Poor revenues on account of lower volumes, discount on trucks, higher fixed costs and increasing finance costs negatively impacted the bottom line of the company.
After disappointing Q4FY13 results Ashok Leyland reports a net loss of Rs141.75 crore in Q1FY14. This was the first time since its first quarter results of FY2001-02 that the 
company recorded a net loss over a quarter. The company had posted a net loss of Rs9.40 crore in the first quarter of FY2001-02. Operating profit too, slid to its lowest since that reported in the June 2009 quarter. The operating profit of India’s No.2 truck-maker fell by 90% y-o-y to Rs23.25 crore from Rs240.70 crore in the same period last year.
In the first quarter of this fiscal year, the company recorded a 22% y-o-y (year-on-year) decline in revenues. Revenues fell to Rs2,363.81 crore from Rs3,026.89 crore reported for the same quarter last year. Lower contribution of M&HCVs and historically high discount of approximately Rs159,000 per vehicle affected revenues drastically. “Industry conditions remain tough, which is leading to higher discounts and impacting profitability,” mentions research firm Nomura.
According to other research reports, the weak economy affected the high margin medium & heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCV) segment which reported a decline of 27% y-o-y. Volumes declined by 37.30% qoq to to 21,721 units from 34,627 units in Q4FY13. Over the year, volumes declined by 21.50% y-o-y from 27,669 units in Q1FY13. The slowdown has even impacted the light commercial vehicle segment which declined by 6% y-o-y. Finance costs increased by 21% y-o-y to Rs100.67 crore due to higher working capital related to high inventory during the quarter.
According to a research report from Karvy Stock Broking, “exports declined 22.3% y-o-y to 2,334 units, primarily on account of ~74% Y-o-y fall in its exports to Sri Lanka to 340 units in Q1FY14, while management indicated improvement in other geographies of Middle€East & Africa.” The broking firm also mentions that “In addition to ongoing M&HCV slowdown and LCVs begun declining, Ashok Leyland also started losing market€share in both the segments, which will result in lower volume, going forward.”
Ashok Leyland also announced capex and investment to the tune of Rs200 crore each for FY14E, which would lower its interest burden, going forward. The company has hiked prices by approximately Rs 20,000 per vehicle at the beginning of July’13, which should benefit the company going forward.
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