Campus Activewear Ltd Q2 FY2026 Concall Summary & Transcript Notes

Source transcript PDF: https://www.stockscans.in/document/bj02ttbeqgfrefhs2k2d94uy.pdf

# 1. Financial Performance

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Operating Revenue:** **₹387 Cr** Q2 FY'26 (+16%) · **12–15% lower** due to channel accounting change
   * Shoe Units Sold: 5.75 Mn pairs Q2 FY'26 (+7.4% YoY)
   * Gross Margin: 53.9% Q2 (+110 bps YoY)
   *   **EBITDA:** **₹55 Cr** Q2 · **14% margin** (+140 bps YoY)
   *   **H1 Normalized EBITDA Margin:** **~16%** (vs. reported ~5%)
   *   **Lease Liabilities Repayment:** **₹80 Cr** H1 (up from ₹20 Cr)

## B. Revenue Growth
   *   **Strong Underlying Demand:** Robust **double-digit revenue growth** driven by **strong double-digit expansion in distribution channel** and moderate online channel growth.
   *   **Revenue Recognition Shift:** ~2% growth headwind from structural change with Flipkart/Myntra; **12–15% mechanical revenue reduction** due to direct freight invoicing, offset by lower expenses.

## C. Gross Margin
   *   **Margin Expansion Achieved:** Gross margin improved **100 bps YoY** despite online ASP pressure, supported by **favorable product mix** and **selective price corrections**.

## D. EBITDA Margin
   *   **Significant Margin Leverage:** EBITDA margin expanded **140 bps YoY** to **14%**, reflecting operating discipline and mix benefits.
   *   **Normalized Profitability Strong:** H1 EBITDA margin normalized to **~16%** after adjusting for timing of marketing spend, which is expected to stabilize at **5% of revenue**.
   *   **Margin Aspirations Intact:** Long-term EBITDA margin target of **17–18%** remains, underpinned by scaling **premium product portfolio** with higher-margin potential.

## E. Cash Flow
   *   **Lease Outflow Surge:** Sharp increase in lease repayments driven by **71-year lease commitment** for Pant Nagar facility, reflecting long-term capacity investment.

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# 2. Channel & Distribution

## A. Key Figures
   * Online Sales Growth: 6% (impacted by timing shift)
   *   **D2C Offline Growth:** **35%** QoQ (driven by LFS expansion)
   *   **Freight & Commission Expense Reduction:** **INR 8 Cr** (due to model realignment)
   *   **Distributor Inventory Level:** **~100 days** (stable, balanced)

## B. Online Performance
   *   **Temporary Revenue Drag:** Online growth moderated due to **shift in Big Billion Days timing** and revised partner model, with **INR 8 Cr lower freight/commission expenses** reflecting direct customer billing.
   *   **Sales Recognition Shift:** A **2–3-day earlier start** to BBD boosted Q2 activity, but **final 5 days of sales deferred to Q3** due to transit, creating a temporary accounting dip.
   *   **Underlying Demand Strength:** Despite weak Q2 reported performance, **strong traction on key platforms** during BBD indicates resilient consumer demand, with **benefits expected in Q3**.

## C. D2C Offline
   *   **Robust Expansion Momentum:** D2C offline delivered **strong double-digit growth**, fueled by **200 new LFS doors** and stable EBO/LFS export contributions.

## D. Channel Inventory
   *   **Healthy Channel Dynamics:** Distributor inventory remains **balanced at ~100 days**, with **no channel stuffing** and **aligned primary-secondary sales**, supporting confidence in sustainable growth.
   *   **Replenishment Confidence:** Campus Activewear’s **secondary replenishment model** and **decent channel inventory levels** signal sustained end-demand, while **October trends remain positive**.

