LIC Housing Finance capitalises on Q2 numbers

LIC Housing Finance spurted 7.34% to Rs 242 at 14:01 IST on BSE, as net profit rose 16.06% to Rs 135.07 crore in Q2 September 2008 over Q2 September 2007.

The housing finance firm announced the results during trading hours today, 21 October 2008.

Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 490.73 points, or 4.80%, to 10,713.82.

On BSE, 2.58 lakh shares were traded in the counter. The stock had an average daily volume of 2.13 lakh shares in the past one quarter.

The stock hit a high of Rs 248 and a low of Rs 224 so far during the day. The stock has a 52-week high of Rs 402.90 on 11 December 2007 and a 52-week low of Rs 192 on 22 January 2008.

The stock declined 16.70% to Rs 225.45 on 20 October 2008, from the recent high of Rs 270.65 on 14 October 2008, ahead of the results.

The mid-cap stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 20 October 2008, declining 30.17% as compared to the Sensex's decline of 27.20%. It had outperformed the market in the past one quarter, declining 4.85% as compared to the Sensex's decline of 25.03%.

The financial institution's current equity is Rs 84.99 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.

The current price of Rs 242 discounts the company's Q1 June 2008 annualized EPS of Rs 49.29, by a PE multiple of 4.91.

LIC Housing Finance's total income rose 34.86% to Rs 707.72 crore in Q2 September 2008 over Q2 September 2007.

The firm provides long-term finance to individuals for purchase/construction/repair and renovation of new/ existing flats/houses. The company also provides finance on existing property for business/personal needs and gives loans to professionals for purchase/construction of clinics/nursing homes/diagnostic centres / office space