The case for grabbing oven mitts
Just because shares have enjoyed a steady climb upwards doesn’t necessarily mean the ride is over. There is no doubt that investors are confident in the company’s recent developments and future prospects. Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) is currently 2-for-3 in phase 3 trials this year — and it’s just getting started. Here’s a shortlist of major announcements in the last year:
| Date | Announcement | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| June 8, 2012 | Phase 3 results for Sensipar/Mimpara | Failed |
| June 12, 2012 | Acquisition of Mustafa Nevzat Pharma. | Acquisition |
| July 5, 2012 | Acquisition of KAI Pharma. | Acquisition |
| Aug. 8, 2012 | Phase 3 GAMMA study | Terminated |
| Nov. 5, 2012 | Phase 2 results for cholesterol drug | Succeeded |
| Dec. 10, 2012 | Acquisition of deCODE Genetics | Acquisition |
| Jan. 16, 2013 | Phase 3 results for Aranesp | Failed |
| Jan. 26, 2013 | Phase 3 results for Neulasta trial | Succeeded |
| March 19, 2013 | Phase 3 results melanoma trial | Succeeded |
Source: Amgen.
You can see that plenty of failed trials have been announced, but don’t forget that the odds are stacked against even the most promising phase 3 trials. Failure is expected. All in all, Amgen had a productive 12 months.
One key development that will be a driving force in the company’s growth is the adoption of a “Biology First” policy. Biologics, already a hotspot in the pharmaceutical industry, treat the underlying causes of disease rather than symptoms. They also offer originators more security than small molecules, since it is generally more difficult to manufacture generic proteins and antibodies, although that barrier will weaken as the industry matures.
Nonetheless, 12 of Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)’s 13 ongoing phase 3 trials involve biological compounds. That leads the industry and easily paces peers traditionally associated with biotechnology. Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) has seven biologics in phase 3 trials spread across three separate molecules, compared to 11 molecules for Amgen. Celgene Corporation (NASDAQ:CELG) is still my favorite biotech for 2013, but Amgen’s flurry of activity is certainly worth a hard look.
The case for letting it cool
Let’s face it. Shares have risen higher in large part to earnings surprises, not trial activity. Amgen has posted double-digit gains — or close to it — from the prior year period in EPS and revenue for the last four quarters. That pushed net income to $4.34 billion on $16.6 billion in revenue in 2012 (profit margin of 26%) compared to just $3.7 billion on $15.3 billion in 2011 (profit margin of 24%). That’s where the good news for Amgen stock ends.
You can blame it on the market’s obsession with short-term performance (one year is convenient for analysis, but it is woefully inadequate for sizing up complex pharmaceutical companies), but Amgen’s year-over-year performance becomes much less exciting when compared to previous years. In fact, on a shorter time frame, Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)’s profit margin has actually declined in each quarter since peaking in the first three months of 2012. Is that a sign of things to come?
| Year | Revenue | Net income | Profit margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $16.64 billion | $4.34 billion | 26.1% |
| 2011 | $15.30 billion | $3.68 billion | 24% |
| 2010 | $14.66 billion | $4.63 billion | 31.5% |
| 2009 | $14.35 billion | $4.60 billion | 32% |
Source: Google Finance.
