Highway Infrastructure Ltd Q2 FY2026 Concall Summary & Transcript Notes

Source transcript PDF: https://www.stockscans.in/document/qfxlbfhx5z2ex4ccp4kd9twu.pdf

# 1. Financial Performance

## A. Key Figures
   * Revenue: ₹227.8 Cr H1 FY26 (flat YoY) · ₹115.3 Cr Q2 FY26 (-25% YoY)
   * EBITDA: ₹25.8 Cr H1 FY26 (+102% YoY) · ₹13.7 Cr Q2 FY26 (+253% YoY); Margin: 11.3%
   * PAT: ₹16.9 Cr H1 FY26 (+192% YoY) · ₹9.7 Cr Q2 FY26 (+515% YoY); Margin: 7.4%
   *   **Real Estate Revenue:** ₹8 Cr FY25 (+167% from FY24)
   * ROE / ROCE: 19.1% ROE · 16.7% ROCE (FY25)

## B. Revenue Growth
   *   **Toll Monetization Milestone:** Operations commenced at Chotiya Fee Plaza under a ₹7 Cr contract, marking entry into toll revenue stream.
   *   **Real Estate Momentum:** Realized strong double-digit growth in real estate income, now a meaningful contributor to overall revenue.
   *   **Seasonal Revenue Pattern:** Despite flat H1 revenue, full-year performance expected to be back-end loaded as per historical trend.

## C. Profitability Trends
   *   **Profit Surge Outpaces Revenue:** Exceptional bottom-line growth driven by operating leverage and cost discipline, despite modest top-line expansion.
   *   **Margin Sustainability Confirmed:** Management affirms current **11%-12% H1 margins** are sustainable and expects potential for further improvement.
   *   **High-Yield Projects Driving Returns:** Strong ROCE of 7% reflects efficient capital deployment despite low reported ROE.

## D. Balance Sheet Strength
   *   **Prudent Leverage Management:** Debt-to-equity maintained at **6:1**, with no plan to eliminate debt given capital intensity; focus on optimal capital structure.
   *   **Net Debt Reduction Path:** Net debt of ₹60 Cr as of Sep-24 to be reduced using IPO proceeds; no near-term external funding planned.
   *   **Liquidity Buffer Intact:** Healthy cash reserves support bidding activity and operational flexibility.

## E. Cash Flow Profile
   *   **Self-Sustaining Model Ahead:** Management expects strong cash flow generation from project execution, enabling deleveraging without incremental debt.

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# 2. Order Book & Inflows

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Order Book:** **₹775 Cr** as of September 2025 (+46% H1 FY26) · Peak of **₹775 Cr** (highest ever)
   *   **EPC & Tollway Mix:** **₹584 Cr** EPC · **₹191 Cr** Tollway
   *   **Near-Term Inflows:** **₹150–200 Cr** EPC projects to complete in 2 years · **₹250 Cr** expected in next 2–3 months
   * Recent Order Wins: ₹3.05 Cr (2 EPC contracts) · ₹25.26 Cr (8-lane Expressway LOA)

## B. Current Order Book
   *   **Record Momentum:** Order book reached an all-time high with strong H1 growth, driven by new EPC and expressway contract wins.
   *   **Segment Diversification:** EPC dominates the book, but Tollway segment gaining traction with **3 active expressways** under short-term contracts.
   *   **Execution Visibility:** Projects have **18–24 month timelines**, supporting revenue visibility; management targets **₹1,000 Cr** order book by year-end.
   *   **Bidding Efficiency:** Management cites a **25% bid success rate**, indicating selective but effective pursuit in a competitive environment.

## C. Near-Term Inflows
   *   **Robust Near-Term Pipeline:** Significant inflows expected within months, backed by recent wins of **₹250–300 Cr in EPC** and **₹250 Cr in Tollway bidding** (Aug–Oct).
   *   **Margin Uncertainty:** EPC margin trajectory remains unclear, as management did not confirm improvement with scale.

## D. Bid Pipeline Strength
   *   **Strategic Pre-Qualification:** Eligible to bid up to **₹250 Cr** for NHAI EPC projects and **₹1,000 Cr** for Toll contracts, reflecting growing scale and credibility.
   *   **Tollway Conversion Opportunity:** 3-month NHAI feasibility contracts serve as a pipeline for longer-term **1-year awards**, enhancing future book quality.
   *   **Market Slowdown Noted:** Despite strong internal performance, broader road sector order flow has weakened over the past six months.

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# 3. Segment & Revenue Mix

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Revenue Mix:** **>75%** from Tollway · **~20%** from EPC · **~2%** from Real Estate
   *   **Toll Plazas Managed:** **7** in FY24 → **15** in FY25
   * Real Estate Launch: 0.17 million sq ft added via Neww York City Phase-IV
   *   **Units Delivered:** **>2,600** residential units completed
   *   **Potential Rental Income:** **₹15–20 Cr/year** from commercial real estate

## B. Tollway Contribution
   *   **Dominant Revenue Source:** Tollway remains the largest contributor, with **over 75% of total revenue**, supported by NHAI contracts and new plaza ramp-up.
   *   **Operational Scaling:** Toll operations expanded from 7 to 15 plazas YoY, with 31 projects completed, signaling strong execution capability and government trust.
   *   **Growth Catalyst:** New road construction and efficient toll mechanisms are boosting collections, while short-term contract experience strengthens future **Tollway and EPC** pipeline participation.

