Stock views on ACC, Mundra Port, Idea Cellular, Ambuja Cements, GMR Infrastructure

HSBC on GMR Infrastructure
HSBC maintains the `Underweight' rating on GMR Infrastructure with a target price of Rs 53. There has been no respite in GMR's existing business. GMR's airport business faces: a) continuing decline in air traffic b) continuing delays in real estate development at Delhi airport, impacting fund availability, and c) inability to raise tariff at the Delhi and Hyderabad airports, impacting overall profitability. However, there has been some relief in the power business due to fresh gas supply and lower naptha prices. GMR runs a refinancing risk on the loan at the end of the two-year period. HSBC expects that in order to complete the Delhi airport in time, the government will have to provide incentives to GMR. These incentives might be in the form of allowing it to charge higher user fees or a higher equity contribution to meet the fund requirement. However, given the current financial condition of the airline industry, it would be difficult for the government to increase the charges without opposition from the airline industry. The outlook for the company remains weak given: a) no signs of recovery in airport traffic growth b) the ability to increase airport charges remains dependent on the government's approval c) no improvement in real estate outlook d) potential difficulties in refinancing its acquisition.

Merrill Lynch on Ambuja Cements

Merrill Lynch maintains `Underperform' rating on Ambuja Cements due to lack of upside triggers. Ambuja's CY09 earnings decline will likely be modest versus other majors due to a tad better supply-demand outlook for west India. Ambuja sells ~30-40% of volumes in the west, which is forecast to witness fewer capacity additions versus other regions. However, exposure to the north will likely hurt. Ambuja's CY08 EBITDA stood at ~Rs 1,770 crore, down ~13% y-o-y due to cost-led margin pressures. The company indicated that high-cost coal inventories, greater use of imported coal and year-end adjustments/provisions dragged 4Q results. 4Q realisations were up 1% y-o-y and 3% q-o-q; cost increase was sharper at ~10-12%. Volumes grew 5% y-o-y and 16% q-o-q. In its 4Q press release Ambuja said the industry's demand growth in CY09 will range between 6-8%. This compares with 11-12% volume growth witnessed in November-December 2008, likely led by pre-election government spending. Reflecting the pattern of previous election years, we worry that the recent demand impetus will ease in 3-4 months as elections draw closer.

Indiabulls Securities on Idea Cellular

Indiabulls Securities has reiterated the `Hold' rating on Idea Cellular, however, it has downgraded the target price to Rs 49. Idea ended the third quarter with a handsome topline growth of 13.1% q-o-q, backed by a robust 13% share in the all-India net additions of 38 lakh and a 3.7% improved realisation of 65 paise per minute. Idea's market share (excluding Spice) is to inflate beyond 11% by March 2010 from the current 9.9%. The company's share of the market net additions is likely to peak at 14-15% in FY10, given the upcoming roll-outs in five new circles and the overwhelming response received for the roll-out in Bihar and the re-branding in Punjab. Moreover, Idea's brand, which has all-India recognition, renders it a competitive edge over the other entrants in the new circles. The operating margin will likely remain under pressure in FY10E-11E and is expected to come down to ~11% as Idea opts for higher opex rather than capex for network expansion. In addition, intensifying competition and penetration in Class C circles calls for competitive pricing, which would further bring down ARPUs to around Rs 250 and Rs 210 for FY09E and FY10E respectively. While the company's business model points towards a strong longer-term growth trajectory, the upcoming congestion in the telecom market would exert significant strain on its key operating and financial parameters, thereby limiting major upsides in the stock price.

Citigroup on Mundra Port

Citigroup initiates `Sell' rating on Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone (MPSEZ) as the stock looks expensive. MPSEZ is a private port (capacity ~55 mtpa) on India's west coast:
1) Strategically located for north-bound cargo;
2) Handles more container volumes than all major ports, except JNPT and Chennai;
3) Has one of the deepest drafts;
4) ~40% of projected volumes are under long-term contracts; and
5) SEZ over ~32,000 acres should support volume growth.

Cargo/profits growth has been impressive at 53%/132% CAGR over FY04-08. Citigroup expects cargo, revenues and profits to grow at 17%, 25% and 47% respectively over FY09-11E, and RoEs to improve to 24% by FY11E from 11% in FY08. While Citigroup forecasts healthy cargo growth at MPSEZ, they see risks in the medium term given the deteriorating global environment. Volumes at major ports grew only by 4% y-o-y in April-November 2008 and fell 28% y-o-y in December 2008 at the DP World-operated container terminal at Mundra. A pullback in investments would hit development of the SEZ, a growth driver for the port. We value: 1) the port at Rs 262/sh; 2) SEZ at Rs 22/sh; 3) investments in subs at Rs7/sh. MPSEZ trades at 24x FY10E PE, a premium of ~85% to Asian ports' average of ~13x, which we find excessive despite EPS growth of 47% over FY09-11E versus the Asian average of -1%. Upside risks include better-than-expected traffic growth and demand for land at the SEZ.

