Is Strong Capital Flow and Consolidation Driving Real Estate Growth in India?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 22% CAGR projected for revenue from FY25-FY27.
- EBITDA expected to reach Rs 252 billion.
- Strong cash flow generation expected to support growth.
- Top developers consolidating market share effectively.
- Improved affordability index indicates positive market conditions.
New Delhi, June 26 (NationPress) Supported by robust collections and a delivery pipeline set for the next 2-3 years, Indian real estate firms are projected to achieve a 22 percent CAGR in revenue from FY25 to FY27, amounting to Rs 861 billion, according to a report released on Thursday.
EBITDA is anticipated to exhibit a 26 percent CAGR, reaching Rs 252 billion, while the blended operating margin is expected to rise by 168 basis points to 29 percent during FY25-27E, as per the sector update report by Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd.
“With the timely execution of a strong project pipeline, companies will secure substantial collections. Collections are projected to achieve a 36 percent CAGR, totaling Rs 1.5 trillion over FY25-27E,” the report stated.
These strong collections should lead to a healthy operating cash flow (OCF) generation of Rs 600 billion by FY27E, while cumulative OCF is expected to reach Rs 1.4 trillion from FY25-27E.
“With vigorous cash flow generation, developers are directing their focus towards business development to maintain a strong growth trajectory. Furthermore, solid OCF generation allows developers to keep net debt-to-equity (D/E) ratios in check, remaining comfortably below 0.5x,” the report noted.
In the top seven cities, the leading ten developers have experienced significant consolidation within each market, with their cumulative contribution increasing from 22.7 percent to 31.9 percent in launches, while absorption has risen from 19.0 percent to 23.1 percent over FY15-FY25.
“We believe that this consolidation will enable our covered companies to gain market share and continue to grow at a more accelerated pace compared to the broader market,” it added.
The affordability index (EMI-to-income ratio) for all eight major markets monitored by Knight Frank ranges from 20-30 percent, indicating improved affordability and consistent growth in housing sales.
“The Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) is the only area where the affordability index stands at 50 percent; however, it is noteworthy that MMR is becoming increasingly affordable year after year,” the report concluded.