Hero MotoCorp on Thursday reported a firm second-quarter performance, with profit, revenue and operating metrics all registering healthy gains as festival-season demand and GST-driven efficiencies helped lift volumes across key categories. The company’s net profit rose 15.7% year-on-year to Rs 1,393 crore, compared with Rs 1,204 crore a year earlier, marginally topping Bloomberg’s projection of Rs 1,381 crore. Revenue from operations increased 16% to Rs 12,126 crore, up from Rs 10,463 crore in the corresponding quarter last year and higher than the estimated Rs 11,891 crore. Ebitda rose 20% to Rs 1,824 crore, while operating margins inched up to 15% compared to 14.5% in the same period last year, reflecting better product mix, cost controls and the early benefits of scale in premium offerings.