New Delhi, March 20 -- India Inc.'s earnings recovery will take longer than expected as higher energy prices amid the West Asia conflict could squeeze margins, according to the investment head of Standard Chartered Securities (India).

"The consensus about a month back was building around 14-15% kind of (earnings) growth, which might come to low double-digits because of these changes in the input cost," said Gaurav Dua, chief investment officer at the broking firm.

For a year and a half, India Inc has been in an earnings downgrade cycle that was expected to bottom out, Dua said. But the rising energy prices could prolong the recovery, he said. "Despite this, we believe that the worst of the cycle is now behind us."

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Ann...