The net sales of 255 companies increased by 27.9 per cent to Rs 1,17,525 crore during July-September 2000. This has happened probably due to the significant increases in net sales by companies like DSQ Biotech (606.7 per cent), Himachal Futuristic (172.8 per cent), LCC Infotech (137.3 per cent), SSI (194.9 per cent), Sri Adhikari Brothers (132.2 per cent) and Vikrant Tyres (129.7 per cent).

The operating profit of the above number of companies rose by 15.9 per cent to Rs 25,495 crore during July-September 2000 from the level of Rs 22,003 crore during July-September 1999. The gross profit also rose by 21.8 per cent to Rs 14,410 crore in July-September 2000 from Rs 11,831 crore in July-September 1999. The profit before tax increased by 30.7 per cent to Rs 9,924 crore. Though the net profit rose by 24.2 per cent to Rs 7,559 crore during July-September 2000 from the level of Rs 6,087 crore during July-September 1999, the PAT to sales ratio declined from 6.63 per cent to 6.43 per cent.

Of the 255 companies, 80 companies registered a decline in gross profit.Significant among them are Bata India (54.7 per cent), Bongaigaon Refinery (67.0 per cent), Chemplast Sanmar (56.4 per cent), Excel Inds (58.5 per cent), IFCI (55.7 per cent), Nahar International (71.8 per cent), Sabero Organics (83.5 per cent), Wockhardt Life Sciences (79.6 per cent), Zenith Computers (61.0 per cent) and Zuari Industries (66.7 per cent). There are 18 companies which more than doubled their gross profit during the second quarter. Mention may be made of CESC (152.0 per cent), Hindustan Vidyut Products (388.4 per cent), Indo Rama Synthetics (485.5 per cent), Jayaswals Neco (533.3 per cent), Star Paper (387 per cent) and Vikrant Tyres (333.9 per cent).

In PBT, 28 companies witnessed an increase of 100 per cent or more during the quarter July-September 2000. Mention may be made of Banswara Syntex, Centurion Bank, Elder Pharma, Himachal Futuristic, ONGC, Swaraj Mazda, West Coast Paper and Wipro. However 75 companies have recorded a lower PBT during July-September 2000. In the case of PAT, significant loss made by the companies during July-September 2000 are Birla VXL (Rs 16.13 crore), CESC (Rs 18.00 crore), FACT (Rs 23.51 crore), Harrisons Malayalam (Rs 10.06 crore), Jindal Iron&Steel (Rs 22.41 crore), Lloyds Metals&Engineers (Rs 11.32 crore), Lloyds Steel Indus (Rs 81.77 crore) and LML (Rs 16.96 crore).

As many as 82 companies recorded lower net profit during July-September 2000 from the level of July-September 1999. On the other hand, 26 companies witnessed an increase of 100 per cent or more. Among the 255 companies, the top five in respect of PAT to sales ratio during July-September 2000 were Visual Soft Techno (50.70 per cent), Rolta India (36.85 per cent), Goodricke Group (34.52 per cent), Hindalco (31.84 per cent) and MTNL (29.41 per cent).

PAT formed less than 0.5 per cent of sales during July-September 2000 in the case of Balkrishna Indus, Bata India, Camlin, Govind Rubber, Monica Electronics, OCL India, Parry Agro Indus, Swil, Tata SSL, Vikrant Tyres and Whirlpool of India. A significant increase in the ratio during July-September 2000 from the level of July-September 1999 was recorded by Goodricke Group (13.63 per cent in July-September 1999 to 34.52 per cent in July-September 2000) and Essar Shipping (4.33 per cent to 22.06 per cent).

An opposite trend can be seen in the case of Kochi Refineries (7.11 per cent in July-September 1999 to 1.91 per cent in July-September 2000) and LCC Infotech (35.88 per cent to 16.24 per cent). The average EPS of 255 companies increased by 18 per cent to Rs 3.67 during July-September 2000 from the level of Rs 3.11 during July-September 1999.

Aggregates: This weeks' addition of 255 companies with previous week's 450 companies second quarterly results also showed an increase in sales and profits. The total of 705 companies sales rose by 23.2 per cent to Rs 1,69,932 crore during July-September 2000 from the level of Rs 1,37,921 crore during July-September 1999. These companies have witnessed a rise of 9.4 per cent to Rs 4,579 crore (Rs 4,185 crore) in other income during July-September 2000.

In terms of operating profit, these companies have shown a rise of 14.0 per cent to Rs 41,256 crore during July-September 2000 from the level of Rs 36,198 crore during July-September 1999. The gross profit figure of 705 companies also increased by 17.6 per cent to Rs 21,861 crore (Rs 18,583 crore) during July-September 2000. The PBT and PAT figures of these above number of companies increased by 20.6 per cent to Rs 14,753 crore (Rs 12,236 crore) and 16.5 per cent to Rs 11,473 crore (Rs 9,844 crore) respectively during July-September 2000.

The ratio of PAT to sales ratio decreased from 7.14 per cent in July-September 1999 to 6.75 per cent in July-September 2000. But the average EPS of 705 companies increased by 11.3 per cent to Rs 2.65 in July-September 2000 from the level of Rs 2.38 in July-September 1999.