From Carats to Joules, A Strategic Reinvention: A Leap from Goldsmith to EV and Semiconductor Space — Chips, Charge & Chutzpah — Will Magic Be Made in the Future?
In a bold pivot, Rajesh Exports is reorienting itself toward future-facing sectors—namely Lithium-ion battery manufacturing and semiconductor display fabrication—areas aligned with India’s drive for technological self-sufficiency in electric mobility and electronics.
This report explores its financial position, stock performance, and transformational projects with a global investment lens.
Stock Performance:
- Current Market Price (CMP): ₹191.59 (~$2.30 USD)
- 52-Week Range: ₹151.11 – ₹332.95 (~$1.82 – $4.01 USD)
- Market Capitalization: ₹5,657 crore (~$680 million USD)
- Price-to-Earnings (P/E) Ratio (TTM): 113.7
- Price-to-Book (P/B) Ratio: 0.36
- Return on Equity (ROE): 0.32%
- Return on Capital Employed (ROCE): 3.23%
Q3FY25 Financial Highlights (Oct–Dec 2024):
- Revenue: ₹65,476.89 crore (~$7.87 billion USD), down 21.5% QoQ.
- Profit Before Tax: ₹0.63 crore (~$76,000 USD), down 99.8% QoQ.
- Net Profit: ₹12.43 crore (~$1.49 million USD), down 95.6% QoQ.
- Operating Profit Margin: 0.0048%.
- Non-Operating Income: Constituted 95.03% of PBT.
Analyst Outlook:
- Target estimates by some analysts suggest a price of ₹600 (~$7.20 USD), implying over 200% upside.
- Expectations are anchored on a potential rebound in the core business and successful scaling of new-age ventures. However, short-term profitability concerns and execution risks temper bullish projections.
Future Projects: Investing in the Next Decade:
🧨Lithium-ion Battery Manufacturing (5 GWh Gigafactory – Dharwad, Karnataka)
- Scope:Through its wholly owned subsidiary ACC Energy Storage Pvt Ltd, Rajesh Exports is building a 5 GWh Lithium-ion cell plant for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The facility will employ advanced chemistry cells (ACC) and next-gen manufacturing technologies.
- Investment & Timeline:This project is part of a broader ₹50,000 crore (~$6 billion USD) EV investment strategy. Groundwork followed a tripartite agreement signed in January 2023 with India’s Ministry of Heavy Industries and the Karnataka government.
- Pilot production: Late 2025.
- Full-scale operations: 2026–27.
- Strategic Relevance:Backed by India’s ₹18,100 crore ($2.2 billion USD) Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, Rajesh Exports was one of just three companies selected (alongside Reliance and Ola Electric), bolstering its credibility in the EV supply chain. The facility is poised to cater to domestic EV manufacturers and renewable energy markets, reducing dependence on imports.
- Additional Ventures:Via subsidiary Elest Pvt Ltd, the firm also plans an integrated EV and battery manufacturing facility with a potential 4–16 GWh capacity and capacity to produce 10,000 commercial vehicles annually. Talks are underway with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
- Estimated Capex: ₹8,000 crore (~$960 million USD)
- Proposed Sites: Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, or Cheyyar (Tamil Nadu)
🧨Semiconductor Display Fabrication (Display Fab Facility)
- Scope:Through Elest Pvt Ltd, Rajesh Exports plans a ₹24,000 crore (~$2.88 billion USD) display fab for semiconductor-grade displays, focusing on chip packaging and testing for mobile phones, TVs, and electronic devices.
- Timeline & Status:The company is in advanced negotiations with Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and a third state, with a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) expected shortly.
- Target Operations: 2027
- Incentive Application: Includes a bid for $2.7 billion in subsidies under India’s $10 billion Semicon India initiative
- Strategic Significance:India’s display market is projected to grow from $5.4 billion in 2020 to $18.9 billion by 2025. The fab will bolster domestic production capabilities, reducing electronics import reliance and creating export opportunities.
- Execution Risks:Display and chip manufacturing demand deep technical expertise and high capital outlays. Rajesh Exports—traditionally a gold enterprise—faces stiff competition from veterans like Vedanta-Foxconn and ISMC, making execution success far from guaranteed.
Investor Considerations:
Valuation Indicators:
- A P/B ratio of 0.36 indicates a potential value play.
- However, a P/E of 113.7 underscores current profitability constraints and weak core earnings.
Profitability & Revenue Challenges:
- Operating margins are razor-thin, and heavy dependence on non-operating income (95.03% of PBT) raises sustainability concerns.
- ROE and ROCE remain below-par, reflecting inefficiencies in capital use.
- A 21.5% QoQ revenue dip adds further cautionary signals.
High - Capex Transformation:
- The combined investment in the battery and display projects exceeds ₹74,000 crore (~$9 billion USD), introducing significant funding and execution risks.
- Delays, technological hurdles, or cost overruns could exacerbate strain on existing financials.
Conclusion: Calculated Reinvention or Costly Diversion?
Rajesh Exports is making a generational pivot. Its legacy gold business faces cyclical and structural pressures, but its ventures into Lithium-ion battery and semiconductor fabrication offer high-growth optionality. Backed by government incentives and strategic relevance, these projects align well with global megatrends.
Yet, the company’s weak current profitability, dependence on non-core earnings, and limited operating leverage suggest that the path ahead is steep. The transformation will demand sustained execution excellence, capital discipline, and sectoral adaptation.
For global investors, Rajesh Exports is not a defensive play—it’s a speculative bet on India's tech manufacturing future.
Close monitoring of Q4 FY25 results (due May 2025) and concrete project milestones will be key to informed decision-making.