Everest Kanto Cylinder Limited (NSE: EKC) Q3 2025 Earnings Call dated Feb. 20, 2025
Corporate Participants:
Anoop Poojari — Client Manager – Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Puneet Prem Khurana — Managing Director and Executive Director
Sanjiv Kapur — Chief Financial Officer
Analysts:
Deepan Shankar — Analyst
Reet Jain — Analyst
Unidentified Participant
Ramakrishnan V — Analyst
Kaushal — Analyst
Bhavin — Analyst
Ravi Jain — Analyst
Presentation:
Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, good day and welcome to the Earnings Conference Call of Everest Canto Cylinder Limited. As a reminder, all participant lines will be in the listen-only mode and there will be an opportunity for you to ask questions after the presentation concludes. Should you need assistance during the call, please signal an operator by pressing star then zero on your touchstone phone. I now hand the conference over to Mr Anu Pujari from CBR India. Thank you, and over to you, sir.
Anoop Poojari — Client Manager – Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Thank you. Thank you. Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us on Everest Cantor Cylinders Q3 and 9M FY ’25 Earnings conference Call. We have with us today Mr Puneet Kurana, Managing Director; and Mr Sanjeev Kapoor, Chief Financial Officer of the company. We’ll initiate the call with opening remarks from the management, following which we have the forum open for a question-and-answer session. Before we begin, I would like to state that some statements made in today’s call may be forward-looking in nature and a disclaimer to this effect has been included in the results presentation shared with you earlier. With that, I would now request Mr Puneet Kurana to make his opening remarks.
Puneet Prem Khurana — Managing Director and Executive Director
Yes. Thanks. Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining us on our earnings conference call. I will begin by sharing an overview of our performance for the 3rd-quarter and nine months ended 31st December 2024. Followings, we will be having the Q&A session. We are pleased to report a steady performance in Q3 FY ’25, supported by an uptick in our domestic business, driven by healthy demand from CNG and Industrial segments. Additionally, our domestic operations delivered an improved margin aided by prudent inventory management and operational efficiencies. On a standalone basis, revenue stood at INR244 crores, making it a year-on-year increase of 18.2% with EBITDA of INR36.5 crores and a margin of 14.9%, reflecting the progress in our domestic operations. On consolidated basis, revenue stood at INR367 crores, a year-on-year increase of 11.4%, while EBITDA came in at INR39.9 crores with a margin of 10.9%. PAT stood at INR18 crores. International operation faced challenges with margin impacted by nature of order booking in the US and difficulty operating environment in Dubai. Despite these challenges, we remain focused on enhancing operational resilience to define profitability across our global markets in the coming quarters. In India, the outlook of CNG market remains strong, supported by environmental benefits, cost efficiencies. The steady expansion of CNG vehicle adopted, coupled with growing refueling infrastructure reinforces CNG critical role in India energy transition. Additionally, in emerging developments such as biogas, bio-CNG integration, our strengthening CNG position as a sustainable fuel alternatives. The government’s commitment to green mobility through incentives for biofuel, sticker emission norms and infrastructure investments is expected to sustain the momentum of cleaner fuel solutions, benefiting overall demand for CNG cylinders. Additionally, green hydrogen continues to gain traction as a transformative solution in India clean-energy landscape. And as industries and transportation sector move towards a decarbonization, we anticipate significant demand in high-performance gas storage solutions, including hydrogen and industrial gas cylinders. We are well-prepared to address this growing demand, leveraging our expertise in manufacturing high-pressure gas cylinders to cater to evolving energy ecosystem. With robust operational and financial foundation, we are well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities in clean-energy space. Our continued focus on innovation, operational excellence and strategic expansion efforts with drive on long-term value-creation as a leading player in the high-pressure gasoline industry, we are committed to standing our market leadership pursuing sustainable growth. With that, I will conclude the remarks and invite the moderator to open the floor for questions.
Questions and Answers:
Operator
Thank you very much. We will now begin the question-and-answer session. Anyone who wishes to ask questions may press star and one on the touchstone telephone. If you wish to remove yourself from the question queue, you may press star and two participants are requested to use handsets while asking questions. Ladies and gentlemen we will wait for a moment while the question queue assembles. To ask questions, please press star and 1. The first question is from Deepan Sankara Narayanan from Trustline Holdings. Please go-ahead.