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# 3. Product & Portfolio

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Premium Sneaker Volume Growth:** **>100% YoY** (strategic initiatives)
   * Women’s Revenue Mix: 16.2% (Q2 FY’26)
   *   **Kids’ Revenue Mix:** **4%–5%**
   *   **Men’s Revenue Mix:** **~78%**
   *   **Accessories Revenue Contribution:** **2%–3%** (FY’25)

## B. Premium Segment
   *   **Strategic Rebalancing:** Premium category strengthened by **>100% growth** in sneaker offerings, driven by undisclosed strategic initiatives and portfolio adjustments.
   *   **Core Strength Maintained:** Company retains leadership in core sports shoes while pivoting toward premium sneakers as a key growth vector.

## C. Women’s & Kids
   *   **Targeted Brand Expansion:** Appointment of **Kriti Sanon** as brand face aims to elevate design, drive innovation, and increase saliency in women’s wear.
   *   **Channel & Product Alignment:** Incentive structures now favor women’s and kids’ products, supporting a **2% improvement in market saliency** from focused NPD.
   *   **Revenue Mix Still Nascent:** Despite progress, women’s and kids’ segments remain small contributors at **2%** and **4%–5%**, respectively.

## D. Apparel Launch
   *   **Pilot Expansion Beyond Footwear:** Apparel launched in Q3, currently in pilot across **~60 EBOs** to gauge consumer response ahead of potential scale-up.
   *   **Premium Positioning:** New line is high-quality and high-set, extending brand reach beyond established accessories business.

## E. Accessories
   *   **Small but Strategic Revenue Stream:** Accessories contribute **close to 3%** of FY’25 revenue, serving as a complementary category to core footwear.

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# 4. Manufacturing & Capacity

## A. Key Figures
   *   **Pant Nagar Transaction Cost:** **₹86 Cr** (incl. facility, registration, levies) · **₹20–25 Cr** building · **₹65 Cr** land
   *   **Total Pant Nagar Spend (est.):** **₹110–115 Cr** (land + building + development)
   *   **CAPEX Plan:** **₹230 Cr** over 3 years (front-loaded) · **₹40–50 Cr/year** maintenance CAPEX
   *   **Capacity Additions:** **+3 Lakh Pairs/Month** (Phase 1 upper line) · **6 Lakh Pairs/Month** (Pant Nagar assembly)

## B. In-House Production
   *   **Cost & IP Advantage:** In-house production offers slight cost benefits and secures **6 to 8-month competitive lead time** through IP protection.
   *   **Premiumization Driver:** Internal capacity expansion enables control over high-end manufacturing, where external vendors lack capability and technology adoption.

## C. Pant Nagar Facility
   *   **Strategic Scalability:** New facility to augment premium upper capacity and serve as a self-sufficient unit with full assembly, enhancing operational scalability.
   *   **Global-Grade Technology:** Equipped with **China and Vietnam-level manufacturing tech** used by MNCs, enabling production of **MNC-standard sneakers**.
   *   **Asset Recognition:** Building capitalized under CWIP, transitioning to fixed assets; land recorded under ROU assets and lease liabilities.

## D. CAPEX Plan
   *   **Front-Loaded Roadmap:** 3-year **₹230 Cr** CAPEX plan prioritizes land and building in Phase 1, with sequential replication and assembly expansion in later phases.
   *   **Capacity Ramp:** Phase 1 adds **3 lakh pairs/month** via new upper line; Phase 3 to focus on assembly to de-bottleneck long-term growth.

## E. Technology Edge
   *   **Automation for Quality:** Incremental upper capacity features **automatic stitching plants with minimal human intervention**, ensuring superior finish.
   *   **Tech Leadership:** State-of-the-art sole technology already deployed last year, reinforcing vertical integration edge in premium segments.

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# 5. Pricing & Demand

## A. Key Figures
   *   **ASP:** **₹672** per pair (+8%) · **₹622** per pair prior year
   * **Volume Growth:** **+7.5%** in Q2 FY

## B. ASP Trend
   *   **Premiumization Drives ASP:** ASP rose 8% YoY, supported by strategic exit from margin-dilutive low-price products and stabilization at **₹672** over three quarters.
   *   **Limited Premium Segment Penetration:** Despite focus, premium segment (₹1,500+) maintained **2% saliency** YoY, indicating early-stage contribution to mix.

