'Profit of Sensex firms likely to fall 3.7% in Q2'

Among Sensex companies, banks like HDFC Bank, SBI, Axis Bank are expected to lead the earnings growth.

Mirroring previous three quarters, capital markets is likely to see tepid earnings for the July-September quarter with an expected 3.7 per cent fall in aggregate profit of the 30 Sensex companies, says a report.

According to Bank of America Merill Lynch, 12 out of the 30 Sensex companies are expected to show a contraction in profits.

Moreover, aggregate revenue of Sensex companies is likely to contract 9.1 per cent during second quarter of the fiscal compared with a year ago period.

This would be fourth straight quarter decline in sales, the report said.

"Excluding financials, aggregate profit is expected to fall by 3.7 per cent. . . aggregate sales for Sensex companies is expected to contract for the fourth consecutive quarter at (-) 9.1 per cent year -- a first ever occurrence," BofA said.

"The worrying aspect of the earnings is that even excluding commodities, sales growth is expected to remain muted at 3.5 per cent," it added.

Among Sensex companies, banks like HDFC Bank, SBI, Axis Bank are expected to lead the earnings growth.

Besides, industrials (L&T) and IT (TCS), Tata Steel would also reflect positive earnings.

On the other hand, telecom (Bharti), utilities (NTPC), GAIL and Sun Pharma are expected to weigh on growth, BofA-ML said.

Image: Stock traders at work in Mumbai. Photograph: Rajesh Nirgude/Reuters