Timescan Logistics India Limited

[rk1771]

Incorporated in 2006, Timescan Logistics (India) Ltd does business of providing customs clearance & surface logistics services viz. goods transport service along with warehousing facilities. The company provides complete range of services like Freight Forwarding (Sea & Air freight), Custom Clearance, Warehousing, Multimodal Transportation, Project cargo, Third Party Logistics, Packaging, loading/ unloading and unpacking of items to facilitate our customers with end-to-end solutions and other related value-added services. They have asset light business model which allows for scalability of services as well as flexibility to develop and offer customized logistic solutions across diverse sectors.

In January 2022, company came up with an Initial Public issue of 9.44 Lac equity shares at a price of ₹51/- per equity share. Total equity capital of the is 3.49 crores. Promoters hold 73% of shares.

Financials:

The company is a micro cap company [M-cap of around 50 crores, Equity capital 3.49 crores and current market price Rs. 142]. Last 8 years financials are as follows- [From Screener.in],

The company is growing at a decent pace, whereas in the last 3 years the pace of growth has been accelerated. The company has put up very good performance in H1-2023,

Based on past growth, and H1 results, I expect the company to do a topline of 250 Crores, with net profit of 5 crores in the FY 2022-23.

Based on the above estimate, eps shall be Rs. 14. Market is being traded at 1/5th of expected sales of 2023. Further, the company gave maiden dividend of 5% in 2022, we can expect the dividend payment to go up going forward.

Business:

On the face of it, logistics looks like a commodity business. There is no reason for a customer to pay higher price. However, such companies have a benefit- from the customer’s point of view it is “salt in the kitchen”. Cost of logistics is miniscule as compared to the cost of goods. Thus, customer’s may not be very price conscious in this business, and an efficient player can gain an upper edge.

The sector is undergoing a transformation. With mandatory E-way Bills and electronic invoices, the business is shifting from unorganized to organized sector and probably listed players will benefit from that.

Asset light business model allows the company to generate decent RoE on thin margins. Promoter and management team seems to have reasonable amount of experience in logistics industry.

Investment Thesis:

1. A logistics company is available at an attractive valuation- 1/5th of current year topline, 10 times current year eps. The company is also dividend paying.

2. The sector is great tailwinds in terms of shifting of business from unorganized to organized sector.

Risk:

1. Investing in Micro-cap is extremely risky, it can result in lost of 100% capital.

2. The company is still reporting negative cash flow from operating activity.

Disclosure: Invested. Planning to add more.

[IsaacAsimov]

On the face of it, logistics looks like a commodity business. There is no reason for a customer to pay higher price. However, such companies have a benefit- from the customer’s point of view it is “salt in the kitchen”. Cost of logistics is miniscule as compared to the cost of goods. Thus, customer’s may not be very price conscious in this business, and an efficient player can gain an upper edge.

Vegetables are important too, yet you buy them from a vendor who offers a reasonable quality at the lowest price. Logistics is a plain fragmented commodity business where pricing power is never in the hands of the players except in squeeze scenarios. Most vendors are clearly not finicky about logistics or else we’d only have a few high-quality firms in the sector, not hordes of small players. Yes, there is a shift from unorganised to organised but its likely to be slow. We have no way of quantifying the shift. Even in a developed market like USA the top 10 logistics companies do not control more than 30-40% of the market - so good luck finding pricing power.

The scenario where your logic makes sense is perhaps a chip for a car that only a few players manufacture, and the car OEM doesn’t mind paying $10 more since the chip is critical and a small component of the car’s overall cost. Logistics is critical, but there are many players ready to offer decent services at good rates.

[mvc7799]

What are the reasons for huge increase in sales in the current financial year? Is it sustainable?

[rk1771]

In 2021-22, topline increased by 70%. In 2022-23, I expect it to grow by 50%. Such growth rate is certainly not sustainable once the company attain a decent size.
Introduction of GST, electronic invoices and e-way bills have brought a structural change in the economy. Businesses are preferring organized logistics service provider. Time of manually made GR is over. It is resulting in shifting of business from unorganized transporter to organized transporter. The change is likely to continue in foreseeable future.
We can see that listed logistics companies, with asset light models are doing very well. The market has also rewarded asset light models like Lancer, Tiger Logistics, VRL; whereas heavy asset players have not done that well.

[Rajesh_Singh]

I invested too on the basis of value buy ( below 90) and intend to hold as long as company keep showing good result. Management seems transparent, one key reason they didnt price the listing high…In annual report management has given 2000 container addition by CAPEX / rental+

[Rajesh_Singh]

Notification on expansion of warehouse, https://archives.nseindia.com/corporate/TIMESCAN_23012023160109_Covering_Letter.pdf
What is noteworthy is that they are transparent in communication. Extract from AGM speech of chairperson We have set up a timeline for ourselves up to the year 2026 to acquire 2000 containers and eventually to own a feeder vessel or to become a partner in the consortium. We intend to maintain the highest standards for corporate governance as we continue down our road of sustainable growth

[Rajesh_Singh]

Response from Timescan CS
Dear Sir,

Greetings for the day!

We acknowledge with sincere gratitude for your unstinted support.

We have noted the suggestions given by you and we assure to put our best efforts to work on your suggestions. We would like to bring to your attention that the Company is already working towards improving the margins.

Also, note that the Company does not have any plans to hold investor presentations or earnings call as of now. However, we might consider your request in the upcoming period.

And, we assure you that the company is built on the foundation of strong corporate governance and transparency and would always keep the shareholders updated about all the events taking place and the company’s future prospects.

