Crest Ventures profit halves as auditors flag ₹155 cr in deposits
Consolidated net profit slid to ₹47.9 cr for FY26, while the board held the dividend at ₹1 per share.
— 1 earlier story on Crest Ventures Ltd. →What's new
- Standalone profit after tax fell to ₹39.5 cr from ₹78.8 cr in FY25.
- Consolidated net profit dropped to ₹47.9 cr from ₹90.2 cr.
- Auditors repeated an emphasis of matter on ₹155.3 cr in unsecured deposits.
Why it matters
The persistent audit flag on the ₹155.3 cr deposit pile poses a long-term question for the balance sheet. While management insists the sum is recoverable, the sharp decline in profitability leaves little room for credit errors.
What we're watching
- Management commentary on the recoverability of the ₹155.3 cr deposits.
- Whether the dividend holds steady if margins remain pressured.
- Clarity on the non-operating factors driving the profit slide.
The full read
Crest Ventures closed FY26 with a material contraction in profitability. Standalone profit after tax plummeted nearly 50% to ₹39.5 crore, while consolidated figures fell to ₹47.9 crore from ₹90.2 crore a year earlier. Despite the weaker performance, the board maintained the final dividend at ₹1 per share. The results arrive with a familiar auditor warning: an emphasis of matter concerning ₹155.3 crore in unsecured deposits. Management maintains that the capital is fully recoverable, yet the repetition of this flag suggests the asset remains uncomfortably trapped. The next test for the company is showing it can preserve its cash position while earnings undergo this correction. With the deposit issue remaining a fixture of the audit report, investors must decide how much of the profit drop is cyclical and how much is tied to this locked capital.