WAAREEENER - Waaree Energies
Financial Performance
Revenue Growth by Segment
Consolidated revenue for H1 FY26 reached INR 10,823 crores, representing a 51.16% growth compared to INR 7,160 crores in H1 FY25. Q2 FY26 revenue specifically grew by 70% YoY to INR 6,227 crores, driven by a strong order book and increased execution in both domestic and export markets.
Geographic Revenue Split
In Q2 FY26, the revenue mix was 53% domestic and 47% overseas. The overseas segment is heavily influenced by the U.S. market, where the company utilizes a dual-location strategy (India and US) to mitigate trade barriers.
Profitability Margins
Net Profit Margin for FY25 stood at 13.95%, up from 10.71% in FY24, a 30.23% improvement. For Q2 FY26, PAT grew 134% YoY to INR 878 crores, benefiting from a higher mix of retail and export sales which carry superior margins compared to utility-scale domestic EPC projects.
EBITDA Margin
EBITDA margin expanded significantly to 25.17% in Q2 FY26 from 17% in Q2 FY25. This 817 bps expansion was driven by operational efficiencies, backward integration benefits, and the inclusion of INR 160 crores (1.6 billion) in IRA benefits from U.S. operations.
Capital Expenditure
The company is executing a total capex of approximately INR 3,549 crores. This includes the commissioning of a 5.4 GW cell capacity and expanding module capacity to 12 GW. Funding includes INR 1,000 crores from private placement and a planned debt tie-up of INR 2,050 crores.
Credit Rating & Borrowing
CARE Ratings upgraded the long-term bank facilities to 'CARE A; Stable' from 'CARE A-; Stable' as of April 2024. The upgrade reflects improved capacity utilization and a stronger capital structure with a low Debt-Equity ratio of 0.11x in FY25.
Operational Drivers
Raw Materials
Key raw materials include solar cells and wafers, which constitute the primary cost of solar module manufacturing. The company is mitigating price volatility through backward integration into cell manufacturing (5.4 GW capacity).
Import Sources
While specific countries are not listed, the mention of Basic Customs Duty (BCD) of 40% on modules and 25% on cells indicates significant reliance on international imports to meet current production requirements.
Capacity Expansion
Current installed module capacity is 12 GW as of December 2023. The company is expanding with a 5.4 GW solar cell facility and is diversifying into green hydrogen and battery storage manufacturing to become an integrated energy player.
Raw Material Costs
Raw material costs are susceptible to global price volatility of cells and wafers. The company manages this through back-to-back sourcing for orders and increasing internal cell production to stabilize gross margins.
Manufacturing Efficiency
Inventory turnover improved to 3.68x in FY25 from 3.18x in FY24, reflecting better supply chain management. However, cell plant utilization was noted as low (under 15%) during the initial ramp-up phase in FY26.
Logistics & Distribution
SG&A and other costs, including export duties, typically range between 6% to 6.5% of revenue. These costs fluctuate based on the mix of domestic vs. export shipments.
Strategic Growth
Expected Growth Rate
70%
Growth Strategy
Growth is targeted through a massive capacity expansion to 12 GW, backward integration into solar cells to capture more value chain margin, and aggressive expansion in the U.S. market. The 'Waaree Prime' franchisee program is also used to drive consistent retail sales growth.
Products & Services
Solar PV modules, solar cells, inverters, green hydrogen, battery storage solutions, and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) services for solar power projects.
Brand Portfolio
Waaree, Waaree Prime (franchisee program).
New Products/Services
Expansion into Green Hydrogen, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and high-efficiency solar cells is expected to diversify revenue streams beyond traditional PV modules.
Market Expansion
Targeting the U.S. market through Waaree Solar Americas Inc. and expanding the domestic retail footprint through a bottom-up franchisee approach.
Market Share & Ranking
Waaree is a leading player in the Indian solar module market with a 12 GW capacity, positioning it as one of the largest domestic manufacturers.
Strategic Alliances
Acquisition of Indosolar Limited (96.15% stake) to facilitate capacity expansion and manufacturing integration.
External Factors
Industry Trends
The industry is shifting toward integrated manufacturing (cell + module) to ensure supply security. India's energy transition goals and the U.S. IRA are primary tailwinds driving a 50%+ growth rate in the sector.
Competitive Landscape
Faces competition from other large domestic manufacturers and international players, particularly from China, though protected by BCD and ALMM regulations in India.
Competitive Moat
Moat is built on 'cost leadership' through massive scale (12 GW) and 'brand equity' in the retail segment via the Waaree Prime network. Backward integration into cells provides a durable advantage against pure-play module assemblers.
Macro Economic Sensitivity
Highly sensitive to global energy transition policies and government subsidies like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which contributed INR 160 crores to Q2 FY26 earnings.
Consumer Behavior
Increasing demand for rooftop solar in the retail segment is driving higher-margin sales, shifting the mix away from low-margin utility tenders.
Geopolitical Risks
Trade barriers, including the 40% BCD on imported modules in India and potential new tariffs in the U.S., pose significant risks to the supply chain and export competitiveness.
Regulatory & Governance
Industry Regulations
Subject to Basic Customs Duty (BCD) of 40% on solar modules and 25% on solar cells. Compliance with ALMM (Approved List of Models and Manufacturers) is critical for domestic market access.
Environmental Compliance
The company is aligning with ESG standards and diversifying into green hydrogen to support India's energy transition goals.
Taxation Policy Impact
Effective tax rate for FY25 was approximately 22.6%, with a total tax provision of INR 541.94 crores on standalone profit.
Legal Contingencies
No significant or material orders passed by regulators or courts; no frauds reported by statutory auditors for the period under review.
Risk Analysis
Key Uncertainties
Project execution risk for the 5.4 GW cell capacity and potential volatility in the U.S. regulatory environment regarding solar imports could impact earnings by 10-15%.
Geographic Concentration Risk
47% of revenue is derived from overseas markets, creating high exposure to international trade policies and shipping costs.
Third Party Dependencies
Currently dependent on external suppliers for solar cells until the 5.4 GW internal capacity is fully ramped up and stabilized.
Technology Obsolescence Risk
The solar industry faces rapid technology shifts; Waaree is mitigating this by investing in 'emerging solar technologies' and backward integration.
Credit & Counterparty Risk
Debtors turnover ratio of 16.92x indicates healthy collections, though slightly slower than the 19.26x recorded in the previous year.