In this briefing:
- Discover HK Connect: Mainlanders Were Buying Pharma and Property Managers in December
- Healthscope (HSO AU): A Material Bump to Brookfield’s Offer Is Doubtful
- India Generic Drugs: Antitrust Suit Could Cost Billions
- Celltrion/Celltrion H Pair: Last 2 Days Must Be Price Divergence, Not Mean Reversion
- Alkem Laboratories – En Route to Recovery, Valuations Attractive
1. Discover HK Connect: Mainlanders Were Buying Pharma and Property Managers in December
In our Discover HK Connect series, we aim to help our investors understand the flow of southbound trades via the Hong Kong Connect, as analyzed by our proprietary data engine. We will discuss the stocks that experienced the most inflow and outflow by mainlanders in the past seven days.
We split the stocks eligible for the Hong Kong Connect trade into three groups: those with a market capitalization of above USD 5 billion, those with a market capitalization between USD 1 billion and USD 5 billion, and those with a market capitalization between USD 500 million and USD 1 billion.
2. Healthscope (HSO AU): A Material Bump to Brookfield’s Offer Is Doubtful
Healthscope Ltd (HSO AU), Australia’s second-largest private hospital operator, is caught again in a bidding war between Brookfield Asset Management (BAM US) and BGH-AustralianSuper. On 21 December 2018, Healthscope extended exclusive due diligence with Brookfield. Brookfield noted that it has “no reason to believe it would not be willing and able to proceed” with its proposal.
The popular narrative is that should a binding proposal materialise; shareholders can expect a bidding war among the existing bidders, and potential new bidders as Healthscope is “in play”. While there is there is a possibility for some ‘‘sweetening’’ to the bid price, we think that that the formal “winning” bid is unlikely to be materially above the current Brookfield bid.
3. India Generic Drugs: Antitrust Suit Could Cost Billions
This Insight builds on our previous Insight, India Generic Drugs: US Antitrust Inquiry Widens by discussing estimated potential liabilities and details contained in court filings. Public comments by one of the plaintiffs (47 states) suggest the defendants’ aggregate liability could exceed US$6 billion, the largest previous settlement on record. There is not enough information to apportion potential liability by company, but some companies are better-positioned to bear the cost of a settlement than others. The process could drag on for an undetermined period of time (which helps the defendants). At the same time, the overhang will keep a lid on generic drug prices in the US market.
Among Indian generic companies, Dr. Reddy’S Laboratories (DRRD IN), Aurobindo Pharma (ARBP IN),Cadila Healthcare (CDH IN), and Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (GNP IN) have the highest risk based on their market caps and exposure to the US market.
4. Celltrion/Celltrion H Pair: Last 2 Days Must Be Price Divergence, Not Mean Reversion
- The accounting fraud issue had hammered the Celltrion duo nearly equally up until Dec 26. But last two days were different. Healthcare got hurt much more deeply. Celltrion fell only 2.41%, but Healthcare fell 11.52%.
- The accounting issue is supposed to be equal to both. KOSPI move and merger are still alive to push up Healthcare. Local institutions and foreigners have bashed both pretty much equally in the last two days. This is another sign that it was more of a price divergence than a mean reversion.
- The duo is now at 20D MA and also the yearly mean. I expect it to go substantially below the yearly mean on KOSPI move and merger expectations. A powerful downwardly mean adjusting force still seems to be in action. I’d long Healthcare and short Celltrion to exploit the latest price divergence.
5. Alkem Laboratories – En Route to Recovery, Valuations Attractive
Alkem Laboratories (ALKEM IN) produces branded generics, generic drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients and neutraceuticals, which it markets in India and over 50 countries internationally. With a portfolio of over 700 brands covering all the major therapeutic segments and a pan-India sales and distribution network, Alkem has been ranked amongst the top ten pharmaceutical companies in India by sales for the past 13 years.
We are optimistic about Alkem because-
- Alkem continues to grow significantly ahead of the segment growth rate of ~16% in the chronic therapy areas of Cardiac, Antidiabetic, Neuro / Central nervous system (CNS) and Derma. Alkem continues grow in the acute therapy areas of Anti-infective, Gastro-intestinal, Pain/ Analgesic and Vitamins / Minerals /Nutrients.
- We expect India revenues to grow at CAGR 13% (FY18-21E) to Rs 64,687 mn in FY21E from Rs 44,900 mn in FY18. We expect US revenues to grow at CAGR 31% (FY18-21E) to Rs 30,438 mn from Rs 13,667 mn in FY18 and other international business revenues to grow at CAGR 11% (FY18-21E) to Rs 6,443 mn in FY21E from Rs 4,670 mn in FY18.
- We expect EBITDA to grow at CAGR 21% (FY18-21E) to Rs 18,638 mn in FY21E from Rs 10,566 mn in FY18 and EBITDA margins to expand by ~ 190 bps to 18.4% in FY21E from 16.5% in FY18. We expect PAT to grow at CAGR 27% (FY18-21E) to Rs. 12,979 mn in FY21E from Rs 6,289 mn in FY18 and we expect PAT margins to expand by ~ 300 bps to 12.8% in FY21E from 9.8% in FY18.
- We expect RoE to expand by ~530 bps to 19.0% in FY21E from 13.7% in FY18 and RoCE to expand by ~390 bps to 21.1% in FY21E from 17.2% in FY18
We initiate coverage on Alkem with fair value of Rs. 2,260/- representing a potential upside of 21% in the next 12 months. We arrived at the fair value by applying 22x multiple to September 20E EPS of Rs 102. Currently, the stock trades at 21x and 17x its earnings estimates for FY20E and FY21E respectively. After a very volatile 2018, we believe Alkem share price may have smooth upwards move in 2019 driven by strong PAT growth in the next 3 quarters.
Particulars (Rs mn, Y/E March) | Net sales | EBITDA | PAT | EPS | ROE | ROCE | PE(x) |
FY18 | 64,137 | 10,566 | 6,289 | 52.6 | 13.7% | 17.2% | 35 |
FY19E | 74,075 | 12,406 | 8,130 | 68.0 | 16.0% | 16.8% | 27 |
FY20E | 87,716 | 15,659 | 10,772 | 90.1 | 18.4% | 20.4% | 21 |
FY21E | 1,01,568 | 18,638 | 12,979 | 108.6 | 19.0% | 21.1% | 17 |
Get Straight to the Source on Smartkarma
Smartkarma supports the world’s leading investors with high-quality, timely, and actionable Insights. Subscribe now for unlimited access, or request a demo below.