Tata Motors’ Q4 profit beats, JLR turnaround helps

Bengaluru: Tata Motors Ltd’s fourth-quarter profit fell less than expected on Monday, with the Indian automaker saying tighter control of expenses and a turnaround at its Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) unit helped dull the impact of economic slowdown at home.

Three months ago, Tata promised “decisive action” to cut costs at JLR and improve cash flow after weak sales at the British luxury car brand led Tata to post the biggest-ever quarterly loss in Indian corporate history.

India’s biggest automaker by revenue earned Rs11.17 billion (Dh587 million or $160.26 million) in net profit for the three months ended March 31 — its first quarterly profit in the fiscal year.

The result was ahead of the Rs3.38 billion average of 10 analyst estimates compiled by Refinitiv IBES, but was still lower than Rs21.25 billion a year earlier.

Revenue from wholly owned subsidiary Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc fell 5 per cent to Rs651.46 billion. The unit brings in most of Tata’s revenue.

Last month, rival Maruti Suzuki India Ltd booked a net profit decline of 5 per cent and forecast a weak rate of growth for the current fiscal year ending March 2020.

Shares of Tata Motors closed up 7.5 per cent at Rs190.15 ahead of the earnings release. The Nifty Auto index ended up 4.2 per cent amid a broader market rally.