Latest news with #AFTPharmaceuticals
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The past five years for AFT Pharmaceuticals (NZSE:AFT) investors has not been profitable
For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers So we wouldn't blame long term AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZSE:AFT) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 42% over a half decade. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the five years over which the share price declined, AFT Pharmaceuticals' earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 1.0% each year. Readers should note that the share price has fallen faster than the EPS, at a rate of 10% per year, over the period. So it seems the market was too confident about the business, in the past. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of AFT Pharmaceuticals' earnings, revenue and cash flow. A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 6.8% in the last year, AFT Pharmaceuticals shareholders lost 12% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 7% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It is all well and good that insiders have been buying shares, but we suggest you check here to see what price insiders were buying at. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: most of them are flying under the radar). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on New Zealander exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The past five years for AFT Pharmaceuticals (NZSE:AFT) investors has not been profitable
For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But the main game is to find enough winners to more than offset the losers So we wouldn't blame long term AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZSE:AFT) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 42% over a half decade. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During the five years over which the share price declined, AFT Pharmaceuticals' earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 1.0% each year. Readers should note that the share price has fallen faster than the EPS, at a rate of 10% per year, over the period. So it seems the market was too confident about the business, in the past. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). It's good to see that there was some significant insider buying in the last three months. That's a positive. On the other hand, we think the revenue and earnings trends are much more meaningful measures of the business. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of AFT Pharmaceuticals' earnings, revenue and cash flow. A Different Perspective While the broader market gained around 6.8% in the last year, AFT Pharmaceuticals shareholders lost 12% (even including dividends). However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 7% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It is all well and good that insiders have been buying shares, but we suggest you check here to see what price insiders were buying at. If you like to buy stocks alongside management, then you might just love this free list of companies. (Hint: most of them are flying under the radar). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on New Zealander exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Insider Buys Additional NZ$566k In AFT Pharmaceuticals Stock
Potential AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZSE:AFT) shareholders may wish to note that the Co-Founder, Hartley Atkinson, recently bought NZ$566k worth of stock, paying NZ$2.83 for each share. However, it only increased shareholding by a small percentage, and it wasn't a huge purchase by absolute value, either. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. In fact, the recent purchase by Hartley Atkinson was the biggest purchase of AFT Pharmaceuticals shares made by an insider individual in the last twelve months, according to our records. That means that even when the share price was higher than NZ$2.73 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. As a general rule, we feel more positive about a stock if insiders have bought shares at above current prices, because that suggests they viewed the stock as good value, even at a higher price. AFT Pharmaceuticals insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! See our latest analysis for AFT Pharmaceuticals AFT Pharmaceuticals is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find small cap companies at attractive valuations, this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. AFT Pharmaceuticals insiders own 69% of the company, currently worth about NZ$199m based on the recent share price. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. The recent insider purchase is heartening. And an analysis of the transactions over the last year also gives us confidence. When combined with notable insider ownership, these factors suggest AFT Pharmaceuticals insiders are well aligned, and quite possibly think the share price is too low. Nice! If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. Of course AFT Pharmaceuticals may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Several Insiders Invested In AFT Pharmaceuticals Flagging Positive News
When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited's (NZSE:AFT) instance, it's good news for shareholders. Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. This technology could replace computers: discover the 20 stocks are working to make quantum computing a reality. Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Non-Executive Director Andrew Lane for NZ$257k worth of shares, at about NZ$2.71 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being NZ$2.66). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. AFT Pharmaceuticals insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Check out our latest analysis for AFT Pharmaceuticals AFT Pharmaceuticals is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying. Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. It's great to see that AFT Pharmaceuticals insiders own 69% of the company, worth about NZ$193m. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded AFT Pharmaceuticals shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Judging from their transactions, and high insider ownership, AFT Pharmaceuticals insiders feel good about the company's future. Of course, the future is what matters most. So if you are interested in AFT Pharmaceuticals, you should check out this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
News.com.au
27-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Biocurious: Forgotten trans-Tasman ‘small Big Pharma' takes on the big boys with a niche strategy
