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MarketsEconomic TimesJun 27, 2026· 1 min read

NSE Chief Urges Firms: Prioritize Profitability Over Share Price

NSE MD and CEO Ashish Chauhan urged companies to prioritize sustainable business growth and profitability over solely chasing share prices. He emphasized that market valuation should reflect genuine business performance, promoting a long-term value creation perspective.

Ashish Chauhan, Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), has called on listed companies to shift their focus from mere share price appreciation to sustainable business growth and long-term profitability. Speaking on corporate strategy, Chauhan emphasized that market valuations should be a direct reflection of underlying business performance and genuine expansion. Chauhan advised entrepreneurs and corporate leaders to concentrate on their core operational strengths. He underscored that sustained profitability, coupled with continuous innovation and even incremental operational improvements, are the true drivers of market recognition and unlock significant growth potential over time. This perspective suggests a push for more fundamental-driven investment decisions and a potential move away from speculative market behavior. The NSE chief's comments imply a desire to cultivate a more robust and resilient corporate ecosystem in India, where companies are valued for their intrinsic worth and operational efficiency rather than short-term market sentiment. This emphasis on long-term value creation could lead to a re-evaluation of investment criteria for institutional and retail investors alike, encouraging deeper due diligence into a company's financial health and growth trajectory rather than just its stock chart.

Analyst's Take

While seemingly a call for fundamental value, the NSE chief's comments could subtly signal concerns about overvaluation in certain market segments or an overemphasis on growth narratives without commensurate earnings. This could presage a more discerning market environment where capital becomes increasingly selective, potentially impacting access to funding for companies lacking clear profitability pathways, especially in the SME and startup space, in the next 6-12 months.

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Source: Economic Times