KNR Constructions - A case study of how slow and steady wins the race

The answer to the quiz of 17^th Jan 2017 is KNR Constructions. I received several responses. Many of you answered it correctly, some of you got confused it with J Kumar Infra (JKIL) and REC Ltd. But that’s ok. Many of you tried to find out the name of the company by matching the parameters. This process of learning was more important.

See Quiz: An investment story through a quiz

KNR is a 10 bagger stock for me from my first buy in 2011 to till Jan 2017. I bought KNR first time in 2011 at around Rs100. Now it is close to Rs200 after subdivision into 5 shares i.e. Rs1000 pre-split price. KNR has been a dividend-paying company. It has paid Rs7 dividend from 2011.

Why I got interested in KNR

I am always curious in the sectors “hot in demand”. These sectors show irrational beliefs and expectations of market participants. This has happened with ICT stocks (IT, Communication and Telecom) in the year 1998-2000. It has happened again between 2006-2008 period but this time with the stocks of Power, Infra and Reality sectors. They were all defying the valuation parameters. There was a mad rush to buy these companies as if there is no tomorrow.

During such time of over exuberance, many companies from the sector come into the market with their IPOs. However, they all burst one day when the greater fool theory does not work anymore or in simple words when the party is over. The way market behaves irrationally in the bull cycle giving huge valuations, it behaves equally irrationally to beat them down. This offers the opportunity to buy good companies with sound fundamentals, solid management and most importantly at attractive valuations.

KNR is one such company that I was tracking from Infra sector post its listing. This case study is with an objective of telling a story of a common investor, what he would go through once he goes against the tide. When the sector sees a burst, you would not have any takers, even if the company’s fundamentals are strong. It is with the objective of creating awareness towards basic research. In this case study, you would find that I have refrained from covering any complex financial numbers. But very basic work that may help you avoid the common mistakes.

About KNR

KNR Constructions, incorporated in 1995, is a multi-domain infrastructure project development company providing Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) services across various fast growing sectors namely roads & highways, irrigation and urban water infrastructure management. Their project execution strength primarily is in road transportation engineering projects namely construction and maintenance of roads, highways, flyovers and bridges wherever integral to the projects undertaken.

KNR has a history of executing the infra projects before time and earning bonuses from the customers. This helps it in its EBITDA and Net profits. Also, the management has been very focused and conservative all these years. They have inventory of construction equipment (Gross Block of Plant & Machinery as of 30^th Sep 2016 is 513Crs) with a complete management oversight on each and every project. KNR management never diluted their balance sheet by raising funds through say QIPs. The asset light model helped them avoid debt burden while they continued to grow modestly.

Let’s understand how this stock has performed over a period of time. How it tested my patience? 👀

Some of my earlier KNR posts:

• Result update (June2, 2014)
• Shareholding pattern (June 25, 2015)
• Rating upgrade (July 7, 2016)

IPO days (Jan2008-Mar2011)

• KNR came with IPO in Jan 2008 at Rs170 per share
• Promoter holding post IPO in March 2008 was 71.52%
• IPO performed well, but post listing, the “hot sector” experienced a burst
• KNR stock came down as low as Rs20 in 2008 itself
• The promoters started buying from the open market:
• From Jan 2008 to Mar 2009, they added 2,92,574 shares i.e. an increase in holding by 1.04%
• From Apr 2009 to Mar 2010, they added 1,99,817 shares i.e. an increase in holding by 0.71%
• From Apr 2010 to Mar 2011, they added 2,08,740 shares i.e. an increase in holding by 0.74%
• They reached the upper cap of 74%. So they couldn’t add anymore
• Why they were adding shares during all these years, just after the IPO?
• Several companies after the burst nosedived in the market (and remained so till date)
• This has put pressure on the price of KNR shares also
• KNR’s share was consistently trading below its IPO price of Rs170 all these years
• The consistent buying by the management was a reflection of commitment to the company and confidence that it will perform
• KNR promoters had zero pledge, excellent track record in project execution and displayed extreme conservatism in managing the balance-sheet during all these years
• FIIs/MFs during these initial years post listing


• During these years, institution’s holding (FIIs, MFs and FIs/Banks) have come down from 14.58% March 2008 to 7.74% in March 2011


• Company performance
• At the end of Mar 2011, the gross block covering Plant & Machinery was Rs 399Crs, revenue 1051Crs, 138CRs EBITDA, 57Crs Net Profit. The company was available at the market cap of just Rs280Crs for a company with the conservatively managed balance sheet.