Macquarie on ACC

Macquarie lowers the rating on ACC from `Neutral' to `Underperform' in the absence of cost-reduction levers and the stock lacks any positive catalyst except for cement prices. It believes that the current rally in the stock along with an improved business outlook is a good opportunity to book profits. ACC declared its CY08 results, which were about 11% below the estimates at the operating level due mainly to lower volumes and higher costs. Macquarie reduces the target price by 2% to Rs 452 to factor in lower volumes for the next year and also reducing CY09 and CY10 estimates to account for lower volume expectations because it foresees some delays to expansion plans. ACC has already exhausted the easy ways to reduce costs because most of its production is based on domestic subsidised coal. It already has coal-based captive power plants and it is reaching saturation in blending. The only major avenue is a merger with its sister concern, Ambuja Cements. The majority of 7 mtpa of further expansion will not be completed until CY10. ACC will, at best, grow in line with the industry.

Karvy views on Ambuja Cements, Andhra Bank, Bank of India, Shree Cements, PVR

Buy PVR, target of Rs 260

Karvy Stock Broking has maintained its buy rating on PVR with a revised target price of Rs 260 in its August 8, 2008 research report. "PVR declared its 1Q FY09 results which were above our expectations. Net sales grew by 10.4% YoY as against our estimates of a 0.4% in 1Q FY09. This was majorly on account of higher than expected income from advertising and royalty. The net profit for 1Q FY09 declined by 35.3% YoY and grew by 43.7% QoQ as against our expectations of a decline of 61.7% YoY and decline of 14.8% QoQ."

"Considering the foray of PVR into new and promising businesses of production & distribution and lifestyle entertainment and subsequent de-risking of the exhibition business we believe that PVR will emerge as one of the better and stronger players in the multiplex industry. We have valued PVR at 13x FY10E earnings and 1.1x FY2010 sales. Subsequently, we have increased our price estimate on the company from Rs 230 to Rs 260 maintaining our BUY rating on the stock at current levels," says Karvy's research report.

Buy Shree Cements, target of Rs 733

Karvy Stock Broking has recommended a buy rating on Shree Cements with a target price of Rs 733 in its July 16, 2008 research report. "We expect net sales for the quarter ended June'08 would increase by 44.1% yoy to Rs 6.13bn driven by 26.6% growth in despatches and 11.2% growth in realization."

"SCL is currently trading at PER of 5.6x and EV/EBIDTA multiple of 3.3x on FY10E earnings. We had valued the ICL on 4x FY10E EV/EBIDTA and rate the company as BUY with price target of Rs 733," says Karvy's research report.

Buy Bank of India, target Rs 443

Karvy research has maintained buy rating on Bank of India with target price of Rs 443 in its July 17, 2008 report. "In 1st Q FY09, BoI's advances and deposits are expected to grow at 35% and 32% (Y-o-Y); the volume-led growth would result into 32% (Y-o-Y) jump in NII to Rs 12.5 billion. Estimated 24% growth in total other income on the back of fee-income growth and cost containment would lead to 36% growth in operating profit before provisions. Strain on net interest margin, significant de-growth treasury income and higher investment depreciation provisions of Rs 850 million would result in the bank's bottomline grow by 25% (Y-o-Y) to Rs 3.96 billion. The current stock price discounts FY2010 adjusted book value at 0.97x; we rate the stock as a BUY with a price target of Rs 443 at 1.88x adjusted book value FY2010" according to Karvy report.

Buy Andhra Bank, target Rs 108

Karvy research has maintained buy rating on Andhra Bank with target prie of Rs 108 in its July 17, 2008 report. "In 1st Q FY09, we assume that the Andhra Bank's advances and deposits would grow by 24% and 26.3% (Y-o-Y). The bank's net interest income (NII) would grow marginally by 2.5% (Y-o-Y) to Rs 3.7 billion and operating profit before provisions would grow by 6.3% (Y-o-Y) to Rs 2.37 billion. Higher depreciation provisions on investments of Rs 550 million would led to 18.8% (Y-o-Y) decline in net profit to 1.14 billion. Strain on net interest margin would be due to lower CASA share, higher cost of funds and lower yield on advances. We expect healthy growth in total fee income but treasury income could report degrowth. Total net income is expected to grow by 5.6% (Y-o-Y) to Rs 5.0 billion. At current market price, the stock is available at 0.65x ABV FY2010; we rate the stock as a BUY with a price target of Rs 108 at 1.34x adjusted book value FY2010" according to Karvy report.

Ambuja Cements an outperformer

Karvy Stock Broking has rated Ambuja Cements as an outperformer with a target price of Rs 101 in its July 16, 2008 research report. "For the quarter ending June 08, we expect the net sales would go up by 6.6% yoy to Rs 15.6 billion. Volume has shown a muted growth of 1.4% to 4.44 million tones due to export ban. Average realization would go up by 5.2% to Rs 3517 per tones."

"At the current market price of Rs 79 the company is trading at PER multiple of 10.2x and EV/EBIDTA multiple of 6.1x on CY09E earnings. We had valued the company on EV/EBIDTA multiple of 7.5x and rate the company as an outperformer with price target of Rs 101," says Karvy's research report.