It is a great pleasure to present the sixteenth edition of ‘India’s Top 500 Companies’,
Dun & Bradstreet’s premium publication. This publication has consistently served
as a compendium on financial performance of corporate India’s top performing
companies across a whole spectrum of diverse industries. The publication
provides comprehensive comparative performance of these top companies for
key financial indicators.
The real GVA at basic prices registered a growth of nearly 7.1% in FY15 compared
to 6.6% in FY14. The momentum continued with GVA registering a growth of
7.3% during Q1-Q3 of FY16 as compared to 7.4% in the corresponding period of
the previous fiscal. Macroeconomic developments coupled with market concerns
about the growth of the Chinese economy and non-revival in the domestic
demand conditions adversely impacted Corporate India. As a result, the total
income of Top 500 Companies showed 4% de-growth for the first three quarters of FY16 as compared to the
corresponding period of previous year.
Global prices of crude oil and other raw materials particularly metal declined in 2015 leading to softening
of commodity prices. Continuing the downward trend, crude oil price declined from approximately $55 per
barrel at the start of 2015 to less than $40 per barrel during end of 2015. Analysis of 300 companies from the
manufacturing sector (whose data for raw materials and profit was available for 9M period of Apr-Dec 2015
and 2014) shows that raw material expenses of these companies slowed down by nearly 20% during Apr-
Dec 2015 compared to corresponding period of previous year. As a consequence, these companies from the
manufacturing sector managed to record profit growth of more than 10% for the same time period.
Prospects for the Indian economy have definitely brightened in view of abatement of high inflationary
pressures and easing of interest rate cycle. In addition, the Union Budget’s reiterating thrust in investment
in the infrastructure sector as well as policy initiatives undertaken by the current government has created
an environment of optimism. However, high corporate debt continues to be a point of serious concern that
Corporate India will need to manage prudently. As the Indian economy continues to evolve Dun & Bradstreet
will continue to provide critical insights about Corporate India’s performance through ‘India’s Top 500
Companies 2016’.
I look forward to receiving your valuable feedback and suggestions.