## C. GST Impact
   *   **Leveling the Playing Field:** Reduced GST rates eroded unorganized players’ price advantage, with BIS import restrictions amplifying demand tailwinds for organized brands.
   *   **Demand Recovery Expected:** Management anticipates rebound in consumer spending post-GST clarity, particularly from deferred purchases.

## D. City Tier Demand
   *   **Balanced Premium Demand:** Strong traction in premium sneakers across all city tiers, with no disproportionate concentration in Tier 1 or lower tiers.
   *   **Execution Gains:** Revenue momentum fueled by in-house design, expanded distribution, and higher repeat billing from retail partners carrying broader assortments.

## E. Festive Sales
   *   **Resilient Volume Performance:** Achieved **5% volume growth** despite 15-day disruption from delayed festive sales and GST announcement timing.

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# 6. Input Cost & Execution Risks

## A. Key Figures
   * A&P Expense Ratio: 10.5% Q2 (phasing effect) · 8.5% full-year projected
   *   **Land Lease Cost:** **INR 5 lakh/month** (charged to P&L)
   * **Employee Cost Impact:** **0.4%** material margin headwind (temporary, to neutralize by year-end)

## B. Cost Structure & Margin Dynamics
   *   **Stable Full-Year Spend:** A&P expenses tracking to prior-year levels despite phasing; no upward revision to guidance.
   *   **Temporary Margin Pressure:** Material margin impact from elevated employee costs during Haridwar 2 ramp-up expected to **fully reverse by year-end**.
   *   **Lease Costs Transparent:** New land lease expense of INR 5 lakh/month now reflected in P&L, with no hidden liabilities.

## C. Working Capital Management
   *   **Receivables Trend Structural:** H1 reduction driven by favorable channel mix, strong distribution performance, and effective cash discount schemes—not a one-off.
   *   **Working Capital Inflation:** Shorter vendor payment terms under revised MSME laws (90 to 45 days) increasing outflow pressure this year.
   *   **Inventory & Seasonality:** FG build-up linked to Diwali phasing and Q3 demand seasonality, creating predictable working capital cycles.
   *   **Borrowings as Arbitrage Tool:** Current debt is tactical; company to reduce borrowings and working capital by March, leveraging **fixed deposit yields above borrowing costs**.

## D. Procurement Stability
   *   **Procurement Rate Consistency:** Stable input costs over 5 years minimize valuation method impact; FIFO and weighted average effectively equivalent.
   *   **Industry-Aligned Accounting:** Shift to weighted average method enhances comparability and operational simplicity, with **no material financial impact**.
   *   **Immaterial Procurement Gains:** Any onetime variances deemed negligible and not quantified by management.

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# 7. Guidance & Outlook

## A. Revenue Target
   *   **Headline:** Full-year guidance maintained at **double-digit growth** despite Q1 warehouse shifting headwinds, with recovery largely complete by Q2.

## B. Store Expansion
   *   **Headline:** EBO store expansion paused this year to prioritize **profitability** and **store-level optimization**, particularly amid new category launches like apparel.
   *   **Headline:** Expansion set to resume at **70–75 new stores annually** over the next 2–3 years, targeting near **500 total stores** by end of period.

## C. Export Vision
   *   **Headline:** Exports remain a **small, early-stage business**, but positioned for long-term scale under a structured **own-brand GTM strategy** with global rollout in key markets.
   *   **Headline:** **India’s cost advantage over China** provides strong foundation for export competitiveness, with potential for **higher-margin contribution** as operations scale.
   *   **Headline:** Market entries executed in **Sri Lanka, Morocco, and other countries** via high-quality partners across full distribution networks; detailed 2–3 year export roadmap expected by **April**.