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    Pelatro Ltd

    PELATRO
    Media, Entertainment & Publication·5 Feb 2026
    Management Summary

    Pelatro delivered a strong Q3 FY26, with significant year-on-year growth in both revenue and EBITDA, and expanded margins for the nine-month period. Management emphasized the company's strategic positioning in AI as a revenue driver and a disciplined approach to M&A focused on ROCE. Discussions also covered the sustainability of the effective tax rate and long-term growth strategy.

    Highlights

    5

    • Q3 FY26 revenue grew 69% YoY to INR38.38 crores, demonstrating robust top-line performance.

    • Q3 FY26 EBITDA grew 119% YoY to INR8.57 crores, indicating strong operational leverage.

    • For 9M FY26, revenue grew 62% YoY to INR99.12 crores and EBITDA grew 73% YoY to INR22.38 crores, surpassing full year FY25 numbers.

    • EBITDA margin expanded to 22.6% for 9M FY26 from 21.13% last year, reflecting improved profitability.

    • The company has a strong market presence, serving 46 telecom networks in 35 countries and managing 1.5 billion subscribers.

    Concerns

    3

    • Analyst raised concerns about the potential threat of AI to SaaS companies and its impact on margins.

    • Analyst questioned the sustainability and variability of the company's effective tax rate.

    • Analyst probed into the company's long-term strategy and succession planning, referencing a past company's failure under the CEO's leadership.

    What Changed2

    vs Q4 FY26

    Guidance items7 → 2 (-5)Risks discussed2 → 4 (+2)
    Key financials

    Metrics

    10

    Periods

    5

    Q3 FY26

    2
    • Revenue
      ₹38.38 Cr
      YoY+69%
    • EBITDA
      ₹8.57 Cr
      YoY+119%

    9M FY25

    1
    • EBITDA Margin
      21.1%

    9M FY26

    3
    • Revenue
      ₹99.12 Cr
      YoY+62%
    • EBITDA
      ₹22.38 Cr
      YoY+73%
    • EBITDA Margin
      22.6%

    excl. exceptional, 9M FY26

    2
    • PAT
      ₹13.6 Cr
    • PAT Margin
      13.8%

    excl. exceptional, Q3 FY26

    2
    • PAT
      ₹5 Cr
    • PAT Margin
      13.1%

    Capital allocation

    1
    medium confidence
    CategoryHeadline
    M&A

    Estel software business

    acquisition · integrated

    Guidance & targets

    2
    CategoryTargetPriority
    Margin
    EBITDA Margin
    26-30%
    		High
    Tax
    Effective Tax Rate
    9-10%
    		High

    EBITDA Margin Progression

    Next couple of years (check for Q4 FY26 and FY27 guidance)
    Current22.6% (9M FY26)
    TargetMoving towards 26-30%

    Why it matters

    This is a key indicator of operational leverage and the company's ability to achieve its stated profitability targets.

    With respect to us internally what we're looking at, from an EBITDA perspective, we believe we can be between say 26% to 29% or maybe 30% kind of EBITDA. That is the number that I would look to get to in the next couple of years.

    How to verify

    key_financials.metrics[label='EBITDA Margin']

    Risks & concerns

    4
    RiskSeverity

    Potential threat from AI to SaaS business model

    Analyst questioned if AI could be a threat to SaaS companies and squeeze margins; management views AI as a revenue growth opportunity for Pelatro, not a cost reduction play. — Analyst acknowledged

    medium

    Variability and sustainability of effective tax rate

    Analyst inquired about the low tax rate; management explained it's due to carry-forward losses in a Singapore subsidiary and expects 9-10% for FY26, with some variability based on entity contribution. — Analyst acknowledged

    low

    Risk of costly acquisitions and their impact on financial health

    Analyst referenced past acquisition issues; management emphasized a disciplined M&A approach focused on synergy, telecom space, and ROCE to avoid past mistakes. — Analyst acknowledged

    medium

    Succession planning for key management

    Analyst asked about succession planning; management clarified that the CEO's sons are shareholders but not currently active in the business, with proper planning to occur in the future. — Analyst acknowledged

    low

    Q&A highlights

    8

    “the effective tax rate for nine months has been around 7%, while Q3 it's around 9%. The main reason is that our subsidiary in Singapore did have a certain carry forward loss which we are taking to set off against profits that we have been earning. And which effectively nullifies any tax liability there. So on a consolidated basis, this is what is contributing to a lower tax rate. And the full year expectation is somewhere around 9% to 10%, effective tax rate.”

    Clarifies the reasons for the current low tax rate and provides specific guidance for the full year FY26, which is crucial for financial modeling.

    asked by Prasenjit Paul

    2 min read6 chapters

    Detailed Narrative

    01

    Q3 FY26 Performance Overview

    Pelatro reported a strong Q3 FY26, with revenue growing 69% year-on-year to INR38.38 crores. This robust top-line growth translated into significant profitability improvements, as EBITDA surged by 119% year-on-year to INR8.57 crores. The company also achieved a PAT of INR5 crores, excluding exceptional items📎, representing a margin of 13.1% for the quarter.

    02

    Nine-Month Financial Highlights

    For the nine-month period ended December 31, 2025, Pelatro's revenue increased by 62% year-on-year to INR99.12 crores. EBITDA for the same period grew 73% year-on-year to INR22.38 crores, with the EBITDA margin expanding to 22.6% from 21.13% in the previous year. Management highlighted that the company has already surpassed its full-year FY25 revenue and PAT figures within these nine months, demonstrating strong momentum.

    03

    Customer Base and Revenue Model

    Pelatro has expanded its reach to 46 telecom networks across 35 countries, collectively managing 1.5 billion subscribers on its platform. The company's revenue model is characterized by a healthy mix of recurring (57% for 9M FY26) and re-occurring (20% for 9M FY26) revenues, totaling 77%. A significant portion, 65-66%, of its customers now utilize managed services, contributing to higher and more predictable revenue streams.

    04

    AI Strategy and Product Development

    Management views AI as a significant opportunity, positioning it as a revenue growth driver rather than a cost reduction tool. The company is integrating extensive AI capabilities into its products and plans to launch a new, strong AI module or platform in the first week of March at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. This strategic focus aims to enhance customer engagement and provide advanced solutions for Telco clients.

    05

    Acquisition Strategy and Financial Discipline

    Pelatro's acquisition strategy, following the Estel software business acquisition 6-7 months prior, is disciplined and focused on synergy, the telecom space, and valuation aligned with ROCE. Management explicitly stated a commitment to not sacrifice ROCE during acquisitions, drawing lessons from past experiences. This approach ensures that future M&A activities contribute positively to the company's financial health and growth.

    06

    EBITDA Margin and Tax Rate Outlook

    The company is targeting an EBITDA margin of 26% to 30% within the next couple of years, driven by non-linearity in the business as more contracts and customers lead to higher revenue without a proportional increase in costs. For the full fiscal year 2026, the effective tax rate is expected to be around 9% to 10%, influenced by carry-forward losses in its Singapore subsidiary.

    This is an AI-generated summary of a publicly available earnings call transcript. It is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, a recommendation, or an endorsement. inve.money is not a SEBI-registered investment advisor. Please consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.