DNB
Headwinds set to ease
Q4 earnings were strong, with Hexvix/Cysview sales slightly above our estimate and operating expenses below, driving the strong earnings beat (EBITDA 106% above our estimate, 84% above consensus). The company still faces some headwinds from the loss of flex in the US, but this should be most visible in Q1, with the headwinds easing over the coming quarters. We reiterate our BUY but have cut our target price to NOK87 (95).
Stronger than expected Q4 earnings. Total revenues beat our estimate by c7% and the product sales line also beat by c7%. Operating expenses were c6% below our forecast, driven by slightly higher S&M than expected, and lower administration and R&D spending.
6â9% organic product growth guidance for 2024. We believe the guidance is decent, given that Photocure still faces headwinds from the removal of the flex systems from the market (underlying growth is set to near 10%+ excluding the flex headwinds).
Large order now expected in Q2. Photocure has previously mentioned a larger order of BLCs to materialise (old estimate was in Q4 2023 or in Q1 2024); it now expects this order to come in Q2. We advise caution on the timing of this order, considering it more as potential upside than a firm deal. If this order is received, we believe the company would reach the upper part of the guidance of installing 40â70 new BLCs in the US in 2024.
Down classification of BLCs in the US, hopefully by end-2024. Even though the company has no firm signals, it hopes a down classification of the BLC technology (from class 3 to class 2) could occur by end-2024. If that happens, it would probably take another year before a new BLC could reach the market based on the new classification. Photocure is hoping to bring its own flexible system to the market at that time.
Cevira first filing set for this year. Asieris will present data from its phase III trial at the EUROGIN meeting in Stockholm in March. We believe a first filing of the product in China could happen in late-Q2 or early Q3 following data from the phase III trial. Photocure should receive a milestone payment in connection with the submission.
BUY reiterated but target price cut to NOK87. We believe Photocure is moving in the right direction overall and that underlying growth (adjusting for the loss of flex sales) of c10%+ is decent. We have adjusted our forecast for lower milestone revenues in coming years, hence our target price cut.