Tag - profitability

Update on the Indian Equity Market:

On Thursday, Nifty closed 1.0% higher at 10,755. Within NIFTY50, HINDALCO (+6.6%), HDFC (+4.3%), and SBIN (+4.1%) were the top gainers, while INFRATEL (-1.9%), COALINDIA (-1.5%) and TECHM (-1.2%) were the top losers. Among the sectoral indices, METAL (+1.9%), FIN SERVICE (+1.6%), and BANK(+1.4%) gained the most.  FMCG(-0.3%) was the only sector to close in red.

Aim to go back to 20%-22% ROE- Mahindra & Mahindra

Excerpts of an interview with Mr. Anish Shah, Joint MD–Mahindra & Mahindra published on ET Auto dated 7^thJuly2020:

• M&M’s loss making subsidiaries had a difficult couple of years. M&M is now looking to take direct action.
• The loss-making subsidiaries are being evaluated and categorized into 3 groups – Category A: companies with clear path to 18% Return on Equity (ROE). Category B: companies with unclear path to profitability but can deliver quantified strategic benefit, and Category C: Calls for a possible exit through alliance or sale as it does not fit into A or B.
• This review of subsidiaries will be carried out every 6 months to ensure businesses are on track and milestones are being achieved.
• Over the last 4 years, profits of M&M were being eroded by the loss-making subsidiaries- 1% in FY17, 12% in FY18 because of international subsidiaries, 25% in FY19, and over 1.7% in FY20.
• 2 years ago, M&M management started ‘challenge round’ where as Head of Group Strategy, Mr. Anish Shah was asked to challenge all proposals and recommend to the board whether to invest or not. In the process, tough calls have been taken on two-wheeler business, Baby Oye, and Mom and Me among others.
• In 4QFY20, M&M took a call to stop further investments in SsangYong and Gen Z. Almost 60% of losses came from SsangYong and Gen Z.
• By the end of this FY21E, the remaining loss making subsidiaries will be addressed and shut down in absence of a clear path. Entering into FY22, a lot of these problems will be history.
• M&M aims to have a simpler structure going forward. While the focus is looking at the loss making subsidiaries and getting them back on track, M&M does not want to change the spirit of entrepreneurship.
• Multiple reasons led to the losses in last 2 years. The environment is one reason and excess confidence in some business is the other. Essentially, there will be a higher financial discipline that will come in.
• M&M’s share price, as of high of August 2018, had a 31% annualized growth rate over a period of 17 years. The factors that drove this return were, – earnings-per-share growth of 34%, cash generation of Rs 23 bn per year on an annualized basis and annual return on equity of 22%. In order to get back to that kind of performance, M&M will have to get back to 20%-22% RoE and 30%-plus growth rate in cash generation.
• M&M’s ROE in the last few years has gone down from 20% to 12%. In stage 1, by fixing loss making subsidiaries M&M should be back to 18% ROE. In the next stage, taking a look at 0-10% ROE businesses and fixing them, should mean going back to 20-22% of ROE.
• M&M’s preference is to have a solid and conservative business over a rapidly growing risky business. M&M Finance’s business is strong and M&M is putting in capital to ensure that in any scenario, if things get much worse, there is no impact on the business. Mahindra Finance has always raised capital before it is needed, so they didn’t wait until the capital was needed. There were some analyst concerns regarding the capital issue but M&M is confident that M&M Finance should have a very high degree of subscription.
• M&M aims to be the gateway to the largest and fastest growing themes in India and hospitality is one of them. M&M has a timeshare model and a long-term bond with the consumers. As a result, M&M expects that it’s hospitality business may not be impacted much. Post the COVID-19 crisis, M&M’s hospitality business can grow much faster.
• As for Meru, M&M is looking at it closely to see what the real path to profitability is. M&M does not have a definitive answer to that yet.

Consensus Estimate: (Source: market screener and investing.com websites)

• The closing price of M&M was ₹ 563/- as of 09-July-2020. It traded at 22.1x/ 16.7x the consensus EPS estimate of ₹ 25.5/ 33.7for FY21E/ FY22E respectively.
• Consensus target price of ₹ 556/- implies a PE multiple of 16.5x on FY22E EPS of ₹ 33.7/-.

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