Independent research on the U.S. markets, Baptista Research

Baptista Research

Independent research on the U.S. markets

Baptista Research is an independent financial research house focused on the U.S. markets. We provide equity research as well as credit research reports on the top-listed U.S. companies with most of our focus on technology, consumer goods and services, automobiles, industrials, oil and gas, pharma, and healthcare. Our research has served more than 3000 institutional investors including mutual funds, hedge funds, banks, family offices, and various buy-side firms. We operate a research subscription service where institutions, as well as retail investors, can have priority access to all our research. We also have a wide distribution of our research reports across some of the top global financial platforms. Apart from equity research and credit research, we also provide advisory services with respect to mergers & acquisitions (M&A), private equity/ venture capital fundraising, valuation reports, and investment management services for corporates.
Baptista Research is owned and managed by Ishan Majumdar, an ex-Venture Capitalist/ Investment Banker, a Chartered Accountant, and a Masters’ degree holder in Management from HEC Paris. Ishan has nearly a decade of experience in Mergers and Acquisitions, Leveraged Buyouts (LBOs), Venture Capital Investing, Corporate Strategy, and Valuation in front-office roles at the likes of BNP Paribas CIB, Credit Agricole CIB, Groupe Danone, and TIW Private Equity. He has worked on and closed multiple acquisition deals, leveraged buyouts, and start-up investment transactions.

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul><li>Merck & Co. made a strong start to the year, with an all-around beat and a good underlying performance across its major growth pillars.</li><li>Excluding the impact of LAGEVRIO and foreign exchange, the company produced 15% underlying growth.</li><li>In the United States, KEYTRUDA increased in all major tumor types and continues to gain popularity in earlier-stage malignancies.</li></ul>

Merck & Co. made a strong start to the year, with an all-around beat and a good underlying performance across its major growth pillars.Excluding the impact of LAGEVRIO and foreign exchange, the company produced 15% underlying growth.In the United States, KEYTRUDA increased in all major tumor types and continues to gain popularity in earlier-stage malignancies.

Merck & Co. Inc.: Acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences & Other Drivers

Global Healthcare Analyst

Tina Banerjee

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/medipal-holdings-corp" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:18394:1" rel="noopener">Medipal Holdings (7459 JP)</a> announced strong FY23 result, with year-over-year improvement in sales and profit. While sales were just 1% ahead of forecast, net profit exceeded the guidance by 16%.</li>
<li>Outperformance was mainly driven by PALTAC business. Revenue from PALTAC increased 6% YoY to ¥1,104B, 2% ahead of forecast of ¥1,080B, fueled by 14% growth in OTC pharmaceutical products.</li>
<li>Medipal has guided for accelerated revenue growth of 3% YoY for its pharmaceutical wholesale business in FY24. In FY23, the business recorded revenue growth of 0.6% YoY.</li>
</ul>



Medipal Holdings (7459 JP) announced strong FY23 result, with year-over-year improvement in sales and profit. While sales were just 1% ahead of forecast, net profit exceeded the guidance by 16%.
Outperformance was mainly driven by PALTAC business. Revenue from PALTAC increased 6% YoY to ¥1,104B, 2% ahead of forecast of ¥1,080B, fueled by 14% growth in OTC pharmaceutical products.
Medipal has guided for accelerated revenue growth of 3% YoY for its pharmaceutical wholesale business in FY24. In FY23, the business recorded revenue growth of 0.6% YoY.


Medipal Holdings (7459 JP): Better-Than-Expected FY23 Result; Accelerated Growth Expected in FY24

<ul>
<li>During 2022, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bnc-korea-co-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:34785:1" rel="noopener">BNC Korea (256840 KS)</a> reported gross profit margin of 48.3%, lower than 51.9% reported in 2021, as increasing competition is leading to price erosion of botulinum toxin products.</li>
<li>In March 2023, prosecutors have indicted BNC Korea for allegedly selling botulinum toxin injections to exporters without the approval of the MFDS from December 2015 to December 2021.</li>
<li>With the pandemic on a downward trend for more than a year now, we are skeptical about BNC Korea’s in-licensed COVID-19 drug candidate for a milestone payment of $15M.</li>
</ul>


During 2022, BNC Korea (256840 KS) reported gross profit margin of 48.3%, lower than 51.9% reported in 2021, as increasing competition is leading to price erosion of botulinum toxin products.
In March 2023, prosecutors have indicted BNC Korea for allegedly selling botulinum toxin injections to exporters without the approval of the MFDS from December 2015 to December 2021.
With the pandemic on a downward trend for more than a year now, we are skeptical about BNC Korea’s in-licensed COVID-19 drug candidate for a milestone payment of $15M.


