India’s Cyient misses third-quarter profit estimates on higher costs

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(Reuters) – Indian engineering and technology firm Cyient reported a third-quarter profit below analysts’ expectations on Thursday, hurt by slower growth in its biggest segment and higher costs.

Its profit declined to 1.22 billion rupees ($14.12 million) for the three months ended Dec. 31, from 1.47 billion rupees a year ago. Analysts had expected 1.71 billion rupees, according to data compiled by LSEG.

Growth in Cyient’s transportation division — which contributes 30% to the company’s biggest unit, digital, engineering and technology — has eased over the past few quarters due to delays in project starts in the aerospace segment and slowdown in the rail segment.

The downbeat results also echo those of peer engineering, research and design companies (ER&D) Tata Elxsi and L&T Technology Services.

ER&D services, which include providing technology support to industries such as aerospace, telecom and automotive, contribute a sixth of the revenue to India’s $254-billion technology sector.

Cyient’s total expenses rose 9% during the quarter, led by a 26% jump in its cost of materials consumed and a 6% rise in employee expenses.

Revenue from the company’s digital, engineering and technology segment, which contributes more than 76% to its total revenue — fell 1%.

Its smaller design-led manufacturing business, Cyient DLM, posted a 38% rise in revenue.

Cyient’s total revenue rose 5.7% to 19.26 billion rupees, beating analysts’ estimates.

($1 = 86.4040 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Aleef Jahan)