HDFC Bank Q3 Preview: Private lender HDFC Bank will flag-off the December quarter earnings for large banks when it announces its Q3FY21 results on Saturday, January 16. Amid improving economic activity, analysts expect the lender to report higher-than-industry average loan growth, implying continued market share gains. However, net profit could come under pressure due to higher slippages and lower fee income growth. Painting a grim picture, ICICI Securities forecasts a 17 per cent year-on-year (YoY) decline in the lender’s net profit at Rs 6,132.1 crore compared with Rs 7,416.5 crore net profit reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal (Q3FY20). Sequentially, the profit may contract 18 per cent from Rs 7,513.1 crore clocked in the September quarter of the current financial year (Q2FY21).