Quess Corp interim dividend: ₹5 payout, Q3 FY26 results

Quess Corp Ltd (NSE: QUESS) has announced an interim dividend of ₹5 per equity share for FY2025-26, alongside the approval of its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025. The company disclosed that February 6, 2026 will be the record date to determine eligible shareholders, and the dividend will be paid on or before February 16, 2026.

The disclosures were made through stock exchange filings, which also flagged that Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP issued a qualified review conclusion on both standalone and consolidated results, primarily linked to income tax-related disallowances that the company is contesting.

Interim dividend decision and payout schedule

The Board of Directors approved an interim dividend of ₹5 per equity share, which the company stated is 50% of the face value of ₹10. The decision was taken at the board meeting held on January 28, 2026.

The company has set Friday, February 6, 2026 as the record date for determining shareholder eligibility. Quess Corp said the interim dividend will be paid on or before February 16, 2026. Separately, the company also issued communication to shareholders on tax deduction at source (TDS) related to this interim dividend.

What the board meeting covered

Quess Corp’s latest board meeting took place on January 28, 2026, with the stated agenda of quarterly results and the interim dividend. The company’s board-meeting calendar, as disclosed, also includes meetings held on October 29, 2025 and July 28, 2025 for quarterly results, and on May 19, 2025 for audited results and a final dividend.

These schedules matter for investors who track dividend timetables, record dates, and the cadence of results announcements.

Consolidated Q3 FY26 numbers (quarter ended Dec 31, 2025)

For Q3 FY26, the company reported the following consolidated highlights:

• Revenue from operations: ₹3,929.71 crore
• Total income: ₹3,931.26 crore
• Profit before tax: ₹51.09 crore
• Profit for the period: ₹55.09 crore

The filing also reported total comprehensive income for the period at ₹51.10 crore.

Standalone Q3 FY26 snapshot

On a standalone basis for the same quarter, Quess Corp reported:

• Revenue from operations: ₹3,638.16 crore
• Total income: ₹3,646.98 crore
• Profit before tax: ₹40.11 crore
• Profit for the period: ₹50.54 crore

These figures were part of the unaudited results reviewed and approved by the board.

Nine-month performance disclosed in the filing

For the nine months ended December 31, 2025, Quess Corp reported:

• Total income (consolidated): ₹11,423.04 crore
• Profit for the period (consolidated): ₹157.85 crore
• Total comprehensive income (consolidated): ₹167.95 crore

This helps place the quarterly performance in the context of the year-to-date run rate.

Segment revenue mix in Q3 FY26

The company’s filing also provided segment-wise revenue for Q3 FY26:

• General Staffing: ₹3,408.98 crore
• Professional Staffing: ₹230.13 crore
• Overseas Business: ₹290.38 crore
• Digital Platforms: ₹0.22 crore

General Staffing remained the largest contributor by revenue in the quarter based on these segment totals.

Auditor’s qualified review and the tax dispute issue

Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP issued a qualified review conclusion on both consolidated and standalone results. The stated basis for the qualification relates to certain tax deductions claimed by the company that were disallowed by the Income Tax Authority.

Quess Corp has said it is contesting these disallowances and believes the matters will be resolved favourably. In its broader disclosures, the company has also referred to ongoing disputes with tax authorities, including claims linked to Section 80JJAA and depreciation on goodwill, and a contingent liability of ₹296.38 crore related to these tax demands (including interest).

Exceptional items linked to new labour codes

The company also disclosed an incremental impact of ₹6.81 crore under “Exceptional Items”, which it attributed to new labour codes that came into effect on November 21, 2025. This item was explicitly highlighted in the filing as a one-off recognition linked to the regulatory change.

Recent dividend history and key dates

Quess Corp’s disclosures include recent dividend dates and amounts, which investors often track for consistency and payout patterns. The filings also reference an earlier interim dividend of ₹4 per equity share declared by the board on January 29, 2025, aggregating to ₹59.40 crore in FY25.

Board meeting and dividend timeline

The company’s disclosed board-meeting and dividend-related milestones include the following:

Market context from earlier quarterly disclosures

In earlier disclosed performance commentary, Quess Corp reported a 3% year-on-year revenue increase to ₹3,832 crore in Q2 FY26, with EBITDA at ₹77 crore, up 11%. The company attributed the growth primarily to General Staffing, which added 21,000 employees, and improved performance in Professional Staffing, including the GCC segment.

While Q3 and Q2 are different reporting periods, the combination of segment disclosures and profitability updates is relevant because staffing companies are typically evaluated on volume-led growth, margin stability, and the level of compliance and audit risk in large employee-heavy operations.

What investors may track next

From the current filings, three items stand out for follow-through: the actual credit of the interim dividend by the stated deadline, updates on the tax matters referenced in the qualified review conclusion, and the operational implications of the new labour codes that resulted in an exceptional item charge.

Quess Corp’s next set of board decisions and disclosures will likely continue to be watched through scheduled board meeting intimation filings and quarterly results releases on the exchanges.