At a Glance
Citizen Infoline, the micro-cap media maverick, reported a mind-blowing (for them) net profit of ₹0.03 crore in Q1 FY26 on ₹1.35 crore revenue. The market? It’s laughing its way to ₹100 a share, valuing this barely-breathing print & search directory business at ₹54 crore. Oh, and the P/E? A cosmic 1,077. Either investors are betting on miracles or they’re drunk on penny stock dreams.
Introduction
Imagine a company still clinging to print directories in 2025, like your uncle who uses a Nokia 3310. That’s Citizen Infoline – a business that should’ve gone digital ages ago, yet somehow the stock shot up 150% in a year. Why? Because markets love narratives, and Citizen is selling one: local search, solar power merger, and a turnaround story spiced with speculative frenzy. But can it deliver beyond hype?
Business Model (WTF Do They Even Do?)
Citizen Infoline is into:
- Local Search & Directory Services – connecting buyers and sellers (basically a yellow pages 2.0).
- Media Advertising – tiny print ads, trying to survive Google’s shadow.
- Upcoming Solar Merger – via Citizen Solar amalgamation, the only futuristic thing in their deck.
Current reality: micro revenue, thin margins, and a market cap punching above its weight.
Financials Overview
Q1 FY26 looked like this:
- Revenue: ₹1.35 crore (flat YoY)
- Operating Profit: ₹0.03 crore (finally positive after years of red)
- Net Profit: ₹0.03 crore (EPS ₹0.06)
- Margins: OPM 2.2% – barely breathing.
Over FY25, they clocked ₹4.05 crore revenue with ₹0.03 crore profit. This isn’t growth – it’s survival.
Valuation
- P/E: 1,077 – market is hallucinating.
- P/B: 11.6 – absurd for a low-ROE firm.
- Fair Value Range: ₹20–₹30.
The current ₹100 price? Pure speculation, not fundamentals.
What’s Cooking – News, Triggers, Drama
- Merger with Citizen Solar: NCLT approved scheme; shareholder meeting in 45 days. Solar could inject life.
- AGM & EGM lined up – investors praying for big announcements.
- Speculative frenzy – stock has rallied 151% YoY without earnings to back it.
Balance Sheet
| (₹ Cr) | Mar 2025 |
|---|---|
| Assets | 4.64 |
| Liabilities | 4.64 |
| Net Worth | 4.64 |
| Borrowings | 0 |
Debt-free, but reserves still negative and equity base tiny.
Cash Flow – Sab Number Game Hai
| (₹ Cr) | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating | 0.04 | -0.09 | 0.03 |
| Investing | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Financing | -0.04 | 0.08 | -0.02 |
Cash flow is minimal, barely enough to run a tea stall.
Ratios – Sexy or Stressy?
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| ROE | 0.65% |
| ROCE | 0.87% |
| P/E | 1,077 |
| PAT Margin | 2.2% |
| D/E | 0 |
Commentary: Ratios scream bubble. ROE is negligible, but the P/E is moon-bound.
P&L Breakdown – Show Me the Money
| (₹ Cr) | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 2.38 | 3.92 | 4.05 |
| EBITDA | -0.32 | -0.37 | -0.33 |
| PAT | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.03 |
Revenue grew, but profits remain insignificant.
Peer Comparison
| Company | Revenue (₹ Cr) | PAT (₹ Cr) | P/E |
|---|---|---|---|
| DB Corp | 2,309 | 334 | 14.6 |
| Jagran | 1,888 | 94 | 16.4 |
| Hindustan Media | 733 | 77 | 8.4 |
| Citizen Infoline | 4.1 | 0.03 | 1,077 |
Commentary: Peers are actual businesses. Citizen is a speculative ticket.
Miscellaneous – Shareholding, Promoters
- Promoters: 34.77% (down from 57% in 2022 – red flag).
- Public: 64.8% – retail driving the rally.
- Institutions: negligible.
- Buzz: Solar merger is the only real hope.
EduInvesting Verdict™
Citizen Infoline is a speculative penny stock disguised as a growth story. The merger with Citizen Solar might change its fortunes, but current valuations are absurd given its tiny earnings.
Final Line: This is not an investment; it’s a lottery ticket. Fun to watch, risky to hold.
Written by EduInvesting Team | 28 July 2025
SEO Tags: Citizen Infoline, Q1 FY26, penny stock, solar merger, local search business, stock analysis
