Tata Motors shares slide 5% after JLR flags flat cashflow, lower margins for FY26

Time of India

7 hours ago

Shares of
Tata Motors
slipped as much as 5.2per cent on Monday to ₹674.70 on BSE after Jaguar Land Rover (JLR), its UK-based subsidiary, flagged weaker financial performance for the current fiscal year, triggering market jitters.
The premium carmaker expects its EBIT margin for FY26 to range between 5per cent and 7%, significantly lower than the 8.5per cent margin reported in the previous fiscal. The company also projected free cash flow to be "close to zero" this year, compared to the robust £1.5 billion it generated last year.
While JLR management said it is targeting a return to 10per cent EBIT margins and a pickup in free cash flow in FY27 and FY28, it did not provide a definitive timeline for achieving those targets.
For Tata Motors, JLR's performance is critical. In FY25, the luxury car unit accounted for 71per cent of Tata Motors' revenue and contributed 80per cent of the group's overall profitability. Despite strong volumes, JLR's average revenue per unit remained flat year-on-year, staying above £70,000.
Amid broader headwinds in the premium car market during FY25, JLR maintained its leadership. The company said it 'outperformed the market and maintained its No.1 position in the premium segment in May.'
However, Moody's Ratings affirmed the automaker's
Ba1 corporate family rating
(CFR) with a positive outlook, while upgrading the ratings of its UK-based subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc (JLR).
Moody's raised JLR's corporate family rating to Ba1 from Ba2 and its probability of default rating (PDR) to Ba1-PD from Ba2-PD, reflecting the improving credit profile of both Tata Motors and its luxury vehicle arm.
"The affirmation reflects the sustained strengthening in TML's consolidated credit profile driven by gross debt reduction and earnings expansion, which are accelerating deleveraging even as the global automotive industry faces challenging conditions," says Kaustubh Chaubal, a
Moody's Ratings
Senior Vice President.
"Concurrently, we have upgraded JLR's backed senior unsecured instrument ratings to Ba1 from Ba2. The outlook remains positive," a company filing said, quoting the rating agency.
According to Moody's Ratings, Tata Motors Ba1 Corporate Family Rating (CFR) is a reflection of several key credit strengths. The rating agency highlights TML's robust global presence in the luxury automotive segment through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Jaguar Land Rover Automotive Plc (JLR, Ba1 positive). Moody's also points to TML's leading market position in India across commercial vehicles (CVs) and its growing share in passenger vehicles (PVs).
Furthermore, Moody's credits TML's commitment to creditor-friendly financial policies that effectively balance growth with financial discipline, thus supporting a solid credit profile. The rating agency also acknowledges a long-standing, strategically important relationship with its parent, Tata Sons. This relationship, according to Moody's, results in a one-notch uplift to TML's rating due to the expectation of extraordinary support, should it be required.
Moody's also notes that TML is currently in the process of demerging its CV operations into a separately listed entity with mirror shareholding. Post-demerger, which Moody's expects to be effective in October, the rated entity will encompass all PV and PV-related businesses, including 100per cent ownership of JLR. The rating agency anticipates that following this transaction, JLR will contribute over 90per cent of TML's consolidated EBITDA, underscoring the increasing convergence of their credit fundamentals. ..
Tata Motors shares
have declined 28per cent over the past 12 months, though they have gained 75per cent over the last three years. The company's current market capitalisation stands at ₹1,48,943 crore.