Astec Lifesciences net profit doubled in Q4

The Indian company Astec Lifesciences has soared 18% to Rs 163 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) after the company's consolidated net profit for the quarter ended March 2015 (Q4) more than doubled at Rs 3.25 crore, on the back of strong sales. The agrochemicals company had posted a profit of Rs 1.62 crore in the year-ago quarter.

Total operational income during the quarter rose 97% to Rs 91.98 crore as against Rs 46.70 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

The EBITDA or operating profit margin expanded by 250 basis points to 20.5% in the March 2015 quarter from 18.06% in the previous year's quarter.

Astec LifeSciences manufactures a wide range of agrochemical active ingredients and pharmaceutical intermediates.