Maruti Suzuki Q1 results fail to excite Street; what should investors do?

Maruti Suzuki India shares were under pressure on Tuesday, a day after the country's largest carmaker reported a set of quarterly numbers that fell short of analysts' estimates on most parameters. The stock of Maruti Suzuki India — whose popular models include Baleno, Swift, WagonR, Brezza, Eeco, Dzire and Ertiga — declined by as much as Rs 169.3 or 1.7 per cent to Rs 9,650.3 apiece on BSE.  

Maruti Suzuki Q1 results

After market hours on Monday, Maruti Suzuki India reported a year-on-year jump of 145.5 per cent in standalone net profit to Rs 2,485.1 crore for the quarter ended June 2023, driven by larger sales volumes, improved realisation, cost reduction efforts and higher non-operating income. 

Maruti Suzuki's revenue from operations grew 22 per cent to Rs 32,326.9 crore for the first quarter of the current financial year, according to a regulatory filing.

The carmaker's margin — a key measure of profitability — improved by 200 basis points to 9.2 per cent.

According to Zee Business research, Maruti Suzuki's quarterly net profit was estimated at Rs 2,520 crore, revenue at Rs 31,650 crore and margin at 10.6 per cent. Read more on Maruti Suzuki Q1 earnings 

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What analysts make of Maruti Suzuki earnings

According to CLSA, which maintained a 'sell' rating on Maruti Suzuki India after the earnings announcement, Maruti Suzuki's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and ammortisation (EBITDA) fell short of the brokerage's estimate owing to higher staff and marketing costs.   

CLSA reduced its volume assumptions for the auto major for the two years ending March 2023 by three per cent. CLSA's target price implies a downside of 14.7 per cent in Maruti Suzuki shares from Monday's closing price. 

Citi retained a 'buy' call on Maruti Suzuki and reduced its target price for the stock by Rs 500 to Rs 13,200. The brokerage's target price suggests an upside of 39.5 per cent.  

Maruti Suzuki shares grew 18 per cent in the June quarter, outperforming a 10.5 per cent rise in the benchmark Nifty index.

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