Profitability woes hit sector leaders IndiGo, Maruti, Hero, Asian Paints

Industry leaders in auto, aviation and paints sectors are focused on improving market share rather than margins

Despite dominating the sectors they are in, industry leaders have been eyeing market share and volume gains at the cost of profitability. This is the case across the two-wheeler, passenger car, aviation, and paints sectors. 

For auto companies, for instance, maintaining volumes while passing on the hike in raw material prices is tough. Most companies in the sector, however, have been cautious, preferring to absorb some of the costs rather than risk losing volumes amid demand worries.

Consider the country's largest car maker Maruti. While the company has done much better than the sector, gaining market share to the tune