Mumbai, 24 February 2026: Indian Railway Finance Corporation Limited (IRFC) is the financial branch of Indian Railways. It raises funds for railway projects, provides long-term loans for rolling stock, tracks, and other infrastructure. Being a government company, it has low risk and offers steady returns. On 24 February 2026, IRFC’s shares are showing moderate movement in the market.
Today’s IRFC share price (24 February 2026)
- On NSE: The closing price on the previous day (23 February) was ₹111.89 (opening ₹112.00, high ₹112.50, low ₹110.80). Trade on the morning of 24 February started between ₹110.70 and ₹111.50 (estimated 1.16% drop).
- On BSE: Stable price trend, closing at ₹111.85 (23 February), on 24 February between ₹110.60 and ₹110.90 (according to market depth).
- Market cap: Around ₹1,44,000 to ₹1,46,223 crore.
- PE ratio: around 20.6 to 20.9.
- 52-week range: Low ₹108.04, High ₹148.95 (June 2025).
The volume is likely to stay high throughout the day as there are movements in the railway sector. The price is stable but under a bit of pressure due to global uncertainty.
US trade deal impact on IRFC
On 20 February 2026, the US Supreme Court cancelled the broad tariffs under the Trump administration’s IEEPA. After that, Trump imposed a 10% global tariff, which was later increased to 15%. This led to India-US trade talks being postponed and increased global trade uncertainty.
Direct impact on IRFC:
Not much. IRFC mainly lends to Indian Railways, which focuses on domestic projects. Imported railway equipment (steel, engines, etc.) can become expensive, but most of IRFC’s loans are government-guaranteed, and NPA is zero.
Indirect impact:
Market sentiment weakened, and railway stocks saw profit booking. The India-US trade deal being postponed could affect American technology/funding for railway infrastructure, but IRFC’s strong government backing kept it limited. Overall, for a PSU like IRFC, it is considered ‘neutral to slightly negative’.
Impact of Indian government policies on IRFC shares
Government policies are positive for IRFC:
- Union Budget 2026: 7 high-speed rail corridors announced. This will increase railway capital expenditure (Capex) (₹2.75 lakh crore expected). Since IRFC is the main financer of the railways, the demand for new loans will go up.
- Railway modernization: advanced signaling, station redevelopment, Vande Bharat train expansion. IRFC recorded a PAT of ₹1,802 crore in Q3 FY26 (11% increase).
- Diversification: IRFC is now directing 40% of its funds into the railway ecosystem and other government projects (60:40 ratio by FY30). Lending is easy due to government guarantees and zero NPA.
- Fair hike: Passenger fares increased from December 2025, boosting railway revenue and strengthening IRFC’s asset quality.
These policies led to a 3-4% rise in IRFC shares in 2025-26 (on budget day), but profit booking happened afterwards. From a long-term perspective, these policies will be beneficial for IRFC.
Total return given by IRFC to investors
IRFC’s IPO happened in January 2021 at ₹26 per share:
- 5-year return: around 350-411% (capital appreciation + dividend).
- 3-year return: 300-321% (due to strong railway capex).
- 1 year (2025-26): -9 to -10.57% (due to high base and market correction).
- YTD 2026: About -10 to -11.65% (up to February).
Dividend yield remained stable (1-2% annually), and the total return stayed attractive for investors. IPO investors got 4x+ returns, which makes IRFC known as a “defensive growth stock”.
Dalal Street analysts’ target price for 2026
Coverage on IRFC is limited (since it’s a PSU stock):
- Some brokerages (Trendline/Alphasprade) give a 1-year target of ₹60-63 (sell rating, 46% downside – possibly based on old data).
- Other sources (profit formulas, blogs): short-term target between ₹101 and ₹125.
- Optimistic outlook: long-term ₹150-250+ (due to railway capex ₹2.5 lakh crore+ and diversification). Some like JM Financial had previously mentioned ₹175-180.
Overall, Dalal Street is mixed – cautious in the short term, positive in the long term. Analysts say that with government support and railway growth, it could reach ₹120-140 by 2026.
Conclusion:
As of 24 February 2026, IRFC is stable, with limited impact from US events and positive government policies. Long-term holding is good for investors, but short-term volatility will remain. Always do your own research and consult a financial advisor. The development of the railway sector looks bright for IRFC’s future!
