by Suhani Adilabadkar

With revenue decline, muted volume growth and fall in realisations, it was a mixed performance for Supreme Industries in Q3FY20 while PAT and operating profit reported double digit growth. However capacity expansion efforts and a rise in operating profit have kept analysts upbeat, and share price rose post results. 

Founded in 1942, Supreme Industries is a leading player in India's plastics industry, handling volumes of over 3,20,000 tonnes of polymers annually making it the largest plastic processor in the country. The company has four main business verticals of plastic piping systems, consumer products, industrial products and packaging products.

The company operates from 25 manufacturing sites across 12 states and union territories. Supreme Industries is credited with pioneering several products in India such as cross- laminated films, HMHD films, multilayer films, SWR piping systems to name a few.

Quick Takes:

• Supreme Industries reported revenue de-growth of 3% driven by decline in realisations and subdued volume growth. 

• Operating profit jumped 26% YoY supported by benign raw material prices reported at Rs. 221 crore in Q3FY20.

• PAT came out at Rs. 123 crore in December quarter FY20 against Rs. 86 crore in Q3FY19 rising 42% YoY. 

• Capex plan has been enhanced to Rs. 500 crore for FY20 for augmenting capacity expansion.

• Share price rose post results. Investors seem enthused by strong management commentary, good margin expansion, high capex plan and the strong capacity addition announced by the company management.

Subdued volumes in December Quarter FY20

Supreme Industries reported a revenue decline of 3% at Rs. 1,373 crore in Q3FY20 compared to Rs. 1,410 crore the same period last year, driven by a decline in realisations and subdued volume growth. Value-added products, which constituted 41% of total turnover, increased to Rs. 568 crore during the current quarter compared to Rs. 528 crore the same quarter of the previous year, achieving growth of 7% YoY. Operating profit jumped 26% YoY supported by benign raw material prices reported at Rs. 221 crore against Rs. 176 crore corresponding December quarter FY19. Operating margins stood at 16.1% in Q3FY20 against 12.45% same period previous year rising 365 bps YoY. PBT for the quarter stood at Rs. 164 crore compared to Rs. 132 crore in Q3FY19 growing 24% YoY. Aided by lower tax rate, PAT came out at Rs. 123 crore in December quarter FY20 against Rs. 86 crore in the corresponding December quarter FY19 rising 42% YoY. 

Operating margins hold up even as revenues fall

Markets appear optimistic about Supreme Industries in spite of lower revenue growth reported by the company in its December quarter FY20. Investors are enthused by strong management commentary, good margin expansion, high capex plan and the strong capacity addition announced by the company management. As per individual segment performance, consumer products (furniture) topped the volume list with 7% growth, followed by packaging products - constituting specialty films, protective packaging products and cross laminated film products - reported volume growth of 4.7% YoY while industrial products segment reported 11% YoY de-growth in Q3FY20. Plastic piping system after strong June and September quarter faltered in Q3FY20 reporting flat volume growth. 

Operating margin on the other hand has been strong and sturdy, with growth for plastic piping systems at 15.9% rising 358 bps YoY. Other three segments of industrial, packaging and consumer products reported operating margin expansion of 87 bps, 300 bps and 269 bps YoY respectively in Q3FY20. 

With respect to the flattish performance by the piping division, Mr. M.P. Taparia, MD, Supreme Industries said, “In October - December quarter, growth was low as both major festivals were in October and the rainfall extended upto first week of November. The demand growth came back by the second half of November”. The management also indicated strong volume growth of 13-15% for the whole of FY20 and for FY21, 12-14% driven by housing and agri sectors for plastic pipe business. In addition to that, the central government program ‘Nal se Jal’ is expected to drive strong growth especially in states of Bihar and UP. 

With respect to the industrial product segment, Mr Taparia clarified that auto constitutes a very small part, roughly 3% of overall revenues and thus the ongoing auto slowdown does not have a strong impact on segmental revenues. The other component, consumer appliances is witnessing strong revival and the management is confident of good growth going forward. Although the consumer product business  declined in revenue terms, its operating margin stood at 18.3%, rising 269 bps YoY supported by change in product mix and inventory gain. 

While demand for cross laminated films remained subdued in the packaging product business, protective packaging products are seeing strong growth momentum. In addition to growth improvement expected in all the four verticals in the coming quarters, investors are happy with the strong guidance given by the company management. Volume growth would be in the range of 10-12% for the company and 13-14% volume growth for pipe business which contributes 60% of total turnover. EBITDA is guided in the range of 14-14.5% for the full year with an agenda to reach 16% in the near future. That’s not all, the capex plan has been enhanced to Rs. 500 crore for FY20 for augmenting capacity expansion. Total capacity which was at 6,05,000 metric tonnes in the beginning of the year will be enhanced to 6,77,000 metric tonnes by the end of March 2020 and further enhanced by 40,000 metric tonnes, taking the total to 7,10,000 metric tonnes by March FY21. Piping business would be the major beneficiary gaining 80% of this capacity addition. Strong capex and capacity additions outlined by the management indicate good revenue growth visibility in the near future and with strong operating margins and bottom-line, the stock has hit recent 52-week highs.