Nikhil Adhesives - Rs.22.00

Nikhil Adhesives Ltd (NAL) was originally incorporated in 1986 as Hans Marketing & Services Pvt., Ltd, primarily to market adhesives manufactured by M/s Nikhil Industries under the brand name “FORMISOL”. Subsequently with a view to achieve backward integration, it became a partner in M/s Nikhil Industries. In 1992, Nikhil Industries was converted into a public ltd company and changed its name to NAL. Later in 2003, it acquired the emulsion business of M/s Mafatlal Dyes & Chemicals Ltd with well-established brands like ‘Mahacol’ which has the distinction of being the first adhesive brand launched in the country. Today, NAL is engaged in manufacturing as well as marketing and export of variety of polymer emulsions used as adhesives for furniture, packaging and label / lamination industry and as a binder for the textiles and paints industry, etc. It also trades in various chemicals such as vinyl acetate monomer (VAM), butyl acetate monomer, polyvinyl alcohol, cyclohexanone, cyclohexane etc.

NAL’s manufacturing facility is located at Dahanu, Maharashtra with an installed capacity of 7500 MTPA. It has regional offices at Chennai, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata with warehouses and has more than 100 distributors spread all over India with lower presence in South India. It sell its products in two market segments viz. Industrial products and Consumer products. The industrial emulsions include adhesives for packaging such as BOPP tape, sticker/label and lamination application, binders for manufacture of paints, textiles, etc. In the retail segment of branded consumer and bazaar products, the company's products include wood adhesives, construction and paint chemicals, sealants, etc. which are used by carpenters, civil contractors, painters, plumbers, households, students, etc. It has reputed brands like Formisol, Emditex, Mahacol, Emdility etc. The greatest strength of NAL is the decade long distribution tie-ups for critical raw materials like VAM etc with world’s renowned names like Petronas-Malaysia and Diren-Taiwan. It is also the sole distributor of Marubeni Chemicals for various monomers. Almost all major adhesive manufacturers such as Pidilite, Jubilant Organosys, Vision Organics etc. source their critical raw materials from the company only.

With the implementation of VAT, it is now on a level playing field with its competitors located in tax-exempted areas. For FY06, NAL is estimated to clock a turnover of over Rs.50 cr. with NP of around Rs.1 cr., which translates into an EPS of Rs.3 on its small equity of Rs.3.09 cr., and it may declare 10% dividend. For FY07, the company is expected to report an EPS of Rs.4. Since it’s in a low margin business, it is poorly discounted by market and has a market cap of only Rs.7 cr. currently. With a 52W H/L of Rs.50/15 and a dividend yield of around 5%, it’s a risk-free buy at the current levels and can give 30% returns in 6~9 months. Although NAL is expected to perform well in future, the rising crude oil prices and imported emulsions remains a threat for the company.

STOCK WATCH

Bhuruka Gas (Code No: 509728) (Rs.38) is the largest independent producer of Argon gas in India and South India’s largest producer of industrial gases. It produces all commercial gases like Argon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen etc. and various types of mixed gases and wide range of calibration gases. It also produces medical oxygen and supplies to government organizations like HAL, ISRO, WIDIA, TAGUTEC etc in the interest of defence activities. It is also planning to merge Calibration Gas India Pvt. Ltd with itself in the near future. For FY06, it may report sales of Rs.45 cr. and NP of Rs.8 cr. i.e. an EPS of Rs.6 on its tiny equity of Rs.3.52 cr. with a FV of Rs.2.50 per share. With a 52W high of Rs.77, the scrip has bottomed out and can give 25~30% return in a year’s time.

International Conveyors (Code No: 509709) (Rs.118) is the leading manufacture of solid woven PVC conveyor belting for use in underground as well as above the ground for material handling in collieries. It is also well known exporter of Fire-resistant & Anti-static conveyor beltings from India. Besides in the last, fiscal it set up a 0.60 MW Wind Energy Converter Turbine (Wind Mill) project in Chitradurga District of Karnataka at a cost of Rs.3.01 cr., which has already started producing electricity. Interestingly, from the last 2 qtrs. its OPM has improved substantially which has boosted its bottomline. Considering the same track record, it may end this fiscal with topline of Rs.35 cr. and NP of Rs.3.25 cr. For FY07, its NP can shoot upto Rs.4 cr. On its very tiny equity of Rs.2.40 cr., the EPS works out to Rs.14 and Rs.17 respectively. With promoters holding 72% and low floating stock, the scrip may move from C2C once it catches market fancy.

