KNR Constructions Limited (KNRCON.NS) Earnings Call Transcript & Summary

Ladies and gentlemen, good day, and welcome to KNR Constructions Limited Q2 and H1 FY '26 Earnings Conference Call. This conference call may contain forward-looking statements about the company, which are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the company as on the date of this call. These statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. [Operator Instructions] Please note that this conference is being recorded. I now hand the conference over to Mr. K. Venkata Ram Rao, General Manager, Finance and Account KNR Constructions Limited. Please go ahead.

Good afternoon. Thank you for joining us today on the call to discuss the financial results for Q2 and H1 FY '26. Along with me, I have Mr. K. Jalandhar Reddy, our Executive Director and Strategic Growth Advisor, our Investor Relations adviser. We have uploaded results in investor presentation on the stock exchanges as well as on our company website. I hope everyone got an opportunity to go through it and would like to touch upon a few key company updates and industry event, post which we will have a question-and-answer question. In the first half of FY '26, the industry witnessed some sluggishness in the project awarding activity by both MoRTH and NHAI. While the overall pipeline remains healthy at around INR 3.5 trillion, the pace of order book conversion has been relatively slow. Our execution front activities was muted during the quarter, impacted by extended monsoon condition across several parts of the country. That said, with a strong NHAI pipeline and the new projects expected to be announced by various state governments, the industry anticipates a clear pickup in both awarding and execution momentum in the second half of fiscal. This recovery is further expected to be supported by the government continuous focus on our large-scale infrastructure development, including plan for 25 new greenfield expressway or 3,000-kilometer port connectivity highway network and nearly INR 1 trillion of investment aimed at improving road links to key religious tourism destinations. Another encouraging development has been NHAI tightening of the RFP provision, which now ensures that the projects are awarded to the contractor with proven technical and financial strength. Further, NHAI has been undertaking several initiatives to enhance India's highway infrastructure. On such initiative, it is a development of network survey vehicles across national highways. These vehicles will collect and process and analyze detailed data on the road inventory and payment condition, enabling NHAI to take timely corrective measures and ensure better upkeep of highways. Further, NHAI has lined up big ticket asset monetization offering as part of its INR 40,000 crores target for FY '26. This will help the authority recycle capital and fund new infrastructure for just boosting the sector. With those initiatives and reform gaining momentum, the overall environment for road infrastructure is clearly turning more positive, paving the way for strong growth and improved execution in the coming quarter. Now coming to the key updates of the company. The percentage of physical progress as of September 30, 2025, for HAM projects are as under: Ramanattukara to Valanchery, approximately 99% has completed. Valanchery to –Kappirikkad, approximately 98% completed. Chittor to Thatchur around 97%, Magadi to Somwarpet around 89% and Marripudi to Somvarappadu approximately 56%; and Mysore to Kushalnagara Package 5 approx 5%. As of September 30, 2025, the company has already invested INR 698 crores out of the INR 991 crores revised equity requirement for the all the 8 HAM projects. The additional equity requirement of INR 292 crores to be infused as INR 175 crores and INR 117 crores for FY '26 and '27, respectively. You can refer to Slide #26 of our investor presentation for detail on each HAM project. In May '25, KNR Ramanattukara Infra Private Limited, our wholly owned subsidy of the KNR Construction Limited as well as to the parent company