Snowman Logistics Limited (SNOWMAN)

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Summary from June 2024

Key ExecutivesParticipants: Prem Gupta (Chairman and Managing Director), Sunil Nair (CEO), Manoj Singh, Samvid Gupta, Aditya Mongia, Pranay Khandelwal, Jainam Shah, Sikander Yadav, Sai Siddhardha Pasupuleti.

Impact of Red Sea Crisis • Decline in rail business throughput due to: • Increased freight rates • Reduced bookings for low-value commodities • Market share maintained: • NCR: 16% • Ludhiana: 22%

Financial Performance • EBITDA: • Rail: INR 9,800 per TEU • CFS: INR 1,500 • Transportation revenue growth: 5.8% • EBITDA margin for transportation services improved from 7.1% (FY '23) to 8.5% (FY '24).

Operational UpdatesInland Container Depots (ICDs): Operating at 60% capacity, potential for significant volume growth. • Jaipur Facility: Delays due to litigation; operational timeline now expected in FY '26. • CFS Land Monetization: • Finalized deal for 1 lakh sq. ft. warehouse in Krishnapatnam generating INR 20 crores. • Ongoing discussions for further monetization in Krishnapatnam and Cochin.

Competitive Landscape • CFS sector remains challenging, affecting profitability. • Anticipated double-digit growth in rail business for FY '25-'26. • Competitive pressures may lead to conservative pricing estimates.

Future Prospects • Expected stabilization of double stacking coefficient around 40% in the next two quarters. • Potential transformation of TKD into a Gati Shakti terminal. • Ongoing expansions in seafood facilities and strategic shift away from the meat segment.

Tax and Regulatory Insights • Current tax benefits due to ATI will continue until FY '28. • Deferred tax increases clarified as a one-time adjustment.

Market Share Insights • Gateway Distriparks' market share at JNPT is minimal (~5%). • Connection to the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) expected to gradually increase volumes.

Conclusion • The call concluded with a reminder for participants to reach out for further inquiries, emphasizing the company's focus on operational efficiency and market competitiveness.

Summary from February 2024

Submission Details • Date of submission: February 21, 2024 • Transcript of Q3 FY24 earnings call held on February 14, 2024 • Submitted to: National Stock Exchange of India and BSE Limited • Compliance: SEBI regulations • Key participants: Chairman and Managing Directors of Snowman Logistics and Gateway Distriparks

Financial Performance HighlightsEBITDA: INR 9,700 per TEU for rail vertical • Margin Trends: • Increased margins in rail due to double stacking and service mix • Margin compression in CFS segment due to competition • Export-Import Balance: Challenges noted with a shift towards more imports • Future Outlook: Optimism for growth post-elections, cautious about macroeconomic factors

Operational InsightsDouble-Stack Operations: Increased to 42% from 35%-37% • Kashipur Terminal: Currently handling 3,000-3,500 TEUs monthly, target of over 5,000 TEUs • Jaipur Terminal: Facing delays due to land and rail approvals • Market Share: NCR (16%-17%), Uttarakhand (27%), Ludhiana (20%) • Volume Impact: Red Sea situation affecting volumes

Revenue and Margin AnalysisPallet Volume: Decline attributed to seasonal factors, but revenues increased due to higher average realizations • EBIT Margins: Warehousing margins dropped from 22% to 18-18.5% due to a shift towards lower-margin leased warehouses • Transportation Margins: Stable EBIT margins despite depreciation from new vehicle additions

Growth ExpectationsTrading and Distribution: Anticipated growth in Q1 due to new product additions • Capacity Goals: Target of INR 2 lakhs by FY '25, with plans for owned and leased facilities • CFS Profitability: Decreased significantly, targeting INR 1,500 per TEU in upcoming quarters

Market PerformanceRegional Trends: Decline in Uttarakhand and NCR, slight growth in Ludhiana • Crew Shortages: Affecting operational efficiency on the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC)

Stake and Capital ExpendituresStake in Snowman Logistics: Increased by 4%, potential for further acquisitions • Capex Plans: Future terminal developments estimated at INR 100-200 crores, Jaipur capex around INR 50-60 crores

Growth ProjectionsRail Volumes: Optimistic for double-digit growth despite recent declines • CFS EBITDA: Potential slight decline expected • Effective Tax Rate: Estimated around 17% due to MAT credits

Expansion PlansNew Facilities: Plans for Bhubaneswar and Krishnapatnam • 5PL Business: Ongoing discussions for new clients, no new clients added yet • CFS Business Feedback: Positive, with plans for further investments in trailers

Conclusion • The call concluded with an invitation for further inquiries from participants.

