Dear Members,
We have released 24th Nov’17: Tiger Logistics (India) Ltd (BSE Code – 536264) – Alpha/Alpha Plus stock for Nov’17. For details and other updates, please log into the website at the following link – https://katalystwealth.com/index.php/my-account/
Detailed pdf report on the company can be accessed at the following link – Tiger Logistics (India) (BSE Code – 536264) – Nov17 Katalyst Wealth Alpha Report
Note: For any queries, mail us at [email protected]
Date: 24th Nov’17
CMP – 183.45 (BSE)
Rating – Positive – 3% weightage; this is not an investment advice (refer rating interpretation)
Introduction
Tiger Logistics (India) Limited was founded on 23rd May, 2000 in New Delhi by Mr. Harpreet Singh Malhotra, who is also the Managing Director of the company. At the time of its inception, Tiger Logistics operated as a custom house agent with 8 employees and today it has grown into an end-to-end third party logistics (3PL) solutions provider with a work force of more than 300 experienced professionals.
The company’s business covers international freight forwarding, transportation and activities related to custom house agency (CHA). Tiger specializes in International Logistics i.e. handling import and export of Cargos and Projects. It has a strong base of around 50 agents and partners all over the world. Its competitive edge lays in its asset light model and providing one-stop solution to customers for International Trades.
We like the fact that Tiger Logistics is a young company founded by first generation entrepreneur with focus on asset light model. Over the years the company has reported decent growth in operations with more or less debt free balance sheet on net basis.
We also believe that asset light 3PL service providers will have huge role to play in future with companies focusing on core operations and outsourcing their logistics requirements to 3PL service providers.
Though company doesn’t pay any dividend at the moment, we derive some comfort from the fact that promoters own 73% stake in the company. Lastly, for a high growth company in a high growth sector, we believe the valuations are reasonable around 18.25 times trailing twelve months earnings and around 16 times FY 19 (E) earnings.
Business
Tiger logistics started as a CHA in 2000 and over the years has evolved into a multi-vertical global logistics solution provider. Today, the company carves out tailored solutions based on customer’s needs and manages their end to end logistics requirement including Transportation (in India/abroad), Custom clearance and freight forwarding (through Air/Ocean).
The company provides services by tying up with air-carriers, shipping lines, international agencies, CONCOR (Railways) and fleet operators. Thus, the company operates business primarily on the basis of an “asset-light” model which enables it to offer a variety of flexible, scalable, solutions and services based on client’s requirements and handle complexities that are unique to the Indian logistics industry. This business model also allows it to manage any fluctuations in demand more efficiently and minimize any adverse effects resulting from cyclical movements.
The company’s main focus as of now is on exports and serves industry verticals such as Projects & Heavy lifts, Yarn & Textiles, Commodities, Consumer Durables & Others, Cold Chain Logistics, Automotive and Defence logistics. The company services multiple clients across multiple industries and boasts of some well known names like LG, LLOYD, HERO Motocorp, TVS, Bajaj, Honda, DRDO, ABB, BHEL, etc.
Over the years the company’s dependence on Top 5 customers has reduced from 50% in FY 13 to 18% in FY 17. As far as volumes (TEUs – Twenty Feet Unit’s) are concerned, the company has registered 27% CAGR in TEUs since FY 14. It is important to note here that revenue growth may not necessarily follow volume growth as freight rates can change substantially year on year and any increase/decrease in freight rates is to be passed on to customers.
As per the management, while Project and Defence logistics are the higher margin segments, logistics for commodities contribute lower margins. As far as Defence logistics is concerned, it’s a new segment for the company and has opened up after the new government came to power in 2014.
Tiger is one of the leading FCL (full container load) operators in India; however with the implementation of GST the management is considering leveraging existing network & infrastructure to enter Domestic Logistics segment and be part of the LCL (less than container load) Segment in India as well.
Promoters/Management
Mr. Harpreet Singh Malhotra is the Chairman & Managing Director of Tiger Logistics. He is a Commerce graduate from Delhi University and an alumnus of IIFT, New Delhi. Before starting Tiger Logistics, he was associated with Hero Motocorp.