has received a show cause notice from NHAI. Subsequently, the settlement agreement was signed with NHAI on 16th October '25 as under. The KNR Ramanattukara Infra Private Limited proposed to construct the viaduct at its own cost and to complete it by 20th February 2026, including grace period of 90 days. And NHAI has agreed to grant extension of time without damage for the project to us. The likely date of issuance of provisional completion certificate of the project, excluding the completion of this stretch, should be 18th July 2025 without damage. KNR Ramanattukara Infra Private Limited and its promoter proposed that they would not be participating the bid of the NHAI up to 30th November '25. Considering the above, the NHAI agreed to drop the all the penalty and development proceedings against KIRPL and its promoter. As of September -- October 27, 2025, KNR Ramanattukara Infra Private Limited, the wholly owned subsidiary of the company has received a provisional certificate of completion dated 18th July 2025. And also KNR Guruvayur Infra Private Limited, the wholly owned subsidiary of the company has also received provisional certificate of completion dated 17th July, 2025. Moving ahead, the company received letter of acceptance for 2 EPC projects in the state of Telangana. First, from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation for construction of three-lane flyover of NH65 at Kukatpally Y-junction Hyderabad, the project cost is INR 72 crores. And second one, the construction of multilevel flyover at Khajaguda junction and IIIT junction and widening a development approved for project cost of INR 459 crores. Now coming to the order book position. As of September 30, 2025, the company's total order book, including the recently won EPC project stand at INR 8,748 crores. This is divided into 29% for the road projects, 18% for the irrigation project and 12% for a pipeline project and 41% for mining project. Client-wise bifurcation is 81% of the order book is from third-party client and balance 19% is from the captive or HAM project. This third-party book percentage is split between the state government contract at 76%, whereas 3% from the central government and balance 2% from the private player. The current order book will be executed over a period of 1.5 years to 2 years, excluding mining. With the government emphasis on infrastructure development, we anticipate new orders award in the coming quarter, where we aim at order inflow of approximately INR 8,000 crores to INR 10,000 crores by end of FY '26 with the mix of NHAI project, irrigation projects and other state government projects. Now let me take through the Q2 and H1 FY '26 stand-alone financial performance followed by the consolidated. The revenue for the quarter stood at INR 493 crores. EBITDA for Q2 FY '26 stood at INR 54 crores and EBITDA margin is 10.9%. Net profit for the quarter was INR 28 crores. Now coming to H1 FY '26 highlights. The revenue for H1 FY '26 stood at INR 976 crores. EBITDA for H1 FY '26 stood at INR 119 crores with margin of 12.2%. Net profit for H1 FY '26 stood at INR 79 crores. Now coming to Q2 FY '26 consolidated performance of the company. The revenue for the quarter stood at INR 646 crores. EBITDA for Q2 FY '26 stood at INR 192 crores, which is 29.8%, and profit after tax stood at INR 105 crores in Q2 FY '26. Moving to H1 FY '26 consolidated highlights. The revenue for H1 FY '26 stood at INR 1,259 crores. EBITDA for H1 FY '26 was INR 375 crores with margin up 29.8%. Net profit stood at INR 228 crores. Now moving on the consolidated balance sheet -- standalone balance sheet. The company continued to maintain a strong balance sheet. The working capital debt stood at INR 144 crores. The standalone debt as on 30th September stood at INR 74 crores and the consolidated debt at INR 2,338 crores as compared to INR 1,865 crores as of March '25. The net debt to the company equity and consolidated basis as of 30th September stand at 0.49x as compared to 0.41x as of March '25. With this, we can open the floor for question and answers. Over to you.

