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Investing.com -- Shares of Hikma Pharmaceuticals (LON:HIK) fell over 5% on Wednesday following its FY24 results, as core operating profits and weaker-than-expected margins failed to meet investor expectations.
Despite reporting top-line revenue growth that surpassed consensus estimates, the company’s absolute EBIT figures aligned with expectations, which did little to assuage market concerns.
The UK-based company reported net sales of $3,156 million, reflecting a 10% constant exchange rate growth, which outperformed consensus projections of 7.1%.
However, Hikma’s core EBIT for the year stood at $719 million, with a margin of 22.8%, slightly below the consensus estimate of 23.4%.
Hikma’s 2H24 results showed a 3% sales beat, primarily driven by injectables and generics, with EBIT coming in line with expectations and a 4% EPS beat.
The FY25 guidance suggests group sales growth of 4-6%, with core EBIT projected between $730-770 million.
While the mid-point of this guidance is 3% above consensus on sales, EBIT remains in line. Branded and injectables projections align with market expectations, but the generics outlook is stronger, with Hikma guiding for flat sales rather than the decline anticipated by analysts. The guidance also factors in a 20% increase in R&D investment in 2025.
The injectables segment is expected to perform in line with consensus, with 2024 growth driven by European markets (France, UK, Spain), new product launches, the Xellia acquisition, and biosimilars in MENA.
The contract manufacturing organization (CMO) business met expectations, with an acceleration in the second half of 2024.
The injectables EBIT margin for 2025 is projected to be in the mid-30s, reflecting the full impact of the Xellia acquisition and an evolving geographic and product mix in Europe.
In generics, gXyrem and the nasal spray franchise were strong contributors in 2024, though profits were impacted by an anticipated increase in royalties for gXyrem’s authorized generic.
Hikma is focusing on strengthening R&D and expanding the CMO business, with a contract signed in 2024 expected to contribute to revenue growth and capacity utilization at the Columbus (WA:CLC) facility by 2027.
The guidance for flat generics sales in 2025 is underpinned by strong performance from more differentiated products, helping to offset price erosion in the base business.