Petronet LNG Q4 profit seen up 17.8% at Rs 288.7cr

State-owned Petronet LNG is set to announce its fourth quarter (January-March) results today. According to CNBC-TV18 poll, analysts on an average expects its net profit to rise by 17.8 percent year-on-year (down 9.4 percent sequentially) to Rs 288.7 crore.

Revenues are seen going up by 27.3 percent (down 3.6 percent quarter-on-quarter) Y-o-Y to Rs 8,116 crore in March quarter. Also Read - Petronet LNG signs initial agreement to buy 4mtpa from United LNG Meanwhile, operating profit margin is expected to be at 6 percent in fourth quarter FY13 as against 7 percent in a year ago period (unchanged compared to previous quarter). Factors According to analysts, investors should watch out for guidance on Kochi terminal ramp up and clarity on recent issues around Kochi-Bangalore gas pipeline. They expect QoQ volume growth to be muted due to seasonally weak LNG demand from power sector. Regas volume may dip by 5 percent QoQ at 134TBtus. Marketing margin may crash in March quarter as against around Rs 30 per mmbtu earned during the past few quarters on spot volumes, because the strength in spot LNG prices would limit company's ability to charge high marketing margin.