Reduce – Unitech, Parsvnath and Ansal Properties

Results of Unitech, Parsvnath Developers and Ansal properties and Infrastructure have been below Dalal Street expectations. Here is recommendation from Citi research.

Unitech Ltd:
Unitech’s standalone 1Q FY08 revenue and earnings recorded strong growth in 1Q, with volumes pre-sold at higher price realizations early on, now recognized in 1Q FY08. On a consolidated basis revenues and earnings were higher, but 10% lower than estimates. New residential project launches in Kolkatta, Gr.Noida, where price realizations are lower, we believe margins will decline to ~50% by FY08-09E.

Pre-sale volumes are down significantly, particularly in Delhi/NCR. Primary sale prices are stagnating, but secondary-market prices are down 15-20% across markets; and potential supply risk remains.

While Unitech’s scale, low-risk/high return model deserves 10% premium, with stock already trading at 37% premium to NAV of Rs391, upside looks priced in. Valuations do not leave any margin for error from potential execution delays; as a result risk/reward looks unfavorable. Reduce Unitech as estimated Target price is Rs 430.

Parsvnath Developers Ltd:
Parsvnath reported a strong 1QFY08 with stand-alone revenues growing 40% YoY to Rs3462m, EBITDA growing 104% YoY to Rs1138m and net profit growing 131% YoY to Rs845m. Consolidated revenue of Rs4035m and PAT of Rs1022m were, however, below estimates.

Key risks include, concentration in Tier II and III cities, with high exposure to the NCR region and high share of plotted development that lacks pricing power.

Sell with the stock currently trading at an 8% premium to our NAV estimate of Rs 328 per share.

Ansal Properties and Infrastructure Ltd:
Ansal Properties reported mixed results with stand-alone revenues declining 2% YoY but EBITDA and net profit growing 17% and 15% YoY respectively. The company reported consolidated revenues of Rs1827m, EBITDA of Rs532m and net profit of Rs325m, but no comparables available.

Key Concerns include concentration in NCR and Tier III cities in the North, where the risk of prices softening is high; high dependence on plotted development and risk of delays in large township projects, particularly Dadri (27% of our NAV value), is high as land is still being acquired. Ansal API is already trading below its fair value / NAV of Rs 300.

In a separate development, S&P has said that Indian Realty Stocks are the Most Expensive in the World.

Buy Sterlite + Hindustan Zinc

Citigroup has initiated coverage on Sterlite Industries with a BUY 1M [Medium Risk] rating and a price target of Rs 910, potential upside of 45% from CMP of Rs 621.

Sterlite is a conglomerate producing non-ferrous metals – zinc,aluminium and copper. Zinc is Sterlite’s best-performing business. Prices have been relatively subdued this year, but supply from China to moderate over the coming months, enabling prices to recover in 2HFY08 to ~US$4,400/t. Citi sees upside to FY09E forecasts, based on buoyancy in zinc and lead prices. Despite flat aluminium prices, Citi expects moderate earnings growth in Balco, in which Sterlite currently owns 51%.

Sterlite operates a copper smelter for which the key profit driver is TC/RC margins, which are expected to halve from FY07 levels to 14-15c/lb, and EBITDA from Rs11.6bn in FY07 to ~Rs8bn in FY08E-FY09E. Given this, and sector re-rating, Citi values Sterlite Industries stock at a P/E of 10x FY09E, a premium to historical valuations.

Hindustan Zinc Ltd [HZL]:
Citi has initiated coverage on Hindustan Zinc with a BUY recommendation and a price target of Rs 1155, potential upside of 62%.

HZL is a fully integrated, low-cost zinc producer which meets all zinc concentrate requirements internally; offering exposure to the robust zinc price outlook. HZL also offers volume growth, scope for cost cutting, and exposure to buoyancy in lead prices.

Production costs are low as 90% of ore is sourced from its low-cost Rampura Agucha mine. Ongoing capex should enhance zinc capacity by 63% from 411,000t to 669,000t by 1Q FY09, useful at a time when zinc prices are likely to revive.

Based on outlook and sector re-rating due to global M&A, our target is Rs1,155 based on a P/E of 10x FY09E.