Deepan Shankar
Good evening, everyone, and thanks a lot for the opportunity. So firstly, what are the key drivers for 22% year-on-year growth in India business and also 5% plus Q-on-Q improvement in margins for India business.
Puneet Prem Khurana
So you know here in India of course you know, as you see the CNG infrastructure is growing, so there is more CNG vehicles that are going to be flying. And now the CV business is also growing, which was subdued in the last two years. So we’re seeing the growth is going to come from there as you know, the price rise of CNG did dampen that for some time, but now we are seeing that more, you know with growth of infrastructure. So the CV business and the CNG businesses continues to grow.
Deepan Shankar
Okay. And as the inventory restocking cycle has begun for CNG cylinder used by commercial vehicle manufacturer.
Puneet Prem Khurana
Yes,
Deepan Shankar
Okay, okay. And how is the current capacity utilization for domestic business
Puneet Prem Khurana
We are still around 60%.
Deepan Shankar
Any update on passenger vehicle customer addition front, sir
Puneet Prem Khurana
We have the same customer-base continues.
Deepan Shankar
Okay, okay. And for USA business, so despite reporting strong growth in revenues, margins has reduced to 5%. So what are the reason for the same? And do we expect it to improve during Q4?
Puneet Prem Khurana
Yes. So US is a completely project-based business. So what happens is that you cannot be seeing the business quarter-to-quarter. It is more you know-how the order book moves. So the order book is very strong, but the movement of the product on — because we have a lot of defense orders and other things. So sometimes you have delays in the product movement. But the order book is good. And if you see on an annual basis, definitely you will see that how the business is growing and it’s going to continue to grow. In the US, now with the new regime, we believe that US is definitely the US business will be definitely benefited from the policies that the government is coming out with now for manufacturing.
Deepan Shankar
Okay. What is the kind of order book currently we have in USA subsidiary?
Puneet Prem Khurana
Around $30 million.
Deepan Shankar
Okay, thanks a lot. I’ll join back the queue. Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. Before we take the next question, a reminder to participants that you may press star and one to join the question queue. Ladies and gentlemen, to ask questions, please press star and 1. The next question is from Reep Jain from First Water. Please go-ahead.
Reet Jain
Yeah, hello, sir. Sir, despite similar revenue in the previous quarter, on the consol basis, which is INR67 crores, our power and fuel cost has increased by 20% and also other expenses have increased by close to 20%. So what is the reason for such an increase?
Sanjiv Kapur
Yeah, good evening. This is Sanjeev Kapoor. In respect to power and fuel, I mean, I’m sure you’re aware that from previous year, there have been increase in all the costs of all the items which go into power and fuel, that is TNG, LPG and power basic power. That is one reason. And other is on a quarter-to-quarter basis, you compare, you’ll find that at sometimes it’s a little higher because that’s the — because of the production having been carried out, but the final output as the final finish goods have not been done. And this gets reflected in the inventory. So this is how the power and fuel is being, but it’s well under control and we are always finding ways and means of reduction in this cost.
Reet Jain
Okay. And regarding finance cost, our data has also increased. Last quarter it was 2.74 crore CR. Now it is 4.5 c year. So are we — have we increased the debt level?
Sanjiv Kapur
Yeah. Yeah, we have increased slightly the debt level because what we wanted to push on the sales turnover. So obviously, there’s a little more funding gone into my inventory and debtor.
Reet Jain
So can you quantify the debt amount?
Sanjiv Kapur
Debt amount is — total debt for the whole group is 140 crores
Reet Jain
Okay sure, and regarding GST notice we have the liability of 127 CR. So have other players also received the notice or we are the only one who has received this notice?
Sanjiv Kapur
Or it’s an industry-related matter because everyone is following the same classification. The GSK demand out is due to difference in tax transmission of CNG cylinders. And department content, we should be classified under a different HSM which is at 28% and we have been classificate under 18%. And it’s a matter interpretation and there is no lapse on our part and there are all multiple industrial players, we have received similar notices.
Reet Jain
So all have appeal to
Sanjiv Kapur
This process of filing an appeal and we are also pursuing various other legal routes available to us.
