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Info Edge (India) Ltd>
  • CMP : 5,717.8 Chg : -28.85 (-0.50%)
  • Target : 4,575.0 (20.20%)
  • Target Period : 12-18 Month

31 May 2022

Strong billing in Naukri…

About The Stock

Info Edge provides internet based service delivery like recruitment services (Naukri), real estate (99 acres), Jeevansaathi and Shiksha.

  • Quasi play on Indian start up like Zomato, PolicyBazaar, Shoekonect, Ustra, Gramophone and job market, matrimony services & real estate market
  • Prudent capital allocation and recruitment business EBITDA margin >50%
Q4FY22

Info Edge reported robust Q4FY22 results.

  • Revenues increased 9.5% QoQ aided by recruitment business growth of 10.6% QoQ
  • EBITDA margin dipped 96 bps QoQ to 28.1%
  • 99 acres and Jeevansaathi continue to make losses at the EBITDA level
What should Investors do?

Info Edge’s share price has grown by ~4.43x over the past five years (from ~₹ 858 in May 2017 to ~₹ 3,806 levels in May 2022).

  • We maintain BUY rating on the stock
Target Price Valuation

We value Info Edge at ₹ i.e. 4575 on SOTP basis.

Key Triggers for future price performance
  • Improving hiring trend in IT, healthcare, education, telecom and improving billing trend to drive recruitment revenues
  • Lower interest rate and affordability is expected to drive 99acres revenues. Traction in Jeevansaathi, Shiksha to further drive revenues
  • Expect revenues to grow at a CAGR of 13.5% over FY22-24E
Alternate Stock Ideas

Apart from Info Edge, in IT coverage we also like Teamlease.

  • Key beneficiary of formalisation of economy and underpenetrated temp staffing market
  • BUY with a target price of ₹ 4,025

Key Financial Summary

Particulars FY19 FY20 FY21 FY22 5 Year CAGR(FY17-FY22) FY23E FY24E 2 Year CAGR (FY22-FY24E)
Net Sales 1,098.3 1,272.7 1,128.0 1,562.5 14.3 1,795.7 2,014.6 13.5
EBITDA 341.3 402.7 302.0 463.7 15.3 542.1 613.7 15.0
EBITDA margins (%) 31.1 31.6 26.8 29.7 - 30.2 30.5 -
Net Profit 315.1 329.0 298.6 440.4 16.1 536.0 585.9 15.3
EPS (|) 25.9 26.8 23.0 34.2 - 41.6 45.5 -
P/E 147.1 142.1 167.0 5.5 - 91.4 83.7 -
RoNW (%) 13.6 13.5 6.5 3.2 - 3.8 4.0 -
RoCE (%) 18.6 18.0 8.2 4.2 - 5.0 5.3 -
Source: Company, ICICI Direct Research

Key takeaways of recent quarter & conference call highlights

  • The company reported revenue growth of 9.5% QoQ to | 455.5 crore. Revenue for recruitment business increased 10.6% QoQ, 64.7% YoY to
    | 344.4 crore while that of 99 acres increased by 4.5% QoQ, 22.3% YoY to | 61.3 crore. Jeevansaathi revenue was up 5.0% QoQ, down 1.9% YoY to
    | 25.4 crore. For FY22, the company reported revenue growth of 38.5% to | 1,562.4 crores, led by 44.2% revenue growth in recruitment business, while revenues for 99 acres grew 25%. Jeevansaathi business reported mere 3.4% revenue growth in FY22

 

  • EBITDA increased 5.9% QoQ to | 128.0 crore while margins declined 96 bps QoQ to 28.1% due to 9.1% QoQ increase in employee expenses and 20% QoQ increase in promotional expenses. EBITDA margins for recruitment business were flat QoQ at 58.5%. EBITDA loss at 99 acres widened to | 36.3 crore while EBITDA loss for Jeevansaathi also widened QoQ to | 34.8 crore. For FY22, the company reported EBITDA of | 458.3 crore, up 66.2% YoY while EBITDA margins improved 290 bps to 29.7%