[Operator Instructions] The first question is from the line of Shravan Shah from Dolat Capital.

Sir, two things I wanted to understand order inflow and the revenue. So first on the order inflow front, so till now, have we bidded -- obviously, NHAI can't bid right now. But any other state-level projects have we bidded where bid is yet to open? That is first. And second, how much value of projects? And maybe state-wise or segment-wise, where we are planning to bid because now when we are looking at INR 8,000 crores to INR 10,000 crores further order inflow in the balance 4, 5 months.

Yes, sir. Actually, order inflow concerns, sir. Yes, as you all know that. We are observing some silence period for NHAI up to November 30th. Then I think we'll be free to participate from December onwards. So as such, there is no important tenders, which we have selected -- our selected tenders, which are not there in the November. So they are mostly whatever -- there are a few, I think, 3, 4 tenders which are there in November also. Because of that sanction issues from -- PMO sanction issues or there is some estimate approval issues, they are getting postponed to January what I have been told. The number of tenders which are there in November, they may get postponed to January, which I was informed in the NHAI. So as such, I don't see any damage that can happen to us with this. But however, it is all subjected to some assumption only. So even 1 or 2 tenders if they happen also, we may have to be silent during this period. Apart from that, sir, as you all know that we are expecting January, February, March, there should be a big rally from NHAI, and we would aim some projects for our company that anyhow, it is on the progress. Apart from that, sir, definitely, as you have rightly asked, the state highway projects are all -- we are participating in most of the tenders. Last time, we have participated in that Ujjain Johora project. But however, we are not alone. And apart from that, there are certain state highway projects in GHMC, we have participated in some tenders. Greater Hyderabad also we have participated. So those tenders, we would yet to know the results. I think about say INR 600 crores -- up to INR 600 crores is on -- we are participating in those tenders. And few other tenders also, we have participated in the MP. Yes, these are the areas. Apart from that, sir, we are aiming certain flyover projects in Maharashtra as well Madhya Pradesh and even in Tamil Nadu -- there are certain projects coming up in Tamil Nadu. There are ADB projects also coming up with Tamil Nadu, so which we would like to focus on that. Apart from that, sir, we are also focusing irrigation projects from various states like MP, Maharashtra and all other places. So we are trying to participate in those areas. And apart from that, we are keenly observing the data on -- there are being certain bids, which are coming out from battery expansions to the solar energy stations. Those projects have also come up, which we are now viewing it. I think we have taken on board with one CEO, one Mr. Mohan Reddy is assisting for that area. He's well known with that subject. And apart from that, we are also trying with -- some consultants also we have taken outside the board so that they can help us in the bids and all. So -- in future, going forward, some solar projects also we'll be looking at. And as you all know, earlier, I said that the mining struggle is on. Anyhow, recently, we have placed in Odisha one bid around, I think INR 1,200 crores bid we have placed in Odisha, that is not yet opened. So like that, wherever there are opportunities and our expertise is concerned, we are trying our best to get the orders, sir. And turnovers are the things concerned, I think we'll be down coming 3 to 4 quarters because even the job inflow is less now. So by the time you win the bid and then they ground onto the reality to get the turnover, it will take at least 3 to 4 quarters, so -- which we are expecting that to go down in this only, sir. And whatever the order book is there, which we are trying to execute.

Yes. So sir, broadly, this INR 8,000 crores to INR 10,000 crores that we are looking at, is it fair to say that around INR 5,000 crores, we are aiming from the NHAI and that too, particularly, are we looking at only HAM?

Yes, yes, that way. And state governments, we are aiming at least INR 3,000 to INR 4,000 crores and balance from NHAI or from other areas, which I spoke about.

Got it, sir. And revenue, just so I understand because of the low order book, we will be having a slow execution. But still, just wanted to understand for this year, in the second half, how much now are we looking at to execute? And let's say, if we get INR 8,000 crore order inflow, so next year, we can look at how much revenue we are aiming?

Sir, actually, the revenues, generally, if a HAM project means, you know that it will take 9 months minimum to take the turnover to come out of the -- to come into the turnover's position, it will take at least 9 to 10 months. So with that, I think, initially, it works only, so 5%, 10% only can be expected from -- hardly 5% can be expected from the last quarters, the fourth quarter from now. So whatever the orders that are there, we will try to execute and complete by this April, May, I think will be time to close. We're expecting some bonuses also. With bonuses, we are clearing those issues.

Sir, just to still further understand in a better way. So in H1, we have done broadly around INR 976-odd crores and currently INR 8,700 crores and that too if we remove the unbilled revenue, so it should be around INR 7,600 crores order book that we should be executing, and there also INR 3,500 crores is the mining. So just trying to understand, can we expect a INR 900 crores, INR 1,000 crores kind of a revenue in the second half? And next year -- let's say, this year, if you do, what, INR 2,000 crores, so next year, INR 2,500 crores is doable? Or can it be even close to INR 3,000-odd crores?

