Q2 Earnings Surge: Quess Corp, Phoenix Mills, and Aarti Industries Post Strong Profit
India Inc's corporate earnings season delivered fresh cheer to Dalal Street investors late Friday night, October 30, 2026, as three prominent companies across staffing, commercial real estate, and specialty chemicals released their financial scorecards for the second quarter (Q2 FY27) following the close of trade. Staffing and managed services leader Quess Corp, retail infrastructure developer The Phoenix Mills, and chemical manufacturing major Aarti Industries all documented healthy year-on-year (YoY) profit growth alongside substantial revenue gains. While each enterprise demonstrated strong demand drivers across their respective operational landscapes, quarterly operational performance revealed a nuanced picture, with Phoenix Mills demonstrating significant margin expansion, Quess Corp sustaining steady profitability metrics, and Aarti Industries absorbing input pressures despite explosive top-line traction.
Consumption and Staffing Drive Expansion: Quess Corp and Phoenix Mills Log Solid Q2 Gains
Human resources and facility management giant Quess Corp recorded a sharp jump in bottom-line performance, with consolidated net profit rising 44 percent year-on-year to ₹75 crore in the September quarter, up from ₹52 crore in the corresponding period of the previous financial year. The company's revenue from operations increased to ₹4,396 crore compared to ₹3,832 crore a year ago, reflecting ongoing demand for enterprise workforce solutions and formal hiring. Quess Corp's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) rose to ₹86 crore from ₹77 crore in the base year, while the operational EBITDA margin held firm and steady at 2 percent. Mirroring consumption strength across urban retail corridors, mall operator and developer The Phoenix Mills posted a solid quarter as net profit rose to ₹326 crore compared to ₹304 crore in Q2 of the preceding year. Operating revenue climbed to ₹1,153 crore from ₹1,115 crore, while operating EBITDA advanced to ₹710 crore against ₹667 crore. Demonstrating operational efficiency and higher rental realisations, Phoenix Mills expanded its EBITDA margin to 61.6 percent, up from 59.8 percent in the year-ago period.
Specialty Chemicals Scale Up: Aarti Industries Reports 58% Profit Surge Amid Margin Headwinds
Specialty chemicals leader Aarti Industries delivered an aggressive volume-backed performance, clocking a 58 percent year-on-year surge in consolidated net profit to ₹168 crore for the September quarter, up from ₹106 crore reported in the same quarter last fiscal. The company's revenue from operations witnessed a dramatic jump, surging to ₹3,668 crore from ₹2,100 crore in the year-ago period, driven by broad-based demand revival and enhanced export realizations. On the operational front, Aarti Industries' EBITDA climbed to ₹410 crore compared to ₹291 crore a year earlier. However, the company faced operating cost pressures that pulled its EBITDA margin down to 11.2 percent from 12.9 percent recorded in Q2 of the previous year. With all three companies displaying robust revenue trajectories and double-digit bottom-line expansions, market participants and equity analysts will be watching their stock reaction closely as domestic exchanges reopen on Monday morning.
