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Metal major Hindustan Copper on Thursday reported a 149% jump in its December quarter consolidated net profit at Rs 156 crore compared to Rs 63 crore reported in the year-ago period. The company's revenue from operations stood at Rs 687 crore in Q3FY26, up 110% over Rs 327 crore posted in the corresponding period of the last financial year.The company declared an interim dividend of Re 1 per share for the financial year 2025-26 and has fixed Friday, February 13 as the record date for the interim dividend. The dividend will be paid only through electronic mode on or before Friday, March 6.The PAT was down 16% sequentially from Rs 186 crore reported in Q2FY26 due to a 4% decline in topline compared to Rs 718 crore in the July-September quarter of FY26.Hindustan Copper's expenses in the quarter grew around 3% sequentially to Rs 493 crore versus Rs 480 crore in Q2FY26 while surging 90 YoY compared to Rs 259 crore. For the nine-month ended December 31, 2025, the PAT grew 71% to Rs 477 crore versus Rs 278 crore in the year ago period. The revenue from operations during the period stood at Rs 1,922 crore in this period versus Rs 1,340 crore in 9MFY25. This implies a 43% YoY growth.Also read: Tata Motors PV Q3 Results: Co reports loss of Rs 3,486 crore; revenue falls 26%Hindustan Copper shares recovered from the day's low of Rs 577.60 (-6%), ending Thursday's session 0.27% lower at Rs 612 on the NSE.(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

Voltas expects a double-digit revenue growth in its ‍room air conditioner business this ​summer, betting on first-time buyers to lead a rebound in ⁠demand after a subdued season last year, according to a senior company executive.Industry estimates show only a tenth of Indian households own an AC, compared to two-thirds in China ‌and one-third ‌in Thailand, even as the world's most populous country frequently grapples with heat waves."Research shows 85% of ‌buyers are first-time buyers," Jayant Balan, who heads Voltas' room AC business, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday, adding the category's revenue will grow in the double-digit percentage range in the April-June quarter.Revenue from Voltas' business group that ​sells room ACs and accounts for two-thirds of ​overall revenue slumped 25% in April-June 2025 due to early monsoon showers ‌and milder ‍summer temperatures. The firm booked 154.13 billion rupees ($1.7 billion) ‍in total revenue in 2024-25.Voltas, India's AC market leader with ‌nearly an 18% share, competes with local rival Blue Star, Japan's Daikin Industries and South Korea's LG Electronics.ACs are likely to get more expensive this year despite September's consumption tax cuts, as Voltas has raised prices after new energy-efficiency norms took effect, and as soaring copper and silver prices lift input costs.Further commodity inflation could trigger additional price ‍increases, Balan said.U.S. President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with India on Monday to cut tariffs to 18% from ‍50% in exchange ⁠for New Delhi ⁠halting Russian oil purchases and lowering trade barriers, including on U.S. industrial goods.It came days after India's trade deal with the European Union, opening the door to freer trade with its 27 members.Balan dismissed concerns over new entrants, saying Voltas already contends with more cost-competitive rivals.Voltas is also looking to quickly expand its small export footprint, with its research and development teams developing products for overseas markets, as Europe increasingly adopts ACs.