Outlook Money Outlook Money, June 2018 | Page 23

Laurus Labs Why Buy? Efficiency Prompts Global Expansion solid formulations business n Largest ARV and API producer n Sizeable ANDA pipeline n Transitioning from API to an oral Watch Out For n Ability to deliver double-digit growth in the ARV and oncology space The scrip is trading at an attractive one-year forward earnings, says Khushboo Balani n Managing pricing pressure in the US market n Over-depended on top-5 products Financials BSE Sensex (Points) Laurus Labs (`) Net sales (` crore) 133.27 150 FY18 FY17 FY16 100 2,069.00 1,904.65 1,777.58 OP (` crore) 96.35 50 Note : Larsen & Toubro had announced bonus in 2017 in the ratio of 1:2.The share has been quoting ex-bonus from July 13, 2017. 0 19 Dec 2016 L aurus Labs supplies APIs to nine of the world’s top ten pharmaceutical players (Aspen, Aurobindo, Cipla etc). The firm’s emphasis on cost efficiency, quality control, a higher off- take by global procurement agencies, and a qualified management have been instrumental in driving growth. Laurus’ emphasis on automation and quality control has ensured a good record. In August 2017, USFDA inspected its API facilities at Visakhapatnam and granted an establishment inspection report (EIR). It received two Form 483 observations for unit I and unit III, which were procedural in nature. It has completed USFDA audit without any observations at unit II (formulations). Siddhartha Khemka, who is Head of Research (Retail) at Motilal Oswal Financial Services says, the firm’s strong presence in the anti-retroviral 17 May 2018 (ARV) business and forward integration into the formulations business have cemented its position as a niche pharma player. However, on the back of below-than-expected Q3FY18 performance and a weak sentiment for the sector, its stock hit a 52-week low in February. It has since recovered after the final approval for its maiden launch in the US for Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (TDF). But this good news is not the only reason why the stock could climb in the coming year. The TDF approval has stirred optimism around its ANDA pipeline. Laurus’s spending on R&D has grown from 3.74 per cent of total sales in