UltraTech Cement on Monday announced the fourth quarter earnings report for the financial year 2024-25 wherein it posted profit at Rs 2,482.04 crore, missing estimates. This was 9.92 per cent higher in comparison to Rs 2,258.12 crore reported during the corresponding quarter of FY24. It posted revenue from operations at Rs 23,063.32 crore, reporting a growth of 12.95 per cent as against Rs 20,418.94 crore recorded during the same period of previous financial year. The company EBITDA stood at Rs 4,618.4 crore.
According to a CNBC TV18 poll, UltraTech Cement was expected to post Q4 profit at Rs 2,500 crore and revenue for the quarter was estimated at Rs 23,505 crore.
The company’s consolidated sales volumes reached 41.02 ml mt for the quarter, growing by 17 per cent. Excluding acquired assets, operating EBITDA/mt was Rs.1,270/mt, up 7 per cent YoY and 32 per cent QoQ. “The company also achieved over 1GW capacity of renewable power installations, making UltraTech one of the first industrial companies in India to commission 1 Gigawatt of Renewable Energy capacity for captive use,” it said in a regulatory filing.
FY25 updates
UltraTech Cement achieved sales volumes of 135.83 ml mt for the year, Consolidated Net Sales for the year reached Rs 74,936 crore, up from Rs 69,810 crore last year. Profit before interest, depreciation, and tax stood at Rs 13,302 crore, posting a slight decrease from Rs 13,586 crore in the previous fiscal year. UltraTech added 42.60 mtpa through organic and inorganic growth during FY25, resulting in profit after tax decreasing to Rs 6,039 crore from Rs 7,005 crore due to increased interest and depreciation.
Dividend announcement
The cement major further announced that the board of directors recommended dividend of 775 per cent at the rate of Rs. 77.50 per equity share of Rs 10 each for the year ended 31st March, 2025, subject to approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company.
Capex and expansion plans
In a statement, UltraTech’ Cement said that its expansion program is progressing as per schedule. As part of its ongoing capacity expansion program, UltraTech commissioned 17.40 mtpa capacity across several locations in the country during FY25. It also set up its first bulk terminal in Uttar Pradesh at Lucknow with a capacity to handle 1.8 mtpa of cement. UltraTech’s domestic grey cement capacity has increased to 183.36 mtpa, on a consolidated basis. Together with its overseas capacity of 5.4 mtpa, the company’s global capacity stands at 188.76 mtpa.
Outlook for cement sector
Given the government’s focus on infrastructure and housing projects, UltraTech Cement said that alongwith increased rural and urban demand, a sustainable volume growth of 7- 8 per cent is expected, going forward. “While the sector may face short-term challenges, the long-term outlook is indicating signs of improvement with stable demand likely to support growth,” it added.
Shares of UltraTech Cement were down 1.05 per cent at 5:00 pm today at a trading price of Rs 12,108.25.