Telecom - Services
HFCL Limited manufactures and sells telecom products in India and internationally. It operates in Telecom Products; and Turnkey Contracts and Services segments. The company offers optical fiber cables, such as underground, aerial, microduct, FTTH, and micromodule cables; telecom products and solutions, which includes unlicensed band backhaul radios, Wi-Fi access points, routers, managed switches, antennas, network management solutions, and 5g product portfolio; defence product portfolio comprising electronic fuzes, electro optics, high capacity radio relay, software defined radios, and ground surveillance radars; and passive networking components includes high density cabinets, joint closures, optical splitters, aerial cable accessories, fiber optic cable assemblies, and copper cable assemblies. It provides network solutions for public telecommunications, defence and railway communications, and system integration services. The company has a collaboration agreement with Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. for developing 5G RAN and access products. The company was formerly known as Himachal Futuristic Communications Limited and changed its name to HFCL Limited in October 2019. HFCL Limited was incorporated in 1987 and is based in New Delhi, India.
Summary of HFCL's latest earnings call, featuring management's outlook on business performance, financial results, and analyst Q&A sessions that highlight key strategic initiatives and market challenges.
Last updated: Feb 25
Outlook by Management:
HFCL's management remains optimistic about growth driven by 5G expansion, BharatNet Phase III, rural connectivity initiatives, data centers, and defense diversification. Key highlights:
Major Points:
Growth Areas: Rural broadband, defense, exports, and high-margin telecom products.
Last updated: Feb 25
Question 1:
"My first question would be, I just wanted to confirm that we got the order from BharatNet in January, right? And we had order book of INR 10,000 crores as of December. So, that is excluding the BharatNet orders. So, if I include that, it is much more than that, right? Is that understanding correct?"
Answer:
The current order book of INR 10,410 crores includes all BharatNet orders (e.g., Rs.2,501 crores for Punjab and Rs.2,167 crores for UP circles). Balance BharatNet orders from 13 circles are under negotiation, with potential for further supply of fiber, OFC, and telecom equipment.
Question 2:
"Can you share the percentage of HFCL for the order that has been received in consortium?"
Answer:
The INR 2,167 crores order from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited is entirely HFCL's share (100%). The consortium order (Rs.13,000 crores) was separate, but HFCL independently secured advance purchase orders for BharatNet.
Question 3:
"Can you give us a split of OFC, Equipment, and Telecom Product segment revenue?"
Answer:
In Q3 FY25, 58% of revenue came from telecom products (50% OFC, 50% equipment) and 42% from turnkey projects. Telecom product revenue grew due to BharatNet equipment demand.
Question 4:
"How is the OFC market outlook, and when will normalization reflect in P&L?"
Answer:
OFC demand is gradually recovering, driven by BharatNet Phase-III execution, data center expansion, and global rural connectivity. Margins improved due to lower fiber costs (INR 266/km vs. INR 329/km YoY). Growth is expected from Q4 FY25, with a 15% sequential rise anticipated.
Question 5:
"What are the implications of the Union Budget's focus on rural broadband for HFCL?"
Answer:
The Budget's push to connect schools and healthcare centers will increase demand for HFCL's UBRs, WiFi, and OFC. This aligns with BharatNet's expansion, positioning HFCL to capture market share in rural broadband infrastructure.
Question 6:
"How will U.S. tariffs on China impact HFCL's exports?"
Answer:
U.S. restrictions on Chinese imports do not directly affect HFCL, as the U.S. already limits Chinese telecom imports. HFCL's exemption from EU anti-dumping duties strengthens its export competitiveness in Europe.
Question 7:
"What is the growth outlook for HFCL's defense segment?"
Answer:
Defense orders (e.g., Rs.43 crores for tactical OFC, naval cables) are in advanced trial stages. Delays in testing (e.g., ammunition supply) slowed execution, but revenue is expected from FY26. A Hosur manufacturing facility supports diversification.
Question 8:
"Why is PLI incentive realization delayed?"
Answer:
PLI claims (estimated Rs.40"“50 crores annually) were deferred due to lower telecom product revenue in FY25. Claims will commence in FY26 with improved equipment sales.
Question 9:
"What explains the lower margins in telecom products despite higher revenue share?"
Answer:
Lower OFC capacity utilization (~50%) and price declines impacted margins. Margins will improve as utilization rises with BharatNet execution and export orders. Turnkey projects contributed to higher EBITDA (16.99% in Q3).
Question 10:
"What is the execution timeline for the Rs.10,410 crore order book?"
Answer:
BharatNet orders have a 3-year execution window, with efforts to expedite. Telecom product orders (raders, UBRs) will drive near-term revenue. Export orders and defense contracts will scale from FY26.
Question 11:
"What is HFCL's OFC market share in India?"
Answer:
HFCL holds the largest OFC market share domestically, with ~90% share in point-to-point UBRs. Internationally, LOIs for multi-year OFC contracts indicate growing traction.
Question 12:
"Will HFCL's product mix shift to 70% products and 30% EPC?"
Answer:
Yes, targeting a 70:30 product-EPC mix long-term. Current ratio is 58:42. Profitable turnkey projects will still be pursued opportunistically.
Question 13:
"How will data center demand impact OFC growth?"
