INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
About two-thirds of the earnings beat or matched analyst estimatesProfits at Indian companies have rebounded from the worst decline in at
the quarter through September, according to data compiled by Bloomberg
About two-thirds of the earnings beat or matched analyst estimates, compared with double-digit profit declines in the two previous quarters
By contrast, combined profit for MSCI Asia Pacific constituents remains below year-ago levels.Lenders including ICICI Bank Ltd
and technology firms such as Infosys Ltd
are among those that beat estimates, signaling business conditions are recovering faster than analysts had predicted
Still, while cost-cuts shored up operating profits, sales dipped for many companies from a year ago and the central bank cautioned risks
remain even as prospects brightened in October."The worst seems to be over with regards to earnings for corporate India," said Abhimanyu
Sofat, head of research at IIFL Securities Ltd
"Companies are cutting costs, discretionary spending has rebounded, and a broad-based recovery is driving markets."India's emergence from
the world's biggest lockdown triggered a revival in demand, even as Asia's third-largest economy may contract this year for the first time
A combination of better-than-expected earnings, completion of US presidential voting and progress toward a Covid-19 vaccine helped propel
the Nifty 50 index to new highs for the first three days this week.Earnings estimates for the Nifty 50 members have climbed by about 11 per
cent from a July low, and the gauge is trading at its highest ever price-to-estimated earnings multiple
Still, analysts expect the index to rise about 8 per cent from Wednesday's close within a year.While India has the world's second-largest
coronavirus case count, new daily infections are less than half the peak in mid-September, according to data from Johns Hopkins
University.Key HighlightsEnergy and financials posted the best profit growth on average.State-run refiner Indian Oil Corp.'s net income of
Rs 623 crore ($840 million) compares with Rs 563 crore a year earlier as its refineries operated at an average capacity of 93 per
cent.Materials and consumer discretionary companies posted the biggest earnings surprises.Most banks beat estimates, buoyed by interest
income and lower provisioning as retail lending recovered.ICICI Bank Ltd
posted a record quarterly profit as it set aside fewer provisions for bad loans.Continuing a trend seen in the previous quarter, four of
India's five biggest technology companies beat earnings estimates as clients' IT spending recovered.Bharti Airtel Ltd
posted one of the biggest earnings disappointments: a surprise quarterly loss as competition hindered tariff increases.Analyst
CommentsAnalysts expect banks, among the biggest laggards this year, and IT shares to gain as the economy improves and companies continue to
digitize their operations."The economic recovery continues and Covid-19 cases have seen a meaningful decline," said Gautam Duggad, head of
research at Motilal Oswal Securities Ltd
The brokerage remains overweight on IT, banks, health care, telecom and automotive stocks.The "scope for further rerating remains" for
India's top five IT firms, given the demand outlook and potential for companies to adopt cloud storage, Jefferies Financial Group Inc
analysts Akshat Agarwal and Ankur Pant wrote in a note published Sunday."Private banks should do well considering the risk-reward as they
are still at a significant discount to their highs," said IIFL's Mr Sofat.
