For Q4FY14, Maruti Suzuki India reported results that were a tad below our expectations at the operational level with its Ebitda margin at 11.9% vs. our estimate of 12.8%. However, the outlook on both volumes and pricing seems to be improving, which is a positive sign.
In addition, Maruti continues to press forward its localisation plans (400bps reduction in import content in FY14), which should insulate profitability in a weak demand environment. We continue to believe that Maruti is favourably poised for a volume recovery with a strong product pipeline along with an improving outlook on pricing. We increase our EPS (earnings per share) by 3% for FY15 and 1% for FY16 given the better earnings visibility, which pushes up our 12-month price target by 4% to Rs 2,203 (vs. Rs 2,125 earlier) still based on 9x FY15 EV/Ebitda (enterprise value/ earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation).
FY14 and Q4FY14 update: Despite Maruti?s actual FY14 volumes being 2.3% better than our estimate, Q4FY14 profitability was slightly weaker than we expected with an Ebitda margin of 11.9%. The management attributed this to a rise in input prices and the weaker-than expected pricing environment where demand remained weak. To offset margin pressures, Maruti continues to push its localisation plans and has managed to reduce import content to 16% in FY14 (vs. 20% in FY13), which translates into 150 bps (basis points) of profitability.
New products and discount: For Maruti, demand for newly launched Celerio (5% of Q4FY14 volume) remains strong with a waiting list of more than six months. As a result, the overall discount/unit has slipped sequentially to R17,500 (-10% q-o-q). Discounts remain elevated compared with the FY08-12 levels of R8,000-10,000/unit. In our view, as demand improves, the current discount level will fall further.
Reiterate OW: We continue to view Maruti as favourably poised for a recovery should macro factors improve. Maruti?s product pipeline and cost structure remain favourable with significant headroom for reduction in discounts. We currently factor in 10% volume growth for FY15 and FY16, which is marginally ahead of our industry volume expectations. The key risks, in our view, would be a weaker volume recovery in FY15 and FY16 than we expect, resulting in no improvement in profitability and a reversal of currency trends.
Management call takeaways
*Input costs are seeing inflation primarily on account of steel prices increasing of late.
*The total increase in raw material costs is 100-150 bps over the past two quarters.
* Average discounts/unit has slipped q-o-q to R17,500/ unit (vs R19,142/ unit in Q3) on account of a higher contribution from new models.
* Exports revenue stood at R11.2 bn in Q4 (vs R9.3bn in Q3) as export volumes have improved q-o-q to 26,274 units (+30% q-o-q). Growth in exports for FY15/16 is expected at 10-12% p.a.
* Rural demand continues to remain strong with growth of 16% in FY14 and growth of 18%. Rural now contributes 32% of the total domestic sales.
* In Q4FY14, Maruti provided for R1.4 bn to dealers as compensation for the excise duty reduction impact on unsold inventory. We have adjusted this in the net sales, resulting in a 100bps improvement over the reported Ebitda margin.
* In Q4FY14, Maruti has also made an employee provision of R930m, which was booked in Q4FY14 but is applicable to the full year. As a result, we have apportioned the provision in the current quarter, but it remains for the full year.
* Capex for FY14 stood at R35 bn, as third line of production has come on stream along with higher diesel capacity. Overall production capacity stands at 1.5m units p.a.
?Barclays