Summary from November 2023

Submission Details • Date of submission: November 13, 2023 • Transcript of Q2 FY24 earnings call held on November 7, 2023 • Submitted to: National Stock Exchange of India and BSE Limited • Compliance: SEBI regulations

Key Executives and Discussion • Participants: Executives from Snowman Logistics and Gateway Distriparks Limited • Focus: Financial performance and operational strategies

Financial PerformanceRevenue Growth: 10% increase in transportation revenue • Profit Margins: Decline attributed to seasonal slowdowns and costs of 50 new trucks • 5PL Services: Strategies for growth include expanding product offerings and client locations

Operational StrategiesAsset-Light Strategy: Focus on leasing specialized vehicles rather than owning a large fleet • Service Enhancements: Introduction of trailers for improved service from ports to warehouses • Future Projections: Anticipated 12% year-on-year volume growth for the second half of the year

Terminal and Infrastructure UpdatesKashipur Terminal: Performing well; expected slight dip in imports due to seasonal maintenance • Jaipur Terminal: Expected operational start in Q1 FY '25, with a payback period of 4-5 years • New Terminal Locations: Exploring two new sites and ordering three high-speed rakes

Financial MetricsRail EBITDA per TEU: Stable at Rs. 9,000 • CFS EBITDA: Slight decline to Rs. 1,800 • Pricing: 10% increase in average revenue per TEU, fully passed to customers

Warehousing SegmentTemperature-Controlled Storage: Year-on-year price increase of 5-6% • ROCE: Currently around 9-10%, potential to reach 15-18% with capacity increases

Market InsightsExport Volumes: Recent upticks, particularly in the auto sector • Competition: Stable market share at 17%, with some loss in Ludhiana • Double Stacking: Decrease from 43% to 36% due to export imbalances

Future Plans and InvestmentsCAPEX: Rs. 300 crores planned over the next two years for new locations and equipment • Dividend Policy: Continuation of dividend payments with plans for increases

Conclusion • The call provided insights into Snowman Logistics' performance, challenges, and strategic plans for growth in the logistics sector, with a focus on operational efficiency and market adaptation. Future business plans will be shared in subsequent calls.

Summary from August 2023

Submission Details • Date of submission: August 8, 2023 • Compliance with SEBI regulations • Participants: Key executives from Gateway Distriparks Limited and Snowman Logistics

Performance HighlightsGateway Distriparks: • Revenue: +8% • EBITDA: +10.6% • PAT: +9% • Challenges: Train derailments and cyclone impacts

Snowman Logistics: • Significant growth with full-capacity operations • Expansion plans in chilled, frozen, and dry warehouse services

Key DiscussionsVolume Impact: • Double stacking restrictions reduced volumes from 40-44% to 35% • Improved export-import balance

Tax Rate: • Current rate around 32% due to MAT payments • Expected benefits from tax credits until FY26-27

Updates on OperationsDouble Stacking: • Restrictions lifted; max speed of 75 km/h • Rail volumes performing well, especially in exports

Terminal Developments: • Faridabad terminal to achieve double stacking by September-October 2023 • Jaipur terminal expected operational by Q4

Future Investments: • Rs. 100 crores investment per terminal for greenfield projects • Planned Rs. 300 crores CAPEX over two years for new terminals and upgrades

Snowman Logistics SegmentMargins: • Affected by lower-margin businesses but expected to stabilize • Transportation margins improved; warehousing margins around 15%

5PL Business: • Growth potential with low capital deployment • Anticipated addition of Rs. 50 crores in current year

Market Share and CAPEXMarket Share: • 17% in Gurgaon and Faridabad, 30% in Sahnewal, 34% to 38% in Uttarakhand

CAPEX Expenditure: • Rs. 10 crores in Q1 FY24; total expected CAPEX of Rs. 300 crores

Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) Updates • 70% construction complete; JNPT connection expected by end of next year • Anticipated 5-10% volume shift from Mundra and Pipavav to JNPT • 90% of land issues resolved; pricing structure to remain the same

Financial MetricsTax Rate: Projected to remain at 17% MAT until FY27 • Interest Costs: Approximately Rs. 10 crores per quarter • Depreciation: Rs. 23 crores for the current year • EBITDA per TEU: Rs. 9,100 for rail and Rs. 2,100 for CFS

Summary from June 2023

Snowman Logistics Q4 FY23 Earnings Conference Call Summary

Company PerformanceDate of Call: May 29, 2023 • CEO: Sunil Nair • Key Achievements: • Surpassed pre-COVID performance. • Established fifth-party logistics (5PL) services. • Inaugurated a new warehouse in Tamil Nadu.

Financial HighlightsRevenue: Rs. 1,162 million for Q4, up from Rs. 780 million YoY. • EBITDA Growth: 42% increase. • Profit After Tax (PAT): Rs. 51 million.

Operational InsightsPallet Handling: • 1.3 million billed, 1.5 million handled (80% temperature-controlled). • For Q4: 400,000 handled, 340,000 billed. • Margins: • Trading and distribution segment gross margin: 8%, net margins: 2.5% to 3%.

Strategic PlansTransportation Fleet Expansion: • Adding 50 owned trucks and 100 leased trucks. • Targeting a blended EBITDA margin of 10%. • Warehousing Capacity: • Expected growth of 10% to 12%. • 80-20 split between cold storage and dry warehouses. • Average Realization: Increased by 7% to Rs. 1,500, with a target of at least 5% growth next year.

Sector FocusHealthcare and Pharma: No new clients added due to cost issues. • Agriculture: Kept low-yield to focus on higher-margin sectors (QSR, dairy, seafood).

Financial ManagementCash Management: Cash invested in debt mutual funds for returns while preparing for expansion. • Unallocable Expenses: Primarily corporate overheads, including IT infrastructure.

Competitive LandscapeSysco Corp Strategy: No immediate acquisition plans; focus on expanding existing services and client relationships. • Scalability: Significant opportunity to streamline supply chain in FMCG sector, though transition expected to be complex and slow.

Expansion PlansNew Warehouses: Construction of three new facilities in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, and Lucknow, with 13,500 pallet positions. • Operational Timeline: New facilities expected to be operational by Q4 FY24, contributing to FY25 revenue.

Conclusion • Management expressed gratitude to participants, highlighting confidence in operational excellence and market opportunities.

Summary from January 2023

Snowman Logistics Q3 FY23 Earnings Conference Call Summary

Submission Details • Date of submission: January 31, 2023 • Earnings call date: January 24, 2023 • Compliance with SEBI regulations

Key Executives Present • Chairman: Prem Kishan Dass Gupta • Discussion on company performance in a challenging global environment

Financial Performance • Over 15% profit growth after tax • Decline in export throughput noted • Plans for capacity expansion and custom-built facilities for multinationals

Management InsightsNet Debt to EBITDA Ratio: Expected to remain around 1 • Volume Drops: Primarily due to decreased exports; optimism for Kashipur operations • Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC): Dadri to Rewari operational by end of 2023; flat rail volumes observed

Market Dynamics • Stable market share in NCR and Ludhiana • Competitive pricing trends monitored • Increased competition in Ludhiana due to Tata Steel's investment

Container Handling and Revenue Projections • Collaboration with shipping lines to reduce costs due to railway discount withdrawal • Projected annual revenue of INR 12 crore from new chemical handling warehouse

Trading and Distribution Business • Expected sustainable margins around 5% • Anticipated 40-50% year-on-year growth

Capacity and Volume Discussions • Plans to add three rakes per year for network expansion • Kashipur projected to contribute 36,000 TEUs annually once fully operational

EBITDA and Margins • Potential temporary dilution in EBITDA per TEU due to operational costs • Target to reach INR 10,000 per TEU in 3-5 years

Capital Expenditures • Planned capex of INR 90 crore for Jaipur ICD project • Total estimated spend of INR 75 crore for FY '24, excluding new terminals

Focus Areas • Emphasis on EXIM business • Domestic operations considered for long-term strategy