This smallcap pipe stock is down 61% in last one year. Can Q4 spark a comeback?
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Prince Pipes & Fittings, India’s fifth-largest plastic pipe manufacturing company, reported a decline in its third-quarter earnings due to decreased sales volume, inventory losses, and a weak demand environment. Consequently, the stock has halved in the last one year, and fallen 35% so far in 2025.
However, management expects a recovery in the fourth quarter due to improved demand in the real estate sector. Will this recovery be achievable? Let's analyze what went wrong and how the company plans to bounce back. Prince Pipes witnessed slow revenue growth and weak profitability in the first nine months of FY25, while the third quarter witnessed significant headwinds.
While revenue remained stable at ₹1,804 crore in first nine months of FY25 (9MFY25) against ₹1,829 crore in the year ago period, its profit fell 85% to ₹19 crore. The sharp drop in profit dragged down its earnings before interest, tax, and depreciation (Ebitda) by 50% to ₹107 crore. This resulted in a sharp 50% decline in margins to 5.9%, from 11.8% in the nine months a year ago.
Lower product pricing, inventory losses, and higher promotional spending dragged down margin. Notably, Prince Pipes' first six months' performance was also not remarkable, with profit falling by 54% and Ebitda and margins falling by 25% and 26%, respectively. Subdued demand, led by weak government spending, general elections, extended monsoons, and heat waves, impacted its performance then.
Since demand was weak, inventory days increased to 88 days in the first half of FY25 from 62 days in H1FY24. It was expected that the company would make a comeback in the third quarter, but surprisingly, its performance was a miss on all parameters. Revenue
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