KDDL Ltd Q4 FY2026 Concall Summary & Transcript Notes

Source transcript PDF: https://www.stockscans.in/document/b45v9yr3gt63i4mm7j3rqpiv.pdf

# 1. Financial Performance

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Operational Revenue:** **₹145.3 Cr** Q4 (+42%) · **₹506 Cr** FY26 (+31.9%)
   *   **Consolidated Total Income:** **₹585 Cr** Q4 (+35.6%) · **₹2,207.8 Cr** FY26 (+30.3%)
   *   **Standalone EBITDA:** **₹36.4 Cr** Q4 (+87.6%) · **₹116.9 Cr** FY26 (+32.2%)
   *   **Consolidated PAT:** **₹34.5 Cr** Q4 (5.9% margin) · **₹135.2 Cr** FY26 (6.1% margin)

## B. Revenue Growth
   *   **Strong Recovery Trajectory:** Performance exceeded expectations following a prior-year correction, with record monthly growth observed in April as the company prioritizes expansion.
   *   **Value-Centric Strategy:** Management is prioritizing value growth and market share over specific volume metrics, focusing on a mix of segment growth and average realization.
   *   **Resilient Demand Profile:** Made-to-order products exhibit **inflation inelasticity**, allowing the company to pass through price increases without dampening robust market demand.

## C. Margin & Profitability
   *   **Profitability Drivers:** Standalone margins reached record levels, aided by a **strong Swiss Franc (CHF)** tailwind for exports and effective pass-through of costs.
   *   **Segment Headwinds:** Near-term margins in the Bracelets business may be moderated by lower price points for new clients, while the packaging division remains in a **ramp-up loss stage** until H2.
   *   **Opex Dynamics:** Operating expenses have outpaced revenue CAGR over five years, primarily due to **consumables and job work expenses**, alongside investments in dedicated brand managers.

## D. Working Capital
   *   **Efficiency Gains:** Significant optimization achieved as inventory days at cost improved from **247 to 221 days**, following a period of aggressive retail expansion.
   *   **Granular Management:** Future capital efficiency will be driven by increased team sizes and **KPIs directly linked to capital utilization** at mature store levels.

## E. Capital Allocation
   *   **FY27 Investment Roadmap:** A total capex of **INR 50 crores** is planned for the standalone business, focusing on maintenance and growth-oriented expansion.
   *   **Strategic Deployment:** The majority of the upcoming investment is earmarked for the **Precision Engineering** and **Bracelets** segments to support long-term scaling.
   *   **Subsidiary Exclusion:** The current capex budget specifically excludes potential investments in the **Favre-Leuba** subsidiary.

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# 2. Manufacturing & Capacity

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Bracelet Capacity:** **75,000–80,000 units** current · **110,000–120,000 units** 12-month target
   *   **Capacity Utilization:** **75%–80%** (Bracelet Division)
   *   **Production Value Growth:** **~25%** expected
   *   **Product Price Range:** **₹0.02** to **₹200** per part

## B. Production Scaling
   *   **Favre-Leuba Expansion:** Aggressive scaling underway with a target to **more than double sales by FY27** via global footprint expansion and new launches.
   *   **Capacity Dynamics:** Management prioritizes "production value" over unit metrics due to extreme product diversity; peak revenue is viewed as a moving target driven by continuous CAPEX.
   *   **Infrastructure Development:** New CAPEX project in Bangalore is under evaluation for a **Q1** commissioning, balancing investments between Precision Engineering and Phase 2 of the bracelet division.

## C. Backward Integration
   *   **Operational Efficiency:** Strategic shift to bring the **plating process in-house** to ensure quality consistency and support volume ramp-ups.
   *   **Eigen Integration:** Backward integration for Eigen is expected to be operational within **3 to 4 months**, supporting expansion into aerospace and consumer electronics.
   *   **Precision Engineering Focus:** Initiatives are centered on export markets and deepening customer ties through process enhancements rather than just unit expansion.

