Aadhar Housing Finance shares close 4.6 pc higher post listing, falls short of analyst expectations

Aadhar Housing Finance Ltd saw a fluctuating debut on the stock exchanges, ultimately closing 4.6 per cent higher at ₹329.45 per share on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) after its listing on Wednesday.

Although there was high anticipation, the stock opened flat at the issue price of ₹315, indicating recent volatility in the equity markets.

According to reports, analysts had projected a stronger debut, attributing it to healthy subscription numbers and the company's promising prospects in the affordable housing finance sector.

A report by CNBC TV18 cited Prashanth Tapse of Mehta Equities, who remains optimistic about Aadhar Housing Finance's long-term potential.

He cited its reasonable asset quality, healthy return ratios and the growth prospects of the affordable low-income housing segment, driven by government initiatives such as housing for all and infrastructure status for affordable housing.

He recommended investors to adopt a 'Hold' strategy for the stock from a long-term perspective.

The housing finance company's initial public offering (IPO), which was open for subscription from May 8 to May 10, raised ₹3,000 crore at the upper end of the price band.

The offer comprised a fresh issue of equity shares worth ₹1,000 crore and an offer for sale (OFS) of ₹2,000 crore by promoter BCP Topco VII Pte Ltd, an affiliate of Blackstone Group Inc.

Despite trimming the IPO size from ₹5,000 crore to ₹3,000 crore, Aadhar Housing Finance aimed for a successful listing and a solid debut on the market.

Aadhar Housing Finance's business model revolves around offering a range of mortgage-related loan products, catering primarily to the low-income housing segment.

The company targets economically weaker and low-to-middle-income customers, providing small-ticket mortgage loans for residential and commercial properties.

As of September 30, 2023, the company had a network of 471 branches, including 91 sales offices.

Financially, Aadhar Housing Finance has shown strong performance, with gross assets under management (AUM) reaching ₹19,865.2 crore at the end of December FY24, marking a 20 per cent increase over the previous year.

The company recorded a net profit of ₹544.8 crore for FY23, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 22.5 per cent.

Additionally, its net interest income increased by 28.6 per cent to ₹1,244.3 crore, with a net interest margin (NIM) expansion of 110 basis points at 8 per cent during the same period.