All sugar scrips are consolidating currently and may witness another round of rally past March numbers. Simbhaoli Sugars Ltd. (Code No: 507446) (Rs.138) is undergoing huge expansion, whereby its installed capacity will be enhanced to more than 20,000 TCD by end of this calendar year. It is also setting up a co-gen facility of about 26 MW and 24 MW at both its plant. To part finance its expansion it has recently raised Rs.145 cr. through the FCCB route which will be converted into equity @ 170 per share. It has already entered into agreement with UP Power Corp to sell around 19 MW of power. Moreover it also signed an agreement with M/s Cargill International SA for the export of white sugar upto 25,000 MT by April 2006. To conclude, it’s a solid medium to long-term bet.

Pacific Cotspin (Code No: 531118) (Rs.10) an ISO 9001-2000 certified company and 100% EOU. This Govt. Recognized Star Export House is engaged in manufacturing of 100% cotton combed and carded, waxed yarn. Company is a significant player in the coarser and medium segment i.e. in 20’s to 60’s count of the world cotton yarn market. Presently, it has an installed capacity of 30,000 spindles but is expanding it by 25,000 spindles at an estimated project cost of Rs.80 cr. To fund its expansion, it made a preferential allotment of 58 lakh shares to the promoters @ Rs.17 and is now coming out with right issue in the ratio of 1:2 @ Rs.11~13 per share. Despite such huge equity dilution to Rs.39 cr., it may report an EPS of around Rs.2 for FY07 and more than Rs.3 for FY08. A good long-term story.

Jaihind Project Ltd (Code No: 531339) (Rs.25) is a 40 year old engineering and construction company serving the oil & gas, steel, water supply and power industries with cross country pipelines being its prime area of operation. It has already laid 2500 km of cross-country pipelines and 1500 km of plant piping ranging from 4.6 to 56 in diameter. It also offers services for water system, gas distribution, and corrosion protection and has also executed various other engineering and turnkey projects. Company has rich experience of executing numbers of big projects successfully for GAIL, ONGC, L&T, Essar Oil, BPCL, IPCL, Engineers India and for various water bodies of Gujarat and Rajsasthan. In spite of expected turnover of Rs.75 cr. and NP of Rs.2 cr. (i.e. EPS of Rs.4) its current market cap is only Rs.14 cr. Presently, it has healthy orders in hand of more than Rs.30 cr. A strong buy.

PAE LTD - Rs.14.00

PAE Ltd was incorporated on 13th July 1950 at Mumbai as a wholly owned subsidiary of The Premier Automobiles Ltd (PAL), primarily to manufacture steering wheels, dashboards, bumpers, seats etc., trading and marketing automotive products, servicing of cars and fitting of air conditioners in automobiles. But consequent to the public issue of equity shares in February 1990, the company ceased to be a subsidiary of PAL. It was earlier know as Premier Auto Electric Ltd but subsequently it changed its name to PAE Ltd. in 2003. Today, it is one of India's largest and most professionally managed Marketing & Distribution company in the automotive component industry. PAE’s product range basically consists of two divisions i.e. Power division and component division.

Under Power Division, it deals in various automotive batteries for two wheelers, four wheelers, LCVs etc and is an authorized distributor for Exide batteries. It also markets big industrial batteries for railways, telephone exchanges etc. It has launched a huge range of Inverters and UPS which have excellent growth potentials. Under its Component Division, PAE represents renowned and respected names from the Indian auto components industry almost all ISO certified. This division is engaged in marketing and distribution of wide range of small and big auto components of well known manufacturers like Gabriel, Ceekay, Finolex, Enfield, Acdelco etc. Apart from being a distributor for MICO, it also markets oil & lubricants from ESSO. Being a five decade old company, PAE has a strategically located and enviable network of 31 branches and 10,000 dealers with a total strength of more than 200 employees. To increase the market share of its products, garage campaigns and dealer meets are organized. Company has also organizes training camps for mechanics and electricians to impart them know-how on the latest products & technologies. It also carries out regular and systematic studies of the market, dealer potential and improvement in the current market reach.

