMBAI: Sip happens. Even as costs bubbled and advertising spend rose, United Spirits Limited managed to keep its balance steady, reporting resilient growth in the December 2025 quarter, according to its unaudited standalone financial results.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2025, United Spirits Limited posted revenue from operations of Rs 7,928 crore, up from Rs 7,192 crore in the September quarter and marginally higher than Rs 7,731 crore a year earlier. Total income for the quarter stood at Rs 8,072 crore.

Profit after tax came in at Rs 529 crore, an improvement over Rs 472 crore in the preceding quarter and broadly in line with Rs 473 crore reported in the December 2024 quarter. For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, profit after tax rose to Rs 1,259 crore, compared with Rs 1,107 crore in the corresponding period last year.

Operating performance remained stable despite higher advertising and promotion expenses, which climbed to Rs 516 crore in the quarter, reflecting sustained brand investments. Excise duty continued to be the single largest cost component at Rs 4,245 crore, while total expenses for the quarter stood at Rs 6,606 crore.

Profit before tax for the quarter was Rs 654 crore, after accounting for exceptional items of Rs 10 crore. For the nine-month period, profit before tax rose to Rs 1,634 crore, up from Rs 1,471 crore a year earlier.

On the segment front, the company continues to be driven primarily by its beverage alcohol business, which spans manufacturing, franchising, and sale of spirits. Its sports business, housed under Royal Challengers Sports Private Limited, remains the group’s second operating segment.

For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, United Spirits reported total income of Rs 21,224 crore, compared with Rs 20,487 crore in the year-ago period, underlining steady demand even amid cost pressures.

In a market where margins are often diluted by taxes and promotions, United Spirits’ December-quarter numbers suggest a careful balancing act, one that keeps the cash flowing without letting costs spill over.