Expect to maintain 20% EBITDA margins – DABUR

Update on the Indian Equity Market:

On Wednesday, NIFTY ended lower at 16,167 (-0.5%). Among the sectoral indices, REALTY (+0.7%), BANK (+0.6%), and PRIVATE BANK (+0.5%) were the gainers, whereas IT (-1.2%), AUTO (-0.9%), and CONSUMER DURABLES (-0.7%) led the losers. Among the stocks, ONGC (+3.1%), AXISBANK (+2.5%), and INDUSINDBK (+1.7%) led the gainers, while SHREECEM (-3.3%), BAJAJFINSV (-2.2%), and LT (-2.1%) led the losers.

Excerpts of an interview with Mr. Mohit Malhotra, CEO of Dabur India (DABUR) with CNBC-TV18 on 6^th May 2022:

• On the back of the price increases that have happened across the industry, DABUR foresees a reduction in the volumes of the overall FMCG market.
• In 4QFY22 the FMCG market declined by ~4%. As compared to the FMCG market, DABUR’s volumes grew by ~2%. The tonnage growth for the 4QFY22 stood at ~12%. While evaluating the volume growth it becomes 2% as the company sells juices in the beverage segment which have a lower value.
• The company expects that it will grow at a mid-single-digit volume growth and low double-digit value growth with the support of price hikes and increases in volumes. It expects to grow ahead of the market and continue to gain market share across all categories.
• The oral care business has grown at ~2.5% on a high base of last year and in toothpaste, DABUR gained a market share of 20bps. The oral care business is performing well in terms of revenue and profitability, and the company has also taken some price hikes to mitigate the cost inflation.
• Dabur Red and Meswak also growing significantly. Herbal toothpaste which is a new category is also performing significantly well.
• The overall hair care business grew by 16% on a YoY basis. In the hair care business, the market declined by ~6.5% but DABUR grew by ~3%.
• In the overall hair oil market, DABUR gained ~70bps of market share and in all sub-segments of hair oil, it continues to gain market share. In the shampoo segment also the company grew ahead of the market and gained ~40bps market share.
• On the back of the high base of 4QFY21, the growth looks a little bit muted in 4QFY22. However, the full-year growth numbers are very robust, the businesses are in good positions and the fundamentals also remain intact.
• On operating margins the company targets to maintain ~20% EBITDA margins through further price hikes and cost-cutting measures.
• The company also taking some measures to expand distributions as rural contributes ~47% of total business. The company expects by the end of 1QFY23 the rural consumption to be back to normal levels on the back of good monsoon and crop sentiments. It expects the rural business will continue to grow higher than urban business.
• The company continues to invest in its brands and the company is in a good position in advertising spending.

Asset Multiplier Comments

• The geopolitical tensions coupled with high inflation are liked to impact the demand for discretionary items in the near term. Though companies have taken measures such as reduction in grammage or price hikes, these have not been sufficient to abate the high inflation. The margins of the companies are expected to remain under pressure in the medium term.
• Market share gains from its peers in all categories, entry into adjacent categories and focus on premiumization position DABUR well despite shorter-term headwinds.

Consensus Estimates: (Source: Market screener website)

• The closing price of DABUR was ₹ 510/- as of 11-May-2022.  It traded at 44/ 38x the consensus earnings estimate of ₹ 11.5/13.4 for FY23E/FY24E respectively.
• The consensus target price of ₹ 628/- implies a P/E Multiple of 47x on the FY24E EPS estimate of ₹ 13.4/-

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