For PAE, building on trust is a tradition that ensures perennial supply of genuine spares and excellent after sales service at all times. Higher household income reduced Duty, easier finance; lower interest rates have motivated consumers to purchase new vehicles, which has resulted in an increased demand for its products. Moreover, due to change in its focus to more profitable products, its profit-margins have improved. For the nine month ending 31 Dec 2005, its OPM has tripled to 1.50% from 0.50% earlier. For the full year FY06, it may report sales of Rs.140 cr. and NP Rs.1.35 cr. i.e. EPS of Rs.1.40 on its current equity of Rs.9.50 cr. For FY07, it can report an EPS of Rs.2. Its promoters Premier Ltd holds 41% of stake and its current book value stands at Rs.33. Being a small company with a very low NPM, the company enjoys a market cap of only Rs.13 cr. Interestingly in 1994, the company had allotted shares to MF’s @ 125 and with its 52W high of Rs.32 and low of Rs.12, it seems a relatively safer bet in the currently overheated market.

Su-Raj Diamond and Jewellery - Rs.61.00

Incpororated in 1985, Su-Raj Diamonds and Jewellery Limited (SDJL) is the flagship company of the Su-Raj Group founded in the early Sixties. It went public in 1986 and was the first diamond company to do so. SDJL’s core business includes manufacture and export of gold, silver & platinum jewellery studded with diamonds, colour stones and semi-precious stones as well as plain jewellery. In fact, it is one of the country’s largest manufacturer and exporter of polished diamonds and also a leading player in the international fine gold jewellery market.

SDJL has nine state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities across the country equipped with machining, facilities and processors that ensure quality merchandise and timely delivery. Its new plants at Bangalore, Kolkatta and Goa boast of the most modern facilities like latest casting machines, CAD/CAM design tools, laser engraving and welding, RPT machine for model making etc. Its team of nearly 100 passionate professionals churns out more than 700 new designs every month making its jewellery comparable with the best standards prevailing in Europe and USA. Besides, all its products are ‘Hallmarked’ guaranteeing its purity. SDJL is a ‘star trading house’ with a global footprint and a marketing network spanning New York , Antwerp , Bangkok , Hong Kong, UAE and Los Angeles. Presently, the company is focusing more on markets like the oil rich middle. Visualising the huge domestic potential, SDJL is also positioning itself in the domestic retail segment through its subsidiary and associate companies. Su-Raj Diamond Dealers Ltd. and Forever Precious Jewellery and Diamonds Ltd. Forever Precious is a major player in the B2B jewellery market in India. For the overseas market, its acquisition of Koradiam N.V. in Antwerp in Belgium is being used as its jewellery retail face. The company is also setting up jewellery manufacturing units in special economic zones (SEZs) in Kochi and Kolkata.

Since the early Nineties, Jewellery has averaged a growth of over 30%, making India the fastest growing Jewellery exporter in the world. In an industry where market reputation is the key asset, the company has carved a niche for itself with its professional set-up and transparent operations. It has an unmatched dividend paying record and has even paid as high as 40% dividend. For FY06, company is expected to clock a turnover of Rs.1175 cr. and NP of Rs.36 cr. which translates into EPS of Rs.9. For FY07, it can report Rs.11~12 EPS. Apart from this, it has huge reserves of more than Rs.450 cr. i.e. a book value of around Rs.125. With the Gems and Jewellery sector buzzing along with the listing of Gitanjali Gems, investors can accumulate this scrip with a price target of Rs.100 in 12~15 months.

