JM Financial Initiates Buy Coverage On Adani Power With ₹178 Target Price On Thermal Growth Prospects
JM Financial initiates Buy coverage on Adani Power with ₹178 target price, citing 20% upside potential based on 13x fiscal 2028 EV/EBITDA valuation. As India's largest private thermal power producer with 18.10GW capacity, the company targets expansion to 41.90GW by FY32 through ₹2 trillion capex. With peak power demand projected to rise from 250GW in FY24 to 386GW by FY32, thermal power remains critical for grid reliability despite renewable energy growth.

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JM Financial has initiated coverage on Adani Power with a Buy rating, positioning the company as a key beneficiary of India's expanding power demand landscape. The brokerage has set a target price of ₹178 per share, representing approximately 20% upside from current levels and valuing the stock at 13 times fiscal 2028 EV/EBITDA.
Strong Market Position and Growth Trajectory
Adani Power has established itself as India's largest private sector thermal power producer, with current installed capacity reaching 18.10GW. The company's capacity portfolio comprises 10.80GW of organic capacity and 7.30GW added through strategic acquisitions. The company has set ambitious expansion targets, aiming to reach 41.90GW by fiscal 2032.
| Current Portfolio: | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Installed Capacity: | 18.10GW |
| Organic Capacity: | 10.80GW |
| Acquired Capacity: | 7.30GW |
| Target Capacity by FY32: | 41.90GW |
Power Demand Growth Projections
JM Financial's bullish outlook is anchored on India's substantial power demand growth trajectory. Peak power demand is projected to rise significantly across multiple time horizons, with thermal power expected to remain indispensable for grid reliability as renewable energy's variable nature increases.
| Power Demand Projections: | Capacity (GW) |
|---|---|
| Fiscal 2024: | ~250GW |
| Financial Year 2032: | ~386GW |
| Year 2047: | >700GW |
| Required Coal-fired Capacity by 2047: | ~340GW |
Operational Excellence and Execution Capabilities
The company demonstrates strong operational metrics with plant load factor of approximately 71.00% and plant availability factor of about 91.00%. JM Financial highlights Adani Power's execution capabilities, noting industry benchmarks including synchronization of 4,620MW capacity at Mundra within 36 months. The company's early equipment pre-ordering strategy reduces execution risks and improves project timelines.
| Operational Metrics: | Performance |
|---|---|
| Plant Load Factor: | ~71.00% |
| Plant Availability Factor: | ~91.00% |
| Expected Operational Capacity by FY32: | ~41.30GW |
Financial Projections and Investment Requirements
JM Financial expects significant profitability improvements, with EBITDA per MW projected to increase from approximately ₹1.30 crore in fiscal 2025 to around ₹1.80 crore by financial year 2032. The expansion program requires substantial capital investment of around ₹2 trillion over financial year 2025-2032.
| Financial Projections: | FY25 | FY32 |
|---|---|---|
| EBITDA per MW: | ~₹1.30 crore | ~₹1.80 crore |
| Expected Revenue CAGR (FY25-28): | ~15.00% | - |
| Expected EBITDA CAGR (FY25-28): | ~18.00% | - |
| Capex Requirement (FY25-32): | ₹2 trillion | - |
Leverage and Debt Management
The aggressive expansion program will impact the company's leverage profile. Net debt-to-EBITDA is expected to rise from current levels of about 1.60 times in financial year 2025 to around 3.00 times by fiscal 2029, before moderating to approximately 1.60 times by fiscal 2031 as new capacities become operational and cash flows improve.
| Leverage Profile: | Ratio |
|---|---|
| Net Debt-to-EBITDA (FY25): | ~1.60x |
| Peak Leverage (FY29): | ~3.00x |
| Projected Leverage (FY31): | ~1.60x |
JM Financial's valuation methodology reflects confidence in the company's execution capabilities and improving EBITDA per MW metrics, warranting a premium to the historical trading multiple of around 10 times trailing EV/EBITDA over the past five years.















































