Zensar Technologies
Cluster: Ugly Duckling
Recommendation: Buy
Price target: Rs484
Current market price: Rs342
Zen(sar) and the art of growing
Key points
- Strengthening its portfolio of service offerings: Zensar Technologies (Zensar) has effectively utilised the inorganic route to gain the required critical mass in the fast growing enterprise solutions segment (through the acquisition of OBT Global and ThoughtDigital), to strengthen its footprint in under-penetrated geographies such as Japan (through joint venture with Eza, Japan), and to gain access to marquee clients.
- Maintaining the growth momentum: Zensar is well poised to report a healthy growth of over 40% in FY2008. It is witnessing a strong traction in its organic business and the incremental revenues of Rs110 crore from the recent inorganic initiatives would only add to the overall growth momentum in its revenues. Consequently, even after factoring in the adverse impact of the rupee appreciation, the company is expected to achieve its stated revenue guidance of Rs850 crore in FY2008.
- Margins are sustainable: Zensar is also expected to buck the general declining trend in margins in FY2008. That's because some of its relatively new businesses of ITS and BPO that have been in the investment mode are expected to show a substantial improvement in their margins. It also has other margin levers like a favourable revenue mix and lower overhead costs to cushion against the adverse impact of wage hikes, the appreciation in the rupee and the consolidation of the relatively lower-margin revenues of ThoughtDigital.
- Key concern of stake sale by Fujitsu has been dispelled: The acquisition of the entire stake of Fujitsu in Zensar by the RPG group has eliminated a key concern that was a drag on the stock's valuations.
- Attractive valuations: At the current market price the stock trades at 10.6x FY2008 and 8.2x FY2009 estimated earnings; the valuations are extremely attractive considering the estimated earnings growth of 33% CAGR over FY2007-09. We recommend Buy on the stock with a price target of Rs484.