Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea: Which Stock Should You Track
- August 10, 2026
- Posted by: Kunal Singla
- Category: News
Bharti Airtel MCap Rs 12,24,296 Cr, PE 33.62x, ROE 17.91%, D/E 1.31. Vodafone Idea MCap Rs 1,38,679 Cr, negative net worth, ongoing capital raise.
Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea is a comparison investors look up when evaluating listed Indian telecom operators. Bharti Airtel is India’s second largest telecom operator by subscribers and the largest by revenue, with a profitable business across India and Africa. Vodafone Idea is a distressed telecom company formed from the merger of Vodafone India and Idea Cellular in 2018, which has struggled with debt, network investment and subscriber churn. The two are at vastly different financial health points and the comparison is more cautionary than peer-level.
This Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea article covers reach and market position, key products, latest declared results and stock valuation. The Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea data below is sourced from Groww and public company filings and reflects the most recently available information at the time of writing.
Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea: Reach and Market Position
On the Bharti Airtel side of the Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea comparison, Bharti Airtel serves over 380 million mobile subscribers in India and is the market leader in post-paid, home broadband and enterprise. It also runs Airtel Africa covering 14 African countries. Market capitalisation is Rs 12,24,296 Cr.
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On the Vodafone Idea side of the Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea comparison, Vodafone Idea (Vi) serves approximately 220 million subscribers but has been losing subscribers to Jio and Airtel. The company has negative net worth (book value Rs -3.30 per share) due to accumulated losses and is dependent on ongoing equity and debt capital raises. Market capitalisation is Rs 1,38,679 Cr.
Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea: Key Products and Business Mix
In the Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea product comparison, Bharti Airtel offers: Bharti Airtel earns from mobile data, voice, home broadband, digital TV, enterprise cloud, and Africa mobile. EPS is Rs 58.35. P/E is 33.62x, ROE 17.91 percent, D/E 1.31. Dividend yield is 1.19 percent.
For Vodafone Idea in this Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea breakdown: Vodafone Idea earns from mobile data and voice services. The company has negative book equity (Rs -3.30 per share) and a distorted ROE of 67.24 percent that is meaningless given negative net worth. The P/E of 4.01x is low but the company is technically not profitable on a consistent basis. No dividends are paid.
Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea: Latest Results
The Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea results for Bharti Airtel: Bharti Airtel has a market cap of Rs 12,24,296 Cr and P/E of 33.62x. ROE is 17.91 percent. The company has managed D/E of 1.31, reflecting telecom’s capital intensity, but has demonstrated consistent deleveraging and ARPU improvement.
The Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea results for Vodafone Idea: Vodafone Idea has a market cap of Rs 1,38,679 Cr. Its negative book value (Rs -3.30 per share) makes PB and ROE metrics not meaningful in the traditional sense. The company requires continuous capital infusion and government debt conversion support to remain viable. Investors should treat any investment in Vi with extreme caution.
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Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea: Stock and Valuation
The Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea stock comparison uses the latest available market data from Groww. Investors tracking Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea should verify current prices on NSE or BSE before trading.
Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea at current valuations: Airtel trades at Rs 12,24,296 Cr market cap, P/E 33.62x, ROE 17.91 percent, D/E 1.31. Vodafone Idea trades at Rs 1,38,679 Cr market cap with negative book value and a P/E of 4.01x that does not reflect sustainable profitability. The comparison highlights the massive divergence in financial health within Indian telecom.
Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea: Quick Comparison Table
The Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea comparison table below summarises the key metrics covered in this article side by side.
| Parameter | Bharti Airtel | Vodafone Idea |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Telecom (India + Africa, healthy) | Telecom (India, financially distressed) |
| Market Cap | Rs 12,24,296 Cr | Rs 1,38,679 Cr |
| P/E Ratio | 33.62x | 4.01x (not indicative of profitability) |
| ROE | 17.91% | Meaningless (negative equity) |
| Book Value / Share | Rs 282.02 | Rs -3.30 (negative) |
| Debt to Equity | 1.31 | Negative (excess liabilities over equity) |
| Dividend | 1.19% yield | None |
Conclusion
The Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea comparison above covers the key data points on reach, products, results and valuation. Bharti Airtel vs Vodafone Idea illustrates two very different outcomes in India’s telecom consolidation. Airtel is a globally diversified, financially healthy telecom major with rising ARPU and growing data and enterprise revenues. Vodafone Idea is a financially distressed operator with negative equity, ongoing capital need and subscriber pressure. Investors should review ARPU trends, 5G rollout, AGR dues, capital raise progress and government support before taking a view on either. Consult a SEBI-registered advisor for personalised guidance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Vodafone Idea have negative book value?
Ans. Vodafone Idea has accumulated massive losses since its 2018 merger, partly due to AGR dues payable to the government and intense competition from Reliance Jio. These accumulated losses have eroded shareholder equity to negative levels.
Is Vodafone Idea safe to invest in?
Ans. Vodafone Idea is a high-risk investment. The company has negative net worth, ongoing capital requirements, and a challenging competitive environment. Investors should exercise extreme caution and consult a SEBI-registered advisor.
What is Bharti Airtel’s ARPU?
Ans. Bharti Airtel’s average revenue per user (ARPU) has been improving through tariff hikes and premium customer mix. Investors should review current ARPU data from Airtel’s quarterly earnings releases.
Does Bharti Airtel pay dividends?
Ans. Yes. Bharti Airtel pays a dividend yield of approximately 1.19 percent on a trailing twelve month basis.
What is the AGR dues dispute?
Ans. Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) was a dispute between Indian telecom companies and the government over how much of their revenue was subject to licence fee payments. The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the government in 2019, resulting in large dues payable by Vodafone Idea and others.
Is Airtel a good long-term investment?
Ans. Bharti Airtel has consistently improved ARPU, expanded its enterprise and home broadband business, and is rolling out 5G. Investors should review revenue growth, data monetisation, Africa contribution and debt trajectory. Consult a SEBI-registered advisor.
Are Airtel and Vodafone Idea in Nifty 50?
Ans. Bharti Airtel is in Nifty 50. Vodafone Idea is not in Nifty 50.
