Value of India's top 10 companies falls by Rs 11 lakh crore in 2026: Report
Mumbai, June 24
The combined value of India's top 10 most valuable non-state-run companies declined by Rs 11 lakh crore in 2026 compared to the previous year, according to the fifth edition of the '500 Most Valuable Non-State-Run Companies in India' report released by Axis Bank's Burgundy Private and Hurun India.
The report said the combined value of the top 10 companies stood at Rs 97 lakh crore a year earlier, which now declined to Rs 86 lakh crore.
Despite the decline, the report also added that the value of these companies remains significant, accounting for almost one-fourth of India's GDP and 27 per cent of the total value of the 2025 Burgundy Private Hurun India 500 list.
It stated "The combined value of the top 10 companies decreased by Rs 11 lakh crore to Rs 86 lakh crore"
The report noted that Reliance Industries retained its position as India's most valuable company for the fifth consecutive year. It also emerged as the biggest value creator in absolute terms, adding more than Rs 1.8 lakh crore in value during the year.
Bajaj Finance was the highest value creator in percentage terms and was valued at Rs 5.8 lakh crore.
According to the report, India's corporate sector continues to demonstrate long-term growth despite short-term valuation pressures. The total value of the top 10 companies has increased 3.5 times over the past decade, while seven companies have remained in the top 10 rankings for the last five years.
The report highlighted that India Inc crossed USD 3.4 trillion in value, with the 500 companies collectively matching the scale of major global economies.
However, market performance was highly selective during the year. Only 198 of the 500 companies increased in value, indicating that investors increasingly rewarded strong business fundamentals over growth narratives.
"Fundamentals return to centre stage, with ROE, cash generation, and balance sheet strength being rewarded over narratives," the report stated.
The report also pointed to growing entrepreneurial depth in the Indian economy, with 95 new entrants joining the list and collectively contributing Rs 18.45 lakh crore in value.
Corporate churn remained high, with more than one-third of the list refreshed since 2021, reflecting rapid changes across industries and business models.
The report noted that value creation is increasingly spreading beyond major metropolitan centres. Companies from cities such as Rajkot, Bikaner, Kumbakonam and Rajnandgaon featured in the rankings, highlighting the growing role of Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in India's corporate landscape.
Twelve companies doubled their value during the year. Groww led the list with a 430 per cent increase, followed by Adani Properties at 301 per cent, Ather Energy at 224 per cent, Anthem Biosciences at 185 per cent and Meesho at 164 per cent. Other companies that more than doubled in value included Haldiram Snacks, Multi Commodity Exchange of India, Lenskart, Paharpur Cooling Towers, Adani Power, RBL Bank and Navin Fluorine International.
The report also highlighted the emergence of sports as an asset class, with several Indian Premier League franchises entering the India 500 list. These include Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rajasthan Royals and Punjab Kings.
Among other notable developments, Bharti Airtel broke into the top tier after adding Rs 7.6 lakh crore in value since 2021. The report also noted that Sarvam AI became the first homegrown large language model developer to enter the India 500 list, while defence manufacturing gained prominence with Solar Industries India breaking into the top 50 companies.
According to the report, financial services and healthcare remained the dominant sectors driving value creation across India's corporate landscape.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The report says only 198 out of 500 companies increased in value. That means more than 60% of top companies actually lost value. This is a clear signal that the market is becoming more discerning. Companies can no longer rely on fancy stories; they need actual profits and strong balance sheets. Good for long-term investors but short-term panic is real!
As someone who follows Indian markets from abroad, what's interesting is the spread of value creation to smaller cities like Rajkot and Bikaner. That's real economic development happening beyond just Mumbai and Bangalore. Also, IPL franchises making it to the 500 list shows how sports has become a serious business in India.
Let's be honest - this dip in valuations is concerning for retail investors who entered the market during the boom times. Many people put their life savings into these stocks thinking growth would never stop. The report says fundamentals are back in focus, which is good for the long-term health of markets, but the short-term pain is real for many families.
Impressive that India's top 500 non-state companies are collectively worth USD 3.4 trillion. But the fact that only 198 out of 500 increased in value tells me this is a very selective market right now. Companies like Haldiram Snacks and Lenskart doubling their value shows domestic consumption stories are still strong. I'm bullish on the long-term but cautious in the near term.
The real story here is not the decline but how quickly new companies are emerging.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.