*over or under performance to benchmark index Dr Lal PathLabs Ltd (DLPL) provides diagnostic tests and services globally. As of December 2024, DLPL had 280 clinical laboratories, including a national reference lab...

Quarterly Update Q4FY25

Dr Lal PathLabs’ (Dr Lal) Q4FY25 results were slightly better than our expectation. Outperformance was driven by higher sample volumes (up 9.5% YoY) and realisation improvement.

IKS Health (IKS) is a Platform as a Service (PaaS) company that caters to US’ healthcare provider segment. It focusses on outsourcing the routine chores of physicians. IKS’ platform has 16 key features, spanning across chores in a physician’s value chain, bundled into admin offerings and clinical offerings.

Company Update

Krsnaa Diagnostics Limited (KDL) reported robust business growth in 2Q FY25. The company has its growth projection of 25% for the financial year.

Dr Lal PathLabs’ (Dr Lal) Q2FY25 revenue growth of 9.8% YoY was lower than our expectation, though its better EBITDA margin of 30.7% was a surprise.

Krsnaa Diagnostics Limited’s (KDL’s) business growth remained healthy on a y-o-y basis. That said, the growth was lower than expectations.

Quarterly Update Q1FY25

Dr Lal PathLabs’ (Dr Lal) Q1FY25 result was in line with our expectations. Growth was driven by better uptick in Swasthfit (up 26.4% YoY) overall sample volume rose 9.3% YoY.

Vijaya Diagnostic Centre’s (Vijaya) Q1FY25 performance was ahead of our expectations. Base business grew at 19.6%driven by 16.6% YoY rise in patient footfall and 19.8% YoY jump in number of tests while EBITDA grew 17% YoY.

Quarterly Update Q3FY24

Thyrocare’s Q2FY24 performance was in line with our expectations. Its revenue grew 9.7% YoY while the franchisee business grew faster at 20%. It reported an improvement in gross margins (+100bps YoY) due to a decline in the lowmargin Partnership business.

Vijaya’s Q1FY24 performance beat our estimates driven by 19.2% YoY growth in non covid business. Test volume growth remained healthy at 17.5% YoY, aided by improvement in footfalls in the company’s mature and newer centres. Centres at Panjagutta and Rajamundhry have started gaining traction while Tirupati hub is expected to scale up in the coming quarters.

Metropolis’ Q1FY24 revenue growth (-1%) and EBITDA margin (-180bps) were impacted by discontinuation of a PPP contract (Q1FY23 sales of INR 200mn) while the core business grew 12% YoY. Metropolis remains committed to expand its network by: 1) deepening its presence in existing cities and venturing into newer ones, 2) connecting directly with consumers to increase B2C share, 3) M&As to improvise scale and restore margins to pre-covid levels.

Thyrocare Technologies has reported an improvement in gross margin (+270bps YoY) in Q1FY24 led by a decline in low margin partnership business. The company has revamped incentive structure offered to franchisees and this should drive a strong 12-14% volume growth in this segment.

Dr Lal’s Pathlabs’ Q1 volume growth at 2.5% was impacted to some extent due to seasonality. Favourable test mix and traction in Swasthfit improved realisation per patient by 8.5% to INR 789 and aided gross margin expansion of 181bps YoY.

Metropolis Healthcare’s (Metropolis) efforts to boost revenue growth through acquisitions and network expansion have taken a hit due to non-recurring covid- linked tests and PPP contracts.