LONDON — Shares in pharmaceuticals play Shire PLC (LON:SHP) have endured a turbulent start to 2013, collapsing 8.8% from February’s near-one-year high around 2,150 pence after takeover speculation had earlier propelled stocks higher.
Stunning growth potential to drive sales
I believe that the firm’s prolific research and development activity should deliver solid revenue growth over the long term. Shire PLC (LON:SHP) spent $848.8 million on this area last year, a 16% annual rise, which should boost its pipeline and deliver excellent sales further out. Indeed, Goldman Sachs expects revenues to grow around 10% through to 2017 versus a 3% rise across the entire pharma sector.
And Shire PLC (LON:SHP)’s sterling record of innovation should be underpinned by M&A activity in coming years as it puts its $1.4 billion cash pile to work. Shire PLC (LON:SHP) acquired SARCode Bioscience just last month to boost its opthalmology business — the U.S. firm’s phase 3 compound Lifitegrast product is being tested for dry eye disease. The move follows the purchase of Sweden’s Premacure AB in February, which is currently in phase 2 testing for the prevention of eye disorder retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP.
Earnings explosion predicted for 2013
City forecasters expect earnings per share to snap 68% higher in 2013, following last year’s 14% decline, with a rise to 147 pence penciled in. These are then expected to advance 14% in 2014 to 168 pence.
The company currently changes hands on a P/E rating of 13.5 and 11.9 for 2013 and 2014, respectively, providing a bloated discount to a forward earnings multiple of 39.7 for the broad pharmaceuticals and biotechnology sector. And Shire PLC (LON:SHP)’s position as a true value stock is underlined by a low price/earnings to growth, or PEG, rating of 0.2 and 0.8 for this year and next — a reading below 1 is considered excellent value for money.
Despite Shire PLC (LON:SHP)’s recent buyback program — the firm commenced a $500 million purchase scheme late last year — the stock does not provide an attractive pick for income investors, with dividend yields of just 0.6% and 0.7% predicted for this year and next below the wider sector’s average 2.4% payout.
However, in my opinion Shire PLC (LON:SHP)’s decision to allocate its meaty cash pile toward developing future growth makes it an exciting pick, with revenues ready to balloon in coming years.
The canny guide for clever investors
If you already hold shares in Shire, check out this newly updated special report that highlights a host of other FTSE winners identified by ace fund manager Neil Woodford.
Woodford — head of UK Equities at Invesco Perpetual — has more than 30 years’ experience in the industry, and has identified three other fantastic pharmaceutical firms in the report set to deliver spectacular investor returns.
The article Should You Buy Shire Today? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributor Royston Wild and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned.
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