At a Glance
Navin Fluorine International Ltd (NFIL) posted a scorching Q1 FY26 with profit jumping 129% YoY to ₹117 Cr and revenue at ₹739 Cr (+39% YoY). Margins expanded to 29% and order books remain hot. Yet, the stock at ₹5,190 trades at a stratospheric P/E 75 – investors are pricing in not just growth but superhero powers. Add a QIP of ₹750 Cr and promoter stake dipping to 27.1%, and you’ve got a cocktail of growth and governance questions.
Introduction
Founded in 1967, NFIL has evolved from a refrigerant gas supplier to a specialty chemicals powerhouse. It makes 60+ fluorinated compounds serving pharma, agro, aluminium, and refrigeration sectors. This quarter? Explosive profit growth. But with the stock already priced like it manufactures unicorn dust, the big question is: how much of this growth is sustainable?
Business Model (WTF Do They Even Do?)
NFIL operates across four verticals:
- Refrigeration Gases – legacy but stable.
- Inorganic Fluorides – industrial applications.
- Specialty Organofluorines – high-margin pharma/agro inputs.
- CRAMS (Contract Research & Manufacturing Services) – custom molecules for global pharma/chem giants.
The moat lies in tech know-how and long-term contracts. Risks? Regulatory changes, raw material costs, and concentration in exports.
Financials Overview
Q1 FY26 Snapshot:
- Revenue: ₹739 Cr (+39% YoY, +5% QoQ)
- Operating Profit: ₹207 Cr (OPM 29%)
- Net Profit: ₹117 Cr (+129% YoY, +23% QoQ)
- EPS: ₹23.6
Annual FY25 saw revenue ₹2,349 Cr and PAT ₹289 Cr (+7%). TTM growth exploded 62% thanks to this quarter’s jump.
Valuation
1. P/E Method
- EPS FY25: ₹58.2
- Industry P/E: 35
- Fair Value = 58.2 × 35 = ₹2,037
2. EV/EBITDA
- EBITDA FY25: ₹534 Cr
- Multiple: 15×
- EV ≈ ₹8,000 Cr → per share ≈ ₹2,500
3. DCF (20% growth, 10% discount)
- Range: ₹3,500 – ₹4,200
Current ₹5,190 → priced for perfection (and then some).
What’s Cooking – News, Triggers, Drama
- QIP ₹750 Cr at ₹4,680/share – equity dilution, but cash for expansion.
- Strong CRAMS demand driving margins.
- Promoter stake falls – from 28% to 27.1%.
- Capex on track for specialty chemical facilities.
Balance Sheet
Assets (₹ Cr) | Liabilities (₹ Cr) |
---|---|
4,830 | 4,830 |
Net Worth | 2,626 |
Borrowings | 1,466 |
Commentary: Strong equity, rising borrowings – capex heavy phase.
Cash Flow – Sab Number Game Hai
Year | Ops (₹ Cr) | Invest (₹ Cr) | Finance (₹ Cr) |
---|---|---|---|
FY23 | -64 | -656 | 658 |
FY24 | 750 | -1,094 | 336 |
FY25 | 571 | -511 | -47 |
Commentary: Ops cash healthy, investing aggressive – growth mode ON.
Ratios – Sexy or Stressy?
Ratio | Value |
---|---|
ROE | 11.5% |
ROCE | 11.7% |
P/E | 75.0 |
PAT M% | 15%+ |
D/E | 0.55 |
Commentary: Margins sexy, returns mediocre due to capex-heavy structure.
P&L Breakdown – Show Me the Money
Year | Revenue (₹ Cr) | EBITDA (₹ Cr) | PAT (₹ Cr) |
---|---|---|---|
FY23 | 2,077 | 550 | 375 |
FY24 | 2,065 | 399 | 270 |
FY25 | 2,349 | 534 | 289 |
Commentary: FY24 was a dip year; Q1 FY26 signals revival.
Peer Comparison
Company | Revenue (₹ Cr) | PAT (₹ Cr) | P/E |
---|---|---|---|
Pidilite | 13,140 | 2,093 | 70 |
Gujarat Fluoro | 4,737 | 546 | 72 |
Deepak Nitrite | 8,282 | 680 | 38 |
Navin Fluorine | 2,551 | 355 | 75 |
Commentary: NFIL trades at premium even vs peers.
Miscellaneous – Shareholding, Promoters
- Promoters: 27.1% (falling)
- FIIs: 21.9% (rising)
- DIIs: 29.9% (stable)
- Public: 21.0%
Institutions are loading, promoters slowly offloading.
EduInvesting Verdict™
NFIL Q1 FY26 was a chemical cocktail of growth – triple-digit profit surge, margin expansion, and strong CRAMS traction. Yet, at P/E 75, the market is assuming endless fluorine magic. Any slip in execution, raw material spikes, or global demand slowdown, and valuations could get corroded.
Past Performance
- From legacy refrigerants to a global specialty chemicals name.
- Profit growth inconsistent, but Q1 shows a comeback.
Headwinds
- High valuations.
- Promoter stake dilution.
- Regulatory and raw material risks.
SWOT
Strengths: Tech edge, diversified fluorine portfolio, export growth.
Weaknesses: Low ROE, heavy capex.
Opportunities: CRAMS expansion, high-value molecules.
Threats: Competition, price volatility, ESG pressures.
Final Word
Navin Fluorine is like that high-end lab chemical – potent, valuable, but expensive. Q1 FY26 confirms growth revival, but with the stock trading at sky-high multiples, investors must ask: are they buying growth or just inhaling fumes?
Written by EduInvesting Team | 30 July 2025
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