Mumbai: Jyothi Laboratories Ltd (JLL) on Monday reported a 26% rise in fourth-quarter profit but missed analyst estimates. Net profit increased to Rs.27.06 crore in the quarter ended 31 March from Rs.21.45 crore in the year-ago period. Net sales rose 11.3% to Rs.396.11 crore. A Bloomberg poll of nine analysts had estimated net profit of Rs.29.27 crore and net sales of Rs.402.2 crore. The operating profit margin of JLL, makers of brands such as Ujala, Henko, Exo and Pril, for the March quarter increased to 13.2% from 8.4% in the year-ago period helped by lower crude prices. “The softening of crude oil prices has led to an increase in operating margins and helped tame inflationary pressures,� said JLL chairman and managing director M.P. Ramachandran. For the full year, net profit rose 48.7% to touch Rs.121.12 crore. Net sales was up 14.2% at Rs.1,505.29 crore. The growth was driven by volumes growth of 10% and price increase of close to 4%, said Ullas Kamath, joint managing director, JLL. During the March quarter, revenue from soaps and detergent business, which includes brands like Margo, Mr. White and Chek, increased 11.2% to Rs.262.10 crore. Home Care, which includes mosquito repellant Maxo, Incense sticks and Exo scrubber, saw 11.8% rise in revenue to Rs.119.79 crore. Shares of JLL rose 4.7% to Rs.265 on BSE on Monday. The exchange’s benchmark Sensex fell 1.12% to 27,643.88 points.

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