Everest Kanto Cylinder Limited (NSE: EKC) Q3 2026 Earnings Call dated Feb. 17, 2026
Corporate Participants:
Anoop Poojari — Client Manager at Citigate Dewe Rogerson Communications Private Limited
Puneet Khurana — Managing Director
Analysts:
Chirag Gothi — Analyst
Anubhav Mukherjee — Analyst
Gunit Singh — Analyst
Jatin Damania — Analyst
Reet Jain — Analyst
Unidentified Participant
Presentation:
Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to Earnings Conference Call of Everest Kanto Cylinder Limited. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this conference is being recorded.
I now hand the conference over to Mr. Anoop Poojari from CDR India. Thank you, and over to you, Mr. Poojari.
Anoop Poojari — Client Manager at Citigate Dewe Rogerson Communications Private Limited
Thank you. Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining us on Everest Kanto Cylinder’s Q3 and 9M FY ’26 earnings conference call. We have with us today Mr. Puneet Khurana, Managing Director; and Mr. Sanjiv Kapur, Whole Time Director and CFO of the company. We will initiate the call with opening remarks from the management, following which, we’ll 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.
I will now request Mr. Puneet Khurana to make his opening remarks.
Puneet Khurana — Managing Director
Good evening, everyone, and thank you for joining our conference call. I will begin by sharing the overview of our performance for the quarter followed by a Q&A session. We delivered a strong performance in Q3 FY ’26 with a notable improvement in profitability, driven by improved realization, favorable product mix and continued focus on cost discipline.
Consolidated revenue stood at INR365 crores. EBITDA grew 48% year-on-year to INR59.2 crores with consolidated margins expanding to 16.2%, and improved 534 bps. PBT stood at INR53.6 crores and PAT for the quarter came in at INR35.7 crores, reflecting a growth of 98.9% year-on-year.
On a stand-alone basis, revenue for the quarter stood at INR247 crores. EBITDA margins expanded to 23.1% compared to 14.9% in the same period last year. Reflecting strong operating performance during the quarter, standard profit after tax stood at INR36 crores, registering a growth of 57.6% year-on-year. For the 9-month period ended FY ’26, stand-alone EBITDA margin stood at 17.3%, and our endeavor remains to build upon this performance over time.
As margins are influenced by the product mix executed in any given quarter, we remain focused on optimizing both volume and value to drive sustainable and profitable growth. Our Indian operations remained the primary contributor to overall performance, supported by steady demand across CNG and Industrial applications.
In the U.S., performance continued to remain — reflect the order-driven nature of the business, with healthy progress on year — by year-to-year basis, supported by strong order pipeline. To support future growth opportunities, we have approved a capex of $5.5 million in our wholly owned subsidiary, CP Industries, to enhance manufacturing capabilities.
With a focus on larger diameters and Type 4 cylinders, the investment will strengthen our position to address emerging clean energy and industrial application and support growing demand across North and South America. Our operation in Dubai remained subdued during the quarter. However, we continue to focus on strengthening market engagement and improving operating performance in the region over time.
Our capacity expansion front, we have successfully commenced operations at our greenfield Mundra facility with one production line now operational, the remaining two lines are expected to be established over the coming months. We have also approved additional capex of INR30 crores to strengthen capabilities and enhance operational readiness at the facility.
In addition, our Egypt facility is progressing steadily and expected to commence operation by May ’26. The facility will focus on addressing domestic demand while supporting regional market requirements and will further strengthen our global manufacturing footprint.
Overall, we remain encouraged by the improving demand environment and the progress on our strategic initiative. With new capacities coming online, a strong order pipeline and continued focus on operational efficiency, we believe we are well positioned to support future growth with sustaining healthy profitability.
With that, I conclude my opening remarks and request the moderator to open the floor for questions. Thank you.
Questions and Answers:
Operator
Thank you very much. We will now begin with the question-and-answer session. [Operator Instructions] First question is from the line of Chirag Gothi from NB Alpha Fund Management. Please go ahead.
Chirag Gothi
Hello sir. Sir, I have one question. What is leading to margin expansion in India? Second about the product mix changes, and what is the mix that you are doing currently?
Puneet Khurana
Our focus is on a little higher end products. So, we have some products in CV market, some products in defense, some products in the semiconductor industry. So that has been the product mix. And that’s why the margins in this quarter have been quite good.
