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S Chand & Company LtdQ1 FY24

S Chand & Company Ltd Q1 FY24 Earnings Call Analysis

Revenue, margin, capex, fundraise and order book outlook from management commentary.

Price: 151P/E: 11.4Market Cap: ₹568 CrSector: Printing & Publication

Management growth scorecard

Revenue

Category 3

Margin

Category 3

Fundraise

No

Order

N/A

Capex

Yes

1 of 4 growth signals are positive — mixed outlook.

Full analysis

Revenue guidance

Category 3
  • The market is large and sufficient for S Chand to achieve significant growth, particularly with the ongoing and upcoming syllabus changes over the next 2-3 years.
  • Management expects strong volume, revenue, and profitability growth driven by the adoption of new syllabus books in FY25 and beyond.
  • Sales target to reach around Rs900 crore to Rs1,000 crore revenue within 2-3 years as new NCERT books for all relevant classes are introduced and adopted.
  • FY25 operating revenues are expected to grow in double digits with a single-digit price hike across products.
  • Focus remains on quality sales growth without compromising working capital and cash flow metrics.
  • Continued investments in new curriculum content and expansion into new subjects (AI, coding, robotics) to capture more market share across geographies and schools.
  • Stable gross margins expected barring exceptional paper price movements, with an upgraded EBITDA margin guidance of 17%-19% for FY25.

Margin guidance

Category 3
  • The company targets double-digit operating revenue growth for FY25.
  • EBITDA margin guidance has been upgraded to a band of 17%-19% for FY25 (vs 16%-18% last year).
  • Focus will remain on maintaining quality business growth without compromising working capital and cash flow stability.
  • Operating cash flows have significantly improved, with highest ever operating cash flows recorded at Rs1,211 million in FY24.
  • The company expects strong volume, revenue, and profitability growth over the next 2-3 years with the increased adoption of the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF).
  • While the target revenue range of Rs900 crore to Rs1,000 crore is aimed for in the next 2-3 years (up from Rs800 crore in FY18), growth will be pursued prudently.
  • The company has declared a final dividend of Rs3/share reflecting confidence in profits.
  • Sustained margin improvement near 18-20% is possible, but will be balanced against working capital efficiency.

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Fundraise plans

No
  • No imminent plans for new equity fundraising as per the latest discussion.
  • Smartivity, one of their investments, is cash positive and not expected to raise equity in the next 6 months.
  • The company is currently net debt free and generating strong cash flows, reducing the need for debt funding.
  • Management is open to inorganic acquisitions but no specific new fundraising related to these acquisitions has been mentioned.
  • They are focusing on conserving cash and avoiding borrowing or going back to markets for money.
  • Any future capital allocation, including acquisitions or buybacks, will be carefully balanced and considered by the board.

Order book

  • There is no specific mention of the current or expected order book or pending orders in the transcript provided.
  • The management discusses investments in new curriculum development and marketing, indicating ongoing and future projects.
  • The company is preparing for the new syllabus rollout in FY25, expecting higher adoption and sales growth.
  • Emphasis is placed on targeted double-digit revenue growth and improved working capital management.
  • The focus on quality sales and market share capture suggests a healthy pipeline but no explicit order book figures are disclosed.

Capex plans

Yes
  • S Chand is making investments in developing new curriculum and marketing to expand coverage across approximately 40,000-45,000 schools pan India and in the Middle East, including new subjects like AI, coding, and robotics.
  • The company has opportunities in the market for inorganic acquisitions and is actively reviewing potential deals, though some negotiations are still in process.
  • There is mention of maintaining a balance between risk and reward regarding debt levels and acquisitions, with the board deliberating timing and capital allocation.
  • Investments in subsidiaries like Smartivity continue; Smartivity is cash positive with no immediate equity raise planned.
  • Management plans to conserve cash and aims to reach Rs100 crore plus in cash before considering a buyback.
  • No specific imminent large capex is disclosed, but the focus is on strategic growth, market consolidation, and capital prudence.

How does S Chand & Company Ltd rank vs peers in Printing & Publication?

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1S Chand & Company Ltd
Rev 3Mar 3

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