ITC Q4 preview: Cigarette, FMCG businesses likely to push profit higher

ITC has outperformed the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex in the last one year by surging 7.12 per cent as compared to the latter's 6.56 per cent gain in the same time period

Cigarette-to-soap maker ITC will report its March 2019 quarter earnings on Monday. The results and guidance assume significance as the economy grappels with slowing consumption and an overall structural slowdown.

Last week, Hindustan Unilever (HUL), the country’s largest consumer goods company, reported its lowest volume growth in six quarters for the January-March period (Q4FY19), on the back of moderation in rural demand.

As regards ITC, analysts expect a healthy gain in revenue and profit in Q4FY19 on the back of volume growth in the cigarette business segment and an improvement in the FMCG business.

Analysts at Edelweiss expect the revenue (standalone basis) to