For any queries related to the Company, you may write to us for better understanding and clarifications at cs@timescan.in.

Regards,

Anupriyankha

Company Secretary

Timescan Logistics (India) Limited

[Subhankar_Sen]

Business fundamentals looking decent but concerning thing is low opareting profit margin compare to peers ,all big boys in this sector enjoying 5-6%opm , there timescan have around 2% margin,if margin improve in this business then entering now can become like cherry on the cake , hello valuepickr community myself subhankar Sen, a very new member of valuepickr community
Can anyone explain why margin is too low compare to others

[rk1771]

In the initial stage when topline is not very high, ration of operating exchanges like offices, software etc. is high. Once size of economy is attained, they will start getting industry opm.
The company is coming out with annual result on 25th. In H1, it did an eps of Rs. 5.5; we can safely guess that they will have annualised eps of more tha Rs. 10. Based on last year dividend, we can also expect a dividend of Rs. 1. Let us see how it perform.

[Rajesh_Singh]

Really disappointing H2 with significant decline in topline. Good management practice is to share the mitigation plan also to bring back and deliver consistent growth. I have written to CS , let me see if apart from diplomatic answers is there something specific is shared. Consistent profitable growth is key and it is a set back frankly

[rk1771]

H2 has remained subdued for logistics companies. Lancer, allcargo, tiger etc. have given subdued results. In the period some recessionary pressure was there.
Still, they are silver linings in Timescan results. They have maintained profitability despite drop in topline. Receivables figures are looking better. On Y-o-Y basis, they present a decent picture. On Rs. 10.65 eps, the present stock is trading at around 16 times earning as compared to median 20 for logistics companies. They are also continuing the dividend at 5%, last year level.

[rk1771]

A decent view on the stock owing to its recent run up- Is Timescan Logistics (India) Limited's (NSE:TIMESCAN) Recent Stock Performance Tethered To Its Strong Fundamentals? - Simply Wall St News

[Rajesh_Singh]

Another below average half year , this half year topline and bottomline both less than last year half year, will be exiting it as management doesnt seem able to execute the vision. Better opportunity in SME space available are Bondada, Cosmic CRF, Aurangabad distilleries, Insolation energy - each of them great consistent improvement with better visiblity of business.

[rk1771]

Though the results are subdued in line with other logistics companies, the company is opening new branches. They have declared opening of Hyderabad Branch-
TIMESCAN.pdf (770.2 KB)

[Kijamerang_Pongener]

Hi guys, anyone still tracking the company ? I have the following points to share -

1. Freight rates have been on an uptrend since April and are currently at elevated levels due to the red sea shipping crisis and strong recovery in shipping volumes.

2. Strong results were reported in Q1 FY25 by Tiger Logistics and the international supply chain business of Allcargo Logistics. Further, commentary from mgmt of Allcargo Logistics for July month suggested that demand will sustain till peak season i.e. end of calendar year 2024. Timescan being an international freight forwarder like the above 2 businesses should also benefit from the same since they essentially follow a cost plus model whereby high freight rates implies higher brokerage/profits.

3. Currently company is trading at 12xPE TTM basis. With more cash than debt on books and increase in fixed assets to 10cr in FY24 from 3cr in FY22, i personally feel there is little downside risk with company mkt cap at 45cr. Plus points 1 and 2 highlighted above suggest a potential strong increase in topline/bottomline in FY25.
   Promoter holding remains strong at 73% which is a good signal.

Disc - Invested and biased.

[Ram_Bhar]

Been 1.5 years since, but what did the management say?

[Ram_Bhar]

There is no mention of what capex they are doing in any of their annual reports- it says 5.5 cr capex but for what?

But on Jan 1, 2025 they opened a subsidiary in Malaysia, and over the year have added some marquee clients like Havells, Fujitec, Lifestyle, Suzuki, etc.

Still undervalued on an absolute basis, and especially on a relative basis. Cash flow & profit is small, but more consistent than say Tiger Logistics.

I invested way back in Sep 2023 because of the capex shown which in hindsight was a horrible mistake. The share has moved nowhere over the last 1.5 years. But give it a a year or two, and I am sure the profits will increase. The CWIP duration is mostly 1-2 years, which means all of the current capex will only be done by 2027. So time is required. Worst case is no substantial capital loss over a period of 4 years. That is a lot of wastage of capital and time, but the rewards could be decent. If the market size is indeed large and the product necessary, and the management is capable and not hurried, these are good signs for LT growth.

Another aspect I like is the promoters have a few other non listed companies- Madras United Transport & Homechoice e commerce both of which are profit making but again at a very small level (33L + 4L). Nevertheless, I feel it shows the promoter’s general business skills.

Finally I import a lot of board games for personal use, so I’ve noticed firsthand the slow improvement in customs handling and the like because of 3rd party service providers. There are branches of HK courier and shipping companies now set up in India and who help with customs etc. Surely there is space for Indian origin companies that help with the same thing-- especially small companies with large scope for growth.

[Kijamerang_Pongener]

In their recent AGM, I remember the management replying to a shareholder query on the future revenue target, stating that they could achieve 80-100mn USD sales (650-850cr INR based on currency rates) in the next 5 years.

However overall, I was not impressed with their reluctance to entertain queries from multiple shareholders and only a few were answered in the AGM. Also, let us remember that this being a cyclical business, sales are closely linked to the prevailing ocean freight rates so achieving a sales target is hopeful at best.

[Ram_Bhar]

Yep, reduced stake. There’s been not much implementation over the last 2 years, but they still seem to be a decent company for now.