Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/align-technology-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2817:1" rel="noopener">Align Technology (ALGN US)</a> is better investment idea than its Chinese competitor <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/angelalign-technology-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31480:1" rel="noopener">Angelalign Technology (6699 HK),</a> due to its larger global scale of operation, early mover advantage, and cheaper valuation.    </li>
<li>Align Technology is well-positioned for 20%+ revenue and earnings growth through 2024, driven by large and underpenetrated TAM of 19 million annual ortho starts.</li>
<li>Align Technology shares are trading at a steep discount to Angelalign Technology shares. Price erosion due to the increasing competition remains the key risks for both the companies.</li>
</ul>



Align Technology (ALGN US) is better investment idea than its Chinese competitor Angelalign Technology (6699 HK), due to its larger global scale of operation, early mover advantage, and cheaper valuation.    
Align Technology is well-positioned for 20%+ revenue and earnings growth through 2024, driven by large and underpenetrated TAM of 19 million annual ortho starts.
Align Technology shares are trading at a steep discount to Angelalign Technology shares. Price erosion due to the increasing competition remains the key risks for both the companies.


Align Technology (ALGN US) Vs. Angelalign Technology (6699 HK): Which One Is Better Investment

HK/China Healthcare Analyst (ex-Fosun Pharma)

Xinyao (Criss) Wang

Angelalign Technology  / Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Currently, Angelalign could not be compared with Align Technology in many aspects, but Angelalign’s PE/TTM indicates it may have already overdrawn the performance of the next few years.</li>
<li>The growth outlook of Angelalign has uncertainties. Any deceleration in revenues and profits in any given year is likely to lead to a significant valuation correction. </li>
<li>High valuation cannot be supported without certainty of growth. Therefore, based on our analysis, our view is that Angelalign could be a short-term trade, but not long-term hold.</li>
</ul>


Currently, Angelalign could not be compared with Align Technology in many aspects, but Angelalign’s PE/TTM indicates it may have already overdrawn the performance of the next few years.
The growth outlook of Angelalign has uncertainties. Any deceleration in revenues and profits in any given year is likely to lead to a significant valuation correction. 
High valuation cannot be supported without certainty of growth. Therefore, based on our analysis, our view is that Angelalign could be a short-term trade, but not long-term hold.


Angelalign Technology (6699.HK) - Uncertain Growth Outlook

The IPO of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/angelalign-technology-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31480:1" rel="noopener">Angelalign Technology (6699 HK)</a> was obviously very successful, with the share price hitting an all-time high of HK$490/share in June 2021. However, in the following months, Angelalign’s share price continued to fall and was closed at HK$318.8/share on Oct. 25, down about 35%. On the other hand, Angelalign released it 2021 interim report. The revenue in 2021/1H was RMB571 million, up 85.0% YoY, and the net profit was RMB95.7 million, up 55.8% YoY, indicating good growth momentum. This insight mainly analyzed some points about the business and the concerns that worth investors’ attention.

The IPO of Angelalign Technology (6699 HK) was obviously very successful, with the share price hitting an all-time high of HK$490/share in June 2021. However, in the following months, Angelalign’s share price continued to fall and was closed at HK$318.8/share on Oct. 25, down about 35%. On the other hand, Angelalign released it 2021 interim report. The revenue in 2021/1H was RMB571 million, up 85.0% YoY, and the net profit was RMB95.7 million, up 55.8% YoY, indicating good growth momentum. This insight mainly analyzed some points about the business and the concerns that worth investors’ attention.

Angelalign Technology (6699.HK) - Some Points Worth the Attention

China’s largest domestic dental brace manufacturer, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/angelalign-technology-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:31480:1" rel="noopener">Angelalign Technology (6699 HK)</a>  shares surged to HKD 490 within one month from their issue price of HKD 173 (debuted in HKEX in June). Since then, shares are facing tough time and corrected more than 30%. In-line H1 results, lack of any near-term catalyst, and stagnant market share are looming on the share price. Shares are trading at a P/E of 76x 2023E EPS, which is higher than its nearest competitor Align Technology’s 36x. Although clear aligner market in China is huge and underpenetrated, we believe players have no pricing power as products offered have little or no differentiation and competition is rising. We expect Angelalign’s EPS will have a CAGR of 30% during 2020–2023, slower than 58% CAGR reported during 2018–2020, dragged by margin contraction due to faster growth in Lower ASP product line (Comfos) at the cost of higher ASP product line (Angelalign Pro) and introduction of lower margin scanner business. This does not justify the superior valuation. Angelalign needs to penetrate deeper in lower tiered cities and pursue its outside China initiatives to justify its premium valuation.

