The Investment Story
ZF Steering Gear (India) manufactures mechanical and hydraulic power-steering systems and has established relationships across commercial vehicles and tractors. Its installed capacity is approximately 2 lakhs mechanical and 3.75 lakh hydraulic steering gears.
The bigger opportunity is its transformation beyond traditional steering through DriveSys, Metacast, aluminium manufacturing and next-generation steering technology.
The investment thesis is shifting from volume-driven CV growth to capacity expansion, backward integration and higher-value products. The key question is whether this can translate into sustained earnings growth and better ROCE.
Fundamentals: Revenue Growth Is Back, Margins Must Follow
FY2025-26 consolidated revenue rose 13% to ₹580 crore from ₹515 crore, while standalone revenue increased to ₹578 crore from ₹521 crore.
Profit growth, however, lagged. Standalone PAT declined to ₹32 crore from ₹34 crore, with EPS falling from ₹37.4 to ₹35.0. The largely debt-free balance sheet provides flexibility for the current expansion cycle.
OEM revenue grew 14.6% to ₹498 crore, while after-sales revenue remained broadly flat at ₹53 crore.
Q1 FY27 was more encouraging, with consolidated revenue of about ₹143 crore, EBITDA of ₹28 and PAT of ₹11 crore, reversing the preceding quarter’s loss.
With India’s M&HCV and LCV volumes growing about 15% and 12%, the demand backdrop remains supportive.
The next test is margin expansion—revenue growth now needs to translate into stronger earnings.
The Growth Engine: DriveSys, Aluminium &Metacast
DriveSys is strengthening backward integration through steering housings, shafts, pump assemblies and machined components, while its new aluminium facility provides exposure to the growing lightweighting opportunity in EVs, SUVs and premium vehicles.
The aluminium project involves approximately ₹100 crore of investment, supported by an approximately ₹151 crore order for machined aluminium components.
Metacast Auto is expanding capacity toward approximately 24,000–25,000 tonnes annually, strengthening vertical integration and potentially improving cost control and supply security.
The company has also acquired approximately 25,882 sq. metres of additional land at MIDC Supa, Maharashtra, supporting future manufacturing expansion.
Together, these initiatives could shift ZF from a traditional steering supplier toward a more integrated, higher-value precision-engineering platform.
Technology Optionality: EHPAS and EVs
In June 2026, ZF Steering Gear India signed a Framework Cooperation Agreement with China’s Hubei Tri-Ring to explore EHPAS assemblies in India.
The move could provide access to next-generation steering technology, localisation and export opportunities as the industry shifts toward EPS/EHPAS and electronically assisted systems. However, this remains a framework agreement, not yet a significant revenue contributor.
DriveSys is also exploring electrical components such as MCBs, MCCBs, RCBs and auxiliary contactors, although this remains an early-stage opportunity.
Technical Setup
The stock is building a base around ₹665–680 after correcting from its ₹895 high. The 50-DMA (₹675–678) and RSI near 49 suggest a neutral-to-positive setup.
Outlook & Investment View
Constructive — Hold / Accumulate on Declines
A sustained breakout above ₹735–750 on strong volume would confirm renewed strength. Medium-term upside lies towards its previous highs, while a move above that could trigger a broader re-rating.
A longer-term target may go towards the much higher levels depending on execution, revenue growth, and EPS expansion.
Bottom Line: The next few quarters are crucial. If these growth engines translate into higher revenue, margins, and ROCE, ZF Steering could enter its next major growth cycle.
Key Risks
The biggest risk is execution. New capacity can increase depreciation and fixed costs before revenue ramps up.
Other risks include weak commercial-vehicle demand, project delays, margin pressure, slower aluminium ramp-up, technology-transition risk, small-cap volatility and lower-than-expected ROE/ROCE.
The company must ultimately prove that its new investments generate attractive returns—not merely additional capacity.
REVERSE VALUATION REPORT
Can ZF Steering Gear justify a ₹1,500 valuation?
In our upcoming Reverse Valuation Report, we’ll work backwards from the target price to decode the revenue, margins, EPS, and earnings growth the company must deliver for ₹1,500 to be fundamentally justified.
Stay connected with Equity Reads. The full report is coming soon.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Financial figures, technical levels and potential price scenarios are based on available information and analytical assumptions and may change materially.
Future performance is uncertain and past performance does not guarantee future results. Investors should conduct their own research, assess their risk tolerance and consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions.