Zee Ent Q3 net up 3% to Rs 193cr, margins improve sharply

Zee Entertainment Enterprises' consolidated net profit rose 2.8 percent quarter-on-quarter - higher than expected - to Rs 193.3 crore in the third quarter of financial year 2012-13.

Meanwhile, consolidated revenue declined 1.5 percent to Rs 938.8 crore from Rs 953.5 crore during the same period.

Numbers were better-than-forecast on every parameter. Analysts on average were expecting net profit at Rs 175 crore on revenue at Rs 918 crore for the quarter.

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) jumped 19.7% QoQ to Rs 261 crore in October-December quarter as against expectations of Rs 222 crore.

EBITDA margin improved 490 basis points QoQ to 27.8 percent while analysts estimated at 24.2 percent.

Advertisement revenue too grew stronger-than-expected 28.8 percent YoY to Rs 509.4 crore in December quarter.

Subscription revenue rose by 25.6 percent YoY to Rs 409.8 crore while domestic subscription revenue stood at Rs 296.1 crore for the quarter.

Shares gained 2.2 percent to Rs 227.50 on Bombay Stock Exchange at 14:02 hours IST.