New Delhi, May 29 -- Competition in India's paintssector is becoming cut-throat amid subdued demand. To protect their market share, incumbent paint companies are enhancing brand visibility and distribution, hurting the sector's profitability.

The aggregate Ebitda margin of five key listed paint makers fell year-on-year for the fifth consecutive quarter in Q4FY25, showed IIFL Securities data. The reading declined123 basis points (bps) year-on-year to 15.9%.This means the benefit of benign input cost, which aided gross margin expansion, was offset by higher operating costs. Other expenses and staff costs in Q4FY25 increased almost 110bps and 50bps year-on-year, respectively, according to IIFL.

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