On Wednesday, Automobile companies with the sectoral index slipping nearly 3% to hit a 20-month low. In a year when the benchmark Sensex has gained 5.63%, the BSE Auto index has shed 21.45%. The Kerala floods, expensive fuel, higher insurance premiums for two-wheelers, and a period at the end of September has impacted to the purchasing of the consumer, with sales data ending mixed. Lofty valuations, tighter liquidity and weaker rupee cover large over the sector, adding these may stay till late despite a good monsoon and rural demand.
Among stocks in the BSE Auto index this year, Tata Motors Ltd, Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd, TVS Motor Co. Ltd, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, Hero MotoCorp Ltd, Eicher Motors Ltd, Bajaj Auto Ltd have lost 16-47 %. Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd, Exide Industries Ltd and Ashok Leyland Ltd are the only gainers.
It has indicated in a September 2018 report, “The GST council is considering raising the tax on ‘luxury’ cars which could impact on demand for higher-end segments like SUVs. Rising crude prices and adverse currency movement have increased input costs for companies”.
It has said that passenger vehicle makers have increased prices by up to 2% in August with Maruti increasing by an average of 0.4%. “This may not be adequate to cover for rising cost pressures on account of forex, discounts and commodities,” it said. Brent crude has risen 18.06% in 2018 while the rupee has lost 12%.
Earnings per share for BSE Auto has been cut by 11.36% based on FY19 earnings since April and by 9.4% for next fiscal year.
IIFL Securities Ltd warned the rupee’s drop would impact earnings of auto companies. It said net exporters namely Bajaj Auto, Bharat Forge and Balkrishna Industries would be advantageous, while net importers like Maruti may lose out.
According to the report of 19 September,” Users of global commodities such as lead and rubber would also be negatively impacted by rupee depreciation; however, the concurrent fall in US dollar prices of these commodities would provide relief. Users of crude derivatives (tyre makers) would face a double whammy ─ of higher crude price and a weak rupee”.
IIFL has cut EPS of Maruti Suzuki by 4% citing lower margins as its imports are equivalent to 20-22% of revenues but only partly offset by exports. It said Maruti hedges only a small portion of the net exposure, hence fluctuations in forex rates impact margins almost immediately.
Bajaj Auto has a material revenue contribution from exports (40%), most of which are USD-denominated. “As per its FY18 annual report, outstanding hedges stood at RS.10,510 crore (86% of our FY19 estimate). However, two-thirds of these hedging contracts are range-forwards (options), which provide some upside potential if spot rate moves above the contract rate. Also, only 18% of total hedges are beyond one year. Hence, we expect Bajaj to realize the benefit of the rupee depreciation,” IIFL said.
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