Can this railway stock manage the risks while chasing long-term growth?

From electrification and track doubling to station revamps and even metro rail expansions, RVNL is quietly doing the heavy lifting for the Indian Railway’s future.

But here’s the real question: Is RVNL just riding the PSU hype train, or does it genuinely have the steam to compound wealth long-term?

In this piece, we decode the RVNL business model, its financials and much more.

About RVNL

Incorporated in 2003 under the ministry of railways (MoR), RVNL was set up with a clear mandate to accelerate the implementation of critical railway infrastructure projects.

Acting as the MoR’s primary construction arm, RVNL today is responsible for building new railway lines, electrification, major bridges, workshops, and even metro and urban transport systems.

The company has mastered leveraging extra-budgetary resources, especially through the formation of Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs), reinforcing its ability to mobilise capital beyond traditional government allocations.

Its consistent performance earned it Miniratna Category-I status, a recognition that conferred greater operational autonomy. But the real game-changer came in April 2023, when RVNL was awarded the Navratna status.

This recognition has not only boosted its financial independence but has strategically positioned the company to compete for larger, more complex infrastructure projects.

What has RVNL built?

Here's a quick overview of what makes the company a silent force in India’s infrastructure story:

• Railway Lines: 70+ km of new lines and 560+ km of doubling commissioned in FY24 alone. Projects like Wardha–Nanded and Bilaspur–Korba exemplify its scale.
• Railway Electrification: Recent high-impact projects include the electrification of the Salem–Coimbatore section and major upgrades for heavy freight handling.
• Metro Rail: Projects in Pune, Nagpur, Indore, and key stretches of the Kolkata Metro are now under its belt. With 11.3 km commissioned in FY24, this vertical is emerging as a margin-friendly growth driver.
• Station Redevelopment: Through flagship initiatives like Gorakhpur and Jabalpur station modernisation, RVNL is actively shaping the future of passenger-centric, world-class station infrastructure.
• Complex Structures: From the engineering marvel that is the new Pamban Bridge to challenging terrain works in the Rishikesh-Karnaprayag Rail Line, RVNL’s civil engineering acumen is on full display.

Revenue Model of RVNL

RVNL primarily earns through EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) contracts, but what’s interesting is its evolving model.

While EPC accounted for more than 80% of revenue, the rest comes from the project management consultancy (PMC) and other high-margin services.

Fees typically range from 8.5-10%, depending on the project type, and the company is actively transitioning from nomination-based to competitive bidding models. RVNL is intricately tied to India’s macro-infra goals, particularly the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.

Competitive Landscape: Key Peers

RVNL operates in a competitive environment, with key peers including:

• IRCON International Ltd (IRCON): Another prominent railway PSU, IRCON specialises in railway, highway, and bridge construction, with a significant international project portfolio. Its business model also encompasses EPC and PMC services.
• RITES – Another PSU heavyweight, RITES dominates the consultancy and engineering space, especially in railways and urban transport. It’s more consultancy-oriented than EPC-focused like RVNL.
• Larsen & Toubro (L&T) – L&T’s infra-arm executes massive railway, metro, and high-speed rail projects. With deep pockets, it's a formidable competitor of RVNL.

From multi-modal logistics parks (MMLPs) to streamlining freight corridors, RVNL’s contributions go far beyond laying tracks, it’s building India’s next-gen logistics and trade infrastructure.

Over the last five years, the company has demonstrated a strong and consistent growth trajectory. Turnover has grown steadily, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.6%. Net profit has also expanded impressively to ₹14,630 million (m) in FY24, nearly doubling in five years. It is supported by stable operating margins and a controlled cost structure. The operating profit margin has remained steady at 6%, indicating consistency in operational efficiency despite scaling up.

The growing earnings per share (EPS) highlights the company’s growing profitability on a per-share basis. This improvement in share also reflects management's effective capital deployment.

The balanced dividend payout suggests how the company rewards its shareholders while also retaining profits for future growth.

Apart from the strong financials, RVNL will significantly benefit from powerful structural drivers shaping the Indian infrastructure landscape.

Sectoral Tailwinds: Railway Infrastructure Boom in India

• Capital Outlay in Indian Railway: FY25 railway capex stands at ₹265.2 billion (bn), with ₹252.2 bn from gross budgetary support, reflecting unprecedented government commitment to railway infrastructure. By January 2025, 76% of this outlay was already utilised.
• Focused Investments in Core Infrastructure: Capital is being invested in capacity expansion (new lines, doubling/tripling), complete electrification, modern rolling stock (Vande Bharat), and freight enhancement, all directly aligning with RVNL’s core competencies.
• PM Gati Shakti: With 434 projects worth ₹11.17 trillion (tn), this master plan promotes integrated infrastructure planning. RVNL is involved, especially in Multi-Modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs), which are crucial for freight handling.
• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS): Urban Transit Transformation: 1,309 stations are being redeveloped into commercial and passenger hubs. RVNL is executing key station modernisation projects, tapping into a ₹200 bn market opportunity.
• Government Focus on Infrastructure: Investing in Infrastructure of ₹11.21 tn in FY26 reaffirms policy continuity. With ₹10 tn spent in FY24 alone, this reflects India’s commitment to long-term economic capacity building.
• Make in India and National Capital Goods Policy: Policies promoting domestic manufacturing and technological self-reliance support infrastructure development, creating a predictable demand environment and reducing input volatility for players like RVNL.

Key Growth Drivers of RVNL

• Strong and Expanding Order Book: RVNL’s order book crossed ₹960 bn as of January 2025, offering 4x revenue visibility. In this, 50% of orders come from competitive bidding, improving credibility and scope.
• Strategic Diversification into New Sectors: Expanding into metros, roads (HAM projects), renewable energy, logistics park, and International markets. The company also has MoUs and joint ventures in countries like Peru, Israel, and GCC nations.
• Leveraging Public-Private partnership: Multiple SPVs formed for the railway, road, and logistics projects under PPP and Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) models.
• Rising Share of Non-Railway Projects: Gradual shift from a rail-only focus to infrastructure-wide services, including urban mobility and logistics. And reducing dependency on MoR nominations and de-risking revenue streams.

Risks Investors Should Know

While RVNL presents a compelling growth story, investors must consider several inherent risks associated with it.

• Project Execution Risk: Large infra projects often face design changes or approval delays. RVNL’s Vande Bharat JV faced this, causing losses and delays, highlighting execution risks in government-linked ventures.
• Working Capital and Liquidity pressure: Despite a healthy current ratio, diversification into HAM and international projects may stretch RVNL’s working capital. New models demand upfront investment, needing tighter financial planning and cash flow discipline.
• Client Concentration Risks: MoR remains RVNL’s major client. While diversification is in play, exposure to new state and private entities introduces new credit, operational and political risks that need active monitoring.
• Margin Pressure from competitive Bidding: Shift from nominations to competitive bidding means tighter margins. Private players like L&T intensify pressure.
• Policy and Regulatory Uncertainty: As a PSU, RVNL is highly policy-sensitive. Election-year paralysis, land acquisition issues, and regulatory bottlenecks can slow execution, affecting cash flow, order inflow, and investor confidence.

Conclusion

RVNL isn’t laying tracks anymore, it’s laying the groundwork for a bigger infra story. With strong PSU roots and expanding beyond railways, the potential is real. But new sectors bring new challenges. The real game is balancing smart diversification.

Before taking any financial decision, investors should check if the stock aligns with their investment objectives or not. Match the opportunity with the risks.

Happy Investing.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only. It is not a stock recommendation and should not be treated as such.

This article is syndicated from Equitymaster.com