Axis Bank Q1 Miss | What To Expect From HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank & Others In Banking Sector

The banking sector is firmly in focus as Axis Bank kicks off the Q1 FY26 earnings season. The stock slipped nearly 6% in the pre-open session after the bank reported a profit miss due to higher slippages and provisioning. Brokerages like Nuwama and JP Morgan have downgraded Axis Bank to "Hold" or "Neutral," cutting target prices amid concerns over weak loan growth, falling NIMs, and tepid CASA growth. Looking ahead, HDFC Bank and ICICI Bank are set to report their Q1 numbers over the weekend. While no blockbuster results are expected, Analysts Abhishek Basumallick, Co-founder & Fund Manager, Shree Rama Managers believe improvement may come gradually over the next few quarters as rate cuts begin to filter through. With banks being key drivers of the recent market rally, all eyes are now on whether their fundamentals can keep pace with stock price momentum.