Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/classys" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:29688:1" rel="noopener">Classys (214150 KS)</a> started 2024 on a strong note with highest ever quarterly revenue and operating profit in 1Q24. Faster-than-expected consumables orders from overseas markets drove the overall performance.</li>
<li>The proportion of consumable sales rose to 53% (1Q23: 48% and 4Q23: 43%), increasing by 42% and 32% QoQ. Increasing contribution from high-margin consumables sales improved the profitability substantially.</li>
<li>Favorable industry tailwind, global expansion, and new launches remain main growth drivers. Classys still expects 2024 revenue of KRW225B, up 25% YoY. In April, Classys obtained FDA approval for Volnewmer.</li>
</ul>



Classys (214150 KS) started 2024 on a strong note with highest ever quarterly revenue and operating profit in 1Q24. Faster-than-expected consumables orders from overseas markets drove the overall performance.
The proportion of consumable sales rose to 53% (1Q23: 48% and 4Q23: 43%), increasing by 42% and 32% QoQ. Increasing contribution from high-margin consumables sales improved the profitability substantially.
Favorable industry tailwind, global expansion, and new launches remain main growth drivers. Classys still expects 2024 revenue of KRW225B, up 25% YoY. In April, Classys obtained FDA approval for Volnewmer.


Classys (214150 KS): Beautiful Journey Continues; Record High Revenue and Operating Profit in 1Q24

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech, Aequitas Research

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM

Asia Pac IPO & Placement Research, China biotech

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Quantitative Analysis

<ul>
<li>We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX Stocks as of Feb 23rd which has an aggregated short interest worth USD7.7bn.</li>
<li>We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.</li>
<li>We highlight short interest weekly changes in Posco Holdings, Rotem.</li>
</ul>


We analyzed the changes in short interest of KRX Stocks as of Feb 23rd which has an aggregated short interest worth USD7.7bn.
We tabulate league table for top short by value and short as multiple of ADT, as well as weekly increases &amp; decreases in short value, short as multiple of ADT.
We highlight short interest weekly changes in Posco Holdings, Rotem.


KRX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 23rd): Posco Holdings, Rotem

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hugel-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:22860:1" rel="noopener">Hugel Inc (145020 KS)</a> reported 28% YoY growth in both revenue and operating profit to KRW81.6B and KRW28B in 2Q23, respectively, driven by solid performance of botulinum toxins and fillers.</li>
<li>Hugel has resubmitted marketing application for botulinum toxin in the U.S. for the third time, with approval expected in 1Q24. The U.S. is the world’s single largest botulinum toxin market.</li>
<li>The company is seeing North America, Australia, New Zealand, and China as future growth engines to achieve its long-term target revenue of KRW1 trillion and operating profit margin of 45%.</li>
</ul>



Hugel Inc (145020 KS) reported 28% YoY growth in both revenue and operating profit to KRW81.6B and KRW28B in 2Q23, respectively, driven by solid performance of botulinum toxins and fillers.
Hugel has resubmitted marketing application for botulinum toxin in the U.S. for the third time, with approval expected in 1Q24. The U.S. is the world’s single largest botulinum toxin market.
The company is seeing North America, Australia, New Zealand, and China as future growth engines to achieve its long-term target revenue of KRW1 trillion and operating profit margin of 45%.


Hugel Inc (145020 KS): Achieves Record High Revenue in 2Q23; Resubmits Marketing Application in US

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing, Clepsydra Capital

Sanghyun Park

Korea / Special Sits, Pairs, Index Rebalancing

Clepsydra Capital

Investigate special situations, pairs, and index rebalancing trades in Korea.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>NPS has expressed concerns about the wide risk range of the KOSDAQ 150 index, and there has been speculation about whether they will take advantage of the KOSDAQ Global Index.</li>
<li>The launch of these ETFs should be closely watched as it could potentially be a turning point in the investment patterns of local pension funds in KOSDAQ.</li>
<li>It may be worth considering the constituents included in this index where the NPS ownership stake does not reach 5%.</li>
</ul>


NPS has expressed concerns about the wide risk range of the KOSDAQ 150 index, and there has been speculation about whether they will take advantage of the KOSDAQ Global Index.
The launch of these ETFs should be closely watched as it could potentially be a turning point in the investment patterns of local pension funds in KOSDAQ.
It may be worth considering the constituents included in this index where the NPS ownership stake does not reach 5%.


Potential Changes to NPS's KOSDAQ Benchmark with the Launch of KOSDAQ Global Index ETFs

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs, Douglas Research Advisory

Douglas Kim

Korea/Asia, Events, IPOs

<ul>
<li>Hugel is a solid turnaround story. The recent resumption of its Botulax product sales in China is likely to boost the company's sales and profits in 2023 and 2024.</li>
<li>Despite this important catalyst, Hugel continues to face potential legal battle with Medytox over the botulinum toxin-related patent in the United States.</li>
<li>The overall valuation on Hugel remains attractive and it is trading at EV/EBITDA of 7.1x and P/E of 18.2x in 2023.</li>
</ul>


Hugel is a solid turnaround story. The recent resumption of its Botulax product sales in China is likely to boost the company's sales and profits in 2023 and 2024.
Despite this important catalyst, Hugel continues to face potential legal battle with Medytox over the botulinum toxin-related patent in the United States.
The overall valuation on Hugel remains attractive and it is trading at EV/EBITDA of 7.1x and P/E of 18.2x in 2023.


Hugel: A Solid Turnaround Story With Resumption of Botulax Sales in China

South Korea

Hugel, Inc. is a Bio-pharmaceutical company that focuses on developing beauty/cosmetics related products.  The Company's main products include botulinum toxin and fillers.

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Hugel Inc (145020 KS)

Classys (214150 KS): Beautiful Journey Continues; Record High Revenue and Operating Profit in 1Q24

Classys reports 29% and 33% growth in revenue and operating profit, respectively, in 1Q24, driven by strong overseas consumables orders. The...

Tina Banerjee

KRX Short Interest Weekly (Feb 23rd): Posco Holdings, Rotem

We analyzed KRX short interest report for the past week and highlighted short interest changes in Posco Holdings, Rotem.

Ke Yan, CFA, FRM