Eternal Ltd. Shares Climb Following ₹156 Crore Block Deal

Eternal Ltd. Shares Climb Following ₹156 Crore Block Deal

Eternal Ltd. (Zomato’s parent) sees a surge after a major block trade, even as competitive pressures mount in India’s food delivery sector.

Block Deal Details: A Major Transaction
Eternal Ltd. experienced a notable pre-market block deal where 60.93 lakh shares—accounting for 0.06% of its total outstanding equity—were traded at an average price of ₹256 per share, amounting to a total transaction value of ₹156 crore. This large trade was executed in the block deal window and immediately impacted the stock’s performance, pushing its price up by as much as 2% during the session.
The deal was part of a broader day in the Indian markets that saw several large block trades, but Eternal’s transaction stood out due to its size and the company’s prominence in the fast-evolving online services space.

Market Reaction: Share Price Rebounds
Following the block deal, Eternal’s share price opened at ₹258 and traded as high as ₹259.85, marking a 1.62% gain on the day. This rebound broke a two-day losing streak for the stock, which had been under pressure due to concerns about intensifying competition in the food delivery sector. Despite the uptick, the stock remains down over 6% for 2025, reflecting the volatility and uncertainty in the sector.

Competitive Pressures: Rapido’s Entry Shakes Up the Market
A key factor influencing Eternal’s recent share price performance has been the entry of Rapido, a well-known cab-hailing platform, into the food delivery market. Rapido has started onboarding restaurants for its pilot project in Bengaluru, offering a flat delivery rate and significantly lower commission fees—between 8% and 15%—compared to the 15%-30% typically charged by established players like Zomato and Swiggy.
Rapido’s aggressive pricing strategy is designed to attract both restaurants and customers, leveraging its existing user base of 30 million monthly active users. This move threatens to disrupt the current duopoly and has sparked concerns about potential margin pressures for incumbents.

Industry Context: IPO Delays and Market Sentiment
The competitive landscape remains dynamic, with recent reports suggesting a delay in the IPO of Zepto, another food delivery startup. This news had briefly buoyed shares of both Eternal and Swiggy last week, as investors anticipated less immediate competition for capital and market share. Zepto, however, has clarified that its IPO filing is scheduled for later in 2025, maintaining ambiguity in the market’s competitive dynamics.

Eternal Ltd. Financial Performance and Analyst Outlook
Despite the recent volatility, Eternal Ltd. has posted strong financial results for FY25. With consolidated revenue reaching ₹20,243 crore—up 67% from the previous year—and net profit climbing 139% to ₹697 crore, the company delivered robust financial performance. Key financial metrics as of June 2025 include:
• Return on Equity (ROE): 5.15%
• Price-to-Earnings (P/E, TTM): 426.13x
• Price-to-Book (P/B): 6.95x
Investor sentiment remains positive, with close to 80% of analysts issuing a ‘BUY’ rating and an average target price of ₹271.86. The company’s expansion into quick commerce through Blinkit and its strong revenue growth are seen as positives, but high valuations and competitive risks remain key concerns.

Recent Block Deals: Not an Isolated Event
This is not the first ₹156 crore transaction involving Eternal Ltd. In late May 2025, BNP Paribas Financial Markets purchased over ₹1,480 crore worth of Eternal shares, reflecting continued institutional interest in the company. Such large trades often signal confidence from sophisticated investors, though they can also reflect portfolio rebalancing or strategic shifts.

What’s Next for Investors?
Eternal’s recent stock performance and block deal activity underscore its attractiveness to both institutional and retail investors. The company’s strong growth trajectory, leadership in food delivery, and expansion into new verticals are balanced by the threat of new entrants like Rapido and the ever-present challenge of high valuations.
Investors should monitor:
• Evaluating the response to Rapido’s food delivery pilot and its prospects for wider adoption.
• Developments around Zepto’s IPO and broader sector competition.
• Eternal’s ability to maintain growth and profitability amid rising costs and competitive pressures.

Conclusion
The ₹156 crore block deal in Eternal Ltd., followed by a stock price uptick, signals ongoing investor enthusiasm for the country’s online services and food delivery market. While the company’s fundamentals remain strong, the evolving competitive landscape and high valuations warrant careful attention. For now, Eternal stands at the crossroads of opportunity and challenge, with its next moves likely to shape both its own future and that of the broader industry.

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