Comments and Suggestions can be sent to – feedback @ DalalStreet.Biz

Purvankara Projects-Developers – Avoid

Purvankara Projects, Dirty and Polluted Bangalore / Bengalooru based Realty Developer is offering shares to the public to raise around Rs 1,100 crore. We do agree that Purvankara is a good quality Developer but we recommend our value investors to Blindly Avoid the IPO as it is Expensive.

Background:
Purva has 74% of its Land Bank in Bangalore / Bangalore District. It also operates in Chennai, Kochi, Coimbatore and Colombo. On 2 July 2007, had a land bank of 38.07 million sq ft, representing a 106.8 million sq ft of saleable area. The area under development represents 8.5 times the amounts booked and 55% of its projects have been sold, revenue visibility is high. The realisation target is Rs 3200 per sq. ft. The average cost of construction is Rs 1500 per sq. ft.

Concerns:
Purva’s prospects etc are not as sunny as they look. They have a debt of 676 crores and liablities of another 483 crores. So in a way of speaking the entire proceeds of the IPO can goto fulfill these obligations. Union government recently banned real-estate players and township developers from accessing external commercial borrowings (ECBs) to fund projects. Over the past couple of years, there has been a significant increase in interest rate and prices of real estate. This has increased the equated monthly installment (EMI) on housing loans. With IT companies under severe pressure from Dollar, pay packets for IT employees are also under pressure. Purva has just around 25% folio in the Commercial Real Estate category which will see lot of demand from Retailers in India.

Current IPO:
IPO Band Rs 500-Rs 525
IPO offer size Rs1,073 crore to Rs1,126 crore
Post Issue Equity of Rs 5 each: 21.34 crore shares

Valuation:
Consolidated FY 2007 EPS on post-issue equity works out to Rs 6.1. At the offer price band of Rs 500 Rs 525, the P/E range is 81.9-85.9, respectively. [Higher that that of DLF and Unitech] Comparable listed player according to size is HDIL, currently trading at 24.6 times its consolidated recurring FY 2007 earning. Motilal Oswal values Purvavankara at mere Rs 508/ share and this company is expecting Rs 525 from the Public.

Recommendation:
The issue looks very expensive and going forward real estate prices maybe headed for a correction. Dependence on just Residential Realty market and asking money at a valuation higher than that of DLF makes us recommend to stay away from the issue.

HDFC Mutual Fund SIP – Update Q2-2007

Here is our Quarterly update on HDFC Mutual Fund for our SIP and Value investors. The markets have been buoyant and so have been your investments in the mutual funds. Our favorite fund manager, Prashant Jain was on Wizards of Dalal Street. If you have missed to watch his show, you can watch it online here.

SIP Update as on June-30-2007.

Please continue to invest fixed sum in these funds every month. You can use this SIP calculator to find about your investment goals.

Suggestions and Comments maybe sent to – “feedback @ DalalStreet.Biz”

Divis Labs + Aditya Birla Nuvo

Divi’s Laboratories’ net profit rose 151.5% to Rs 67.28 crore in Q1 June 2007 over Q1 June 2006. Sales moved up 41.8% to Rs 228.07 crore in Q1 June 2007 over Q1 June 2006.

Hyderabad-based Divi’s Labs makes generic bulk drugs and offers customs chemical synthesis or drug development services to innovator drug firms.

Aditya Birla Nuvo’s net profit slid 53% to Rs 26.46 crore in Q1 June 2007 over Q1 June 2006. Sales declined 5.4% to Rs 740.96 in Q1 June 2007 over Q1 June 2006.

Aditya Birla Nuvo’s principal activities are manufacturing viscose filament yarn, carbon black, branded apparels, textiles and insulators.

RBI Hikes CRR Again by 0.5%

The Reserve Bank of India has done it again. They have hiked the CRR rate by 0.5% taking it to 7%. Most company CFOs were not expecting the same and this has come as a surprise. Reacting to this hike, the 30 share Sensitive Index of Bombay Stock Exchange fell by 150 points from the day’s high.

RBI has left other rates unchanged. India’s central bank withdraws cap of Rs 3,000 crore (Rs 30 billion) on daily reverse repo (overnight borrowing) transaction from August 6.