BNC Korea (256840 KS): Margin Pressure; Base Business Faces Regulatory Risk; COVID Drug in Doldrum

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<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/csl-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:917:1" rel="noopener">CSL Ltd (CSL AU)</a> is well-positioned to report double-digit revenue and profit growth through FY25, driven by strong performance of existing business and new growth engines.</li>
<li>CSL will launch FDA-approved gene therapy Hemgenix for Hemophilia B in the US in 2H23. With estimated global annual peak sales of $2.4B, Hemgenix is a compelling opportunity for CSL.</li>
<li>During H1FY23, CSL reported record level of plasma collections, with 36% growth in                volume. Current plasma collection is 10% above the pre-pandemic. Higher volume and yield will improve profitability.</li>
</ul>



CSL Ltd (CSL AU) is well-positioned to report double-digit revenue and profit growth through FY25, driven by strong performance of existing business and new growth engines.
CSL will launch FDA-approved gene therapy Hemgenix for Hemophilia B in the US in 2H23. With estimated global annual peak sales of $2.4B, Hemgenix is a compelling opportunity for CSL.
During H1FY23, CSL reported record level of plasma collections, with 36% growth in                volume. Current plasma collection is 10% above the pre-pandemic. Higher volume and yield will improve profitability.


CSL Ltd (CSL AU): Looking into New Engines for Sustainable and Profitable Growth

<ul><li>Merck has delivered a strong quarterly result to end 2022 and surpassed the analyst consensus estimates in terms of revenues as well as earnings.</li><li>The top-line performance was driven by strength across the company’s key pillars, hospitals, vaccines, and oncology, and a significant contribution from LAGEVRIO.</li><li>The animal health business of Merck delivered strong operational growth.</li></ul>

Merck has delivered a strong quarterly result to end 2022 and surpassed the analyst consensus estimates in terms of revenues as well as earnings.The top-line performance was driven by strength across the company’s key pillars, hospitals, vaccines, and oncology, and a significant contribution from LAGEVRIO.The animal health business of Merck delivered strong operational growth.

Merck & Co. Inc.: Licensing Agreement With Kelun Biotech & Other Drivers

United States

Merck & Co., Inc.  is a global health care company that delivers health solutions through its prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies, animal health, and consumer care products, which it markets directly and through its joint ventures. The Company has operations in pharmaceutical, animal health, and consumer care.

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Merck & Co (MRK US)

Merck & Co. Inc.: Acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences & Other Drivers

Merck & Co. made a strong start to the year, with an all-around beat and a good underlying performance across its major growth...

Baptista Research

Medipal Holdings (7459 JP): Better-Than-Expected FY23 Result; Accelerated Growth Expected in FY24

In FY23, Medipal Holdings’ revenue was 1% ahead of forecast, while net profit exceeded the guidance by 16%. The company guided for 3% YoY revenue...

Tina Banerjee

BNC Korea (256840 KS): Margin Pressure; Base Business Faces Regulatory Risk; COVID Drug in Doldrum

We remain bearish on BNC Korea due to regulatory overhang on its base business, competitive pressure in BTX industry, and exposure to Russia & CIS...

Tina Banerjee

CSL Ltd (CSL AU): Looking into New Engines for Sustainable and Profitable Growth

New management, upcoming product launch in US, diversification into kidney disease, plasma collection recovery, and rich pipeline indicate an...

Tina Banerjee

Merck & Co. Inc.: Licensing Agreement With Kelun Biotech & Other Drivers

Merck has delivered a strong quarterly result to end 2022 and surpassed the analyst consensus estimates in terms of revenues as well as...

Baptista Research

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