Reet Jain
And in the press release, you have mentioned that there is some challenging operating environment in Dubai. So can you explain the situation? What —
Sanjiv Kapur
Yeah, because Dubai caters to the market in Europe, in Africa, in Brazil in all other areas across the world so obviously everywhere it’s not so conducive the way we have it in India
Reet Jain
But we are setting up a new plant in Egypt. So
Sanjiv Kapur
Egypt have separate dynamics where government is favoring that we should have a CNG unit there. So their CNG will get easily absorbed because they are pushing for CNG conversion.
Reet Jain
Okay, got it.
Sanjiv Kapur
So they don’t think that it should be a issue related to the turnover or the sales.
Reet Jain
Okay, but since we have the spare capacity in Dubai, can we repurpose that available capacity to new geographies?
Sanjiv Kapur
Yeah, obviously. So we’ll be always be looking out for new geographies. But the overall environment in the global scenario is all it’s a wait-and-watch because the Trump administration is bringing in lot many new policies so people are on the wait-and-watch theory as of now which country will have which impact is not very well-known?
Reet Jain
Okay. And one more thing is, regarding the USA subsidiary, you mentioned you have an order book of close to $30 million, right?
Sanjiv Kapur
Okay
Reet Jain
And do you see this order book being maintained going-forward due to new policies in oil and gas?
Sanjiv Kapur
So we already said that the new administration of the Trump administration will obviously support manufacturing within US. So obviously, there’ll be more orders coming to us because we have government companies who gives us orders.
Reet Jain
Okay. Yeah, that’s it from my side. Thank you.
Sanjiv Kapur
Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. Next question is from Vidi Shah from CR Kothari; Suns. Please go-ahead.
Unidentified Participant
Hello, sir. Can I get the revenue guidance for FY ’25 and the kind of margins that we are expecting?
Puneet Prem Khurana
Yeah, it should be better than last year. We’re not able to give you any specific figures.
Unidentified Participant
Okay, so we assume that it will sustain at 14%
Puneet Prem Khurana
Yes, yes, we are working towards that
Unidentified Participant
Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. Next question is from Ramakrishnan Vi, who is an Individual investor. Please go-ahead.
Ramakrishnan V
Good afternoon, sir sir, our domestic business is doing very well, but whereas we have headwinds in the overseas market and now our — we are putting further investment in Egypt now so I would like to know that what is the total investment we have made globally and this is I think the global operations are very volatile. So why can’t we bifurcate a deal is — this is the company is a global company as a separate company and the domestic company as a separate company because we have seen good kind of growth in domestic market. It’s very — the quarterly is very volatile. So of the investors, they don’t like that quarterly this kind of a volatility.
Puneet Prem Khurana
I mean I agree with what you’re saying but only thing is that these businesses you know have some value that they add to the total business so you know separating them is it might not be you know, looking you know, in the long-run definitely they will. They’ll be adding value. There might be some volatility in the short-term, but in the long-term they will definitely be. You know they will reward you know, be rewarding.
Ramakrishnan V
So what is the investment we have made in globally?
Puneet Prem Khurana
Sorry, sorry.
Unidentified Participant
And globally, what is the amount of investment we have done in our US operations, Brazil operates and Brazil, US, Dubai and Egypt and when the Egypt is going to come operational? Yeah. Are we supplying to?
Puneet Prem Khurana
Sure, in September, we will Egypt operations will come operational in Egypt in September 25 and yeah, I, you know we, we just we don’t have the figure often on the investment is what we made in the last two years internationally. We’ll just we’ll just give it to you a little bit later on the call okay.
Ramakrishnan V
All the very best, sir. Thank you.
Puneet Prem Khurana
Thank you. Thank you. Next question is from Kaushal, who is an Individual Investor. Please go-ahead.
Kaushal
Hi, sir, I have two questions. The first one is that on the overseas business, we’ve seen that in Q3, the EBITDA has been around INR3 crores. I mean if I just do consol minus. But overall on a nine-month basis, the EBITDA for overseas business has been around INR50 crores. So while I understand that there were some headwinds in Dubai and also there was some project-related this thing in US, just wanted you to understand — I mean, just wanted to understand how do you account for revenues and profitability in the US business, which is like a project business
Puneet Prem Khurana
Smaller project accounting.
Kaushal
So in-line with the revenue booking, you should also book the P&L, right? I mean, the profit should also be commensurate with percentage-of-completion method, right?