Chirag Gothi
Okay. And how much it is contributing approximately, those kind of products?
Puneet Khurana
I don’t have the breakup, but these have contributed to bettering the margin.
Chirag Gothi
Okay, thank you, sir.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Next question is from the line of Anubhav from Prescient Capital. Please go ahead.
Anubhav Mukherjee
Sir, am I audible?
Puneet Khurana
Yeah, yeah, we can hear you.
Anubhav Mukherjee
Sir, can you give some more color on the improving product mix because there is a significant margin improvement so what happened to the product mix? Like did we see a significant uptick in the cylinders for commercial vehicles or what happened sir?
Puneet Khurana
There’s a mix. There is definitely an offtake, the commercial vehicle business has been quite subdued over the last two years. So there is definitely now with the growth of CNG infrastructure, definitely, the CV volumes are — have increased compared to the previous quarters. And we think this trend is going to continue. And there’s a new segment also in semiconductor where we’ve entered. And there also, we’ve seen some good order book coming our way. So this is all contributing to the margin.
Anubhav Mukherjee
Okay. And sir, will it be possible to share like the contribution of auto cylinders in this quarter, like the mix between auto and industry?
Puneet Khurana
No, we don’t have that with us.
Anubhav Mukherjee
And sir, this trend that you are witnessing in like pickup in commercial vehicle cylinders, do you find it sustainable?
Puneet Khurana
Yeah, of course, it’s been sustainable, because it’s come after a period where the consumers were also trying to gauge the CNG prices because sudden rise in the CNG prices also had pushed them back. But now with their getting used to the CNG prices, even diesel prices are high, petrol prices are high. So the consumers are more or less now are accepting. And of course, the infrastructure of CNG stations have been increasing every year. So with more and more availability, ease availability of CNG is just putting more vehicles and also the OEMs now have more models that they are offering to the customers.
So, the choice for customers have increased, infrastructure has increased and customer acceptability on the fuel pricing has also been there. So, all these things are coming together. So we feel that this is kind of — is a good sign and sustainable. It has come after some time where the CV market is coming back.
Anubhav Mukherjee
Yes, sir. It’s also driven by the like — somewhat revival in commercial sales that we are witnessing. So it’s also driven by that?
Puneet Khurana
I don’t know about the overall space of CV, but I can only talk about CNG that’s where we are finding that this business of CV of — CNG segment of the CV is growing.
Anubhav Mukherjee
Got that. And sir, in the domestic market, are we also into like composite cylinder because…
Puneet Khurana
Yeah, we are, yes.
Anubhav Mukherjee
So can you share some more details on that, like what products we are in? Are we in Type 4?
Puneet Khurana
We are in Type 3 composite cylinders, yes. This is a new market, and so we are slowly, slowly making some headway into this market.
Anubhav Mukherjee
Okay. And like, have we — like are we entering into Type 4 as well?
Puneet Khurana
No, not right now. We have more focus on Type 3 right now. In the future, definitely, as you know, this composite business grows, we are also learning and evolving, and we definitely — we are making Type 4 in the company in the U.S. So definitely something that is there for us in the future to plan. And as the market evolves and things become more mature, definitely, we will also look into development of Type 4 for Indian market.
Anubhav Mukherjee
Okay, thanks, I’ll get back.
Anoop Poojari
Thank you.
Operator
Next question is from the line of Gunit Singh from Counter Cyclical. Please go ahead.
Gunit Singh
Sir. Thank you for this opportunity. I would like to understand that, I mean, are the 16% EBITDA margins sustainable going forward?
Puneet Khurana
Yes. Yeah, I think, I can assure you. No, they should be. They should be.
Gunit Singh
All right. So, we have done margins of about 24% in the past as well. So according to you, what are the sustainable sales base margins going forward? And I mean do you believe that going forward, 17% would be the margin because of…
Puneet Khurana
15% to 17%, you can consider, 15% to 17%, yes, with the product mix and everything, I think the — yeah, it should be.
Gunit Singh
And what are the capacity utilization across our plants currently?
Puneet Khurana
About 75%. About 75%.
Gunit Singh
Can you give plant wise utilization? And also the revenue potential from new plants and coming capex where commercialization timeline as well as any potential from them as well?
