How has been the historical performance of Ludlow Jute?

Answer:The historical performance of Ludlow Jute shows fluctuations in key financial metrics over the years.

Breakdown:
Ludlow Jute's net sales decreased from 359.44 Cr in Mar'17 to 333.74 Cr in Mar'18, following a general decline from 351.58 Cr in Mar'16. The total operating income mirrored this trend, dropping to 333.74 Cr in Mar'18 from 359.44 Cr in Mar'17. The company's total expenditure, excluding depreciation, also fell to 324.93 Cr in Mar'18 from 342.90 Cr in the previous year. Consequently, the operating profit (PBDIT) decreased significantly from 18.29 Cr in Mar'17 to 12.43 Cr in Mar'18, resulting in a lower operating profit margin of 2.64% compared to 4.6% in Mar'17. Profit before tax followed suit, declining to 3.01 Cr in Mar'18 from 10.11 Cr in Mar'17, and profit after tax also dropped to 1.83 Cr from 6.77 Cr. The earnings per share (EPS) reflected this downturn, falling to 1.69 in Mar'18 from 6.26 in Mar'17. On the balance sheet, total assets increased to 257.45 Cr in Mar'18 from 241.82 Cr in Mar'17, while total liabilities rose to 257.45 Cr from 241.82 Cr, indicating a growing debt level. Cash flow from operating activities decreased to 3.01 Cr in Mar'18 from 14.41 Cr in Mar'17, although cash and cash equivalents at the end of Mar'18 improved to 3.18 Cr from 2.38 Cr in Mar'17. Overall, Ludlow Jute experienced a challenging year in terms of profitability, while its asset base continued to grow.