Mr. Malhotra’s grandfather was an Army officer while his father was a Navy officer.
In running the operations, Mr. Malhotra is supported by his wife Mrs. Benu Malhotra who is also the CFO of the company.
In small/mid cap companies it’s important as an investor that the promoters hold reasonably high stake and in the case of Tiger Logistics the promoters own 73% stake in the company which is just a tad below the maximum limit of 75%
On the basis of our readings of IPO draft prospectus and Annual reports, we haven’t come across any major corporate governance issues or any other major red flags; however the two concerns that we have are that there seems to be overdependence on Mr. Harpreet Singh Malhotra and the second is that salary for Mr. Malhotra has been raised substantially.
Operating Performance
As mentioned above, Tiger Logistics operates on an asset light business model, wherein it doesn’t own all the assets but rather ties up with air-carriers, shipping lines, international agencies, fleet operators, etc to carve out tailored solutions based on customer’s needs and manage their end-to-end logistics requirement.
As a result of the above strategy, the company focuses primarily on partnering with the right vendors and expand its branch network so as to be able to serve the customers in the most efficient manner and in larger number of geographies.
With the above backdrop, Tiger has been able to maintain steady growth in operations while maintaining a very lean balance sheet in terms of capital assets and more or less debt free operations on net basis; however the business is working capital intensive with majority of it being in the form of trade receivables.
Over the last 5 years the company has reported 23% CAGR in sales from Rs 105.11 crore in FY 12 to Rs 298.05 crore in FY 17. The EBITDA margins of the company have also seen some improvement from around 4.5-4.7% to around current levels of 5-5.5%. With no major change in Depreciation and finance cost, the company has reported 30% CAGR in PBT from Rs 4.26 crore in FY 12 to Rs 15.94 crore in FY 17.
While 3PL business is characterized by low fixed capital intensity, it is also a low-margin business; however in terms of margins Tiger has been performing relatively better than its much larger listed peer Mahindra Logistics. With very strong capital turnover and relatively better margins, tiger has consistently been reporting 20% + Return on Avg. Equity (ROAE).
One aspect though where the company has been lacking is managing receivables. Since FY 13, the receivable days have increased from 64 to 101 at the end of FY 17, while the payable days have remained same at around 45-46; thus the net working capital cycle has increased from 18 days to 55 days. Out of last 9 years, the company has reported negative cash flows from operations in only 3 years and the provisions and write-offs on account of bad debts have also been low; however we would still like to see the company bring down its receivables and net working capital to lower levels.
Valuations
At around current price of 183-184 the market capitalization of the company is Rs 194 crore and the enterprise value is also around 196 crore.
For FY 17 the company recorded net profit of Rs 10.29 crore and EBIT of Rs 16.25 crore. For trailing twelve months the company has recorded net profit of 10.63 crore and simply extrapolating by a conservative 18%, the company is likely to close FY 19 with a net profit of around Rs 12.15 crore.
As we know from the above sections that Tiger Logistics is almost a debt free company growing at around 20% + on YOY basis and consistently recording 20% + ROAE; we therefore believe that from the high growth perspective the valuations of the company are reasonable at around 18.25 times trailing twelve months earnings and around 16 times FY 19 (E) earnings.
While for a very small cap company, comparison with a Mahindra group company may not be apt; however just for the sake of information, the recently listed Mahindra Logistics is quoting around 60 times earnings. The business model for both Tiger Logistics and Mahindra Logistics is same and even the margin profiles are same with Tiger reporting slightly better margins; however Mahindra Logistics scores much better in terms of overall working capital management.
Risks and Concerns
As the company doesn’t own any assets and is dependent on other operators, any laxity or deficiency in service levels from any of the operators can result in loss of reputation and business for the company.
Trade receivables have increased at a much faster pace than the overall business and as a result the working capital requirements have also increased. Payment defaults or further increase in receivables can strain the profitability and the balance sheet of the company.
Last but not the least, companies in automotive segment (like Mahindra Logistics) setting up their own logistics unit could result in loss of business for Tiger Logistics.
Disclosure: I don’t have any investment in Tiger Logistics and have not traded in the stock in the last 30 days.
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: No
Details of Associates: Not Applicable
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