2025: Steady Progress in Rubber Stopper Business
发布时间:2026-04-30 来源:华泰证券
Hualan New Pharmaceutical Material's (HLNPM) 2025 revenue/attributable net profit (NP)/recurring NP were RMB619/60/46mn (+6/+21/+19% YoY). Affected by the pace of order scaling, the company's attributable NP missed our estimate of RMB108mn. For 1Q26, revenue/attributable NP/recurring NP fell by 11/97/127% YoY to RMB130/1/-4mn, mainly due to the impact of downstream customer demand fluctuations on revenue, increased depreciation & amortization expenses, forex losses, and weak net interest margins. The company plans to distribute a 2025 dividend of RMB8.21mn (tax inclusive, accounting for 13.64% of the attributable NP), alongside a 3-for-10 bonus issue. It is stepping up efforts in AI-assisted drug R&D, evidenced by its capital increase and equity stake in Click.mAb and the establishment of an AI-Driven Pharmaceutical Committee. We expect the cartridge component segment's scale-up to accelerate revenue in 2026. We are optimistic about the company's entry into the vast blue-ocean market of AI-driven drug R&D. Maintain BUY.
Cartridge components: revenue grew rapidly YoY
1) For 2025, revenue from film-coated rubber stoppers was RMB295mn (+4.29% YoY), and revenue from conventional rubber stoppers was RMB291mn (+1.34% YoY). For film-coated rubber stoppers, there were 801 biologic drug projects/1,040 chemical drug projects on hand (+17/+20% YoY). For conventional rubber stoppers, there were 584 biologic drug projects/1,015 chemical drug projects on hand (+9/+12% YoY). Based on a rising number of on-hand projects, we expect the rubber stopper segment to maintain robust revenue growth in 2026. 2) We project 2025 cartridge components revenue of c. RMB30mn, implying rapid YoY growth. Considering that HLNPM has entered the domestic supply chain of insulin and GLP-1 hypoglycemic drugs, with customer expansion and order signing, we project 2026 revenue of c RMB100mn. 3) The "Qihang Workshop" continues to develop new products such as pre-filled components and COC/COP. Planned capacity for pre-filled components is 1.5bn piston caps, and planned capacity for COC/COP components is 10mn units. In addition, HLNPM is relocating and expanding its Chongqing plant and accelerating the deployment of aluminum cap projects, which we expect to supplement existing capacity and expand the western market in the future.
Expense control maintained as R&D efforts intensify
1) For 4Q25, sales/administrative/R&D expense ratios were 7.9/20.3/5.6% (-4.2/-1.2/+0.9pp YoY). The company further intensified R&D investment while sales and administrative expense ratios steadily declined. 2) Inventory turnover days for 2025/1Q26 (annualized) amounted to 134/167 days, while accounts receivable turnover days were 103/126 days. Turnover days rebounded after reaching a bottom in 4Q25. 3) Cash received from sales of goods in 4Q25/1Q26 was RMB160/110mn, and net operating cash flows were RMB40/-10mn. Overall operations remained sound.
Maintain BUY
We largely maintain our 2026/2027 attributable NP forecast at RMB131/161mn and add our 2028 forecast of RMB192mn (2026/2027/2028: +118/+22/+20% YoY). To factor in growth potential in AI-assisted drug R&D, future upside following the company’s recent entry into the insulin supply chain, and the scaling potential of new products, we value the stock at 90x 2027E PE, a premium over its peers' average of 25x (we adopt the 2027 PE valuation considering the ramp-up cycle of the company's new products and AI-assisted drug R&D business, which we expect to steadily contribute profit starting from 2027). Our target price is RMB88.47 (previous: RMB69.60, based on 85x 2026E PE and 2026E attributable NP of RMB130mn). Maintain BUY.
Risks: Proceed-funded projects failing to operate at full capacity as we expect, and order volume/AI-driven drug R&D business development missing our expectations.