Dabur India, the leading Indian consumer goods company, announced Friday a rise in consolidated third quarter profit of 16.53% to Rs 2.82 billion for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2014 as compared to net profit Rs 2.42 billion in the same period last year. Analysts on average had predicted net profit of Rs 2.89 billion. 
 
Net sales have increased by 9.16% to Rs 20.73 billion for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2014 from Rs 18.99 billion in the year ago period.

Dabur ended Q3 of 2014-15 with a 17.8% growth in EBITDA.

''While the macroeconomic environment continues to be challenging and competitive intensity remains high, we continue to pursue a prudent growth strategy and have been efficiently managing the risks and challenges. Despite a sharp fall in growth rates in most consumer products segments, Dabur continued to focus on brand-building and market expansion programmes and reported strong growth in its core categories, which have been significantly ahead of the market. Going forward too, our focus will be on pursuing an aggressive and profitable growth strategy,'' Dabur India, chief executive officer, Sunil Duggal said.

The growth in Dabur's International Business was led by Egypt at 29%, Levant (comprising Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon & Syria markets) at 17% and GCC at 14%. ''Going forward, we will continue to pursue an aggressive growth strategy,'' Duggal added.

Shares of the company declined Rs 2.9, or 1.12%, to trade at Rs 255.40. The total volume of shares traded was 180,889 at the BSE (2.52 p.m., Friday).