Navneet Education Downgraded: Brokerage Slams Stationery Woes, Cuts EPS Estimates Sharply!

Author

Simar Singh | Whalesbook News Team

Detailed Coverage:

Prabhudas Lilladher's research report has revised Navneet Education's earnings per share (EPS) estimates downwards by about 5% for fiscal years 2027 and 2028. This adjustment is driven by updated assumptions regarding the growth of the stationery segment, which is facing difficulties in both domestic and international markets.

In the second quarter of fiscal year 2026, Navneet Education reported a subdued performance with revenues falling 9.1% year-on-year to ₹2,470 million. This decline was primarily due to weak export stationery demand, exacerbated by a challenging global environment including tariffs imposed by the United States. Additionally, lower prices received for domestic stationery products, resulting from a correction in paper costs, further impacted revenue.

While the company saw an improvement in gross margin to 59.1%, aided by softer raw material costs, it registered a net loss of ₹150 million, largely attributable to the weakness in the stationery business.

On a positive note, the publication segment showed resilience, growing by 10.6% year-on-year, supported by initial curriculum changes in lower grades.

**Outlook** Prabhudas Lilladher anticipates near-term growth challenges for Navneet Education. They project sales to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5% from FY25 to FY28. EBITDA margins are expected to be around 16.5% in FY26E, 16.2% in FY27E, and 16.9% in FY28E. The brokerage has maintained its 'REDUCE' recommendation for the stock, setting a target price of ₹119 based on its Sum-of-the-Parts (SoTP) valuation.

**Impact** This research report and the 'REDUCE' rating could negatively influence investor sentiment towards Navneet Education, potentially leading to a decline in its stock price towards the targeted ₹119 level. The report also highlights sector-specific pressures within the stationery and paper industries, which could indirectly affect other related businesses. For existing shareholders, this serves as a strong signal regarding potential future performance. Rating: 6/10.

**Difficult Terms** * **EPS (Earnings Per Share)**: A company's net profit divided by the number of its outstanding common shares. It represents the portion of a company's profit allocated to each outstanding share. * **FY27E/FY28E (Fiscal Year 2027 Estimates/Fiscal Year 2028 Estimates)**: Projections for a company's financial performance for the fiscal years ending in 2027 and 2028, indicated by 'E' for Estimated. * **Topline**: Refers to a company's gross sales or revenue from its primary operations. * **Stationery segment**: The division of a business that deals with writing materials, office supplies, and paper products. * **Domestic**: Pertaining to a company's home country. * **Export markets**: Countries outside the home country to which goods are sold. * **Subdued performance**: A period of lower-than-expected or less vigorous economic or business activity. * **Revenues**: The total income generated by a company from its sales of goods or services. * **YoY (Year-on-Year)**: A method of comparing data from one period to the same period in the previous year to identify trends. * **PLe (Prabhudas Lilladher Estimates)**: Specific financial projections made by the brokerage firm Prabhudas Lilladher. * **Challenging external environment**: Unfavorable global or domestic economic conditions affecting business operations. * **Levy of tariffs**: The imposition of taxes or duties on imported goods by a government. * **Lower realizations**: Receiving less revenue per unit of product sold than anticipated or in previous periods. * **Correction in paper prices**: A significant decrease in the market price of paper. * **Gross margin**: The difference between revenue and the cost of goods sold, expressed as a percentage, indicating profitability from sales before other expenses. * **Softer raw material costs**: A reduction in the prices of basic materials needed for production. * **Publication segment**: The business unit focused on producing and distributing printed materials such as books, magazines, and educational content. * **Curriculum change**: Modifications made to the syllabus or educational content taught in schools. * **CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate)**: The average annual growth rate of an investment over a specified period, assuming profits are reinvested. * **EBITDA margin**: Profitability metric calculated as Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization, divided by revenue, indicating operational efficiency. * **SoTP-based TP (Sum-of-the-Parts based Target Price)**: A valuation method where a company's different business segments are valued independently and then added together to determine an overall target price for its stock. * **REDUCE**: A stock recommendation suggesting that investors should sell their holdings or avoid buying the stock, anticipating a price decline.