I bought Biocon Limited at 270.75 today. Pharmaceutical sector is a good defensive sector to be included in one’s equity portfolio. At present I have only two companies from pharma sector and with this buy, pharma constitute 7% of my total equity portfolio.
Biocon is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company with expertise in the fields of biopharmaceuticals, custom research and clinical research. The company is a bulk drug supplier and has a market share of about 40% in the European market in bulk statins a drug class used for treatment of cardio-vascular diseases. Biocon is the largest Indian company in the biotechnology space and has a strong product portfolio.
The biopharmaceutical segment contributes 75% to the Indian biotech industry’s revenues and has been the key growth driver. The Indian biotech industry is expected to generate US$ 5 bn in revenues by 2010 and create more than one million biotech jobs over the next five years. On a global basis too, the biopharmaceutical market has undergone rapid expansion since its emergence 30 years ago.
The positive points for Biocon are healthy operating margin, long term earning growth, decent return on capital invested, consistent dividend payout history, larger promoter holding, lower FII holding, high liquidity, reasonable current ratio and low leverage.
In the global scale, while the fundamental factors driving the industry remain strong, the same is bogged down by intense competition and severe price erosion. The Indian domestic pharma industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 16% over the next five years, however company’s success is highly depended on R&D efforts, and industry is fragmented and highly competitive. Thus the risk is that whether the company will be able to withstand these industry risks.
Recently Equitymaster recommended Buy with a target price of 360.00 with a two-three year perspective in their paid research service. HDFC Securities has recommended buy rating on the stock of Biocon with a target of Rs 327, in its February 11, 2010 research report. IndiaInfoline recommended buy rating on the stock with a target of Rs 320, in its anuary 14, 2010 research report.