## D. Technical Capabilities
   *   **Capability-Led Model:** Eigen is positioned as a "capability-selling" entity, ensuring business agility across diverse components even as specific product demands (e.g., busbars) fluctuate.
   *   **Digital Transformation:** Establishment of an **internal AI lab** to optimize space utilization and departmental decision-making.
   *   **Supply Chain Positioning:** Leveraging manufacturing depth to capture shifts in the global supply chain through a mix of volume and skill-based labor models.

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# 3. Operating Segments

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Precision Engineering (Eigen) Revenue:** **₹200 Cr** FY26 (+35%)
   * Bracelet Division Revenue: **₹40 Cr** Annual
   *   **Packaging (Ornapac) Revenue:** **₹23 Cr** FY26 (+37%)

## B. Precision Engineering (Eigen)
   *   **Aggressive Growth Targets:** Management is targeting a **25% CAGR** by deepening customer relationships and expanding product capabilities in the precision stamping market.
   *   **Strategic Differentiation:** The division is pivoting away from low-cost scale to compete with large Chinese manufacturers through **high-value delivery** and superior quality.
   *   **Sector Tailwinds:** Growth is being propelled by the activation of **electroplating operations** and strong momentum in high-growth sectors including **EV, aerospace, defense, and energy storage**.

## C. Watch Components
   *   **Recovery Profile:** Following a quiet H1, the segment saw a H2 recovery; H1 FY27 is expected to remain stable with accelerated growth anticipated in the latter half of the year.
   *   **Global Headwinds:** Performance remains sensitive to the Swiss watch market and international demand; easing pressures in **China** could push growth beyond current double-digit levels.
   *   **Mix Dynamics:** Slower relative growth in this segment compared to other divisions over the last five years has created shifts in the overall corporate margin profile.

## D. Bracelet Division
   *   **Regulatory Advantage:** Strong export performance is bolstered by the exclusion of bracelets from **"Swissness" criteria**, providing India-based manufacturing a long-term structural edge.
   *   **Expansion Strategy:** Targeting **20% to 25% growth** by leveraging high global demand for steel bracelets and evaluating diversification into non-steel materials.
   *   **Value Migration:** Revenue gains are being driven by both volume and value, supported by **new machinery** capable of producing specialized, higher-margin product types.

## E. Packaging Performance (Ornapac)
   *   **Domestic Momentum:** Robust top-line expansion was primarily driven by meeting the localized packaging needs of international brands operating within India.

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# 4. Retail & Brand Strategy

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Favre-Leuba Footprint:** **20+** Countries · **80+** Points of sale

## B. Ethos Store Expansion
   *   **Accelerated Scaling:** Record performance and a milestone store count have provided management the confidence to aggressively sign new locations over a **three-year** horizon.
   *   **Unit Economics:** New stores are meeting performance expectations with a targeted breakeven within a **12-month exit period**.
   *   **Operational Model:** The company remains committed to a **Company-Owned, Company-Operated (COCO)** model to maintain brand standards and execution quality.

## C. Favre-Leuba Growth
   *   **Demand Outstripping Supply:** Sales volumes for the Swiss-owned brand have exceeded internal projections, resulting in current stock shortages and low inventory levels.
   *   **Aggressive Outlook:** Management expects to **double sales** within the current financial year, supported by a planned global expansion of the brand's footprint.

## D. Portfolio Mix & Format Innovation
   *   **Strategic Diversification:** Ethos is actively diversifying its portfolio to mitigate reliance on supply-constrained brands while maintaining its luxury positioning.
   *   **Pricing Stability:** The Average Selling Price (ASP) is projected to remain stable through FY26, even as the company expands into both ultra-high horology and entry-level luxury.
   *   **New Market Entry:** A unique retail format is launching this year to capture the entry-luxury segment, driven by the assessment that the competitive threat from **wearable technology** has subsided.
   *   **Format Specialization:** The company will utilize **mono-brand formats** for ultra-high horology brands requiring exclusivity, while servicing Tier 2 demand for high-value items via the central network.

