Hikal, a Rs. 825 crore plus Pune based company engaged in pharmaceutical and crop protection products,  has received setback during the fourth quarter ended March 2014 and its standalone net profit declined by 66.8 per cent to Rs. 3.07 crore from Rs. 9.25 crore in the corresponding period of last year. Its standalone net sales, however, improved by 20 per cent to Rs. 227.54 crore from Rs. 189.64 crore. EPS declined sharply to Rs. 1.87 from Rs. 5.63 in the last period.

The board of directors has stepped up equity dividend to 45 per cent for the year 2013-14 as compared to 25 per cent paid in the last year.

The consolidated net sale for the year ended March 2014 increased by 25.6 per cent to Rs. 829 crore from Rs. 660 crore in the previous year. Its pharmaceuticals sales increased by 27.9 per cent to Rs. 475.44 crore from Rs. 371.61 crore and that of crop protection products moved up by 22.5 per cent to Rs. 353.77 crore from Rs. 288.81 crore. Pharmaceutical sales contributed 57.3 per cent to its total net sales and crop protection division's sales worked out to 42.7 per cent.

Its other income went up to Rs. 34.06 crore from Rs. 6.30 crore. The foreign exchange loss declined to Rs. 17.92 crore from Rs. 48.43 crore in the previous year. These items pushed its net profit by 153 per cent to Rs. 63.90 crore from Rs. 25.25 crore in the previous year. EPS worked out to Rs. 38.47 as against Rs. 15.38 in the last year. As against the equity capital of Rs. 16.44 crore, its reserves and surplus stood at Rs. 489 crore.