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Sona Comstar: Jefferies highlights company's shift towards higher value engineering; stock reacts

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Sona BLW Precision Forgings shares fell 2.13% on Monday, touching a low of Rs 807.40, compared with the previous close of Rs 825.

Jefferies said Sona Comstar has already demonstrated this transition, delivering more than 10-fold revenue growth between FY15 and FY25. The company achieved this through three strategic priorities  electrification, expansion in Western markets and the addition of new product verticals.

The company now aims to replicate a similar 10-fold growth over the next decade through higher-technology offerings across EVs, railways, robotics and physical AI. Its EV strategy also includes a partnership with Denso, which Jefferies identified as one of the factors supporting the company's expanding growth potential.

The report said India's large engineering talent pool could provide an advantage as manufacturers move towards higher-value activities. India produces around 2.6 million STEM graduates annually, with high-calibre engineering talent costing roughly one-fifth of Western equivalents, according to the report.

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Jefferies also highlighted government initiatives including the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), Electronics Components Manufacturing Scheme (ECMS), Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (REPM) initiative and Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) scheme as measures supporting industrialisation.

However, the report flagged India's relatively low research and development spending as a bottleneck. R&D spending stands at around 0.8% of GDP, compared with about 2.6% in China and 3.4% in the US, while the private sector accounts for around 45% of India's R&D spending.

For Sona Comstar, Jefferies' price target is based on 55 times FY28E EPS, above the company's 44 times average multiple since its 2021 listing. The brokerage cited Sona's engineering capabilities, Denso partnership and entry into robotics and physical AI as factors supporting the premium valuation, while identifying lower-than-expected exports and slower new-order wins as key downside risks.

Disclaimer: Business Today provides stock market news for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

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