Bohai Pharmaceuticals Group, Inc. (OTC-BB: BOPH), a China-based pharmaceutical company focused on Traditional Chinese Medicine products, operating in the same industry as companies like Lotus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (OTC-BB: LTUS) and Jiangbo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: JGBO), could see significant growth ahead targeting China’s growing TCM marketplace.
Bohai Pharmaceuticals Group, Inc. (OTC-BB: BOPH) is a China-based pharmaceutical company focused on Traditional Chinese Medicine products. With a strong portfolio of patent-protected TCM drugs and a robust balance sheet, the company is well-positioned to rapidly expand and unlock value for shareholders as it ramps up its sales force and enters its growth phase.
China’s Growing TCM Marketplace
Chinese Traditional Medicine, or TCM, is a term that encompasses a broad range of traditional medicine practices originating in China. While many TCM products may be deemed “alternative medicines” in the West, the products are well-accepted in mainstream medical care in East Asia. In fact, these drugs are fully covered by China’s sweeping national healthcare insurance.
In China’s culture, TCM usage remains strong for maintaining health or recovering from an illness, and most doctors in the country use some elements of TCM in their own practice. For example, many patients in China will utilize Western medicine to treat acute appendicitis, but will utilize TCM to help expedite healing and avoid a recurrence of the condition in the future.
Strong Growth, Solid Balance Sheet
During its fiscal first quarter, Bohai Pharmaceuticals reported record results with revenues that jumped 22% to $17 million and net income that rose 57% to $3 million, versus results from the previous year. Strong market efforts for its lead products helped drive double-digit top-line growth, while cost-cutting and economies of scale enabled an improvement in margins and the bottom-line.
The key drivers behind the company’s growth are its three lead TCM products – Tongbi Capsules, Tongbi Tablets, and Lung Nourishing Cream – which enjoy “protected” and/or patented status in China and are eligible for reimbursement under China’s national medical insurance program. An expansion of this insurance program into rural areas, where some 900 million citizens live, could signal tremendous growth over the coming years.
Near-term Catalysts to Unlock Value
Bohai Pharmaceuticals appears to be significantly undervalued using several metrics. With approximately $15.5 million, or $0.94 per share, in cash on its balance sheet and $54.2 million, or $3.26 per share, in shareholders’ equity, the current stock price of $2.10 per share represents a significant discount to its intrinsic value, according to some investors, especially given its strong growth prospects.
With the markets having yet to discover this company, investors have the opportunity to get involved ahead of the curve at an attractive valuation. After all, with its double-digit growth rates and significant intrinsic value, the stock could have a true value of closer to $8.55 per share, assuming a 15% sustainable growth rate using the price-earnings to growth model, according to some investors.