## C. EPC Revenue Share
   *   **Strategic Flexibility:** EPC remains core, with active projects in housing, roads, and solar; focus shifting toward **building works** amid better market opportunities.
   *   **Diversified Pipeline:** Actively pursuing **renewable energy, EV infrastructure, and new EPC contract models**, leveraging cross-sector execution expertise.
   *   **No Fixed Project Profile:** Company evaluating varied EPC opportunities without standard size or duration, enabling agility in bidding and strategic positioning.

## D. Real Estate Exposure
   *   **Asset-Light Expansion:** Residential growth continues via **mid-income housing** with strong client trust, evidenced by **600+ families already residing** in Neww York City township.
   *   **Commercial Upside:** Commercial real estate targeted for **annuity-like rental income**, using strategically held land near growth corridors and institutional hubs (IIT/IIM).
   *   **New Revenue Streams:** Plans to enter **way-side amenities, EV charging, and hospitality** via NHAI EPC contracts, creating hybrid income models.
   *   **Market Tailwinds:** Strong demand in Indore driven by urbanization, job growth from Pithampur, and rising land values, supporting both **rental and capital appreciation**.

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# 4. Project Execution & Timeline

## A. Key Figures
   * **Project Value:** **₹18.97 Cr** Greenfield Expressway (4-lane)
   *   **EPC Projects Delivered:** **69** cumulative · **20** under construction
   *   **Revenue Seasonality:** **60%-65%** typically booked in H2 (Q3–Q4)
   *   **Order Book Timeline:** **18–24 months** execution cycle · **35%-40%** recognized in first half · **>65%** in second half

## B. Execution Schedule
   *   **Active Ramp-Up:** Operations commenced on a new **₹97 Cr** Greenfield Expressway, expanding footprint on the Delhi-Vadodara corridor.
   *   **Backlog Visibility:** High execution visibility with **20 ongoing projects**, majority government-backed for improved payment security.
   *   **H2 Execution Surge:** Strong expected H2 run rate supported by typical **Q3–Q4 revenue concentration** across project cycle.

## C. Revenue Recognition
   *   **Project-Type Variance:** Revenue recognition lags in building projects due to extended groundwork, with **peak recognition in Q3–Q4**.

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# 5. Geographic & Government Mix

## A. Geographic Expansion
   *   **Headline:** Strategic geographic deepening in **Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh**, with new market entry into **Jammu & Kashmir, Bihar, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Daman & Diu**, supported by government partnerships in EPC and infrastructure.
   *   **Headline:** Deliberate de-concentration from **Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh** core regions underway, with active expansion into **Rajasthan and Maharashtra** across EPC and real estate to diversify risk and capture growth.
   *   **Headline:** **Indore** emerging as a high-value urban hub within Madhya Pradesh, benefiting from quadrilateral connectivity and boosting regional real estate economics.

## B. Government Projects & Visibility
   *   **Headline:** **Government agencies** are the primary source of projects, providing strong execution visibility and **no current payment delays**, underpinning cash flow stability.
   *   **Headline:** Government-led infrastructure push—especially in **expressways and road networks**—is fueling sustained EPC and tolling opportunities, with continuous project approvals from both public and private sectors.
   *   **Headline:** No single state prioritized due to **policy subjectivity and volatility**; strategy emphasizes agility by aligning with evolving state-level development agendas.

## C. Regional Diversification Strategy
   *   **Headline:** **Pan-India footprint** spans **11 states and 1 union territory**, designed to mitigate regional risks such as seasonal toll disruptions (e.g., winter fog in the North).
   *   **Headline:** Multi-state presence enhances resilience, optimizes revenue streams, and supports long-term **profitability and order book growth** through broader talent access and opportunity capture.

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# 6. Risks & Model Shifts

## A. Business Model Evolution
   *   **Strategic Diversification:** Company is actively evaluating HAM projects but diversifying into newer models amid a **clear shift by NHAI toward BOT and TOT**, reducing reliance on HAM despite its structural appeal.
   *   **Margin Tailwinds:** Government SEZ benefits are lowering input and financing costs, enhancing **bidding capacity** and supporting **higher margins**.
   *   **Selective Project Pursuit:** Not all HAM opportunities are economically attractive; the company maintains discipline in project selection under evolving government financing preferences.

## B. Operational & Contracting Dynamics
   *   **Efficiency Focus:** Digital toll systems deployed to curb leakage, with short-term contracts (90 days to 1 year) enabling agile operational scaling.
   *   **Payment Risk Mitigation:** Partnerships with government entities featuring strong payment histories, backed by timely execution, ensure healthy receivables.

## C. Bidding Landscape
   *   **Agency-Specific Hurdles:** Pre-qualification criteria for EPC bids vary significantly across agencies like **NHAI and NBCC**, requiring tailored bidding strategies.

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# 7. Guidance & Outlook

## A. Key Figures
   *   **EBITDA Margin Target:** **8%–12%** for FY27–28
   *   **EBITDA Margin Target:** **10%–12%** near-term (sustained or improved)
   *   **Rental Income Forecast:** **₹15–20 Cr** in 2–3 years

## B. Margin Targets
   *   **Path to Margin Expansion:** Targeted EBITDA margin improvement driven by **lower finance costs**, **complementary service offerings**, and **high-margin EPC infrastructure projects**.
   *   **Confidence in Execution:** Management expresses strong conviction in achieving double-digit margins, with expectations of **better margin performance in the upcoming financial year**.

## C. Funding Plan
   *   **Capital Deployment:** IPO proceeds to be primary funding source for EPC projects; future capital allocation will be **project-led and demand-driven**.
   *   **Ancillary Income Growth:** Commercial real estate portfolio poised to contribute **meaningful rental income** within 2–3 years, supporting cash flow stability.