Arman Financial Services (ARMANFIN) Q1 24/25 earnings summary

Executive summary

• Q1 FY25 saw increased credit costs and reduced disbursement volumes, reflecting industry-wide stress in microfinance due to regulatory changes, over-leveraging, and external disruptions like elections and heatwaves.

• Unaudited standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, were approved, showing continued profitability and growth.

• Board approved key management changes, including re-appointments and new appointments of directors and compliance officer.

• Subsidiary Namra Finance received a credit rating upgrade, and a similar upgrade for the standalone entity is expected soon.

• Statutory auditor transition from Talati & Talati LLP to Laxminiwas & Co. was approved, following RBI guidelines.

Financial highlights

• Gross total income rose 23% year-over-year to INR 184 crore; net total income up 39% to INR 119 crore.

• Consolidated revenue from operations for Q1 FY25 was ₹18,442.58 lakhs, up from ₹14,950.80 lakhs in Q1 FY24.

• Pre-provisioning operating profit increased 34% year-over-year to INR 85 crore.

• Profit after tax declined 22% year-over-year to INR 31 crore, mainly due to higher impairment costs and lower yields.

• Standalone net profit for Q1 FY25 was ₹1,257.79 lakhs, up from ₹806.67 lakhs in Q1 FY24.

Outlook and guidance

• Asset quality and disbursement guidance remains cautious; improvement expected post-Diwali, with stable trends anticipated in Q2.

• Credit cost guidance revised upward by 50 bps, now expected at 3-3.5%.

• Board and management actions, including director appointments and ESOPs, indicate a focus on governance and long-term growth.

• MSME business expected to scale further in FY25, with continued focus on risk management and operational efficiency.