 

  • For Q4, billing at the company level improved 35.1% QoQ to | 649.4 crore. Billing for recruitment business grew 39.1% QoQ to | 513.3 crore while that of 99acres.com increased 28.9% QoQ to | 79.3 crore. Billing for Jeevansaathi grew 14.7% QoQ to | 28.1 crore. For FY22, billing for the company grew 60.3% while that of recruitment business, 99 acres improved 72.6%, 25.2%, respectively

 

  • The company indicated that the recruitment business is expected to report strong growth in FY23 on the back of continued strong hiring from IT/ITeS as well as some recovery witnessed in other sectors like BFSI, hospitality, pharma, telecom, etc. The company indicated that in case of US recession, growth in recruitment business may be impacted due to slowdown in hiring in key sectors of IT/ITeS but as per management, recession impact on hiring in IT as per historical trends lasts only for two to three quarters so they do not think it would have a prolonged impact that was seen during pandemic

 

  • As far as real estate business is concerned (99 acres.com), the company indicated that they expect strong growth in FY23. Paid listings on 99 acres have come down in the last couple of years. As per the management, this could be attributed to i) higher pricing, they have taking out discounts, ii) better market conditions resulting into faster sale of homes and iii) increase in competitive intensity

 

  • Info Edge indicated that it is trying to reinvent its strategy in the Jeevansaathi business and is now offering the services free of cost may be for a couple of quarters. As a result, it expects 30-40% drop in billings in FY23. The company also indicated that 50% of marketing spend at the company level goes into this business. They expect marketing spend to be elevated in FY23 also as this spending is critical to stay relevant in the market being a No. 3 player with 15% market share

 

  • Regarding proposed investment of US$325 mn into potential start-up companies, the company said 50% will be committed by Info Edge while the rest will be by MacRitchie Investments (wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings). The company indicated that these investments will be made for the next 12 years and can be extended further by two years depending on market conditions. The company also indicated they would be prudent with regard to these investments and also indicated they are not likely to commit a large sum into a single company as it is not allowed under Sebi guidelines
 
  • The company indicated that it may go for a large acquisition (without providing any further details) in the next couple of years
 
Variance Analysis
 
   Q4FY22   Q4FY22E   Q4FY21   YoY (%)   Q3FY22   QoQ (%)  Comments
Revenue 455.5 449.1 300.5 51.6 416.1 9.5 Revenue was  aided by recruitment business
Employee expenses 203.9 203.9 155.3 31.3 186.8 9.1  
Marketing expenses 96.7 94.3 55.9 73.0 80.6 20.0  
Network & other charges 8.5 8.1 7.9 6.8 8.1 4.2  
Other expenses 18.5 22.5 22.6 -18.0 19.7 -5.9  
               
EBITDA 128.0 120.3 58.8 117.6 120.9 5.9  
EBITDA Margin (%) 28.1 26.8 19.6 852 bps 29.1 -96 bps Margins were down due to continued investments into 99 acres and jeevansathi 
Depreciation & amortisation 9.7 10.8 10.7 -9.8 9.9 -1.9  
EBIT 118.3 109.6 48.1 145.9 111.0 6.6  
EBIT Margin (%) 26.0 24.4 16.0 997 bps 26.7 -71 bps  
Other income (less interest) 42.1 42.0 40.7 3.5 42.8 -1.6  
PBT 160.4 151.6 88.8 80.7 153.8 4.3  
Tax paid 38.8 34.0 14.5 166.6 34.2 13.4  
PAT 120.7 116.3 69.7 73.3 336.4 -64.1  
APAT 120.7 116.3 72.9 65.6 118.5 1.8  

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pankaj.pandey@icicisecurities.com

 

 

ICICI Direct Research Desk,

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