Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was down 61.15 points or 0.38% to 15,965.26.

On BSE, 19,000 shares were traded in the counter as against average daily volume of 1.10 lakh shares in the past one quarter.

The stock hit a high of Rs 59.95 and a low of Rs 58.40 so far during the day. The stock had hit a 52-week low of Rs 48 on 24 November 2011. The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 94 on 2 June 2011.

The large-cap stock had outperformed the market over the past one month till 22 May 2012, rising 5.75% compared with the Sensex's 7.76% fall. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, falling 2.76% as against the Sensex's 11.68% fall.

The company has an equity capital of Rs 1288.62 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5.

The National Aluminium Company (Nalco) stock has fallen 3.61% in two trading sessions from Rs 60.80 on Monday, 21 May 2012, after the company announced weak Q4 earnings after market hours on Monday, 21 May 2012. The stock had fallen 1.64% to settle at Rs 59.80 on Tuesday, 22 May 2012.

National Aluminium Company's (Nalco) net profit fell 7.6% to Rs 282.10 crore on 1.9% decline in net sales to Rs 1753.41 crore in Q4 March 2012 over Q4 March 2011. Operating profit margin (OPM) plunged 760 basis points (bps) to 17.2% in Q4 March 2012 from 24.8% in Q4 March 2011 as cost of raw material as a percentage of adjusted net sales rose to 14.6% from 12.5%, power and fuel expenses rose to 30% from 26.3% and other expenses rose to 22.2% from 17.8%.

Nalco's net profit fell 20.6% to Rs 849.50 crore on 9.1% growth in net sales to Rs 6500.27 crore in the year ended 31 March 2012 over the year ended 31 March 2011. OPM plunged 900 bps to 17.3% resulting in 28% fall in operating profit to Rs 1144.91 crore in FY 2012 over FY 2011.

State-run Nalco is an integrated aluminium maker, with its activities encompassing bauxite mining, alumina refining, aluminium smelting and casting, power generation, rail and port operations.