Auto Axles Shifts Into Overdrive

The scrip of auto ancillary maker Automotive Axles Ltd (AAL) shot up for the second day in a row today fuelled by speculative buying interest.

The stock closed at Rs 50.50, up 4.15 per cent, slightly off from the day's high of Rs 50.95 on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

With today's rise, the stock has gained 7 per cent from Rs 47 on December 21, 2001. From a low of Rs 33 on July 20, 2001, the share had jumped 69 per cent to a high of Rs 55.95 on December 5, 2001. Profit-booking later saw the scrip skid to Rs 47 on December 21, 2001.

Buying interest has resumed on the counter, though trades remain thin. But the counter clocked a huge volume of 2.04 lakh shares on November 29, 2001.

Automotive Axles manufactures all types of axles and axle assemblies, including components and corresponding brake sets. It is also into manufacture of automotive gears and air- and hydraulic-activated brake assemblies.

According to analysts, the company had been doing well even during adverse times and, now with the situation looking up for medium & heavy commercial vehicles (M&HCVs), there are hopes of better times, this pushing up the stock price.

The company has started enhancing capacity ahead of demand and this, analysts say, is expected to positively impact its performance once the markets revive.

The company's good show even amid a downturn in the commercial vehicle sector since the past few years is attributed to the changing dynamics of the truck operation business, which have resulted in a gradual shift away from medium commercial vehicles towards the multi-axle segment, offering higher efficiency of operation and better return on investments.

In 2000-01, the multi-axle segment grew between 30 and 40 per cent, in spite of a negative growth seen in the overall commercial vehicles market. The company, which has developed a product for the multi-axle vehicles, took full advantage of the market shift. Moreover, exports and defence orders for the multi-axle range of vehicles has also gone up substantially in the past few years.

For the year ended September 2001, AAL notched up a 46 per cent surge in its net profit to Rs 10.71 crore on a 21 per cent rise in net sales to Rs 146.31 crore. The current price of Rs 50 discounts the fiscal 2001 (year ended September 2001) EPS (Rs 7.1) 7 times.

AAL, a joint venture promoted by the Kalyani group and Arvin Meritor Inc of the US (a Rockwell International group company), was set up in 1981. Each promoter holds a 35.52 per cent stake. Arvin Meritor Inc is a $7-billion global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components for light vehicles, commercial trucks, trailers and specialty original equipment manufacturers.