China’s largest domestic dental brace manufacturer, Angelalign Technology (6699 HK)  shares surged to HKD 490 within one month from their issue price of HKD 173 (debuted in HKEX in June). Since then, shares are facing tough time and corrected more than 30%. In-line H1 results, lack of any near-term catalyst, and stagnant market share are looming on the share price. Shares are trading at a P/E of 76x 2023E EPS, which is higher than its nearest competitor Align Technology’s 36x. Although clear aligner market in China is huge and underpenetrated, we believe players have no pricing power as products offered have little or no differentiation and competition is rising. We expect Angelalign’s EPS will have a CAGR of 30% during 2020–2023, slower than 58% CAGR reported during 2018–2020, dragged by margin contraction due to faster growth in Lower ASP product line (Comfos) at the cost of higher ASP product line (Angelalign Pro) and introduction of lower margin scanner business. This does not justify the superior valuation. Angelalign needs to penetrate deeper in lower tiered cities and pursue its outside China initiatives to justify its premium valuation.

Angelalign Technology (6699 HK): Pricey Valuation Is Clouding the Upside Potential

Shares of <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/intuitive-surgical-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:15853:1" rel="noopener">Intuitive Surgical (ISRG US)</a> corrected ~10% from its 52-week high price of $362 achieved in early September. We believe the correction reflects investors’ fear on the pace of recovery of the elective surgeries globally, especially in the U.S. Amidst this backdrop, the company’s Q3 results announcement on October 19 will be a closely watched event. During their Q2 results announcement, management raised 2021 procedure growth (a key performance parameter) guidance to 27–30% y/y from 22–26% y/y announced during Q1 results announcement. So, outlook on procedure growth guidance for the remainder of the year and early trend into Q4 will the major catalysts for the shares.  Shares of Intuitive Surgical have historically been trading at a high multiple, at par with other high growth ideas such as <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/abiomed-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:7767:1" rel="noopener">Abiomed Inc (ABMD US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/align-technology-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:2817:1" rel="noopener">Align Technology (ALGN US)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/idexx-laboratories-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14856:1" rel="noopener">IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX US)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/illumina-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8015:1" rel="noopener">Illumina Inc (ILMN US)</a>. Intuitive’s large market opportunity, especially in the international market, less than 10% penetration of its TAM, near monopolistic market positioning, and high switching cost justify its premium valuation. However, the valuation is always questioned amidst the upcoming competition. As Intuitive’s patent expired, big players including <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/medtronic-plc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:14982:1" rel="noopener">Medtronic Plc (MDT US)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/johnson-johnson" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:1132:1" rel="noopener">Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ US)</a> are vying to take some share through acquisitions of surgical robot start-up entities. This insight analyzes multiple upcoming competition in the soft tissue surgical robotic market and how Intuitive Surgical is expected to maintain its global leadership amid the competition.

Shares of Intuitive Surgical (ISRG US) corrected ~10% from its 52-week high price of $362 achieved in early September. We believe the correction reflects investors’ fear on the pace of recovery of the elective surgeries globally, especially in the U.S. Amidst this backdrop, the company’s Q3 results announcement on October 19 will be a closely watched event. During their Q2 results announcement, management raised 2021 procedure growth (a key performance parameter) guidance to 27–30% y/y from 22–26% y/y announced during Q1 results announcement. So, outlook on procedure growth guidance for the remainder of the year and early trend into Q4 will the major catalysts for the shares.  Shares of Intuitive Surgical have historically been trading at a high multiple, at par with other high growth ideas such as Abiomed Inc (ABMD US), Align Technology (ALGN US), IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX US), and Illumina Inc (ILMN US). Intuitive’s large market opportunity, especially in the international market, less than 10% penetration of its TAM, near monopolistic market positioning, and high switching cost justify its premium valuation. However, the valuation is always questioned amidst the upcoming competition. As Intuitive’s patent expired, big players including Medtronic Plc (MDT US) and Johnson &amp; Johnson (JNJ US) are vying to take some share through acquisitions of surgical robot start-up entities. This insight analyzes multiple upcoming competition in the soft tissue surgical robotic market and how Intuitive Surgical is expected to maintain its global leadership amid the competition.

Intuitive Surgical (ISRG US): Global Leadership to Continue Amid Upcoming Competition

United States

Align Technology, Inc. designs, manufactures, and markets the Invisalign System, a method for treating the misalignment of teeth.  The Company's system corrects the misalignment using a series of clear, removable appliances that move teeth to a desired final position.

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Align Technology (ALGN US)