Right now, it is quite difficult to say anything, sir. But however, I'll try to answer it this way, that INR 800 crores to INR 900 crores will be there in this second half of this year, that will be there. And upcoming, I think we are expecting good order inflow to come. It's not that we are very keen and the tenders are also seen on that board. Only that it is to bid and get the job in our hand. So that is only left. So we will try our best to push the case that if we get any good orders in hand, definitely. But I don't think something will happen in first half of next year. Maybe some revenue inflow will come second half of next year itself, sir.

Okay. And margin broadly will be doing the similar 13% because till now, it is lower because of the low execution, but broader level 13% to 14% margin is doable, EBITDA margin?

Yes, yes, that whatever new which we are aiming in that way only. We'll definitely try our best in that.

The next question is from the line of Parikshit Kandpal from HDFC Securities.

Sir, my first question is on the margins. So is there any one-off during the quarter, though both employee costs looks elevated and even the raw material and other expenses look elevated, so any one-offs in this?

Actually, on that basically, for this employee cost, actually this INR 10 crores actually, that's variable pay as the director has been provided because it has been approved in our AGM and by the Board. So that is, you can say, one item this has in this quarter. And we have incurred some of the expenditures for our Ramanattukara, Kerala project also around -- due to that, actually the margin was lower actually in this quarter.

So how much is the amount in the Karnataka project?

Karnataka, what Karnataka?

The project which you have flyover project, sorry, which NHAI has -- the road project, which NHAI has asked you to...

Mysore-Kushalnagara project, sir, you're asking about?

Yes. Yes. So how much was the expenditure? You said there's some expenditure provided on that, right, in this quarter?

No, this is Kerala one actually. I think you're asking Kerala one, yes, where that incidence has happened. You're talking about that only, no?

Yes, yes. So how much have we provided in this quarter on that project?

Around INR 10 crores, actually, we have provided towards expenditures for that project in this quarter.

Okay. Just on this question on the variable pay to the directors. So I mean, given the performance that we are seeing right now, wasn't -- I know that's AGM approved, but was it qualified to be provided in 2Q? Or was there a possibility that it could have been deferred, given the performance, the company has gone down because of the execution and other issues and especially this incident which happened?

Definitely because it has been approved in this Board meeting and that thing, so that's why we have provided thing in this quarter only. So we cannot defer it, postpone it. That one thing is there. And regarding definitely, these promoters, they are very focused and they are well working and working hard towards that thing, based on that actually, director has approved that.

My other question is to Reddy, sir. So sir, on this -- these last 1.5 years, 2 years have been very weak kind of inflows. So is it right to say that maybe during this period, this is the worst kind of inflow of the prospect pipeline, which we have seen? I mean that has not converted into orders. Even like if I look at states, so I'm not seeing any major ordering from the States, NHAI has significantly slowed down. So is it right to assume maybe this is the worst of the period where none of the states are doing any awards or the pipeline doesn't look very encouraging on the state side, be it Karnataka, be it Tamil Nadu, UP, Maharashtra. So we have not seen large orders coming out and even on NHAI, any comment on NHAI ordering? The changes which have happened and now all the projects are going for approval. I mean, NHAI kind of power have been curtailed and the bigger ordering is now going towards Cabinet Committee for approval. So when do we see the light at the end of the tunnel on the ordering side, both on the state side and NHAI?

