Robust Bookings Mask Collection Slowdown
Macrotech Developers, known as Lodha, announced a substantial 25% year-over-year increase in its third-quarter pre-sales, reaching ₹5,620 crore from ₹4,510 crore in the same period last year. This performance was bolstered by consistent residential sales and strong momentum across its key markets, signaling resilient demand for housing assets despite prevailing macroeconomic headwinds.
Collection Dip Explained
Despite the booking success, the company's cash collections saw a 17% decline, falling to ₹3,560 crore. This year-on-year decrease is primarily due to the absence of large, one-off inflows from significant land and office transactions that boosted collections in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. On a sequential basis, collections showed a marginal uptick, indicating a stabilization of cash flow.
Outlook and Sector Trends
Macrotech Developers projects an acceleration in collections for the upcoming quarters, citing progressive project execution and expected increases in customer payment schedules. The company also highlighted a healthy pipeline of new launches and continued demand for its ongoing projects, positioning it favorably for the remainder of the fiscal year. This update aligns with broader real estate sector trends, where developers often report strong booking values while managing the timing of cash inflows against project milestones.
Market Reaction
Shares of Macrotech Developers Limited closed at ₹1,110 on the National Stock Exchange on Tuesday, reflecting a modest 0.89% decrease. This reaction suggests investors are weighing the strong pre-sales against the immediate collection performance, a common concern in the property development business.