BHEL Best Pick at Low Levels

The effect of the slowdown cannot be seen in this PSU capital goods company. Infact it seems to be business as usual, with orders burgeoning as has always been the trend.

For the first half ended 30th September 2008, BHEL posted a 31% rise in net sales on a YoY. The value of production (net of excise duty) has also improved by 34.07%. Other operating income was at Rs.599 crore which included one time interest income of Rs.267 crore on IT refund of earlier years. PAT was at Rs.1000.20 crore as against Rs.976.60 crore (Rs.847.60 crore excluding interest on IT refund) in Q2FY08.

Orders worth Rs.14,350 crore were received during the current Q2 and order outstanding currently is at about Rs.1,04,000 crore. So the company continues to have the issues of a huge backlog and unless the expanded facility or new facility does come up soon, this burgeoning issue of order backlog will continue to dog the company.

Wage revision is also a big issue, infact the biggest bane of PSUs. For BHEL, the provision for wage revision was reassessed in the current year at Rs.1907 crore for the period from 01.01.07 to 31.03.09. Amount already provided upto 31.03.08 was Rs.594 crore. Balance Rs.1313 crore is being provided in the year 08-09. In the first 2 quarters of 08-09, Rs.547 crore has been provided. This wage revision is about 5% of the market share of the turnover and will continue to remain so for the next 2- 3 years, denting the margins.

The stock price has recovered strongly from the low of Rs.984. Stay invested and if it touches the same low levels again, best time to pick up the stock then.