Ranbaxy net jumps by 164% at Rs 308 cr

Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd, India's top drugmaker by sales, on Thursday reported a surge in quarterly net profit beating street expectations.

Ranbaxy, controlled by Japan's Daiichi Sankyo, said consolidated net profit stood at Rs 308 crore for the fiscal third-quarter ended September. This compared with Rs 115 crore reported a year earlier.

A Reuters poll had forecast net profit of Rs 140 crore for the firm, which is reporting its first quarter of results under a new chief executive who took over in August.

Last month, rival Dr Reddy's Laboratories Ltd topped estimates with a 32-per cent jump in quarterly profit boosted by strong sales in the domestic market.

Ranbaxy shares, which the market values at $5.7 billion, have risen about 17 per cent so far this year, underperforming the 34-per cent rise in the sector index and the main index's 19.5 per cent gain