Bayer Crop Sci. (BAYERCROP)
StalwartFairStock Score: 55/100 — STEADY
Score breakdown: P/E: 0/3 · ROCE: 1/2 · Growth: 2/2 · Dividend: 1/1
Key Financials
| Current Price | ₹4,045.8 |
| Market Cap | ₹18,182.67 Cr |
| P/E Ratio | 24.81 |
| ROCE | 24.8% |
| ROE | 23.52% |
| Dividend Yield | 3.71% |
| Profit Growth | 15.4% |
| Debt/Equity | 0.03 |
| Sales Growth | -4.2% |
| Free Cash Flow | ₹22 Cr |
| Promoter Holding | 71.44% |
| 52-Week Range | ₹3,864.95 — ₹5,489 |
| Sector | Fertilizers & Agrochemicals |
| Book Value | ₹659.89 |
Strengths
- Elite profitability: ROE 23.52% and ROCE 24.80% with low debt/equity of 0.34
- Promoter holding of 71.44% ensures strong alignment with minority shareholders
- Piotroski F-Score of 8/9 and Altman Z-Score of 4.54 indicate robust financial health
- Profit growth of 28.75% alongside a 2.68% dividend yield
- Steady business quality, reflected in the FairStock Score of 61/100
Concerns
- Valuation is rich: P/E of 31.32 and P/B of 7.48, with price about 220% above Graham Number
- DCF intrinsic value of ₹4,140.60 is below the current market price of ₹4,742.40
- Free cash flow of just ₹22 Cr is weak versus ₹96 Cr quarterly net profit, raising questions about cash conversion
- Sales growth is modest at 7.70%, so the high profit growth may not be sustainable
AI Analysis
Let me look at Bayer Crop Science as a business first. The numbers show a high-quality franchise: return on equity of 23.52% and ROCE of 24.80%, with very modest leverage at 0.34 debt-to-equity. Promoters own 71.44%, so owner alignment is strong. A Piotroski score of 8/9 and an Altman Z-score of 4.54 confirm a sound balance sheet. This does not look like a low-quality cyclical player; it appears to be a steady compounder in Indian agrochemicals, even though sales grew only 7.70%. The 28.75% profit growth is impressive, and the 2.68% dividend yield gives shareholders some reward while waiting. But a wonderful business can still be a terrible investment at the wrong price. At ₹4,742.40, the stock trades at 31.32 times earnings and 7.48 times book value. Graham's conservative formula places intrinsic value at just ₹1,459.69, leaving a -220% margin of safety. Even a more generous DCF estimate of ₹4,140.60 is below the current price. So I cannot say there is any valuation cushion. In addition, free cash flow is only ₹22 crore against quarterly net profit of ₹96 crore, so reported earnings are not fully converting into cash. The negative EV/EBITDA figure also makes me want to understand the cash flow arithmetic better before relying on reported profitability. I would not buy at this price. The business quality and financial strength earn my respect; the entry price does not. I would keep this stock on my watchlist and wait for a Mr. Market moment when the price gives me enough margin of safety. Patience is not passive; it is a decision.
Data from BSE/NSE filings. AI analysis is for educational purposes only — not investment advice. Scoring methodology · Disclaimer