SRF Ltd. share price target

SRF witnessed a challenging year (revenue/EBITDA down ~12%/27% YoY), with multiple headwinds plaguing its business segments. The chemicals and packaging businesses inhibited SRF’s overall performance, while the technical textiles business remained flat. Due to this, the capex intensity also waned in FY24.

Revenue for the quarter of Rs. 3570 crore was down 7% y-o-y and up 17% q-o-q. Chemical/ Technical textiles/packaging films segments grew 30%/8%/2% q-o-q and -14%/2%/9% y-o-y. Growth was affected due to the weak external environment in specialty chemicals and fluorochemicals.

SRF reported another subdued operating performance in 4QFY24 with a
significant decline in operating profitability (EBIT down 34% YoY), due to the
continuing weakness in the Chemical/Packaging Film businesses (EBIT dipped
33%/19% YoY), which offset the strong performance in the Technical Textile
business (EBIT jumped 44% YoY).

Weak H1, recovery expected in H2FY24

SRF’s Q2FY24 print for its chemical business (EBIT down 32.8% YoY) was below our expectations – hurt by lower sales in ref-gas and weakness in specialty sales from destocking. Despite this, SRF expects some growth in specialty chemicals revenue for FY24 and anticipates revival in ref-gas revenue in H2FY24E, as it has started to contract volumes in US for CY24 HFC quota.