Detailed Narrative
Robust Growth in Payments GMV and Strategic Product Focus
MobiKwik's total GMV for FY25 surged to ₹1,15,000 crores, marking over 200% year-on-year growth from ₹38,000 crores in FY24. The payments business remains a core driver, with Q4 FY25 Payment GMV at ₹33,100 crores. The company is strategically focusing on innovative products like Wallet on UPI and RuPay card, which are expected to accelerate GMV growth and user engagement. UPI's contribution to overall GMV increased from approximately 30% to 36% in Q4 FY25.
Lending Business Challenges and Anticipated H2 Recovery
The lending vertical experienced headwinds, resulting in negative EBITDA for the last two quarters and a weak Q4 exit rate. Regulatory changes, particularly the shift to the DLG model in September, led to upfront cost booking and back-ended revenue recognition, mathematically impacting reported contribution margins. However, management noted a 32% quarter-on-quarter growth in ZIP EMI GMV from Q3 to Q4 FY25 and anticipates a recovery in the second half of the year, with a target of 40% contribution margin in a steady state.
ZaakPay's New Growth Trajectory with PAPG License
MobiKwik's ZaakPay business received its full PAPG license from the RBI, marking a significant milestone. Management views ZaakPay as a crucial third pillar for growth, targeting online merchants. This B2B payment gateway business is inherently profitable due to its cost structure and is expected to contribute significantly to both GMV and overall profitability in the coming years, leveraging a large market opportunity.
Improving Margins and Cost Optimization Efforts
Despite some pressures, the net payment margin improved from 13 basis points to 15 basis points quarter-on-quarter in Q4 FY25. The company aims for overall contribution margins to return upwards of 30%, driven by the recovery in lending and continued strength in payments. Furthermore, indirect costs were actively optimized, reducing from ₹119 crores in the previous quarter to ₹110 crores in Q4 FY25, with a commitment to maintain or further lower these costs through AI-driven efficiencies.
Strategic Capital Deployment and Balance Sheet Dynamics
IPO proceeds, received in December, began deployment from January onwards, primarily funding growth initiatives within the payments business, including pre-funding, customer acquisition, and incentives. The company's borrowing and other liabilities scaled up from ₹450-620 crores in H1 FY25, reflecting the substantial 3x growth in the payment business during FY25, which naturally increases daily outstanding balances for users and merchants.