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Informist, Monday, Aug. 17, 2026                                      Tel +91 (22) 6985-4000

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Equity Alert: Margin pressure likely for Voltas in near term, analysts say

 

MUMBAI--0829 IST--Consumer durables major Voltas' unitary cooling products business supported revenue growth in the June quarter, while its electro-mechanical projects and services segment weighed on revenue, analysts said. A low base and price hikes benefited the company's air conditioner business during the quarter, they said. However, near- to medium-term margin concerns prompted brokerages to turn cautious on the company.

 

The company is positive on growth in its room air conditioners business, but the 7% rise in the margins of its unitary cooling products will be gradual, Emkay Global Financial Services said in its report. This is likely to take place over eight quarters, the brokerage said. Voltas' electro-mechanical projects and services segment is expected to recover in the second half of 2026-27 (Apr-Mar). Given the likelihood of a delay in margin normalisation and near-term execution pressures in the electro-mechanical projects and services, the brokerage cut its earnings per share estimates for the company by 13% for FY27 and 7% for FY28, while maintaining its 'buy' recommendation on the stock with a target price of INR 1,500.

 

While a low base, price hikes, and cost optimisation supported the company's air conditioner vertical's earnings before interest and taxes, elevated input costs hurt profitability, Nuvama Institutional Equities said. However, weakness in its electro-mechanical projects and services division remains a concern, the brokerage said. The brokerage trimmed its earnings per share estimates by 7% and 6% for FY27 and FY28, respectively. Nuvama maintained its 'reduce' call and has a target price of INR 1,230.

 

Voltas "delivered the print we were waiting for," Equirus Securities said, while noting that the Tata group company's growth was ahead of the industry's and that it expanded its unitary cooling products business' margins in a difficult cost environment. The segment's consolidated EBIT increased to INR 2.02 billion for the June quarter from INR 1.04 billion a year ago, the brokerage said. Equirus Securities maintained its 'long' stance on the stock with a target price of INR 1,520.

 

For the quarter ended June, Voltas reported a consolidated net profit of INR 2.14 billion on revenues of INR 46.74 billion. Friday, shares of the company closed 2.4% higher at INR 1,320.50 on the National Stock Exchange.  (Ruchira Kagita)

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Equity Alert: US indices fall Fri; Nasdaq, S&P 500 gain for 3rd straight wk

 

MUMBAI--0700 IST--Major US indices ended lower on Friday as crude oil prices rose, investors monitored talks between the US and Iran, and US retail sales posted a decline that lowered expectations of an interest rate hike by the Federal Reserve. Brent crude oil futures rose as much as 2% on Friday. After hitting a fresh high Thursday, the S&P 500 fell 0.2% in the last trading session for the week as shares of major chip equipment makers fell. On a weekly basis, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500 ended higher for the third straight week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed lower.

 

The Dow fell 0.2%, and the Nasdaq composite was down 0.3%. Shares of chip equipment maker Applied Materials and chipmakers Broadcom and Intel Corp. fell, putting pressure on the S&P 500. Most of the Magnificent Seven stocks witnessed some selling pressure Friday, with only Apple and Tesla ending in the green. "Today (Friday) is like the start of that post-earnings flattening out trade," Jay Hatfield, chief executive officer of Infrastructure Capital Advisors, told CNBC. Hatfield anticipates the S&P 500 will cross 8,100 by year-end, as 90% of its companies posted earnings growth of more than 50% from the year-ago period, assuming oil prices and interest rates remain at the same level.

 

US retail sales fell 0.6% on a monthly basis, but rose 5% on a yearly basis. Retail sales fell in July for the first time in nine months, Reuters said. "This points to a material slowdown in real consumer spending growth in the third quarter," Sal Guatieri, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

 

Following are the closing levels of major US indices Friday: 

 

Index	Level	Change in %
Dow Jones Industrial Average	53732.41	(-)0.2%
NASDAQ Composite	26729.16	(-)0.3%
S&P 500	7785.76	(-)0.2%

 

(Vidhi Thacker)

 

US$1 = INR 95.42

IST, or Indian Standard Time, is five-and-a-half hours ahead of GMT

 

Edited by Saji George Titus

 

All prices from National Stock Exchange, unless otherwise specified.

All percentage changes for share prices are rounded off to the nearest whole number; percentage changes for index values are rounded off to one decimal place.

All times are Indian Standard Time.

 

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