Shares of state-run lender Canara Bank traded slightly higher in early trade on Thursday, ahead of the release of its Q1FY26 financial results later today. The stock rose as much as 1.15 per cent to Rs 109.05 apiece on the BSE before paring some gains. As of 12:59 PM, shares were quoting at Rs 107.54, down 0.24 per cent.

The Q1 earnings call is scheduled for 2:30 PM IST, where the bank’s management is expected to outline its performance for the April–June quarter and provide guidance for the coming quarters.

What to expect from Canara Bank’s Q1 results

According to Zee Business research team, Canara Bank is likely to post stable growth in the first quarter, supported by consistent asset quality but impacted by margin compression and higher provisions.

Here’s what analysts are projecting:

Net Interest Income (NII): Rs 9,140 crore vs ₹9,166 crore YoY (down 0.2 per cent)

Profit After Tax (PAT): Rs 4,140 crore vs ₹3,905 crore YoY (up 6 per cent)

Gross NPA (GNPA): Stable at 2.9 per cent

Net NPA (NNPA): Stable at 0.7 per cent

While business growth is expected to remain modest, analysts anticipate a steady earnings print, thanks to disciplined asset quality management and moderate provisioning.

Key investor watchpoints

Commentary on loan growth, especially in the retail and SME segments

Deposit mobilisation trends and funding costs

Guidance on net interest margin (NIM) trajectory for the remainder of FY26

Updates on slippages and recovery strategies in a high-rate environment

Canara Bank, part of Rekha Jhunjhunwala’s portfolio, has remained a closely tracked PSU stock this year. The upcoming earnings will be pivotal in shaping market sentiment and investor positioning in the broader public sector banking space.