Investment Rating - The report assigns a "Neutral" rating to the company with a target price of HKD 5.80, indicating a potential upside of 13.0% from the current closing price of HKD 5.13 [1][4][9]. Core Insights - The company experienced significant pressure in its business segments during Q3 2024, with revenues and net profits declining by 17.8% and 50.4% respectively. The decline was attributed to various factors, including a 20% drop in the pharmaceutical segment, particularly a 31% decrease in the oncology sector due to competitive pricing pressures and inventory adjustments [1][2]. - The management anticipates a recovery in 2025, driven by the launch of six new products by the end of 2024, which is expected to restore positive growth in operating income outside of business development (BD) [1][2]. - The company has entered a significant business development phase, with a global rights deal for an Lp(a) inhibitor with AstraZeneca potentially worth up to USD 1.65 billion, including a USD 100 million upfront payment expected to be recognized in Q4 2024 [2][5]. Financial Model Updates - Revenue forecasts for 2024-2026 have been adjusted downward by 17-26%, and net profit forecasts have been reduced by 28-37% due to the disappointing Q3 performance [2][3]. - The updated financial projections indicate a revenue of RMB 29,632 million for 2024, down from the previous estimate of RMB 35,518 million, with a corresponding net profit of RMB 4,966 million, reflecting a significant decrease from the prior forecast [3][11]. Business Development Potential - The company is expected to generate at least two external licensing deals annually, with the potential for each deal to exceed the scale of the AstraZeneca transaction. This includes ongoing development in various innovative platforms such as ADC, siRNA, and mRNA vaccines [2][5]. - The management is actively exploring collaborations in early product development with AI drug discovery and gene therapy technologies, indicating a strategic focus on innovation and partnerships [2][5].
石药集团：3Q24承压，创新管线BD潜力大但短期业绩不确定性仍高，下调目标价