Dear Members,

We have released 18th Mar’18 – Dec’17 earnings update on IPCA Laboratories and Atul Auto. The same has been produced below. For other updates, please log into the website at the following link – https://katalystwealth.com/index.php/my-account/

Date: 18th Mar’18

18th Mar’18 – Dec’17 Earnings update

 

IPCA Laboratories (NSE – IPCALAB) – Nov’12 Alpha stock

CMP – 669.05 (BSE); 667.55 (NSE)

Rating – Neutral; this is not an investment advice (refer rating interpretation)

IPCA Lab 3 Years price chart          Source: BSE India

After several bad quarters, IPCA has reported somewhat improved performance in Dec’17 quarter. Post GST, with operations returning to normalcy, the company has reported growth across the segments.

For Dec’17 quarter the company’s sales are up by 14.53% on YOY basis to Rs 859 crore. The same has been achieved on the back of 12% growth in domestic formulations and 17% growth in exports formulations.

In the domestic formulations, except for anti-malaria, most of the other therapies like pain, cardio-vascular, anti-bacterial, derma, etc have reported strong growth. As per the management, increasingly company’s exposure to the volatile anti-malarial segment is coming down with only 8% contribution to domestic sales in 9M FY 18. Pain segment is the largest contributor with 44% and growing at decent pace.

As far as International business is concerned, except for generic business which is down 8%, all other segments like branded and institutional have reported strong growth. The generic business is down largely on account of almost zero business from US and decline in sales in UK and South Africa.

On the front of raw materials, the company has recorded gross margins of 65.80% against 67.16% in Dec’16 quarter.

The company has exercised good control on operating expenses. As per the management they have been consulting on reviewing cost structure. They have also been rationalizing man power in both manufacturing and marketing segment. As a result, despite increase in sales, the overall operating cost is up only 0.5%

So, with increase in sales and rationalization of cost, the EBITDA of the company is up by 37.62% on YOY basis to Rs 151.2 crore with EBITDA margins of 17.60%. With no major change in depreciation and finance cost and some gains on exchange front, the PBT of the company is up by 93.06% on YOY basis to Rs 122.75 crore.

As far as other developments are concerned, IPCA has completed the remedial process and has sent the invitation to US FDA for all the 3 units under import alert; however it’s difficult to predict as to when the US FDA will come for inspection. Health Canada recently inspected the 3 units and found them compliant. Regarding anti-malarial WHO global tender business, it should commence from Q1 FY 19. The business will pick up gradually as the company gets registered with more and more countries.

The management is hopeful of continued good growth in branded exports and pick up in UK sales in FY 19. Also, with decreasing contribution of anti-malarial business, management is expecting 14-16% growth in domestic business.

Overall, for FY 19, management is guiding for 12-15% growth in sales and expansion in EBITDA margins by 200-250 bps to around 18-19%. It’s important to note here that when the going was good, IPCA used to record 20-25% EBITDA margins; however since the USFDA import alert, its utilization levels have dropped significantly and thereby margins have also dipped considerably.

Overall, things are now looking up for IPCA and considering company is able to achieve the stated guidance, the stock is trading around 20 times forward earnings. While company has been clearing all the inspections; US FDA inspection and its clearance will be key to further growth and re-rating of the stock.

 

Atul Auto (NSE – ATULAUTO) – Jul’13 Alpha stock

CMP – 443.90 (BSE); 444.85 (NSE)

Rating – Positive – 3% weightage; this is not an investment advice (refer rating interpretation)

Atul Auto 3 Years price chart          Source: BSE India

Sales of the company for the Dec’17 quarter are down by 4.36% on YOY basis to Rs 127.92 crore. Against overall industry growth, Atul has reported de-growth in numbers in Dec’17 quarter as it resorted to controlling dealer inventory and thereby witnessed share drop in sales in the month of October 2017; however since then the months of November, December, January and February have witnessed growth in volumes of (YOY) 3%, 13%, 70% and 26% respectively.

Despite more than 10% drop in volumes in Dec’17 quarter, the drop in sales is only 4.36% on the back of higher realizations.

As far as raw materials are concerned, the company has recorded gross margins of 27.29% against 27.59% in Dec’16 quarter.

Company’s operating costs are lower; however during the quarter it incurred Rs 2.48 crore towards product development charges. The charges are towards development of BS VI diesel engine and alternative fuel 3-wheeler. In future as well, company may have to incur some charges towards product development.

The company continues to be debt free and as per the management the working capital situation has also improved.

As far as other developments are concerned, the e-vehicle is being sold in Gujarat and Bihar and will be soon introduced in other pockets and across the network. The product is currently recording 10% month on month volume growth. As far as exports are concerned, the company currently sells in 11 countries and expects to expand to 33 countries in next few years. As mentioned last time, in the long run, alternate fuel 3-wheelers, exports and e-rickshaws are likely to be the growth drivers for the company.

The stock is currently quoting around 22 times FY 18 (E) earnings.

 

Disclosure: Out of the stocks discussed above, I have personal investment in IPCA Laboratories.

 

Best Regards,

Ekansh Mittal
Research Analyst
https://www.katalystwealth.com/
Ph.: +91-727-5050062, Mob: +91-9818866676
Email: [email protected]

 

Rating Interpretation

Positive – Expected return of ~15% + on annualized basis in medium to long term for investment recommendations and in short term for Special situations
Neutral – Expected Absolute return in the range of +/- 15%
Negative – Expected Absolute return of over -15%
Coverage closure – No further update on the stock
% weightage – allocation in the subject stock with respect to equity investments

Short term – Less than 1 year
Medium term – Greater than 1 year and less than 3 years
Long term – Greater than 3 years

 

Research Analyst Details

Name: Ekansh Mittal     Email Id: [email protected]    Ph: +91 727 5050062

Analyst ownership of the stock: In IPCA Laboratories

Details of Associates: Not Applicable

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