Asian Paints' 2QFY19 report was a clear disappointment more from a mix/margin angle, even as volume growth of low double-digit' turned out to be tad higher vs our forecast of c.8%. What is not clear, though, is how a double-digit volume growth translated into a mere 8.5% growth in revenue, considering the cumulative price-hike of 3.5% effected thus far (1.5% in Mar'18 plus 2% in May'18; the pricing action in Jul'18 was realisation-neutral, i.e. price-cut was effected to entirely pass on the 10ppt cut in GST rate). This apparent deterioration in mix further pressured margin which seems to have compressed much more than warranted by the inflation in RM prices. One possible explanation could be additional...