** Shares in Atlas Copco ATCOa.ST fall 3.8% to 148.35 Swedish crowns ($15.40) after the industrial group posted its Q1 profit below expectations as it expects customer activity level to weaken short term
** The company said in a statement that overall demand was flat year-on-year, with lower orders from Europe and North America
** "While orders came in broadly in-line, we note compressor technique demand was saved by gas & process compressors and industrial technique did not benefit from high EV production in the quarter," Jefferies says in a note
** JPM also highlights Atlas Copco's Q1 margin misses across all segments due to weaker-than-expected demand, higher costs from increased R&D and functional expenses, and dilution from recent acquisitions
** Operating profit before items affecting comparability fell to 8.87 billion Swedish crowns for the January-March period, while analysts were expecting 9.36 billion on average, LSEG data showed
** Including today's fall, the stock has dropped by 12% YTD
($1 = 9.6344 Swedish crowns)
(Reporting by Jesus Calero)
((Jesus.calero@thomsonreuters.com))