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# 5. Market & Geography Mix

## A. Domestic Strategy & Tier Expansion
   *   **Aggressive Growth Targets:** Management is targeting a **2x revenue increase** for Ethos stores within **three years**, fueled by a strategic pivot toward Tier 2 cities and below.
   *   **Tier 2/3 Velocity:** Volume growth in smaller markets is expected to outpace ASP increases, supported by tailored stock and lower operational costs; early results show Srinagar and Kanpur reaching annual goals in **six months** and **one month**, respectively.
   *   **Premiumization Tailwinds:** The Indian domestic market remains a core growth pillar, benefiting from structural localization, a strengthening manufacturing ecosystem, and robust demand for premium offerings.

## B. Global Market Dynamics
   *   **Export Diversification:** To offset a subdued Swiss market, the company is aggressively diversifying its customer base across various price points to capture medium-term international potential.
   *   **Geographic Revival:** Beyond the dominant Swiss hub, management identifies a revival in watchmaking across Germany, France, and the U.K., alongside a recovery in the U.S. market.
   *   **Future Market Entry:** Japan has been identified as a high-potential future market where the company currently maintains no operational presence.

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# 6. Risks & Macro Factors

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Pricing Gap:** **7% to 8%** Relative to Swiss Franc
   *   **Domestic Wage Inflation:** **10% to 11%** India increments vs. **0.5% to 2%** Switzerland

## B. Currency Volatility
   *   **Natural Hedge Dynamics:** Consolidated currency impact is largely neutralized as export gains in KDDL offset import-related forex losses in Ethos.
   *   **Margin Protection Strategy:** Management is implementing gradual price pass-throughs across **50 brands** every **six months** to recover gross margins impacted by the Swiss Franc's appreciation.
   *   **Exposure Profile:** Financials remain sensitive to foreign currency fluctuations due to dollar-denominated earnings being balanced against imports and international promotion spend.

## C. Global Demand & Inventory Risks
   *   **Macro Headwinds:** The luxury watch sector faces a challenging FY26, with significant demand weakness noted in China and Europe.
   *   **Strategic Pivot:** Company is prioritizing market share gains and new market entry over immediate margin preservation in the current volatile environment.
   *   **Inventory Caution:** Global brands have shifted to a conservative procurement stance; any further global growth dip could trigger industry-wide inventory corrections.

## D. Domestic Cost Inflation
   *   **Operating Leverage Headwinds:** High domestic manpower cost escalations significantly outpace Swiss inflation, frequently offsetting currency benefits and pressuring margins.
   *   **Structural Risks:** Management cautions that persistent domestic cost inflation contributes to Rupee depreciation, complicating long-term margin expansion via operating leverage.

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# 7. Guidance & Outlook

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Revenue CAGR Target:** **~25%** Medium-to-long term (Precision Engineering, Packaging, Bracelet) · **~25%** Eigen business · **20%–25%** Long-term group outlook
   *   **10-Year Growth Goal:** **10x** Revenue expansion (Requires **~26%** CAGR)

## B. Revenue CAGR Targets
   *   **Segmented Growth Profiles:** Core engineering and bracelet segments are expected to lead growth, while the watch component business may see more moderate expansion tied to macroeconomic cycles.
   *   **Strategic Consistency:** Management reaffirmed its ambitious post-IPO trajectory, emphasizing long-term scaling over quarterly volatility to meet its decade-long revenue multiplication targets.

## C. Network & Long-term Vision
   *   **Aggressive Retail Scaling:** Following the milestone of surpassing **100 boutiques**, the company is entering a **three-year investment cycle** to accelerate store openings and capture domestic market share.
   *   **Global Supply Chain Tailwinds:** Long-term confidence is underpinned by global shifts toward supply chain diversification and the company's focus on reliability and quality standards.
   *   **New Format Contribution:** A forthcoming store format is expected to support the network doubling strategy, though its initial impact on the total growth target will be secondary.

## D. Margin Stability Band
   *   **Balanced Margin Profile:** Management anticipates consistent profitability, with margins expected to remain within a stable, "closed band" for the current year.
   *   **Structural Equilibrium:** Future margin stability will be maintained by balancing high-margin/lower-growth segments against lower-margin/higher-growth business lines, preventing dramatic fluctuations.