Puneet Khurana
It is more or less the same, but it’s difficult to give you the numbers over a call. I’ll keep it a note, and maybe we can work on this and give it to you.
Gunit Singh
All right, got it. So — And do you have any internal targets in terms of top line and bottom line for FY ’27 that you’re targeting with the new facility coming in and the current product mix?
Puneet Khurana
I think about 15% to 20% is what we are targeting. We would like to grow at that.
Gunit Singh
All right. And maintaining the margins?
Puneet Khurana
Yeah, yeah, yeah, of course.
Gunit Singh
Got it. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Puneet Khurana
Thank you.
Operator
Thank you Next question is from the line of Jatin Damania from SVAN Investments, LLC. Please go ahead.
Jatin Damania
Good evening sir. Thank you for the opportunity Softness on the domestic performance, but if I want to understand in the UAE business, from the last couple of quarters, the numbers have been subdued, and we are working on the shunting product like averaging the market. So when can one can actually see a benefit of the sort that has been put in the UAE?
Puneet Khurana
I think, in the coming quarters, I think we should be able to see — we were expecting, some businesses to come up in the Middle East and in Africa region, but things have just been slow. So, hopefully, in the coming quarters, we should expect that the business should come up.
Jatin Damania
But do we expect to break even in the UAE business in FY ’27 or we’ll still operate at the…
Puneet Khurana
Yes, of course, yes.
Jatin Damania
In terms of the contract, I mean, are we looking at to sign up any significant — I mean, a decent sized contract with the Middle East or South Africa? Or are we in touch so that which gives us the confidence.
Puneet Khurana
There was always a running customers and things like that. So, it’s just a little bit of a slowdown that has happened in the last two, three quarters. So, hopefully, this thing will turn around in the new year, and we will be seeing the business.
Jatin Damania
Okay. So, one, at what sort of profitability or what sort of revenue contribution one can expect that UAE to be breakeven?
Puneet Khurana
Yes, I mean whatever they’re doing, at least 10% higher would be a breakeven.
Jatin Damania
Okay. Over 10%, and probably we expect that to come into FY ’27.
Puneet Khurana
Yes, yes, yes.
Jatin Damania
Coming on to our U.S. business. Now after a long time, we are probably doing an incremental capex of $5.5 million. What sort of visibility do we have in the U.S. market? Or is this particular capex is backed by any contracts that you are signing up with the customer?
Puneet Khurana
Yes, yes. So U.S. business, what is happening is that most of the larger vehicles are running are being — have been converted into CNG. So, we are already working with an OEM who wants us to expand capacity. So, this capacity expansion is exactly as per the customer contract. So, we expect that about additional INR100 crores should be added to the top line once the expansion is complete in ’27-’28. So this is all backed with customer contracts and with Type 4 expansion in the U.S.
Jatin Damania
So, then it’s right to assume that FY ’28, there should be INR100 crores incremental revenue coming up from the U.S. business with a margin of upward of 20%, given the type 4 cylinder?
Puneet Khurana
Margin in the U.S. is always good. See, margin in the U.S. have always been very good. So, yeah.
Jatin Damania
And on the Egypt front, now, once the capacity comes in month of May or June, will it take time for the customer to approve our product or probably from the commercial…
Puneet Khurana
The customer approval is already there by the same customer because the same customers were buying previously also. So, customer approval is not such a big challenge. And most of the customers are like fleet owners and Egypt is not so much on the — like an OEM customer where approval processes take a long time. So, immediately, as the product — I’m probably sure that they have orders already in hand. It’s just the customers are waiting for the facility to start.
Jatin Damania
Which is expected in the month of May, right?
Puneet Khurana
Yeah, yeah.
Jatin Damania
And what sort of revenue one can expect?
Puneet Khurana
For the first year? I think, yeah, about INR50 crores to INR60 crores.
Jatin Damania
And margin will be similar to the domestic business or it will be on the lower end?
Puneet Khurana
First in the beginning, maybe the margins will be a little low, but when it ramps up, definitely, the margins will be much better.
Jatin Damania
So that means it’s probably if one can look then FY ’27 could be more of a consolidation and FY ’28, while we can think more benefit coming on from the U.S. with a higher margin, Egypt and UAE to contribute profitability?