From Apr2011-Mar2014

• I starting buying sometime in 2011 at around Rs100
• It came down to Rs45 in 2013 and Rs68 in 2014
• The stock price still remained below its IPO price most of the time 
• The promoters holding 
• The promoters holding was at the upper cap of 74% so they could not add anymore
• FIIs/MFs holding
• Financial Institutions (FIs) increased their stake marginally to 8.77% by March 2014 from 7.74% in March 2011
• Company performance
• Business performance-wise, this period was the toughest for the entire infra industry including KNR. KNR’s revenue (sales) and profits both came down. Revenue came down from 783Crs in 2011 to 688Crs in 2013 and net profit came down from 57Crs to 52Crs
• The order book, an important parameter for any infra company, also came down from 1443Crs in 2011 to 1296Crs in 2014.
• But the brighter side was its ability to execute the projects on/before time.

From Mar 2014 onwards

• After 2014 it started its upward journey, from 100 to 900, and never looked back
• FIIs and MFs started coming back and increased their holding
• Market cap went up from around 280Crs to Rs2600Crs
• The promoters holding 
• The promoters holding came down during this period from 74% (Mar 2014) to now 58.09% (Dec 2016 quarter). Who bought this 16% shares?
• FIIs/MFs holding
• Financial Institutions (FIs) increased their stake by 23.3% from 8.06% (Mar 2014) to now 31.36 (Dec 2016 quarter). So finally FIs realized that KNR has value and they all jumped into the fray. They not only taken away whatever was offered by the management but also bought from the public/non-institution category too.
• Company performance
• Business performance-wise, this period started off with an ease in their business prospects
• The order book soared with the new government awarded infra projects
• KNR continued to execute the projects on/before time

Final word

The market measures the performance of a company from its performance in stock market. If you look at the below chart, it has the pricing of JP Associates, GMR Infra, IVRCL Infra, Punj Lloyd and KNR Constructions. The chart is drawn for period from Feb 2008 to 14th Dec 2016. It is fairly long period. All these companies are from the same infrastructure space and were the cynosure of the market in the yar 2008. 

While most of the companies from the same sector lost anywhere between 95-98% of investors wealth, KNR returned 480%. In simple words a Rs100 invested in IVRCL Infra in 2008 has become Rs2 as of today. While the same Rs100 invested in KNR in 2008 has turned out to be Rs580.  Market recognized the potential of KNR only after year 2014 and then we have seen how “smart investors’ (read FIIs/MFs) started pouring in their money in KNR.

Please share your feedback. I look forward to receiving your response.

Some additional material that my help you in identifying your own multibagger rather than getting dependent on the tips. Remember “Tip takes you to Pit, the reverse of Tip”.

• Significance of Operating Cash Flow and SHP
• The South Sea Company and the new universal law of “stock market” gravitation 
• Improving our understanding about financial numbers
• Video - Decoding Investment in Equity Market
• A house cat who could beat money managers in picking stocks
• The idea of Diversification

Niteen S Dharmawat

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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: Investment in equity shares has its own risks. Sincere efforts have been made to present the right perspective. This presentation/material/email/blog write-up does not give any buy/sell/hold recommendation directly or indirectly. The details should not be concluded as a recommendation for buy/sell/hold. It does not give any price targets. This is with the sole objective of taking feedback from the readers/viewers. The information contained herein is based on my study and upon sources that I consider reliable. I, however, do not vouch for the accuracy or the completeness thereof. This material is for personal information and not intended for any investment decisions. I am not responsible for any profit or loss incurred based upon it & take no responsibility whatsoever for any financial profits or loss which may arise from the discussion thread above/anywhere in communication. It is safe to assume that I, my family, friends have vested interest in any of the stock ideas discussed here and we reserve the right to take an opposite position to what we have today. Please do your due diligence and take the help of a qualified investment adviser and a registered equity analyst before you make any investment decisions. I am neither of these.