Tata Motors shares slump on JLR margin warning
Shares in India's Tata Motors Ltd slumped as much as 10 percent on Thursday after the auto maker said its Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) unit was likely to report a lower profit margin in the October-December quarter.
The warning late on Wednesday came as a surprise given Tata shares hit a record high earlier this month on a rally sparked by expectations for improving sales at JLR, especially in the key China market, and optimism about the launch of new models.
Tata said sales volumes were likely to be higher than in the previous two quarters, but warned earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) could fall due to exchange rate fluctuations and a higher mix of cheaper Evoque sports utility vehicle sales.
"Given that adverse currency movement and a weak product mix - led by Evoque - are the primary factors driving down margins, the pain may spill over to FY14," Mumbai-based financial services firm IDFC said in a report dated on Wednesday.
UBS cut its fiscal 2013 and 2014 earnings-per-share estimates for Tata Motors by 6 percent according to an email sent to clients, and maintained a "sell" rating on the stock, citing "expensive" valuations.
Tata Motors shares were down 7.5 percent at 289.55 rupees as of 0620 GMT, off a record high of 337.40 rupees reached on Jan. 10.
Shares in the auto maker surged 22.7 percent in November and December, helping the blue chip become the best performer among BSE's 30 constituents last year, on expectations a recovery in China
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