Star Cement Ltd
Q1 FY23 Earnings Call Analysis
Cement & Cement Products
capex: Yesrevenue: Category 3margin: Category 3orderbook: No informationfundraise: Yes
💰fundraise
Any current/future new fundraising through debt or equity?
- Star Cement is planning a peak debt of about INR 500 crores for its ongoing expansion.
- This peak debt is expected to be repaid within one year after the commencement of the expanded capacity, targeting debt-free status by March 2025.
- For FY24, the company anticipates CAPEX of approximately INR 1,300 crores and about INR 400 crores in FY25.
- No specific mentions of new equity fundraising were made in the provided transcript.
- Overall, the company expects to rely mainly on manageable debt for expansion without extending beyond INR 500 crores and aims to repay it quickly.
🏗️capex
Any current/future capex/capital investment/strategic investment?
- FY24 CAPEX planned at about ₹1,300 crores.
- FY25 CAPEX expected to be around ₹400 crores.
- Current expansion includes the Meghalaya clinker plant (3 million tons) commissioning planned for January next year.
- Grinding units: Guwahati unit to commission by November this year; Silchar unit in August-September next year.
- Total ongoing expansion outlay approximately ₹2,200 crores.
- Peak debt related to expansion capped at around ₹500 crores, expected to be repaid within a year post commencement.
- Future growth beyond Northeast will involve acquiring mines or small plants (minimum capacity ~1.5 to 2 million tons).
- Management aims for a 5-to-10-year vision to grow to a 20 million tons company, with investments both inorganic and organic.
📊revenue
Future growth expectations in sales/revenue/volumes?
- Star Cement targets to become a 20 million tons company in the next 5 to 10 years.
- In the near term (next 3 to 5 years), the roadmap is to reach around 10 million tons, with expectations possibly up to 15-20 million tons.
- Northeast market remains the primary focus due to high profitability; plans to expand production capacity there to about 3 million tons.
- Outside Northeast, growth is planned via acquisition of mines or plants, with minimum plant capacity acquisitions targeting around 1.5 to 2 million tons.
- Volume growth for the current year is expected to be healthy, targeting more than 12%-13% growth.
- Market growth outlook for states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand is approximately 7%-8%; historical growth outside Northeast was 34% in FY23 but expected to normalize to 10%-12%.
📈margin
Future growth expectations in earnings/operating earnings/profits/EPS?
- Target volume growth of over 12%-13% annually going forward, supporting revenue growth.
- Long-term vision to become a 20 million ton company in the next 5 to 10 years.
- EBITDA per ton expected to be maintained or improved around Rs. 1,250-1,300.
- FY23 EBITDA stood at Rs. 520 crores with a healthy EBITDA per ton of Rs. 1,297.
- Profit after tax in FY23 was Rs. 248 crores, stable despite increase in tax expenses.
- Growth outside Northeast is emphasized with 10%-12% expected growth in new markets versus a 7%-8% market growth.
- Peak debt planned is around Rs. 500 crores to fund expansion, expected to be repaid in the first year of operation.
- Incremental CAPEX of about Rs. 1,300 crores in FY24 and Rs. 400 crores in FY25 aligned with expansion plans.
📋orderbook
Current/ Expected Orderbook/ Pending Orders?
The transcript does not specifically mention current or expected orderbook or pending orders for Star Cement Limited. Key points related to future outlook and plans include:
- The company aims to become a 20 million tons cement company over the next 5 to 10 years.
- Focus on growth in Northeast and expansion outside Northeast markets such as West Bengal, Bihar, and Jharkhand, with expected market growth of 7%-8% in these areas.
- New CEO Vinit Tiwari to lead operations and management decisions, including expansion plans.
- Planned CAPEX: approximately Rs. 1,300 crores in FY24 and Rs. 400 crores in FY25 to support expansion.
- Peak debt expected to be around Rs. 500 crores for the expansion period.
- Growth target includes more than 12%-13% volume growth annually going forward.
No explicit details on current or pending orders were disclosed.
