The market is keenly awaiting Satyam Computer's future guidance, which should dictate the trend for the scrip on Thursday.

The results, as they are, have just about managed to meet the lower side of analysts' expectations. Early morning on Thursday, India's third largest IT company in terms of market capitalisation and Hyderabad-based Satyam Computer said Q4 ended 31 March 2003 net profit rose marginally by 0.69% to Rs 116 crore (Rs 1.16 billion) on a revenue of Rs 553 crore (Rs 5.53 billion).

A capitalmarket.com analysts poll had projected a net profit of Rs 115.5-127 crore (Rs 1.15-1.27 billion) for the company.

Satyam's revenues rose 20.8% to Rs 553 crore (Rs 5.53 billion) against projections of Rs 526.5 crore-Rs 558 crore (Rs 5.26 billion) for the quarter.

But it is the future guidance of the company that will determine the scrip's fortunes over the next few days

SCSL posted a 5.87% sequential rise in sales from Rs 522.3 crore (Rs 5.22 billion), but its PAT was down 0.59% sequentially. For DQ 2002, the PAT was Rs 116.7 crore (Rs 1.16 billion).

The performance comes barely in line with analysts' expectations, but lower than the company's own guidance. Satyam had projected net profit at between Rs 129.5 crore (Rs 1.29 billion) and Rs 132.3 crore (Rs 1.32 billion). Sales were projected at between Rs 524.78 crore (Rs 5.24 billion) and Rs 534.78 crore (Rs 5.34 billion).

BSE code: 500376