According to my inquiry, yes, sir, this is the right word, which you used, this is the worst time ever faced by us, such a situation. And the main thing, what I read out is that state governments are little, little now coming forward to get on to the orders. As of now, there are very little orders, which they have announced. But going forward, I think states will be also coming out. But the state government, there is a risk with the payments that is to be noted always. And there are days -- every time we have -- at that time, we had very wide choice. Sir, we were choosing our clients and do the work. But this time, such situations are not there. So wherever there is a job, we are just going and just bidding on it and trying our best to push the case. But here, a little bit cautious, we have to be. This time, one thing is that NHAI is going to come up in a bigger scale projects. What I'm hearing now, I think there are certain bids, which have been grouped to get into bigger size. So there, we can have some light, that we can get some projects because sensible bidding, all INR 1,000 crores below and INR 1,500 crores below, there, very huge crowd, which is coming down and because of the change in norms in the bid. So NHAI seems to be a little bit okay. But I think initial period of the jobs being coming out, that time, some aggression could be there. But going forward, a little bit aggression can come down because the aggressive bidders will be a little bit losing on the bid capacity front. So that is showing some light, sir? So definitely, that's where we are a little bit confident about getting the jobs in hand.

The next question is from the line of Bharani from Avendus Spark.

Great. So my first question is on some macro details. The ministry used to publish on a monthly basis, they're awarding, say, that they have some in kilometers. So right now, it's not there. So just your sense of how much has been awarded in kilometer-wise so far in the first 8 months by NHAI? And what is the target set by NHAI for the full year?

Actually, full year target is around 3,000 kilometers that we got to know. But as of now, how much awarding has come, that we have to just check it.

And sir, the main thing is that NHAI is now -- we have seen a little bit slowdown only as of now because the bids are there. I think there have been enormous bids you can see on the website, but they are getting postponed. What we are hearing that it could start from January onwards up to March, they want to call out the tenders and that would be the phase, which we are also gearing up.

Understood. So like if I were to look at what has happened, like we are having around 29% of our order book in roads. This is the lowest in the last 10 years. And the current order book size, we are lower than what we achieved in FY '21, around INR 11,000 crores of order book. So essentially, this is a down cycle. And I can distinctly compare this with what happened before 2014. But then when the new government took over, focus on EPC was back and a lot of new ordering happened that revived the cycle or that upcycle came. And this time around, this downcycle will turn into an upcycle for companies like KNR only if, again, competition is low and if good EPC orders come with no challenges on land acquisitions and all. But if I were to think whether this will happen, competition is still going to be high, and the land acquisition is the prime reason why tenders or bids are getting postponed, and NHAI has much lesser power in terms of awarding and approving larger projects. So even if it's a downcycle, my question is, whether there is an upcycle at all in the next few years? I mean, it's fine from January, things can improve because nothing has happened in a significant way. But whether this will be a sustainable large upcycle for the sector in your view, or are we going to not -- have only other segments like irrigation or mining or something else becoming mainstay rather than roads going forward?

Sir, actually, it is a little bit quite difficult to say anything at this point of time. But going forward, the combination could improve in other sectors also. Because highways and all, the only greenfield highways, which are now there on the NHAI side. And they are also planning TOTs and toll projects and HAM annuity model projects. So we have sorted like this that, okay, if there is any bigger player, like the developer thing like Adanis or any kind of bigger players, we are also tying up with them for EPCs to do. We are under discussion with IRB for some projects to bid along with them. And we are under dialogue with Cube also to go on certain projects with them. So it's not only we are completely depending on the bid, what we get from NHAI. We are also depending on some other players who are prominent in paying the thing. So there also, we are focusing. And it improves our confidence that we can get some jobs in hand.

Okay, sir. Put it another way, have you gone through each and every projects of this INR 3.5 trillion opportunity that is there with NHAI now? And have you assessed what proportion of it has 90% plans because that is what is kind of delaying. And according to you, what proportion of that INR 3.5 trillion has 90% plan?

Actually, the land acquisition plan or whatever that is, we can procure from NHAI only. We generally go to NHAI and take the position whenever there is a bid or the bid is there. On a sector -- selected bids, we'll be collecting the information from NHAI office itself, headquarters Delhi. And PD offices and RO offices are also helpful because we are regular contractors who are working with NHAI, so they always share the information with us. And in such cases, we'll be confident that this tender can come out. Like that, also, we are gauging the things.

