State Bank of India (SBI) has become one of the most searched companies after a series of major announcements. From global partnership talks to record quarterly profit and IPO buzz in its mutual fund arm, the PSU lender is in sharp focus. The stock has gained over 14% since its Q3 results and is trading near record highs.
SBI is exploring a partnership with Japanese banks for acquisition financing. The move follows the RBI’s revised norms that allow the lender to fund up to Rs 94,000 crore for such deals. Chairman C S Setty said the bank is engaging with foreign players, especially Japanese lenders, as they are active in this segment, though no partner has been finalised.
SBI also posted its highest-ever standalone quarterly profit of Rs 21,028 crore in Q3 FY26, up 24% year-on-year. Net interest income rose 9%, while better asset quality and steady credit growth supported the performance. After the results, the lender briefly became the fourth most valuable listed company in India.
Brokerages remain positive on SBI. Motilal Oswal, Nomura, Nuvama, JM Financial, and Axis Securities have retained ‘buy’ ratings. They point to stable margins, improving asset quality, and strong loan growth. The stock has returned about 49% in the last six months and over 69% over the past year, and is hovering near record levels.
The SBI Mutual Fund plans to submit its DRHP in March, with the intention to launch operations in September 2026. The IPO is expected to raise more than $1 billion, according to reports, which estimate a total of $1.5 billion for the offering.
SBI has driven the Nifty PSU Bank index to record highs, as its stock accounts for more than 52% of the index. Its strong performance has also lifted sentiment for other state-owned lenders such as PNB, Canara Bank, and Bank of Baroda.