Nalco turned in a disappointing Q4 performance as well as for the year ended March 31. Sluggish price trend in aluminium and a high wage bill have been the main factors for Nalco's dismal performance. For the fourth quarter, Nalco has recorded a 3.2 per cent growth in net sales to Rs. 6.49 billion and a 13.6 per cent decline in post-tax earnings to Rs 1.37 billion. The operating profit margins declined by 3.03 percentage points in this quarter to 37.23 per cent over the same period the previous year. Over this period, the per share earnings declined to Rs 2.13 from Rs. 2.46.For the year ended March 31, 2002, Nalco registered net sales of Rs 22.25 billion and a 37.9 per cent decline in post-tax earnings to Rs 4.07 billion. The per share earnings has suffered a decline to Rs 6.32 in 2001-02 from Rs 10.18 in 2000-01.
NSTL
