BUZZ — India's Persistent Systems falls on quarterly profit slump

* Shares of Persistent Systems 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) (Reporting by Mridula Kumar in Bengaluru) ((mailto:Mridula.Kumar@thomsonreuters.com;)