What’s up ahead from Q4? Will Idea, HCL Tech, Ambuja, Dabur surprise us

NEW DELHI: As the earnings season gains momentum, companies are reporting numbers thick and fast.

Here are the top five companies that are going to report their March quarter numbers on Thursday and what to expect from them.

Idea Cellular: Idea Cellular is likely to report a 32.7 per cent decline in net profit at Rs 513 crore on higher depreciation and interest costs during the quarter ending March 31, 2016.

Voice revenue per minute may improve during the quarter for the first time in six quarters as total minutes are expected to grow 3.6 per cent to 206.4 billion minutes (QoQ), showed an ET Now poll.

HCL Technologies: The technology giant is likely to report 2.5 per cent growth in Q3 revenue in constant currency terms.

Growth is likely to be driven by IMS and engineering services, an ET Now Poll indicated. EBITDA margin is seen expanding to 21.18 per cent from 20 per cent in the December quarter.

Ambuja Cements: Ambuja Cements is expected to report 21.9 per cent year-on-year (YoY) fall in net profit at Rs 248 crore for the quarter ended March 31, according to Angel Broking estimates.

The cement major reported a net profit of Rs 318 crore in the year-ago period. The net sales are expected to climb by 2.5 per cent YoY to Rs 2,485 crore for the quarter ended March 31 compared to Rs 2,425 crore reported in the year-ago period.

ACC: ACC is expected to report 22.6 per cent year-on-year (YoY) fall in net profit to Rs 186 crore for the quarter ended March 31, according to Angel Broking estimates.
The cement major reported a net profit of Rs 241 crore in the year-ago period. The net sales are expected to climb by 3.1 per cent YoY to Rs 2,976 crore for the quarter ended March 31 compared to Rs 2,885 crore reported in the year-ago period.

Dabur India: Dabur India is likely to report 12.1 per cent YoY growth in net profit to Rs 319 crore for the quarter ended March 31, according to Angel Broking estimates.
The FMCG major reported a net profit of Rs 285 crore in the year-ago period. The net sales are expected to climb by 7 per cent YoY to Rs 2,081 crore for the quarter ended March 31 compared to Rs 1,945 crore reported in the year-ago period.