Action construction equipment ltd

Action Construction Equipment Q1 FY25 Analysis: Key takeaways!!

Action Construction Equipment (ACE) demonstrated strong performance in Q1 FY25, achieving its best-ever Q1 results despite the impact of general elections. The company reported a 12.82% year-on-year revenue growth to INR734 crores, with EBITDA margin expanding by 212 basis points to 17.11%. This resilient performance indicates a positive outlook for the company, supported by government infrastructure spending and growing demand across segments.

Strategic Initiatives:

1. Joint Venture with Kato Works: ACE has reached an in-principle agreement with Japanese manufacturer Kato Works to establish a 50-50 joint venture in India. This partnership aims to produce medium and large-sized cranes, including truck cranes, crawler cranes, and rough terrain cranes, for both domestic and export markets.

2. Expansion into Higher Tonnage Cranes: The company is focusing on expanding its product range to include higher tonnage cranes, addressing the growing demand for larger capacity equipment in infrastructure and construction projects.

3. Electric Crane Development: ACE has developed electric cranes and is awaiting government approvals for commercialization, positioning itself for the transition to cleaner energy solutions in the construction equipment sector.

Trends and Themes:

1. Shift towards higher tonnage cranes: The market is gradually moving from 15-ton to 20-25 ton cranes, with expectations of 30-35 ton cranes becoming more popular in the coming years.

2. Increasing adoption of new generation cranes: The market share of new generation cranes has grown from 5-10% to about 35% in recent years, indicating a shift towards more advanced and safer equipment.

3. Growing demand for tower cranes: The tower crane market is booming, particularly in the real estate sector, with ACE expecting a 20-30% increase in tower crane production this year.

Industry Tailwinds:

1. Government infrastructure push: The central government’s continued focus on infrastructure development, with a capex budget of INR11.11 lakh crores, is driving demand for construction equipment.

2. Pre-buying ahead of emission norms change: The upcoming transition from BS IV to BS V emission norms is expected to drive pre-buying in Q3, potentially boosting sales.

3. Revival of private capex: Increasing private sector investment in infrastructure and construction projects is creating additional demand for cranes and construction equipment.

Industry Headwinds:

1. Seasonal slowdown due to monsoons: The construction equipment industry typically experiences a slowdown during the monsoon season, affecting short-term demand.

2. Intense competition in certain segments: The presence of Chinese players in the truck crane and crawler crane segments has intensified competition and pricing pressure.

Analyst Concerns and Management Response:

Concern: Impact of elections and monsoons on Q1 performance.
Response: Management highlighted that despite these challenges, the company achieved its best-ever Q1 performance and expects momentum to improve post-August 15th.

Concern: Margins in the agri division.
Response: Management expects demand to improve with the advancement of monsoons, better liquidity, and consumer credit availability.

Competitive Landscape:
ACE maintains a strong position in the pick and carry crane segment and is a leader in tower cranes. The joint venture with Kato Works is expected to strengthen its position in the higher tonnage crane market, where Chinese players currently dominate.

Guidance and Outlook:
The company has reiterated its guidance of 15-20% growth on a consolidated basis with sustained margins for FY25. Management expressed optimism about potentially revising these projections upward by the end of Q2 or early Q3.

Capital Allocation Strategy:
ACE has acquired 82 acres of land for capacity expansion, with plans to start development on 22 acres as early as Q4 FY25. This indicates a focus on organic growth and capacity enhancement to meet increasing demand.

Opportunities & Risks:

Opportunities:

1. Growing infrastructure investment in India
2. Expansion into higher tonnage cranes through the Kato Works joint venture
3. Potential for increased exports leveraging the Kato network

Riskemphasized texts:

1. Dependence on government infrastructure spending
2. Cyclicality in the construction and real estate sectors
3. Intense competition in certain product segments

Regulatory Environment:
The transition to BS V emission norms for construction equipment is a key regulatory change that could impact the industry. ACE is positioning itself to benefit from pre-buying ahead of this transition.

Customer Sentiment:
Management indicated strong interest from major construction companies in their new products, particularly in electric cranes and multi-activity cranes (NX series).

Top 3 Takeaways:

1. ACE’s strategic joint venture with Kato Works positions it for growth in the higher tonnage crane segment and potential export opportunities.
2. The company’s focus on new generation cranes and innovative products like electric cranes and multi-activity cranes demonstrates its commitment to technological advancement.
3. Strong government infrastructure spending and the revival of private capex provide a favorable demand environment for ACE’s products in the medium to long term.