◉ Abstract
Zen Technologies Ltd is set for strong growth in the Indian defense market. The market is expected to rise from USD 17.40 billion in 2024 to USD 23.05 billion by 2029. The company focuses on advanced training and counter-drone solutions, and is benefiting from government initiatives of promoting indigenous production under the “Make in India” project. Moreover, Indian Govt. plans to double defense spending by FY30.
A recent partnership with AVT Simulation will help Zen expand in the U.S. market. With a solid order book of ₹3,500 Crores and a revenue goal of ₹900 Crores for FY2025, Zen is investing heavily in research and development. Although its high PE ratio may suggest it’s overvalued, the company’s strong finances and growth plans indicate good potential for investors.
◉ Introduction
The Indian Defence Market is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years. According to a recent report, the market size is estimated to be USD 17.40 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 23.05 billion by 2029.
◉ Growth Drivers
- Government Initiatives: The Indian government is heavily promoting indigenous production through initiatives like “Make in India,” which aims to reduce dependency on imports and bolster local manufacturing capabilities.
- Increased Defence Spending: India’s defence budget is expected to double between FY24 and FY30, with significant allocations for new weapons procurement and R&D. For FY 2023-2024, the budget for new weapons procurement is set at USD 19.64 billion, along with USD 2.79 billion for research and development.
- Geopolitical Tensions: Ongoing border disputes with neighbouring countries such as China and Pakistan necessitate increased military spending and modernization efforts.
- Export Opportunities: Indian defence exports have surged significantly, rising from USD 200 million in FY17 to USD 2.6 billion in FY24, with expectations to reach USD 7 billion by FY30. The government’s focus on enhancing export relationships with countries like Italy, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia further supports this growth.
This in-depth report shines the spotlight on Zen Technologies, a small-cap defence company that has carved a niche for itself in the Indian defence landscape. With a keen focus on pioneering training solutions and cutting-edge counter-drone technologies, Zen Technologies has emerged as a significant player in the industry.
◉ Company Overview
Zen Technologies Limited, incorporated in 1996, specializes in designing, developing, and manufacturing cutting-edge combat training solutions and Counter-drone solutions for defence and security forces. The company is committed to the indigenization of technologies that benefit the Indian armed forces, state police forces, and paramilitary forces, providing them with innovative training solutions to enhance their combat readiness.
With its headquarters in Hyderabad, India, Zen Technologies Limited has a significant global presence, with offices in India, UAE, and the USA. This widespread presence enables the company to effectively support its clients and partners worldwide.
◉ Market Capitalization - ₹ 18,858 Cr.
◉ Indo Count Industries STOCK RECOMMENDATION
| Idea | BUY |
| Buy Range | 2000 – 2050 |
| 1st Target | 2500 – 2600 |
| Upside Potential^ | 25 – 30% |
| 2nd Target | 2800 |
| Potential Returns^ | 40% |
| Duration | 12 – 14 Months |
| Idea | Buy Range | 1st Target | Potential Return | 2nd Target | Upside Potential | Duration^ |
| BUY | 2000 – 2050 | 2500 – 26000 | 25% – 30% | 2800 | 40% | 12 – 14 months |
◉ Expansion into U.S. Market
- Zen Technologies recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AVT Simulation to enhance its presence in the U.S. defence sector. This partnership aims to leverage AVT’s expertise in simulation technologies to introduce Zen’s products to U.S. defence agencies.
◉ Revenue Projections for FY2025
- Despite a strong start to the fiscal year, with revenues reaching ₹500 Crores in the first half, Zen Technologies’ management has set a cautious revenue target of ₹900 Crores for FY2025.
◉ Expansion Plans
- Zen Technologies aims to expand into the Navy and Air Force segments through organic growth and acquisitions.
- The company plans to acquire Indian and overseas businesses, with deal sizes between ₹100-₹300 Crores.
◉ Investment in R&D
- Zen Technologies is investing heavily in research and development (R&D) to drive innovation and stay ahead of the curve.
- The company is currently developing new products that are reportedly two generations more advanced than those showcased in 2021. This focus on R&D underscores Zen Technologies’ dedication to delivering cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of its customers.
◉ Order Book Status
- A substantial order pipeline of ₹3,500 Crores is in place, with ₹1,200 Crores expected to be executed in the next financial year.
- Order inflow is forecasted to pick up significantly towards the end of Q3 and into Q4 of FY2025, positioning for continued growth and success.
◉ Margin Expectations
- Management targets 35% EBITDA margin and 25% PAT margin, despite current gross margin pressures due to product and geographical mix changes.
◉ Revenue & Profit Analysis
● Year-on-year
- The company’s FY24 performance was marked by impressive growth, with sales reaching ₹440 crore, representing a 100% year-over-year increase.
- EBITDA also surged significantly, rising to ₹181 crore from ₹73 crore in FY23.
- Notably, the company achieved a substantial EBITDA margin of 41%, highlighting its operational efficiency and profitability.
● Quarter-on-quarter
- The company’s recent quarter sales stood at ₹242 crore, a decline from the previous quarter, but a substantial increase from ₹66 crore in the same quarter last year.
- EBITDA dropped to ₹80 crore from ₹111 crore in the previous quarter.
◉ Valuation
1. P/E Ratio
- The stock’s current price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 93.1 appears overstretched compared to its industry average PE of 51.6.
- Furthermore, relative to its 1-year median PE of 76.5, the stock seems overvalued, suggesting potential downside risks.
2. PEG Ratio
- When we look at the PEG ratio of just 1.64, the stocks looks fairly valued relative to its anticipated earnings growth.
◉ Cash Flow Analysis
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The company’s operating cash flow experienced a substantial decline in FY24, plummeting to ₹13 crore from a robust ₹116 crore in FY23.
◉ Debt Analysis
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With a debt-to-equity ratio of just 0.04, the company enjoys a virtually debt-free status, underscoring its robust financial health and providing a solid foundation for future expansion.
◉ Top Shareholders
- In the September quarter, promoters reduced their stake to 51.26% from 55.07% in the previous quarter.
- Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) have significantly raised their holdings to 5.72%.
- Domestic Institutional Investors (DIIs) also increased their stakes, now at 8.05%, up from 3.37% in June.
- Conversely, retail investors sold shares, decreasing their holdings to 34.5% from 37.94% in June 2024.
◉ Mutual Fund Exposure
- Institutional holdings in Zen Technologies skyrocketed by 550% to 42 lakh shares in October 2024, with 23 funds taking a significant stake, up from 6.4 lakh shares in July.
◉ Bulk Deal Alert
- On December 3, 2024, Motilal Oswal Mutual Fund acquired over 11 lakh shares of Zen Technologies through a bulk deal.
◉ Technical Standings
- The monthly chart clearly illustrates a strong upward trend in the stock, marked by a series of higher highs and higher lows.
- The daily chart also presents a bullish scenario, with the formation of an Ascending Triangle pattern.
- A fresh breakout from this pattern is likely to propel the stock to new highs.
◉ Conclusion
Following a comprehensive analysis of fundamental and technical indicators, we firmly believe that Zen Technologies is well-positioned for robust growth, underpinned by its innovative solutions and strong research and development capabilities.
The company’s strategic expansion plans into key markets, particularly the United States, are expected to unlock vast opportunities, driving significant growth in revenue and profitability. This, in turn, is likely to have a positive impact on the company’s top-line and bottom-line performance, as well as its share price.