Swiggy vs. Zomato: Q3 FY25 Comparison & Profitability Analysis
Swiggy vs. Zomato: Q3 FY25 Comparison & Profitability Analysis
After analyzing Swiggy’s and Zomato’s Q3 FY25 financials, we can compare their performance and understand why Zomato is profitable while Swiggy continues to post losses.
📊 Financial Comparison: Swiggy vs. Zomato (Q3 FY25)
Metric | Swiggy (Q3 FY25) | Zomato (Q3 FY25) |
---|---|---|
Revenue | ₹3,993 Cr (+31% YoY) | ₹5,405 Cr (+64% YoY) |
Net Profit/Loss | ₹(-799) Cr (Loss) | ₹124 Cr (Profit) |
EBITDA Margin | -4.6% (Negative) | +2.5% (Positive) |
GOV (Gross Order Value) | ₹12,165 Cr (+38% YoY) | ₹14,410 Cr (+68% YoY) |
Quick Commerce Revenue | ₹3,907 Cr (+88% YoY) | ₹3,497 Cr (+128% YoY) |
Food Delivery Growth | +19.2% YoY | +21.7% YoY |
Advertising & Sales Promotion Cost | ₹7,514 Cr | ₹421 Cr |
Employee Expenses | ₹6,567 Cr | ₹689 Cr |
Delivery & Logistics Cost | ₹11,269 Cr | ₹3,450 Cr |
Key Takeaways from the Comparison:
✅ Zomato is profitable (₹124 Cr), while Swiggy is losing ₹799 Cr.
✅ Zomato's revenue is higher (₹5,405 Cr vs. ₹3,993 Cr), despite Swiggy’s aggressive expansion.
✅ Zomato spends far less on advertising & delivery costs compared to Swiggy.
✅ Swiggy’s quick-commerce business (Instamart) is growing but operating at a loss (-4.6% margins).
✅ Zomato’s Hyperpure (B2B segment) & Blinkit (quick-commerce) are contributing to profitability.
🔍 Why Is Zomato Profitable While Swiggy Is Not?
1️⃣ Cost Efficiency & Expense Control
✔ Lower Ad Spend – Zomato spends only ₹421 Cr on promotions vs. ₹7,514 Cr by Swiggy.
✔ Lower Employee Costs – Zomato’s employee expenses are ₹689 Cr, while Swiggy’s are ₹6,567 Cr.
✔ Efficient Logistics – Zomato has optimized delivery partner payouts & order batching to reduce per-delivery costs.
→ Swiggy is burning cash aggressively to acquire users, while Zomato is optimizing its cost structure.
2️⃣ Better Unit Economics
📌 Zomato’s Food Delivery Business is Already Profitable
- Segment EBITDA Margin: +5% in Zomato vs. -4.6% in Swiggy
- Zomato has raised platform commission from restaurants, improving margins.
📌 Hyperpure (B2B) & Blinkit (Quick Commerce) Growth
- Zomato's Hyperpure (restaurant supplies) revenue is ₹4,356 Cr, up 97% YoY.
- Blinkit (quick-commerce) revenue grew 128% YoY, with a positive EBITDA margin.
- Swiggy Instamart’s GOV grew 88% YoY but is unprofitable (-4.6% margins).
→ Zomato has diversified revenue streams, whereas Swiggy is highly dependent on food delivery.
3️⃣ Market Position & Competitive Strategy
✔ Zomato is Benefiting from Swiggy’s Losses
- Swiggy is offering steep discounts on food & Instamart orders to gain market share.
- Zomato is capitalizing by improving margins without heavy discounts.
✔ Zomato Has a First-Mover IPO Advantage - Swiggy’s recent IPO funds (₹43,589 Cr) are being used for expansion, while Zomato is already profitable and doesn’t need fresh capital to survive.
→ Swiggy is spending more to fight competition, while Zomato is reaping the benefits.
🚀 Will Zomato’s Profitability Continue or Is It Temporary?
✔ Reasons Profitability May Continue
✅ Zomato is scaling Blinkit profitably, reducing dependence on food delivery.
✅ Hyperpure (B2B business) is growing fast and improving margins.
✅ Operating costs are under control, and revenue per order is rising.
✅ Ad revenue from restaurants is growing, adding a new monetization layer.
❌ Risks to Zomato’s Profitability
❌ Regulatory Challenges (GST & Gig Worker Rules)
- Zomato faces ₹401 Cr in GST liabilities for delivery partner fees, which may impact margins.
- Possible increase in delivery costs if the government enforces better wages for gig workers.
❌ Competition from ONDC & Zepto
- Government-backed ONDC is offering food delivery at cheaper rates, which may force Zomato to cut commissions.
- Zepto’s aggressive expansion could challenge Blinkit’s dominance.
❌ Profitability Depends on Blinkit
- If Blinkit’s quick-commerce profitability weakens, Zomato’s overall margins may be affected.
🏆 Final Verdict: Swiggy vs. Zomato – Which Is a Better Investment?
✅ Zomato is the better investment in the short term.
- Already profitable with a clear roadmap to sustain it.
- Revenue & margins are improving, and diversification is helping.
- Lower dependency on cash burn compared to Swiggy.
❌ Swiggy remains a high-risk investment.
- Heavy cash burn & high losses despite revenue growth.
- Aggressive expansion without clear profitability roadmap.
- May take 2+ years to break even, unlike Zomato, which is already profitable.
🔎 Conclusion: Should You Invest in Swiggy or Zomato?
✅ If you want a stable, growing, and already profitable stock → Buy Zomato.
✅ If you have high risk tolerance and believe in long-term quick commerce growth → Speculative Buy on Swiggy.
❌ If you prefer safer investments, Swiggy is not yet profitable, making it a riskier bet.
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