Ceat Ltd (BOM:500878) Q2 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenue Amidst Margin Pressures

In This Article:

  • Revenue: INR3,334.5 crores, a YoY growth of 8.2% and QoQ growth of 4.1%.

  • EBITDA Margin: 11.1%, with an absolute amount of INR368 crores.

  • Gross Margin: 37.5% for the quarter.

  • Net Income: INR121 crores, compared to INR154 crores in Q1 and INR207 crores in the previous year same quarter.

  • Volume Growth: 6.4% YoY and 1.2% QoQ.

  • Debt to EBITDA Ratio: 1.19 as of September 30.

  • Debt to Equity Ratio: 0.45 as of September 30.

  • Capital Expenditure: INR175 crores for the quarter, INR430 crores for the full year.

  • Employee Costs: Increased by 12% QoQ due to annual increments and new plant operations.

  • Sri Lanka Business: 31% volume growth with 19.5% EBITDA.

Release Date: October 18, 2024

For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript.

Positive Points

  • Ceat Ltd (BOM:500878) achieved its highest-ever turnover of approximately INR 3,300 crores in Q2 FY25, with a significant volume achievement.

  • The company inaugurated a new truck-bus radial production line in Chennai, marking a milestone in its global expansion strategy.

  • International business grew by strong double digits year-on-year, with notable growth in Latin America and Europe.

  • Replacement volumes grew in strong double digits, driven by healthy growth in commercial vehicle tires, passenger tires, and two-wheeler tires.

  • The company is focusing on premium categories, enhancing its brand image and capturing new audiences, which is reflected in strong growth in the replacement segment.

Negative Points

  • Ceat Ltd (BOM:500878) faced challenges with elevated freight rates, which impacted margins despite strong international business growth.

  • Raw material prices increased significantly, with a steep 6% rise in Q2 over Q1, making it difficult to pass on the entire cost increase to customers.

  • OEM segment experienced a single-digit decline, primarily due to a temporary loss of business share and slow pace of new vehicle entries.

  • The company's EBITDA margin contracted by 400 basis points year-on-year, primarily due to increased raw material costs.

  • Working capital increased by INR 290 crores quarter-on-quarter, largely due to higher inventory levels, impacting cash flow and increasing debt.

Q & A Highlights

Q: What is the cumulative quantum of price hikes taken so far, and how is the retention of these hikes? A: The raw material price hike has been about 4% to 5% in Q1 over Q4 and about 6% in Q2 over Q1. The cumulative price hike has been inadequate. In Q2, the overall price hike was higher in the commercial category, around 1% to 2%, and about 1.5% in passenger tires. We are looking at a steep increase in Q3, with further hikes planned for October and possibly November and December.