Most of them showed a positive growth in their net sales during the same period. The net sales of Arvind Mills increased by 34.2 per cent to Rs 1,215.97 crore, against Rs 906.38 crore in 1998-99. Similarly, in the case of IFB Industries, the net sales has increased by 17.4 per cent to Rs 239.54 crore during 1999-2000.

The operating profit of the 176 companies increased by 12.2 per cent to Rs 3,117 crore, against Rs 2,778 crore in 1998-99. Gross profit of these firms decreased by -62.9 per cent to Rs 205 crore, against Rs 551 crore in 1998-99. The profit before tax (PBT) was -Rs 668 crore, against -Rs 186 crore in 1998-99.

Similarly, profit after tax (PAT) was -Rs 629 crore in 1999-2000, against -Rs 238 crore in 1998-99. This was probably due to the significant loss made by 58 companies during the study period.Though the aggregate sales of these companies increased by 15.6 per cent to Rs 13,617 crore in 1999-2000, against Rs 11,782 crore in 1998-99, significant growth in sales was observed in the case of Cybermate Infotek (155.2 per cent), India Lead (543.1 per cent), Maskara Industries (196.7 per cent), MTZ Polyesters (270.8 per cent), Sangam Processors (138.8 per cent), Shreejee Yatayat India (540.6 per cent) and Vadilal Dairy International (470.1 per cent).

A significant drop in sales was witnessed in the case of Bombay Cycle & Motor Agency (-40.1 per cent), Dorr-Oliver (-48.2 per cent), Mafatlal Finance (-40.4 per cent), Remi Metals Gujarat (-92.5 per cent), Shervani Industrial Syndicate (-76.1 per cent), Tata Advanced Materials (-67.4 per cent) and Tricom Finance (-48.7 per cent).

Of the 176 companies, 36 companies showed a decline in their gross profit. These included KJMC Financial Services (-63.2 per cent), Man Industries (-40.8 per cent), Roopacherra Tea Co (-40.3 per cent), Shervani Industrial Syndicate (-94.7 per cent), Sinclairs Hotels (-49.0 per cent) and Stone India (-97.3 per cent). On the other hand, 23 companies have witnessed an increase of 100 per cent or more in their gross profit. Significant among them are Ami Computers (878.8 per cent), Ankur Drugs & Pharma (875 per cent), Cybermate Infotek (329.1 per cent), Joindre Capital Services (264.8 per cent), KRM International (279.2 per cent), Spenta International (454.5 per cent) and Tricom Finance (237.5 per cent).

In PBT, 19 companies have witnessed a rise of 100 per cent or more. Significant among them are Asian Star Co (106.3 per cent), Cybermate Infotek (393.1 per cent), Joindre Capital Services (285 per cent), National General Indus (204.5 per cent), Rajasthan Tools (213.3 per cent) and Vidhi Dyestuffs Mfg (111.9 per cent). However, 35 companies have recorded a lower PBT during 1999-2000. Mention may be made of Emco Ltd (-49.6 per cent), Govind Rubber (-86.8 per cent), India Cements (-45.6 per cent), Man Industries (-73.7 per cent), Marvel Vinyls (-84.0 per cent), Modern Insulators (-70 per cent), NCS Gayatri Sugars (-61.3 per cent), Roopacherra Tea Co (-50.4 per cent), Shervani Industrial Syndicate (-96.1 per cent) and Sinclairs Hotels (-86.7 per cent).

In the case PAT, 37 companies recorded lower net profits. Notable among them are Emco Ltd (-50.3 per cent), Govind Rubber (-86.7 per cent), India Cements (-46.0 per cent), Kilpest India (-71.4 per cent), Mahaan Foods (-64.3 per cent), Man Industries (-74.2 per cent), Marvel Vinyls (-86.4 per cent), SRP Tools (-53.3 per cent) and Shree Steel Wire Ropes (-90.0 per cent).

Seventeen companies have witnessed a rise of 100 per cent or more. These include Fore C Software (750 per cent), National General Industries (214.3 per cent), Plenty Vally Infra (200 per cent), Rajasthan Tools (277.3 per cent), Subhsree Petrochem (200 per cent) and Vidhi Dyestuffs Mfg (116.8 per cent).

Out of 176 companies, the highest PAT to sales ratio during 1999-2000 was observed in the case of Virdhi Commercial Co (428.57 per cent). PAT formed less than 1 per cent of sales during 1999-2000 in the case of 20 companies. A significant increase in the ratio was recorded by Cybermate Infotek (18.18 per cent in 1998-99 to 34.52 per cent in 1999-2000), Fore C Software (10.53 per cent to 25.37 per cent), Integrated Hitech (6.06 per cent to 13.97 per cent), Sharyans Resources (0.97 per cent to 17.07 per cent), Subhsree Petrochem (50 per cent to 75 per cent), Tricom Finance (0.26 per cent to 15.82 per cent) and Virdhi Commercial Co (100 per cent to 428.57 per cent).

An opposite trend can be seen in the case of Ami Computers (33.33 per cent in 1998-99 to 23.40 per cent in 1999-2000), Dalal Street Investment (76 per cent to 0.63 per cent), Genesis Exports (178.95 per cent to 6.41 per cent), Manoj Housing Finance Co (11.36 per cent to 2.50 per cent), Roopacherra Tea Co (11.94 per cent to 5.50 per cent), Sahara India Media Commu (33.33 per cent to 12.62 per cent), Shervani Industrial Syndicate (56.63 per cent to 3.34 per cent) and Telesys Software (37.50 per cent to 24.48 per cent). The highest EPS, in 1999-2000, was observed in the case of Mahindra Consulting (Rs 72.25).

Aggregates
This week's addition of 176 companies with the previous week's 1,300 companies results also showed an increase in sales, other income and operating profit.

The total of 1,476 companies' sales increased by 25.4 per cent to Rs 6,89,457 crore during 1999-2000, against Rs 5,49,790 crore during 1998-99. These companies have registered a rise of 18.5 per cent to Rs 25,500 crore in other income, against Rs 21,509 crore in 1998-99.

On the profit front, operating profit of the 1,476 companies have increased by 17.4 per cent to Rs 1,85,329 crore, from Rs 1,57,804 crore in 1998-99. The gross profit of these companies also increased by 22.8 per cent to Rs 87,096 crore, from Rs 70,906 crore in 1998-99.

The PBT and PAT rose by 28.2 per cent to Rs 53,235 crore (Rs 41,522 crore in the previous year) and by 24.4 per cent to Rs 41,409 crore (Rs 33,279 crore) respectively in 1999-2000. The ratio of PAT to sales marginally declined from 6.05 per cent in 1998-99 to 6.01 per cent in 1999-2000. The aggregate EPS of these companies rose by 24.1 per cent to Rs 6.28, from Rs 5.06 in 1998-99.