UPL Q4 results: Profit rises 34% on higher volumes

UPL Ltd.’s profit rose aided by growth in volumes and price hikes. The agrochemical maker’s profit rose 34% sequentially to Rs 1,063 crore in the quarter ended March, according to its exchange filing. That compares with the Rs 1,077.9 crore consensus estimate of analysts tracked. 

UPL’s revenue grew 40% quarter-on-quarter to Rs 12,796 crore, against the estimated Rs 12,016.1 crore. That was aided by a strong performance in the company’s key markets of Latin America, India and Europe.

Highlights (QoQ) 

-  Operating profit rose 20% to Rs 2,651 crore, compared with the Rs 2,556.8-crore estimate. 

-  Ebitda margin contracted to 20.7% from 24.1%.

Revenue Across Geographies (QoQ) 

-  Latin America: up 23.85% to Rs 4,767 crore. 

-  India: down 6.07% to Rs 851 crore. 

-  North America: rose 87.79% to Rs 2,539 crore. 

-  Rest of World: increased 8.63% to Rs 2,063 crore. 

-  Europe: up 130% to Rs 2,577 crore.

The company pared its gross debt by Rs 5,039 crore and net debt by Rs 3,140 crore in the year ended March. Gross and net debt as of March 31 stood at Rs 23,774 crore and Rs 18,922 crore, respectively. 

UPL Ltd.’s profit rose aided by growth in volumes and price hikes. The agrochemical maker’s profit rose 34% sequentially to Rs 1,063 crore in the quarter ended March, according to its exchange filing. That compares with the Rs 1,077.9 crore consensus estimate of analysts tracked.

"2020 was certainly a challenging year for each one of us, and the world as a whole. Despite being an incredibly tough year, we delivered growth through continuously innovating and transforming, and adapting to the constantly changing situation as best it can. Our financial performance in FY21 has demonstrated the resilience of our model in COVID times," UPL CEO Jai Shroff said in a statement.

UPL aims to lead the agri-solutions space through differentiated products, bio-solutions, digitisation and collaborations across the food value chain, he added.