India's Persistent Systems falls on quarterly profit slump

** Shares of Persistent Systems PERS.NS down 3.4% to 5,642 rupees

** Stock set for third straight session of losses

** Co's Sept-qtr consol profit falls over 25% to 3.52 billion rupees ($37.06 million); consol rev from ops up 30% to 46.64 billion rupees

** Investec ("Sell"; raises PT to 4,550 rupees from 4,500 rupees) says profit margin fell below its expectations, due to higher costs from acquired assets

** BofA ("Underperform"; PO: 5,000 rupees) says holding profit margins steady for the rest of the year is "a tough ask", as co has has little room left to cut overheads

** Notes co's Nagarro acquisition is a key risk to watch given its size

** Stock rated as "Hold" on avg by 34 analysts; median PT at 5,600 rupees --LSEG-compiled data

** YTD, stock down ~10%

($1 = 94.9800 Indian rupees)