Paytm hits fresh lows as Macquarie sees ‘arduous’ path for embattled payments firm

PAYTM’S shares dropped 10 per cent to a brand new report low on Tuesday (Feb 13), after brokerage Macquarie stated the Indian funds agency faces “an arduous task” to shift clients to different banks by the top of February, a deadline set by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

The central financial institution on Jan 31 ordered Paytm affiliate Paytm Payments Bank to close most of its enterprise, together with deposits, credit score merchandise and its common digital wallets, by Feb 29, citing “persistent non-compliance”.

Since then, Paytm has misplaced practically 50 per cent of its market worth, leading to roughly US$3 billion of its shareholder wealth. It hit a report low of 380.10 rupees earlier within the day, its fifth such occasion because the clamp down.

However, Macquire’s value goal of 275 rupees – the bottom among the many 14 analysts protecting the inventory – signifies costs might drop one other 28 per cent.

Meeting the deadline to shift clients can be “arduous” as clients might want to submit Know Your Customer (KYC) and different such particulars once more, analyst Suresh Ganapathy wrote in a word.

Paytm faces a “serious risk of exodus of customers” and with lending companions additionally re-evaluating their relationship with the corporate, that might result in a decline in lending enterprise income, the analyst stated.

Ganapathy – ranked third amongst 14 analysts for his suggestion accuracy on Paytm, in keeping with LSEG knowledge – additionally reduce his score on the inventory to “underperform” from the “neutral” score he had since final June. Macquarie had began protection of Paytm with “underperform” when the inventory was listed in 2021.

“Macquarie has consistently been negative about this company since its listing. Whenever they release a negative report, it inevitably casts a shadow over the company, fostering a prevailing sense of negativity,” stated Kranthi Bathini, an fairness strategist at WealthMills Securities.

Now, six analysts have the same “sell”-equivalent score on Paytm’s inventory, in contrast with none a month again, per LSEG knowledge, whereas eight analysts have lowered their value targets to 275-600 rupees, in comparison with the present value of about 383 rupees.

Paytm Payments Bank’s transactions have slowly dropped off, with clients unsure about what’s going to occur in March and if the RBI will prolong the deadline, Reuters reported final week.

However, the RBI stated on Monday it will not overview its resolution and buyers and clients now await the central financial institution’s ceaselessly requested questions (FAQs), to be launched this week, for readability. REUTERS