Hikal, engaged in pharmaceuticals and crop protection products, has suffered a setback during the fourth quarter ended March 2018. Its standalone net profit declined by 12.4 per cent to Rs.25.34 crore from Rs.32.12 crore in the corresponding period of last year. Its total income improved by 24.1 per cent to Rs.392.11 crore from Rs.315.89 crore. With lower net profit, EPS declined to Rs.3.13 from Rs.3.51 in the last year.

The Board of Directors has recommended bonus shares in the ratio of 1:2 and final equity dividend of 25 per cent (Re 0.50 per equity share of face value of Rs.2 each) on the expanded capital. Earlier, the company paid an interim equity dividend of 25 per cent.

Hikal scrip opened lower and then declined further by over Rs.14 to Rs.240.10 on BSE in the afternoon session. For the full year ended March 2018, Hikal's consolidated net sales increased 25.7 per cent to Rs.1,282 crore from Rs.1,020 crore in the previous year. Its pharmaceutical sales moved up by 23.2 per cent to Rs.753 crore from Rs.611 crore and that of crop protection products went up by 29.3 per cent to Rs.547 crore from Rs.423 crore. Pharma sales contributed 58 per cent and crop protection products 42 per cent in its sales. During the previous year, Hikal has sold its investment in subsidiary, Hikal International BV Netherland and shown Rs.4.21 crore as exceptional expenditure. Its net profit improved by 14 per cent to Rs.77.23 crore from Rs.67.77 crore in the previous year.