AFT Pharmaceuticals has zeroed in on multiple diseases the big pharma plays don't bother with – but can be highly profitable AFT has targeted boosting its revenue from NZ$200 million to NZ$300 million within the next two years Some AFT investors are tetchy about substandard returns, but co-founder Hartley Atkinson insists the company is focused on long-term growth When Dr Hartley Atkinson and his nurse wife Marree founded AFT Pharmaceuticals (ASX:AFP) in their Auckland garage with NZ$50,000 ($45,000) in 1997, their many detractors said big pharma would shut down the enterprise within months. 'Everyone said I was an idiot because the big guys would squash us, but we are still here almost three decades on,' Atkinson says. Hartley describes AFT as a 'small Big Pharma' that does its own drug development and clinical trials. Now valued at $260 million in the Aussie lingua franca, the trans-Tasman has refined the art of zeroing in on areas of medical needs which the big players have ignored. 'There are quite big holes because Big Pharma will focus on the really big markets – and there's nothing wrong with that,' he says. 'But there are $750 million to $1 billion markets where patients really need treatments. The pharma market is big enough for everyone.' Hartley is familiar with the whiles of Big Pharma, having been medical director at the Swiss based Roche. 'I learned all about clinical trials from the Swiss, who are pretty clever with these things.' AFT last week reported record revenue of NZ$206 million and is confident of hitting its 'aspirational' target of $NZ300 million within two years. Taking on Big Pharma AFT sells more than 100 products in 80 countries, with distribution or licensing agreements taking the reach to 100. AFT's offerings cover categories including pain, eyecare, dermatology, gut disorders, medicated vitamins and hospital injectables. AFT's 'hero' products are the ibuprofen-paracetamol combination Maxigesic and Hylo, the country's biggest-selling lubricating eye drop. 'People would assume Hylo is owned by the ophthalmology behemoth Alkine, but it's us,' he says. 'We also have the number one over-the-counter combination painkiller and it's not own by Sanofi or Reckitt Benckiser.' About 70% of AFT's products (and revenue) are from over-the-counter products, with hospital and prescription drugs accounting for the rest. 'When an over-the-counter patent runs out, sales will continue,' Atkinson says. 'But in the case of a successful drug, a legion of generic competitors will quickly emerge.' AFT is a 'virtual' company in that it outsources all drug manufacturing. 'We don't own a factory or a warehouse, we are capital light,' Atkinson says. 'Instead, we spend all our money on drug development and sales and marketing.' In the pipeline AFT spends about $NZ12-15 million annually on research and development – about 12% of revenue – and currently has about 13 R&D projects on the go. Of these, five are largely completed and eight are underway. AFT's 'agnostic' program covers dermatology indications including keloid scars, strawberry birthmarks and port wine stains. In partnership with Belgium's Hyloris Pharmaceuticals, the company is developing a novel injectable iron therapy that targets a US$3.2 billion global market. Iron deficiency affects about 15% of the world's population - and is a sector taregted by ASX biotech big daddy CSL (ASX:CSL) since its contentious 2022, $18 billion purchase of Vifor Pharmaceuticals. AFT has carried out multiple projects with Hyloris, which involve AFT having carriage of the preclinical and clinical work. These programs include remedies for burning mouth syndrome (a post-menopause condition) and the chronic skin condition vulvar lichen sclerosus. Both of these diseases have no treatments. Keeping it in house AFT also runs its own studies and eschews contracted research bodies because they are too expensive. The company does many of its trials in Eastern Europe. 'We run them very cost effectively,' Atkinson says. 'The US Food & Drug Administration audited us for two weeks solid and no question asked.' When formulating trials, AFT works closely with doctors close to the action. 'Inclusion criteria is important; they might tell you won't get any patients for the study it will take forever.' AFT is not fazed by large-scale studies. For instance, its iron deficiency program is being supported by a phase III trial, enrolling about 1000 patients in the US, Europe, India and China. China: seductive but dangerous As the world's second-biggest drug market, China holds an allure – and danger – that make Homer's Sirens look like rank amateur seductresses. 'We believe you can't ignore China, whereas a lot of just go to the US,' Atkinson says. Of the 19 Chinese deals by western parties in 2024, AFT did two of them. This included launching the antiseptic cream Crystaderm. In the meantime, AFT isn't ignoring the 'complex' US market. On Trumpian shores it has a licensing pact with HICMA, the third biggest supplier of hospital injectables. During the year AFT launched Maxigesic tablets in the US, having already introduced the intravenous version. 'Being small, we just try to fit in with the system,' Atkinson says. 'We can't influence anything, so we just try to find out how things work and adjust.' Focused on growth AFT last week posted full-year turnover of $NZ208 million, a 6% increase. Operating profit came in at NZ$17.6 million, as per guidance but down 27% year on year. Net profit declined 23% to NZ$12 million. Performance was crimped by some significant 'one off' events flagged in the first half, including destocking by customers and the prolonged doctors' strike in South Korea. Except for a small raising during the pandemic, AFT has not raised capital since listing in December 2015. Most of AFT's revenue derives from Australia and NZ, but Atkinson expects Asia to be the company's biggest market within five years. Research and development is funded by retained profits, rather than fresh capital. This has stymied earnings growth, but the company does pay a small dividend. Atkinson admits that this approach has depressed profits – to the chagrin of some long-term holders who have seen their shares decline 13% over the last year and 40% over the past five years. He assures disgruntled shareholders that the two founders have more skin in the game than a tattoo artist - and won't waste their own money. 'I do my own laundry when I travel, silly little things like that.' Sorry bros, Aussie's the go Defying the Russell Crowe syndrome, New Zealand claims AFT as its own even though Atkinson was born in Perth. Indeed, AFT remains headquartered at Takapuna – Auckland's Northshore. Adding to AFT's Kwidentials, NZ's Accident Compensation Corporation has built a 5% holding. That said, Atkinson may struggle with Auckland border control next time he re-enters the country. ' is a lovely place to live with nice scenery, but we stress the 'Australasian' part,' he says. 'Australia has treated us better than NZ to be honest. There's a greater appreciation of R&D and innovation.' Despite multiple advances from parties including private equity, Atkinson and Marree are keen to maintain their 70% holding, although the usual 'never say never' rule still applies. 'It's good to maintain that entrepreneurial spirit,' Atkinson says. 'We are still focusing on the big picture and are keen to take our shareholders along for the ride.'
