Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works Ltd: 733 Cr Order Book, 12 Boats Named ‘River Pearl’ & Zero Dividends – Captain Jack Sparrow Approves
1. At a Glance
KMEWL is India’s most profitable “mud-shifting company.” While Dredging Corporation snores under PSU naps, this private player quietly turned ₹11 Cr sales into ₹206 Cr in just 7 years. Their business? Dredging rivers, maintaining ports, renting boats, and now sand mining in Bahrain (because why only dig India’s rivers when you can export desi dredging jugaad abroad?).
2. Introduction
Once upon a time, dredging contracts meant PSU monopoly, delays, and chai-samosa tenders. Enter Knowledge Marine (incorporated 2015), which decided to run dredging like a private business, not a government hobby.
Their rise is dramatic:
From a single dredger to a fleet of River Pearl 1–12.
From local jobs to Myanmar contracts and even Bahrain sand mining worth ₹450 Cr.
From ₹11 Cr sales in FY18 to ₹200+ Cr now, with 40% OPM that makes FMCG companies jealous.
And yet – no dividends. Promoters still hold a chunky 60.7%, but the market wonders if shareholders are the real dredged sand here.
3. Business Model (WTF Do They Even Do?)
Let’s break it down for the lazy but curious:
Dredging Services (94% of revenue)
Capital Dredging: Digging new channels.
Maintenance Dredging: Keeping ports unclogged (like a plumber for India’s coastline).
Rock dredging at Mangrol Harbour: ₹78 Cr deal already in the bag.
Boat Owning & Hiring
Pilot boats, patrol boats, mooring launches, tugboats.
Clients include Mumbai Port, Paradip Port, Vizag Port.
Ship Building & Repairs
Build & repair smaller marine craft. Not yet a full-fledged shipyard, but growing.
New Gambles
Sand Mining: First Indian co. licensed in Bahrain. River Pearl 18 deployed.
National Waterways: Targeting Ganga/Brahmaputra desiltation.
Fishing Harbours: Expanding into coastal infra.
Basically: dredging + boats + side hustle in sand = KMEWL.
4. Financials Overview
Quarterly Results (Q1 FY26 vs Q1 FY25 & Q4 FY25):
Metric
Jun’25
Jun’24
Mar’25
YoY %
QoQ %
Revenue (₹ Cr)
48.5
43.1
47.6
12.4%
1.9%
EBITDA (₹ Cr)
19.9
17.1
17.8
16.4%
11.8%
PAT (₹ Cr)
11.3
10.3
11.1
9.4%
1.8%
EPS (₹)
10.4
9.5
10.3
9.4%
1.0%
Annualised EPS = ₹41.6 → P/E ~ 46.7 at CMP ₹1,946. (Yes, mud is more expensive than software stocks now.)
5. Valuation (FV Range Only)
P/E Method: Industry P/E ~33. KMEWL P/E = 41. If we value at 30–35× FY26E EPS (₹47–₹50) → FV range ₹1,410–₹1,750.
EV/EBITDA: EV ~₹2,197 Cr. EBITDA FY25 ~₹82 Cr. EV/EBITDA = 26.5×. Industry 15–20×. Fair EV/EBITDA range → FV ₹1,250–₹1,600.
DCF (assume 20% growth for 5 years, discount 12%): FV works out ~₹1,800–₹2,000.
👉 Fair Value Range = ₹1,400 – ₹2,000. Disclaimer: Educational purposes only.
6. What’s Cooking – News, Triggers, Drama
Order Book: ₹733 Cr as of FY24, visibility of 3–5 years.
Mumbai Port Contract: First ever exclusive tug hire – ₹35 Cr.
Myanmar Win: First independent foreign dredging contract. Big credibility booster.
