Novo Nordisk
(
NVO
) reported second quarter 2012 earnings of $1.67 per American
Depository Receipt (ADR), up 20.1% from the year-ago period.
Earnings were boosted by strong revenues in the reported quarter.
Revenues, in the second quarter of 2012, increased by 22% on
reported basis and by 13% in local currency basis compared to the
same period in 2011.
On a half yearly basis, earnings were $3.14 per ADR, up 17% from
the comparable period last year.
All growth rates mentioned below are on a year-over-year and on
local currency basis.
First Half Numbers
In the first half of 2012, total revenues grew 12% driven by
strong sales in North America (up 19%) and International Operations
(up 17%). Sales in China and Europe grew 13% and 2%, respectively.
Geographically, North America was the largest contributor to total
revenues, contributing 64% followed by International Operations
(21%), China (9%) and Europe (6%). Japan and Korea's sales
contribution were not significant. Healthcare reforms in the US,
pricing pressure in Europe, China and other International markets
negatively impacted revenues by 1.5%.
The Diabetes Care segment recorded a growth of 15% in local
currencies. Modern insulins generated strong revenues (up 15%)
driven by NovoRapid (up 15%), NovoMix (7%) and Levemir (22%). The
company's most important drug, Victoza is a once-daily human
glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogue approved for improving
blood sugar (glucose) levels in adult type II diabetes patients.
The drug witnessed a sales growth of 73% in the first half of 2012.
Victoza sales witnessed growth across all regions. Protein-related
products sales were up 2% while Human insulins, and Oral
ant-diabetic products were down 1%, and 6% respectively.
Sales in the Biopharmaceuticals segment increased 1%. Strong sales
of Norditropin (up 9%) were partially offset by weaker other
product sales (down 8%) contributed to the increase. NovoSeven
sales remained flat year over year.
Both research and development costs and sales and distribution
costs increased 8% each. The company's efforts to develop its
pipeline, primarily liraglutide and IDegLira, boosted the R&D
expenses in the first half of 2012. Higher costs related to the
marketing in the US, International markets and sales force
expansion in China were primarily responsible for pushing the
SG&A costs up.
2012 Guidance
Novo Nordisk increased its sales growth guidance for 2012 to 9%-12%
in local currencies, up from the preliminary guidance of 8%-11%.
The guidance includes the impact of potential generic competition
and estimated headwinds from health care reform in the US, Europe
and China.
In local currencies, guidance for operating profit growth is
expected to be around 15% (prior guidance: at least 10%). The
effective tax rate is pegged at around 23%.
Our Recommendation
We have an Underperform recommendation on Novo Nordisk. The stock
carries a Zacks #4 Rank (Sell rating) in the short term.
Even though impressed by Victoza's performance since launch, we
note that the drug operates in a highly competitive GLP-1 market.
The market includes
Bristol-Myers Squibb's
(
BMY
) Bydureon and Byetta. Moreover,
GlaxoSmithKline
(
GSK
) and
Sanofi
(
SNY
) are also developing candidates targeting this market. The absence
of near-term catalysts at Novo Nordisk is also concerning.
BRISTOL-MYERS (BMY): Free Stock Analysis Report
GLAXOSMITHKLINE (GSK): Free Stock Analysis
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NOVO-NORDISK AS (NVO): Free Stock Analysis
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SANOFI-AVENTIS (SNY): Free Stock Analysis
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