How has been the historical performance of Century Plyboard?

Answer:The historical performance of Century Plyboard shows significant growth in net sales and total operating income over the years, with net sales reaching 4,527.80 Cr in Mar'25, up from 3,885.95 Cr in Mar'24 and 3,646.57 Cr in Mar'23. However, total expenditure also increased, leading to an operating profit of 496.83 Cr in Mar'25, down from 564.73 Cr in Mar'24. Profit before tax decreased to 277.28 Cr in Mar'25 from 439.16 Cr in Mar'24, and profit after tax also fell to 186.08 Cr from 325.33 Cr in the same period. The earnings per share (EPS) dropped to 8.33 in Mar'25 from 14.67 in Mar'24, reflecting the decline in profitability. On the balance sheet, total assets rose to 4,568.21 Cr in Mar'25, up from 3,556.12 Cr in Mar'24, driven by increases in inventories and long-term borrowings, which reached 428.22 Cr. Total liabilities also increased to 4,568.21 Cr in Mar'25 from 3,556.12 Cr in Mar'24. Cash flow from operating activities turned negative at -2.00 Cr in Mar'25, contrasting with 251.00 Cr in Mar'24, indicating challenges in cash generation.

Breakdown:
Century Plyboard's financial trajectory illustrates a robust increase in net sales, which climbed from 2,280.39 Cr in Mar'19 to 4,527.80 Cr in Mar'25, reflecting a consistent upward trend. Despite this growth, the company faced rising costs, with total expenditure escalating from 1,978.79 Cr in Mar'19 to 4,041.25 Cr in Mar'25, leading to a decline in operating profit margins from 13.4% in Mar'24 to 10.75% in Mar'25. Profit before tax and profit after tax both saw reductions, indicating pressure on profitability, with profit after tax falling from 376.98 Cr in Mar'23 to 186.08 Cr in Mar'25. The balance sheet reveals a significant increase in total assets, which rose from 2,716.04 Cr in Mar'23 to 4,568.21 Cr in Mar'25, primarily due to higher inventories and increased borrowings. Cash flow from operating activities deteriorated sharply, reflecting challenges in maintaining liquidity, as evidenced by a negative cash flow of -2.00 Cr in Mar'25. Overall, while Century Plyboard has expanded its revenue base, it faces challenges in profitability and cash flow management.