ITC Q3 Earnings: Cigarette business to drive net profit of 20%

Cigarette-to-soap conglomerate ITC is set to declare its third-quarter results on Friday. Here are the key expectations:

The revenue is likely to grow at 6.5 percent to Rs 12,000 crore.

The EBITDA is likely to see a growth of around 7.5 percent, meaning a slight margin expansion.

Analysts are working with a margin expansion of 50 basis points (bps).

The net profit, aided by lower taxes, should increase by about 20 percent to Rs 3,850 crore.

The key business for the company would be the cigarette segment. Analysts are expecting a revenue growth of anywhere between 5 percent and 6 percent.

Cigarette volume growth will be 2-3 percent and cigarette realisation growth is seen at around 3 percent.

The street is hopeful of a 100 basis points improvement in the FMCG business.