DLF

Delhi Land & Finance (DLF Limited) is a real estate giant with operations across India. Founded in 1946 by Chaudhary Raghvendra Singh, DLF started its journey by building 22 urban colonies in Delhi. By 1985, the company ventured into Gurugram (then known as Gurgaon) by building residential and commercial properties for multinational companies and professionals.

DLF constructed some of the first residential colonies in Delhi, developing places like Krishna Nagar in East Delhi by 1949. The company’s growth continued with the creation of several popular urban colonies in the national capital, including South Extension, Greater Kailash, Kailash Colony and Hauz Khas.

After the Delhi Development Act of 1957 came into effect, private real estate colony development faced limitations as the state took charge of such activities. DLF began acquiring land outside the Delhi Development Authority's (DDA) control, especially in Gurgaon, at relatively lower costs.

Apart from its core business of real estate development, the company has diversified into infrastructure, SEZ and hotel construction businesses. DLF offers residential properties in super luxury, luxury and mid-income segments. DLF’s portfolio includes properties across 15 states and 24 cities.

The market capitalisation of DLF Limited stood at nearly ₹1.73 lakh crore as of December 19, 2023. DLF Limited share price has gained more than 200% in the last three years.

Business operations

DLF Limited's business model revolves around earnings from real estate development and rentals. It is involved in land acquisition, planning, executing, constructing and marketing of housing and commercial projects. DLF is also active in power generation, transmission, maintenance services, hospitality and recreational ventures.

By the end of the financial year 2022-23, DLF developed over 150 projects. Their cumulative area developed surpasses a 340 million square feet mark.

In 2009, the company sold DT Cinemas and formed a strategic alliance with PVR for a long-term collaboration. March 2010 marked the integration of Caraf Builders and its subsidiaries as a wholly-owned entity of Cyber City, a DLF subsidiary. In 2014, DLF Global Hospitality Ltd (DGHL), a 100% subsidiary of DLF Ltd, sold its entire stake in Silverlink Resorts Ltd.

In 2015, DLF Ltd, along with its wholly-owned subsidiary DLF Home Developers Ltd (DHDL), joined hands with GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund, for a joint venture aimed at investing in two upcoming projects in Central Delhi. Two years later, in 2017, DLF Limited and GIC formed another joint venture, DLF Cybercity Developers Limited (DCCDL). The year 2018 saw DLF making a significant move by acquiring 11.76 acres of land for ₹1,500 crore in Gurugram.

Continuing its strategic expansions, in 2020, DLF's rental arm DCCDL agreed to acquire the entire 52% stake held by US-based Hines in a commercial project in Gurugram.

Financial Highlights

The company’s consolidated revenue in FY2023 dropped 2% to ₹6,012 crore compared to the preceding fiscal. The company's net profit increased 35.5% YoY in FY23 to ₹2,033.94 crore from ₹1,500.31 crore in FY22. In FY23, EBITDA stood at ₹2,043 crore, reflecting a drop of 6% from the previous year. The company's earnings per share (EPS) stood at ₹8.22 in FY23 compared to ₹6.06 recorded in the previous financial year.