Multibagger or IBC – Part 15: Strong margins & no loans. Is this the auto sector’s dark horse? By Abhay Singh - 06 August 2025

SAP

Being a dark horse of any sector often means that a business is surprisingly outperforming its contemporaries. However, the term isn’t only related to finance; it reflects on the overall development and evolution of the business. So is there a dark horse in the auto sector? Let’s examine a potential candidate that has been delivering solid financial results consistently.

Maintaining strong margins in the auto industry is, without any doubt, a task of herculean proportions. However, one company that has managed to do so is Balkrishna Industries. The tire manufacturing company has seen a continuous rise in its revenues and net profit for several years.


Key Financial Indicators:
– Operating Margin for FY21 stood at a whopping 28.5% compared to the industry median of 13%.
– Its Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) was around 14-16% for the last few years, much higher than other industry players.
– The company has been able to reduce its Debt/Equity Ratio to 0.01 in FY21, indicating almost zero debt.

Strategic Operations:
– Balkrishna industries differentiates itself by focusing on the off-highway tire segment including agriculture, industrials, construction, and earthmovers. This allowed it to create a niche for itself, away from the crowded market of passenger vehicle tires.
– Rather than competing with established players in domestic markets, Balkrishna aggressively expanded into international markets, now exporting 85% of its production.


These distinctive strategies coupled with superior operational efficiency allowed the company to generate a significantly high operating margin, not only within the tire industry but also among all listed entities in the auto component industry.

In conclusion, with its strong financials, unique strategic operations, and a clear focus on its niche, Balkrishna Industries definitely positions itself as a potential dark horse of the auto sector.

However, investing in such companies should be done after thorough research and understanding of the business model, industry dynamics, and risk factors.

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