STOCK WATCH

Most mid cap pharma scrips are beaten down badly as marketmen were expecting cut in excise duty in the Budget but were disappointed. Ironically, Aarti Drugs (Code No: 524348) (Rs.91) hit a new low of Rs.84 from its 52W high of Rs.180. This is a golden opportunity for long-term investors looking to enter the pharma sector. Aarti Drugs has a strong presence in anti-diarrhoea, anti-inflammatory therapeutic groups with products such as Tinidazole, Metronidazole, Nimesulide, Rofecoxib and is the largest producer of Benzene based basic and intermediate chemicals in India. Recently, it has established a US FDA compliant facility at Tarapur and is in the process of submitting its 1st DMF to US FDA. For FY06, it may report a topline of Rs.250 cr. and a bottomline of Rs.13 cr. i.e. EPS of Rs.11 on its current equity of Rs.11.71 cr. With its plant expected to get US FDA approval by FY07, the company is estimated to make much better profits in FY07 and FY08. A screaming buy at CMP

Lot of retail investors sold in panic, when the share price of Sanjivani Parenteral (Code No: 531569) (Rs.48) crashed. But long-term investors need not worry with this short term price fluctuation and huge volatility. The company is faring satisfactorily as per industry standards and has reported a healthy topline of nearly Rs.12 cr. for the Dec.’05 qtr. It even raised capital by making preferential allotment of Rs.11.45 lakh shares @ Rs.60 to outsiders. Recently, the company announced that it is going to launch Anti-Cancer products, which have a market size of Rs.500 cr. For this, it has tied-up with a European multinational company. For FY06 and FY07, company is expected to report an EPS of Rs.10 and Rs.12 respectively. Aggressive investors should accumulate it at every decline.

Something is cooking between the promoters of Winsome Textile (Code No: 514470) (Rs.28). Its entire stake of 25 % in Winsome Yarns was sold for around Rs.6.5 cr. i.e. @ Rs.10 per share. At one time, this stake was worth more than Rs.20 cr., which means this deal, was done at the cost of Winsome Textile shareholders. Despite this, with a cash flow of Rs.6.50 and NP of Rs.3.50 cr., the company is available at a market cap of only Rs.17 cr. With an expected EPS of Rs.6, cash EPS of Rs.14 and book value of around Rs.50, its share price is bound to hit the Rs.50 mark in medium term. Keep accumulating at declines.

In spite of the Sensex rising from 5000 to above 10000 level, one scrip that has not rallied much is MTNL (Code No: 500108) (Rs.162), for obvious reasons. But a lot of positive things are taking place within the company and it appears a value buy in the current overheated market. First of all, it’s a debt-free company with cash in hand of more than Rs.2500 cr. (i.e. equivalent to Rs.40 per share). Recently, it won a case and is expected to get Rs.1233 cr. tax refund from IT dept. Its Gross Block is Rs.14,000 cr. and Net Block is 6500 cr. Besides, it has a huge reserve of more than Rs.10,000 cr. which translates into book value of more than Rs.175. In spite of such strong fundamentals, MTNL is available at a market cap of less than 10,000 cr. For FY06, it is expected to report total revenue of Rs.5250 cr. and NP of Rs.650 cr. (excl. extraordinary items) which means EPS of Rs.10. Scrip may shoot up to Rs.180 in the short-term and will then gradually cross the Rs.200 mark. A good short to medium term bet.

With the metal sector coming back in action one can buy Mahindra Ugine (Code No: 504823) (Rs.126) for short term gains. Belonging to the Mahindra & Mahindra Group, it is one of the better manufacturers of alloy steel in the country. It also has a stampings division to manufacture pressed sheet metal components and assemblies. Considering the buoyant market and the encouraging trends, it is planning to expand its installed capacity to 2,40,000 tonnes at an estimated cost of Rs.95 cr. Last year, it successfully developed two new grades of steel for railway application and for crankshaft application. Moreover, shareholders have already approved to merge ‘Console Estate & Investments Ltd’, ‘Valueline Hotels & Resorts Ltd’ and ‘Pranay Sheetmetal Stampings Ltd’ with the company, which will have a positive impact on its market sentiment going forward.