Puneet Prem Khurana
Yes, yes, yes.
Kaushal
But it is not visible. I mean, if you see the consol EBITDA, it is just INR3 crores in Q3. I mean INR3 crores higher than the standalone EBITDA.
Puneet Prem Khurana
Maybe some projects have a lower-margin. So that’s the reason why you know that’s where, yeah, the EBITDA is lower.
Kaushal
Okay. And sir, with respect to — with respect to this Dubai business, this is not a project business, right?
Puneet Prem Khurana
No, not.
Kaushal
So then, I mean if you could just give us, I mean quarter-on-quarter what was the EBITDA for Dubai or quarter-on-quarter, what was the EBITDA for USA? It will help us better understand this overseas business because there’s a lot of volatility in the EBITDA.
Puneet Prem Khurana
So Dubai, of course it’s — the order book is being a little bit stalled because of the some of the customers have not picked-up the product. That is some part of it you know the reason why we had the slowdown in the Dubai business. Yeah. And you were — sorry, the other question was.
Kaushal
No, something the revenue. I was saying, could you give us like quarter-on-quarter EBITDA of, let’s say, Dubai and USA business in your investor presentation that you circulate. So it will better help us understand the overseas business in terms of quarter-on-quarter what has been the EBITDA? Because for nine months you’ve given that overseas business is typically INR50 crores in EBITDA, but I mean US and Dubai put together. But for Q3, it was only INR3 crores. So
Puneet Prem Khurana
What we do is we just you know, work-out his numbers and we can share it with you later on this you know, when we have them we don’t have them off and here
Kaushal
Okay alright, sir, yeah, that will help. Thank you
Operator
Thank you. For participants who wish to ask questions please press star and 1 the next question is from Bhavin, who is an Individual investor. Please go-ahead.
Bhavin
Sir, can you share the status on Maruti? Have we got — have we started delivering to them or what is the status on that?
Puneet Prem Khurana
No, no, we haven’t — we haven’t yet got any orders from as yet
Bhavin
But are you pitching them?
Puneet Prem Khurana
Yeah, we are pitching, but we are still waiting for business.
Bhavin
Okay. Thank you.
Puneet Prem Khurana
Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, to ask questions, please press star and 1. The next question is from Ravi Jain, who is an Individual Investor. Please go-ahead.
Ravi Jain
Sir, actually, I wanted to know regarding USA business, this percentage completion method is being followed for accounting purpose. So revenue should be booked accordingly and profit should also come likewise. But what I understood from previous con-calls in this con-call that we are saying that is a project business and in the project business, revenues and profits are coming in a quarter and not coming in the percentage completion method, it’s not coming in-line with the percentage completion method. So just wanted to know-how we are of accounting the revenues and profits for projects, USA projects.
Sanjiv Kapur
Yeah, we are accounting as per the project method, but like we already indicated that sometimes some projects may carry lower EBITDA or lower margins. So that will affect your basic calculation.
Ravi Jain
It seems there is a very significant variation in terms of margins project-to-project, very large variation. Because your profits which we are seeing in this quarter compared to what we have seen in the last quarter, there is a very significant variation.
Sanjiv Kapur
There are always some additional orders which you get, which may be more generating and profit-generating. So whenever you account for it, you will get the profit or what the margin over it.
Ravi Jain
And how long does it take to complete a project? What is the duration of the project when we call something as a project? What time period is generally considered
Sanjiv Kapur
A period one year to 18 months.
Ravi Jain
One year to 18 months. Okay, okay. One more thing I would like to ask regarding this UAE business, what is the expectation for the next quarter and for the next year? How do we see growth coming in UE?
Sanjiv Kapur
So next quarter is definitely going to be better. But going-forward, yeah, we are wanting to explore other areas also across the world and obviously we’ll do better than this year.
Ravi Jain
Okay. Thank you.
Operator
Thank you very much. That was the last question in queue. I would now like to hand the conference back to the management team for closing comments.
Puneet Prem Khurana
Yeah. Thank you once again for the interest and support. If you need any further clarification or would like to know more about the company, please feel free-to contact our Investor Relations at CDR India. Thank you so much. Thank you.
Operator
Thank you very much. On behalf of Everest Cantor Cylinder Limited, that concludes this conference. Thank you for joining us. Ladies and gentlemen, you may now disconnect your lines.