Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL), an integrated power plant equipment manufacturer, reported a fall of 51.84% in net profit  for the quarter ended Mar. 31, 2015, due to drop in sales and operating margin. 

For the March 2015 quarter, profit stood at Rs 8.88 billion as compared to Rs 18.44 billion in the same period last year. Analysts, on average, had expected BHEL to report a profit of Rs 7.83 billion.
 
Net sales has decreased by 16.17% to Rs 123.68 billion for the quarter ended Mar. 31, 2015 from Rs 147.54 billion in the year ago period.

Total income for the quarter declined 17.09% over prior year period to Rs 127.02 billion.

Operating margin for the quarter dropped to 8.75% compared with 14.81% in the same period last year.

Shares of the company gained Rs 6.75, or 2.88%, to settle at Rs 241.00. Total volume of shares traded on the bourses today was higher by 212.90% to 9,573,448 compared with 22-day average volume of 3,059,595. (Tuesday)