[EQUITIES] ‘Yuhan’s Q1 operating profit to decline’
Its revenue in the period will rise 5.9 percent on-year to 371.8 billion won while operating profit will decline 12.9 percent to 30.9 billion won, due to the high baseline effect, said analyst Koo Wan-seong.
The expiry of its patent for Hepatitis B treatment Viread in May will also dent its revenue, but will be offset by the increasing sales of its next-generation drug Vemlidy, said the analyst.
Sales of diabetes therapy Jardiance will leap to 25 billion won this year from last year’s 15 billion won, and its revenue will continue to expand from introducing major new drugs, forecast Koo.
Its revenue this year will reach 1.58 trillion won with operating profit of 95.8 billion won, both up 8 percent from last year, he estimated.
By Hwang You-mee (glamazon@heraldcorp.com) Yuhan’s operating profit in the first quarter will inevitably decline, said NH Investment and Securities on March 22. The securities firm, however, maintained a “buy” recommendation and 260,000 won (US$240.70) target price.