So of this INR 3.5 trillion, how much percentage you are confident about, sir?

Right now, I haven't calculated, sir. If you want, I can come back on the e-mail after I do some homework.

The next question is from the line of Vaibhav Shah from JM Financial.

Sir, what is the status of the mining project? When do we expect to start the execution? And in FY '27, what can be the expected revenue from the project?

Sir actually, the land acquisition is on sir for that. Especially, there are some villages where some illegal occupants are there. That is being under discussion with the DC. So I think within the development period, we are quite confident to solve all the issues and go on to execution. Plus or minus 1, 2 months will be there, sir, on that, side. But I think major move that is happening on the thing that Grama Sabhas are being connected. And proactively, the revenue department is also doing the job. So a little bit now the confidence is building up that this can be moved, according to the schedule I think.

So can I assume it will be the third quarter of FY '27?

Since already 1 quarter is over for that, after 3 quarters or 4 quarters, we'll be able to do that, sir, from now.

So you'll take almost a year from here?

Yes, it's not a year, but it is 9 to 10 months.

Okay. So secondly, on the pipeline order, so last time, we indicated that we should reach that revenue recognition threshold and there could be a booking of roughly INR 100 crores, INR 200 crores in Q3. So where are we on that? And what could be the annual revenue from the pipeline orders?

Pipeline, Venkat go on.

Sir, this pipeline order almost actually around INR 150 crores to INR 200 crores, sir, actually. The bill has been -- we have done the work actually, but the billing has to be done because we have to achieve the milestone. So we are expecting that this quarter around INR 150 crores to INR 200 crores certification will be happen actually because this work we have given actually back to back to our contracts. So in this quarter, actually, we are expecting that around INR 150 crores to INR 200 crores certification is going to happen.

So for FY '26, can it be roughly INR 500 crores revenue from the project?

In a total cannot [Foreign Language] this will be there and next quarter will be around to [Foreign Language] you can consider around INR 300 crores to INR 350 crores.

For the entire year?

For the entire year, yes.

Okay. And sir, any update on the MSRDC order with Patel where we were L1 Bhandara-Gadchiroli?

Not yet, sir. We have been asked to submit the bank guarantee extension, which we have submitted and just waiting. And they said, somewhere in December, second, third week, the land acquisition gets over and then they'll go on to that. But however, it is all subjected to the approvals from the CMO.

But any possibility of the order getting canceled or rebuilt?

Sir, as of now it is not there. Any negative news is not there as of now. But certain projects, they have canceled. But after passing out so much time, will they now cancel? Because going forward, they have done a lot of land acquisition and bidders were also waiting more than 1 year. At this stage, I don't think they will...

Maybe 1.5 year.

Yes, correct, you are right. So at this stage, I don't think they will drop out. But that CMO is viewing it, actually.

Sir, any idea what would be the current land acquisition status for the project of Bhandara-Gadchiroli or the package...

Sir, I think the award stage has come for the 60% of the land, sir. On balance, they said by November end, they will be trying to distribute for 60% of the land, balance in December they will do.

As of now or during the award time?

No, no. To award only, they take -- yes, 60% of the land prices, they are going to award to the landowners by this November end what they said. And balance, they will do it in December, so that if they have comfortable position like getting 80% to 70% land in hand, they will go for LOA.

So LOA may come in Q4.

Yes, sir.

Okay. Okay. And sir, secondly, on the irrigation side, out of the order book, what could be the unbilled portion? So what would be the actual revenue potential from the irrigation backlog?

Irrigation, almost actually around...

The order book is INR 1,540 crores. Out of that volume, what will be the...

Out of that, unbilled is around INR 720 crores. Balance, you can say, around INR 700 crores is there that is potential to build actually.

Out of INR 1,540 crores, around INR 820 crores would come out to be the...