Brokerage revises target price, which implies 13 percent downside; does not see merger with any state-owned companies.
State-owned Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) today reported 53 per cent jump in the December quarter net profit on account of higher fuel sales and inventory gains.
Analysts polled by CNBC-TV18 feel inventory gains could spring a surprise in the company's December quarter earnings. GRMs could be better in the third quarter after being lower in Q2 due to weak diesel spreads and inventory losses.
In an interview to CNBC-TV18 after the company reported strong first quarter earnings, Ashok said he is hopeful crude prices will remain range-bound this year helping IOC limit inventory losses or even post inventory gains.
In an interview with CNBC-TV18, P Balasubramanian, Director Finance of BPCL said inventory gains and high refining margins helped in stable June quarter earnings.