Ashoka Buildcon is a Construction Company primarily focused on the Road Segments.Given India’s huge demand for infrastructure and roads,the company is growing at 50%+ growth rates.However the quality of management is suspect given tax seizures,criminal cases and related transactions.The valuation of the company is also not cheap at around 22-23x P/E and around 3x P/B.The Company has grown at an excellent rate while maintaining a Net Margin of 8-10%.

Summary

While I like the Road Sector in India and the Company is a well positioned company in this sector,I hate to invest in a company where Management seems untrustworthy.The valuation of the company is not exactly cheap either without being very expensive at around 20x.However if something bad happens Macro wise then expect the stock price to plummet .There are other companies in the Road Sector like IL&FS which operates in the same segment but has a better management trust quotient.

VA Tech Wabag is one of the best quality companies to come out with an IPO in the Indian Market in 2010.The Company boasts of a quality management,good technology and fast growth.Despite a hiccup in 2009,the company has picked up its growth in 2010 and operating in a fast growing Water Industry with good execution,it looks to have little downsides.While Low Net Margins and High Working Capital is a characteristic of the EPC sector it operates in,the company has constantly been able to improve on those parameters.

Summary

There is almost nothing to dislike about the company except the valuation which is a tad expensive at around around 28-30x,however the sector P/E is also around 30-35x and VA Tech Wabag deserves a premium.Given the high quality of the company and the Water Sector it operates in,I would invest in the company as the future growth is tremendous.Also the international diversification and the Recession Proof Water Industry makes this investment safer than your normal Indian EPC company which are asking for the same valuations.

Cons

1) Valuation – The Valuation of the company is not cheap at around 3x P/B and around 28-30x P/E .But with companies of the same quality going in for around the same if not higher valuations,why would the company sell the shares at a discount.This however does not make it better for investors who get very little for investing in a newly listed company.This stock is an unlikely candidate to be multibagger

2) Negative Cash Flows – The High WC Requirements of the Sector and Fast Growth has meant that the Operating Cash flows of the company have been negative in the last 3 years.

Summary

The Company and the Sector in which it operates is a good one,however the Valuation has discounted most of the good things about the company.The company has very little to be negative about except the high working capital ,negative cash flows and the like.But that is a feature of the Construction Sector rather than anything negative about the company.The high valuation given to the issue makes it avoidable given better opportunities in the Indian market.

The Developers as usual are being brazen about it denying any wrongdoing despite tons of cash and incriminating documents being found.These Raids never result in convictions or prison terms and in India are generally politically motivated.Most of the Government officials are a part of the gravy train and would not touch connected Real Estate Developers without a push from their political masters.Expect these Developers to start their business as usual in a couple of months as India’s Political and Business Elite toys with the country’s laws with impunity.

India’s Real Estate Sector is one of the most unloved sectors in the Stock Market.Even Fund Managers shun this Sector because of the complete lack of trust in the financial statements published by the Real Estate Companies.With the whole industry most unogranized and companies playing with their books,its not a wonder that the sector continues […]

The Board has lashed out at IL&FS for forgetting the strictures under which the company was given to the management of IL&FS.The government appointed directors had also been silent at the flouting of these norms.Note the company has already sold the preferential shares in the company without the approval of the CLB.Now IL&FS finds its reputation tarnished due to the jinxed Maytas.I am not superstitious by nature but it definitely seems that Maytas brings bad luck to its promoters.