A Study on the Financial Performance and Customer Perception Towards Century Plyboards India Ltd

Authors:

1. N. Nithish Kumar¹ | Dr. P. Raman²

¹MBA Student, Department of Management Studies, Panimalar Engineering College, Chennai – 600123

²Professor, Department of Management Studies (MBA), Panimalar Engineering College, Chennai – 600123

Abstract

The plywood and wood panel industry in India is witnessing rapid growth driven by urbanisation, rising disposable incomes, and increasing demand for modular furniture and construction materials. This study examines the financial performance and customer perception towards Century Plyboards India Ltd, one of India’s leading manufacturers of plywood, laminates, and engineered wood products. A mixed-method research design was adopted, combining secondary financial data analysis with primary survey data collected from 135 respondents comprising contractors, builders, architects, and individual consumers. Financial performance was assessed using key indicators — Earnings Per Share (EPS), Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E), Return on Equity (ROE), Dividend Payout Ratio, and Market Price per Share (MPS) — over five years (2021–2025), benchmarked against four industry peers. Statistical analyses including Spearman’s Rank Correlation, Chi-square Test, and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test were employed for hypothesis testing. Findings reveal that while Century Ply’s stock valuation and market price have grown significantly, EPS and ROE have experienced recent declines. Customer perception towards product quality, durability, and brand trustworthiness is largely positive, though price-cost effectiveness emerged as the most influential purchase driver. The Wilcoxon test confirmed a statistically significant difference between product perception and customer satisfaction levels, indicating service and quality gaps that warrant management attention.

Keywords: Financial Performance, Customer Perception, Century Plyboards, EPS, P/E Ratio, ROE, Plywood Industry, India