🔍 At a Glance
Ceigall India is not another NBCC. It builds bridges, highways, rail overpasses, tunnels – and even runways. But here’s the twist: it’s growing like crazy, profitable, and yet burning cash faster than Noida’s roads get relaid. At a ₹4,600 Cr market cap, it’s the newest smallcap infra darling… but is this L&T-in-the-making or just another EPC sugar rush?
🧱 Business Model – WTF Do They Even Do?
Ceigall = hardcore EPC contractor. Business lines include:
- 🛣️ Highways & Expressways (Core EPC + HAM)
- 🌉 Bridges, Flyovers & Tunnels
- 🚧 Rail Overbridges
- 🛬 Runways (for defense and airports)
- 🛠️ Maintenance contracts (steady annuity cash flows incoming)
They bag contracts from NHAI, PWDs, Railways, and State Infra bodies. Think HG Infra but with tighter execution timelines and a higher operating margin.
📊 Financials Snapshot
Metric | FY21 | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Revenue (₹ Cr) | 873 | 1,134 | 2,068 | 3,029 | 3,437 |
Net Profit (₹ Cr) | 112 | 126 | 167 | 304 | 287 |
OPM (%) | 18% | 16% | 14% | 17% | 15% |
ROCE (%) | NA | 33% | 27% | 30% | 22% |
📈 This is what EPC dreams are made of – 4x revenue in 4 years, and margins >15% = elite execution.
But read on… the balance sheet has its own punchlines.
💰 Valuation – Cheap, Reasonable, or Crack?
Metric | Value |
---|---|
Market Cap | ₹4,654 Cr |
EPS (FY25) | ₹16.88 |
P/E (TTM) | 16x |
Book Value | ₹105 |
P/B Ratio | 2.54x |
🧠 Compared to other EPC players like HG Infra (P/E 12–14), KNR (P/E 15), and IRB (P/E ~30 with toll income), Ceigall is fairly valued. Not cheap. Not crack. Just clean EPC vibes.
🔥 What’s Cooking – Orders, Events & Drama
- 🛣️ ₹1,199 Cr Ayodhya Bypass HAM project appointed date: July 2025
- 🏁 Completion certificate received for ₹127 Cr Punjab PWD road
- ⚖️ ₹6.2 Cr arbitration award won in DRB dispute
- 📞 2024–25 had 6+ earnings con-calls – management is very vocal, which is rare for smallcap EPCs
They’re not just building roads. They’re building investor confidence too.
🧾 Balance Sheet – How Much Debt, How Many Dreams?
FY | Equity (₹ Cr) | Reserves | Debt | Total Assets |
---|---|---|---|---|
FY21 | 0.98 | 304 | ₹30 Cr | ₹474 Cr |
FY25 | ₹87 Cr | ₹1,745 Cr | ₹990 Cr | ₹4,248 Cr |
🧱 Reserves 5x in 4 years
💥 Debt shot up from ₹30 Cr to ₹990 Cr – pure capex & execution leverage
⚠️ Gearing is fine as long as order execution is smooth – which it currently is
💸 Cash Flow – Sab Number Game Hai
FY | CFO (₹ Cr) |
---|---|
FY21 | +103 Cr |
FY22 | -135 Cr |
FY23 | -73 Cr |
FY24 | -211 Cr |
FY25 | -520 Cr (!!) |
They’re basically saying: “Profit hai, cash nahi hai”
Why? It’s simple:
- Rising debtors (72 days)
- Receivables from govt infra bodies = delays galore
- New projects need initial outflows before milestone payments
📉 Key Ratios – Sexy or Stressy?
Metric | FY25 |
---|---|
ROCE | 21.6% |
ROE | 21.1% |
OPM | 15% |
Working Capital Days | 73 |
Debtor Days | 72 |
Inventory Days | 14 |
CCC | -64 (good) |
✅ ROE > 20% is top tier
🚨 Cash burn is the red flag – if they mess up collections, working capital could choke them
🧾 P&L Breakdown – Show Me the Money
- Revenue: ₹3,437 Cr
- Operating Profit: ₹518 Cr
- Net Profit: ₹287 Cr
- OPM: 15.08%
- EPS: ₹16.88
- Dividend? 0.19% yield – i.e., peanuts
They believe in building roads, not rewarding shareholders (yet).
🥊 Peer Comparison
Company | P/E | ROCE | OPM | CMP / BV | ROE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ceigall India | 16x | 22% | 15% | 2.5x | 21% |
KNR Const | 18x | 19% | 19% | 3.2x | 18% |
HG Infra | 13x | 21% | 20% | 2.1x | 20% |
PNC Infra | 11x | 15% | 13% | 1.7x | 17% |
IRB Infra | 30x | 8% | 45% (Toll) | 1.5x | 6% |
Ceigall’s valuations are mid-range, but earnings and ROCE are top-tier. If cash flows improve – re-rating potential exists.
🗃️ Shareholding
- 🧑💼 Promoters: 82.05%
- 🏦 DIIs: 8.2% (growing!)
- 🌏 FIIs: 1.5%
- 🧑🤝🧑 Public: <9%
Clean structure. No pledging. Decent institutional interest for a smallcap.
🧠 EduInvesting Verdict™
“Ceigall’s building roads for India… but potholes in free cash flow remain.”
🟢 Pros:
- High growth
- Solid ROCE/ROE
- Clean promoter holding
- Fair valuations
🔴 Cons:
- Massive cash burn
- Rising receivables
- No dividend despite ₹287 Cr PAT
🧮 Fair Value Estimate
Let’s assume steady-state PAT of ₹300 Cr and assign:
- 15x conservative P/E → ₹4,500 Cr mcap
- 20x re-rated P/E (if FCF improves) → ₹6,000 Cr mcap
Fair Value Range = ₹258–₹345/share
At ₹267 CMP, it’s fairly priced with upside optionality.
🏷️ Tags:
Ceigall India, smallcap infra stocks, road construction stocks, HAM project EPC, Ceigall vs HG Infra, undervalued EPC stocks, EduInvesting infra pick
✍️ Written by Prashant | 📅 July 3, 2025