Puneet Khurana
Yes. Yeah, correct. Yes, correct.
Jatin Damania
And on the India business, other than Mundra, the remaining two lines, when are we expecting? And what sort of capacity that will increase to?
Puneet Khurana
Maybe by next quarter.
Jatin Damania
Okay. And it will increase our capacity by what percentage?
Puneet Khurana
Yes, around 15%.
Jatin Damania
Around 15%? Sure. So, that’s all from my side. I’ll come back in if you have one more question. Thank you and all the best.
Puneet Khurana
Thank you so much. Thank you.
Operator
[Operator Instructions] Next question is from the line of Reet Jain from First Water Capital Advisors. Please go ahead.
Reet Jain
Yeah, thank you for the opportunity. But sir, I wanted to know what is the order book for USA?
Puneet Khurana
Around $75 million.
Reet Jain
Okay. And execution time?
Puneet Khurana
Maybe two years.
Reet Jain
Okay. And I wanted to ask about the product mix since we are supplying into defense and semiconductor industry and these two industries are growing in India. Sir, do you feel that the product mix would be sustainable going forward? Or there will be up and down in the product mix?
Puneet Khurana
See, there will definitely be up and down, because defense and all is long term. So definitely, some projects will come, and we will have these maybe something special but there is good visibility, good, this thing from the customers that there will be good requirement in these segments.
Reet Jain
Okay. And also regarding the USA CapEx that you have announced, $5.5 million. So I believe that the volatility of the USA revenue will reduce because the incremental revenue will be sticky every year?
Puneet Khurana
Yes, yes. Definitely, this is more — will be a more consistent — this expansion will give the company a more consistent revenue model.
Reet Jain
Okay. And any update on the GST case, which we had in India?
Puneet Khurana
No, no update as such.
Reet Jain
But any timeline which you have like when we can hear some update?
Puneet Khurana
No, we are also waiting on this.
Reet Jain
Okay, got it. Yeah, that’s it from all the best.
Puneet Khurana
Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. Next question is from the line of Ayush Kumar Birendra, an individual investor. Please go ahead. May I request you to proceed with your question. Due to no response, we move to the next participant. Next question is from the line of [ Sajid ], an individual investor, please go ahead.
Unidentified Participant
Hello sir. Good evening everyone. I would like to know that you have shown that UAE sales has been INR33 crores. It is only for UAE or we have exported some cylinders to other parts as well or countries as well?
Puneet Khurana
Sorry, can you repeat that? Sorry, we didn’t follow.
Unidentified Participant
We have seen that UAE sales has grown up by INR33 crores, UAE plant. Hello?
Puneet Khurana
You’re talking about quarterly sales? Yes, you’re talking about quarter sales?
Unidentified Participant
Yes, yes. So, is it INR33 crores is for only supplied to UAE market or is it exported to other countries like Egypt?
Puneet Khurana
Export or exported to other countries, yes.
Unidentified Participant
What may be the percentage of type 3 sales and value in coming this financials?
Puneet Khurana
In UAE?
Operator
Sajid, sorry to interrupt you, your voice is breaking terribly. Can you please come in a better reception area?
Unidentified Participant
Now, it is clear, sir?
Puneet Khurana
Yes, I can hear you. Yes, go ahead.
Unidentified Participant
You said Type 3…
Operator
Sajid, sorry, again, we are losing you. May I request you to reconnect, please? [Operator Instructions] Next follow-up question is from line of [Indecipherable] and Individual investor, please go ahead.
Unidentified Participant
Yeah, good evening. Yes, I hope now my voice is pretty clear.
Puneet Khurana
Yes. Yes.
Unidentified Participant
Thank you so much. I would like to know the Type 3 sales and the percentage value in overall years in India?
Puneet Khurana
India is not so significant. Yes, it’s quite small.
Unidentified Participant
Okay, fine. Great.
Operator
Can you hear us? There’s no response from the participant. Can you hear us? [Operator Instructions] As there are no further questions, I’ll now hand the conference over to the management for closing comments.
Puneet Khurana
Yeah, thank you once again for your interest and support. Should you need any further clarification, or would like to know more about the company, please feel free to contact our Investor Relations team or CDR India. Thank you.
Operator
[Operator Closing Remarks]