IndiGo’s steep valuation premium to global peers could clip the stock’s wings
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The Interglobe Aviation Ltd stock (IndiGo) soared to a 52-week high of ₹5,190 on Thursday, reacting to the management’s upbeat commentary and growth plans at its analyst day. Among the key highlights was that the air travel boom led by the Mahakumbh gathering and an extended wedding season could give a big boost to its profit in the March quarter (Q4FY25).
The quarter is likely to be better than anticipated due to higher passenger revenue per available seat kilometre (PRASK) on 17% year-on-year growth in the number of passengers. Since the Mahakumbh event, which began in Uttar Pradesh on 13 January, the Indigo stock has risen by 25%. In the last year, it has fetched 58% returns, beating the benchmark index, the Nifty 50, by a wide margin.
The steep surge in share prices has meant that Indigo has become a more expensive airline stock than global peers, with a valuation of EV/EBITDAR of 9.5x based on FY26E, ahead of Air China’s 8.8x, according to a Nuvama Research report dated 19 March. EBITDAR stands for earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortization and rent or lease cost of aeroplanes. Indigo’s valuation multiple is at a significant premium to the average valuation of global aviation stocks at 5.5x, added the report.
Indigo is expanding on margin-accretive international routes and increasing its brand awareness. Currently, the airline's capacity as denominated in available seat kilometre (ASKM) (similar to installed capacity in a manufacturing company) in aviation terminology is skewed in favour of the domestic market at 72% for FY25. The remaining 28% is in the international market that is likely to move up to 40% by FY30, the management said at the analyst day meeting.
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