Shares of Jio Financial Services Ltd declined on Wednesday, trading in negative territory after the company, in partnership with US-based BlackRock, invested ₹117 crore into their mutual fund venture, Jio BlackRock Asset Management Private Limited.
This share market investment has sparked mixed reactions among investors, leading to a dip in stock prices. The move, however, underscores the company's strategy to expand its portfolio and improve its presence in India's growing mutual fund sector, indicating long-term growth prospects.
Impact of the investment on Jio Financial Services' share price
As of 11:40 AM on the National Stock Exchange (NSE), Jio Financial Services' share price fell by 0.56%, reaching ₹258.65 per share. This decline followed the announcement that both Jio Financial and BlackRock had subscribed to 5.85 crore equity shares, priced at ₹10 each, for cash at par.
The mutual fund venture aims to strengthen its position in the growing Indian market. Still, this sizeable investment raised concerns among some investors, causing a drop in the stock price.
Key developments in Jio Financial's strategy
This investment is the latest step in Jio Financial's strategy to diversify its portfolio. The company and BlackRock had previously invested ₹82.5 crore each in the venture. Furthermore, Jio Financial also revealed the establishment of a new subsidiary, Jio BlackRock Broking Private Limited, aiming to enter the broking business, pending regulatory approvals.
Despite this, Jio Financial Services reported flat net profit growth for Q3, which stood at ₹295 crore compared to ₹294 crore in the same period last year. The company's total income for the quarter grew slightly to ₹449 crore from ₹414 crore in Q3 FY24.
Summing up
Jio Financial Services' share price experienced a 0.56% dip, falling to ₹258.65 per share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) at 11:40 AM on January 22, 2025. This drop followed the company's ₹117 crore investment in its mutual fund venture with BlackRock. While this share market investment is a significant move, it has received a mixed reaction from investors.
Despite the slight decline in stock performance, Jio Financial continues to expand its business portfolio, with ventures in mutual funds and broking pointing towards long-term growth. Investors will be keen to observe how these strategic investments impact the company's performance in the coming quarters.