Marico Q3 profit seen down 2%, domestic volume may fall 5-6%

FMCG major Marico's third quarter consolidated profit is seen declining 2.2 percent year-on-year to Rs 193.5 crore and revenue may fall 5.4 percent to Rs 1,472 crore as domestic volume is expected to decline 5-6 percent.

Operating profit during the quarter is likely to fall 6.2 percent year-on-year to Rs 275.6 crore and margin may contract 20 basis points to 18.7 percent, according to average of estimates of analysts polled by CNBC-TV18.

Coconut oil staple product (used for cooking in South India), 35 percent revenue from wholesale channels and main markets like Southern & Western part of India saw relatively less impact of demonetisation.

Key factors to watch out for would be cut in prices for coconut oil by 2.5-3 percent during the quarter, lower growth in discretionary part of portfolio (Value Added Hair Oils & Safolla) and margin guidance.