The biotech sector has shown impressive profit performance in the first half of the year, with 35 companies reporting over 20% year-on-year profit growth in the second quarter. This surge has caused a significant reshuffling in the ranking of biotech companies. Bora Pharmaceutical emerged as the leader, boasting an earnings per share (EPS) of NT$18.68, solidifying its position as the most profitable biotech stock per share.
In the optical sector, VIZIONFOCUS and Gin Hwa Biotech competed fiercely, with Gin Hwa narrowly securing the second-place spot with an EPS of NT$6.43, just edging out VIZIONFOCUS's NT$6.41. Meanwhile, PharmaEssentia made a remarkable turnaround from loss to profit, achieving an EPS of NT$3.05 and climbing to the top of the new drug sector. Shinybrands also outperformed competitors CHLITINA-KY and Sunmax Biotechnology to lead the beauty and health products sector in EPS.
Bora Pharmaceutical's second-quarter performance was bolstered by the acquisition of USL Pharma in the U.S., generating a substantial profit of NT$1.214 billion, a 73% year-on-year increase, resulting in an EPS of NT$11.61. Even excluding the gains from the acquisition, Bora's adjusted net profit for the quarter was approximately NT$830 million, with an adjusted EPS of NT$7.8, representing more than a 10% growth from the first quarter and marking the highest figure in the past five quarters.
Analysts predict that Bora Pharmaceutical's EPS, which reached NT$18.68 in the first half of the year, will exceed NT$30 for the full year, setting a new historical record. Chairman Bobby Sheng stated that the company's aggressive expansion into the U.S. market during the first half of the year, coupled with the ongoing integration of acquired businesses, will be the primary focus for the next 12 months. As these acquisitions continue to be integrated, operational results are expected to improve each quarter.
The ranking of high-profit biotech stocks saw considerable changes in the first half of the year. Alongside Bora Pharmaceutical and PEGAVISION, which remained in the top two for EPS, Lotus Pharmaceutical jumped to third place with significant profits nearly equivalent to one share. Shinybrands broke into the top five for the first time, and PharmaEssentia also made its debut among the high-profit leaders.
The contact lens sector, one of the most fiercely competitive, has seen significant reshuffling in recent years. PEGAVISION has maintained its champion status for several consecutive years, while VIZIONFOCUS has rapidly gained ground with its manufacturing and sales advantages in China, now trailing Gin Hwa by only NT$0.02 in EPS. Visco Vision, not to be outdone, posted an EPS of NT$4.99 in the first half of the year and is on track to achieve significant profits for the full year.
Analysts note that with the rise of silicone hydrogel lenses and functional lenses in Asia, companies like PEGAVISION, Gin Hwa, VIZIONFOCUS, and Visco Vision are all targeting market expansion with these products, with Japan being a key battleground. The appreciation of the yen is expected to drive orders from Japanese customers, serving as a significant growth driver for the sector in the second half of the year.
PharmaEssentia, the reigning biotech stock leader, has entered a new era of profitability, driven by the U.S. sales growth of its rare blood cancer drug, Ropeginterferon alfa-2b (Ropeg). The company reported an EPS of NT$3.05 for the first half of the year and a revenue of NT$4.84 billion for the first seven months, representing an 86.26% year-on-year increase.
Resource (mandarin): 上半年高獲利生技股洗牌 保瑞坐穩獲利王
