All analyses
AI analysis

ACL Plastics PLC: research report

Moderately undervaluedbullishAug 6, 2026

Record margins in Mar-2026 (operating 34.9%, best on record) meet a sector-cheap P/E of 7.6. The next quarter is due, so sustainability is the question.

Reports without a focus are public, one per stock per day. Generation usually takes about 15 minutes, and we'll notify you when it's ready.

Why bullish

  • Operating margin hit 34.9% in Mar-2026, the best of 12 quarters
  • Revenue grew 21.4% year-on-year to LKR 802 million in Mar-2026
  • P/E 7.63 sits at the 5th percentile versus manufacturing peers (sector median 12.75)

Against this. The share is down 17.6% over six months, lagging the ASPI’s -11.3%.

Operating margin
33.3%sector 11.3%
from 27.9% a year earlier
Net margin
39.9%sector 6.3%
from 25.4% a year earlier, revenue +5.0%
Return on equity
19.8%
twelve months to Jun 30, 2026, unaudited
P/E
8.4sector 12.0
earnings Rs 18.94 per share
P/B
1.42sector 1.63
book Rs 111.87 per share
Dividend yield
2.36%sector 2.05%
19.8% of earnings paid out

Current figures, updated daily from filings to Jun 30, 2026. The report below was written on Aug 6, 2026. Sector figures are the median of 29 listed companies in the same sector.

Overview

ACL Plastics manufactures cable-grade PVC compounds for the cable and electrical industry. The most important change is operational: the March 2026 quarter delivered record profitability and sharply higher profits, with only a modest drag from finance costs and tax. This is an operating story rather than a below-the-line one.

Price performance

Over one year the share rose 103.2% versus the ASPI’s 9.3%. Over six months it fell 17.6% against the index’s -11.3%. A 1:10 share split on 2025-12-29 restates history; the divergence between restated and as-traded returns reflects mechanics, not dilution.

Valuation

P/E is 7.63, at the 5th percentile within manufacturing (sector median 12.75). P/B is 1.41 versus a sector median 1.8. ROE for FY2025 was 12.7%. Together these suggest the current multiple sits well below peers despite improved profitability; a re-rating case exists if execution holds.

News and sentiment

Coverage is thin: 1 material article in the past 90 days, and it was positive. A first interim dividend of LKR 3.75 per share goes ex on 2026-08-12 and pays on 2026-09-02. No other company-specific developments were reported.

Financials

In the March 2026 quarter revenue rose 21.4% year-on-year to LKR 802 million. Operating margin reached 34.9%, the best of 12. Below-the-line items were a modest LKR 24.2 million drag, underscoring that the profit step-up was operational. Per-share figures are not comparable across the December 2025 1:10 split, so judge performance on absolute amounts. For the last full year (FY2025), net margin was 19.0% and operating margin 25.1%, with net profit up 2.0% year-on-year, indicating that the latest quarter’s margins are a marked improvement versus the recent annual baseline.

Risks

The share fell 17.6% over six months, indicating sensitivity to sentiment even after strong prints. Income appeal is modest at present given recent dividend signals and a sector median yield of 3.3% that sits above many manufacturers. News flow is thin, so surprises may move the stock more than usual.

Outlook

Two dated catalysts are ahead as at 2026-08-06: the ex-dividend on 2026-08-12 and the next results for the June 2026 quarter, due by 2026-10-28. The filing will show whether March’s record operating margin translates into sustained earnings momentum in the new financial year.

About this report. Generated on Aug 6, 2026 from market data up to Aug 6, 2026, 1 material news articles over 90 days and financials to Mar 31, 2026. Every figure is drawn from EquityLK's own data on this company. AI research can contain errors, so treat it as a starting point, not investment advice.

Previous reports