Credit analysis & research ltd share price: What Most People Get Wrong

Credit analysis & research ltd share price: What Most People Get Wrong

Honestly, if you’re looking up the credit analysis & research ltd share price right now, you’ve probably noticed something a bit confusing. The company actually changed its name to CARE Ratings Limited a few years back, but everyone in the market—from old-school brokers to retail apps—still uses the old name like it’s 2015.

It’s one of those "if you know, you know" stocks. As of mid-January 2026, the stock has been hovering around the ₹1,610 mark on the NSE. It's not exactly a "rocket ship" stock that doubles every week, but for people who like steady dividends and a bit of "moat" in their portfolio, it’s a big deal.

Why the market is watching CARE Ratings right now

The credit rating business is weirdly beautiful from an investment standpoint. You basically have three or four big players—CRISIL, ICRA, and CARE—and they all have to be paid by companies that want to borrow money. It’s like a toll booth for the debt market.

Recently, the credit analysis & research ltd share price has shown some serious teeth. We’re talking about a 52-week high of ₹1,964. If you bought it back in early 2021 when it was struggling around ₹500, you’re basically sitting on a 3x return.

But why did it jump?

Basically, the Indian economy is building stuff again. When companies build factories or the government builds roads, they issue bonds. To issue those bonds, they need a rating. CARE Ratings reported a net profit jump of nearly 23% in their Q2 FY26 results, hitting ₹56.67 crore. That’s not a small number for a company that doesn't have to buy raw materials or maintain massive factories.

The numbers that actually matter

Forget the "noise" on social media. If you're serious about the credit analysis & research ltd share price, you need to look at the margins. Their net profit margin is sitting pretty at 38.05%.

Think about that.

For every ₹100 they bring in, almost ₹40 is pure profit. That is insane compared to most industries. It’s the reason why the stock trades at a Price-to-Earnings (P/E) ratio of about 31. Some people say that's expensive, but when you have zero debt and a high barrier to entry, investors are usually willing to pay a premium.

A quick look at the recent volatility

In the first two weeks of January 2026, the stock was all over the place.

  • Jan 1: ₹1,610
  • Jan 5: Shot up to ₹1,736 (people were excited about something, clearly)
  • Jan 16: Settled back down to ₹1,614

This kind of "sawtooth" movement is normal. The volume is relatively low—about 23,000 shares traded daily—so a few big buy orders from a mutual fund can send the price swinging.

Dividends: The secret sauce

One thing people often miss when staring at the credit analysis & research ltd share price is the cash they actually send to your bank account. CARE is a dividend machine.

They just declared an interim dividend of ₹8 per share in November 2025. If you look at their history, they’ve been paying out consistently for 13 years. In 2024, they gave out ₹18 total. For a stock trading at ₹1,600, a 1.2% yield might not sound like much, but it’s the growth of that dividend that keeps people around.

The average dividend growth rate over the last few years has been roughly 30%. That's much better than a fixed deposit.

What could go wrong?

It's not all sunshine. The biggest risk to the credit analysis & research ltd share price isn't the competition; it's the regulator. SEBI (the market regulator in India) is always watching rating agencies. If there’s a corporate default that CARE didn't catch, the fines and the reputation damage are brutal.

Remember the IL&FS crisis years ago? That's the ghost that still haunts the sector.

Also, the industry is shifting. CARE is trying to diversify. They’re selling a 9.9% stake in their subsidiary, CareEdge Global IFSC, to big names like SBI and NSEIX. They're also pushing into ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) ratings. If these new bets don't pay off, the stock might stay stuck in this ₹1,500–₹1,700 range for a long time.

Where analysts think it’s headed

Most analysts—and honestly, there aren't many who cover this mid-cap stock closely—are bullish. The consensus target price is currently floating around ₹1,999.

That would be a roughly 24% upside from where we are today.

Is it guaranteed? Of course not. But with the upward trend in quarterly earnings and a "buy" rating from the few brokerage houses that track it, the momentum seems to be on the side of the bulls.

Actionable insights for your portfolio

If you're thinking about jumping in, don't just chase the credit analysis & research ltd share price when it’s green.

🔗 Read more: Stocks in Dow 30: What Most People Get Wrong

  1. Watch the credit cycle: If interest rates start falling in 2026, more companies will borrow money. That means more business for CARE.
  2. The ₹1,500 Floor: Historically, the stock has found a lot of support near the ₹1,500 level. If it dips there, it's often seen as a value entry point.
  3. Check the record dates: If you want that ₹11 dividend expected in June 2026, you need to be holding the shares at least a day before the ex-date.
  4. Diversification Check: Don't put your whole life savings here. Rating agencies are sensitive to "black swan" corporate defaults.

The most important thing is to stop calling it "Credit Analysis & Research Ltd" and start looking for "CARERATING" on your broker terminal. It sounds small, but it's the first step to tracking the right data.

Next Steps for You:
Check your portfolio's exposure to the financial services sector. If you're heavy on banks but light on the "infrastructure" of the markets, looking into the current valuation of CARE Ratings compared to its peers like CRISIL might reveal a gap. You should also verify the next board meeting date for Q3 results, which usually happens in late January or early February, as that will be the next big catalyst for the share price.