Answer:
Data centers require high-capacity IBR cables, for which HFCL is expanding capacity. Orders are expected to accelerate in FY26, driven by global hyperscale data center interconnections.
Question 14:
"What is the outlook for 5G equipment and RAN products?"
Answer:
5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) orders (Rs.623 crores) are under delivery. HFCL focuses on indigenously designed 5G/4G radios and routers, avoiding legacy 4G RAN. Export demand for rural connectivity gear is rising.
Question 15:
"Why were gross margins higher in Q3?"
Answer:
Improved product mix (higher-margin telecom equipment) and turnkey project phasing boosted margins. Average gross margins are ~15"“16%, subject to contract-specific variations.
Analysis of HFCL's financial performance, highlighting revenue trends, growth patterns, and key metrics through quarterly analysis.
Last Updated: Dec 31, 2024
Description | Share | Value |
---|---|---|
Telecom Products | 57.6% | 582.4 Cr |
Turnkey Contracts and Services | 42.4% | 429.5 Cr |
Total | 1 kCr |
Profitability: Recent profitability of 8% is a good sign.
Smart Money: Smart money is taking extra interest in the stock as they increase their holdings.
Buy Backs: Company has bought back it's stock in the past which is a good thing.
Size: Market Cap wise it is among the top 20% companies of india.
Balance Sheet: Strong Balance Sheet.
Growth: Poor revenue growth. Revenue grew at a disappointing -0.3% on a trailing 12-month basis.
Momentum: Stock has a weak negative price momentum.
Insider Trading: Significant insider selling noticed recently.
Technicals: SharesGuru indicator is Bearish.
Comprehensive comparison against sector averages
HFCL metrics compared to Telecom
Category | HFCL | Telecom |
---|---|---|
PE | 31.99 | -737.44 |
PS | 2.52 | 4.77 |
Growth | -0.3 % | 6.7 % |
HFCL vs Telecom (2021 - 2025)
Understand HFCL ownership landscape with insights into key distribution patterns, offering investors a clear view of stakeholder dynamics.
Shareholder Name | Holding % |
---|---|
MN Ventures Private Limited | 18.98% |
NextWave Communications Private Limited | 13.51% |
QUANT MUTUAL FUND - QUANT ACTIVE FUND | 8.5% |
RELIANCE STRATEGIC BUSINESS VENTURES LIMITED | 3.36% |
HUF | 1.88% |
Reliance Ventures Limited | 1.57% |
Fitcore Tech-Solutions Pvt. Ltd. | 1.54% |
Clearing Members | 0.21% |
Anant Nahata | 0.18% |
Mahendra Nahata | 0.09% |
Vinsan Brothers (P) Ltd | 0.05% |
Shanker Sales Promotion (P) Ltd | 0.02% |
Distribution across major stakeholders
Distribution across major institutional holders
Valuation | |
---|---|
Market Cap | 11.71 kCr |
Price/Earnings (Trailing) | 31.99 |
Price/Sales (Trailing) | 2.52 |
EV/EBITDA | 15.86 |
Price/Free Cashflow | -76.24 |
MarketCap/EBT | 24.93 |
Fundamentals | |
---|---|
Revenue (TTM) | 4.65 kCr |
Rev. Growth (Yr) | -4.36% |
Rev. Growth (Qtr) | -6.79% |
Earnings (TTM) | 365.92 Cr |
Earnings Growth (Yr) | -11.95% |
Earnings Growth (Qtr) | -1.02% |
Profitability | |
---|---|
Operating Margin | 10.1% |
EBT Margin | 10.1% |
Return on Equity | 8.64% |
Return on Assets | 4.86% |
Free Cashflow Yield | -1.31% |
Detailed comparison of HFCL against industry peers, highlighting key financial metrics, valuation ratios, and performance indicators to provide competitive context within the sector.
Ticker | Name | Mkt Cap | Revenue | Price %, 1M | Returns, 1Y | P/E | P/S | Rev 1-Yr | Inc 1-Yr |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TEJASNET | Tejas NetworksTelecom - Equipment & Accessories | 15.09 kCr | 8.39 kCr | +14.73% | -17.84% | 22.69 | 1.8 | +453.25% | +798.13% |
STLTECH | Sterlite TechTelecom - Equipment & Accessories | 3.33 kCr | 5.07 kCr | -15.45% | -49.37% | -19.83 | 0.66 | -19.29% | -290.91% |
VINDHYATEL | Vindhya TelelinksTelecom - Infrastructure | 1.61 kCr | 4.14 kCr | +5.52% | -48.65% | 7.99 | 0.39 | -1.21% | -26.99% |
PARACABLES | Paramount CommunicationsCables - Electricals | 1.56 kCr | 1.4 kCr | +3.45% | -33.75% | 16 | 1.11 | +46.07% | +39.91% |
Investor Care | |
---|---|
Dividend Yield | 0.27% |
Dividend/Share (TTM) | 0.2 |
Shares Dilution (1Y) | 0.97% |
Diluted EPS (TTM) | 2.55 |
Financial Health | |
---|---|
Current Ratio | 1.8 |
Debt/Equity | 0.28 |
Debt/Cashflow | -0.04 |