THE BUZZ AROUND PHARMA FUNDS.....

There has been a sharp sudden spate of interest in Pharma Sector.

NFOs dedicated exclusively to Pharma are being launched by Asset Management Schemes.

Mirae Asset and ICICI have launched their New Fund Offers in Pharma Space and Aditya Birla sunlife has applied with SEBI for their Pharma Fund. 

What is the reason behind this re-discovery of love towards Pharma?
Is it sustainable?
Is it the right time?

Our Mutual Fund Expert SRIKANTH MATRUBAI joins us in analysing the pros and cons.

 Why Pharma Sector??
Pharma Sector is something which is in demand whatever be the position of Economy, whoever be in the Government.

The Medical Inflation is growing at a pace MORE than normal inflation and this trend is here to stay.

The cost of Medicines, treatments is only expected to keep increasing.

The BEST way to participate in such a Sector is to INVEST in Pharma stocks and what’s better than a MUTUAL FUND way to do so.

By investing in Pharma Fund, investors will eventually be participating in the Pharma Sector Growth.

Why Pharma NOW??

The BAD TIMES seem to be over for PHARMA. The Downside seems to have be limited.

The Pricing pressure and frequent regulatory changes have all been taken in stride and the sector seems to have swallowed the Bitter Pill and seems to have emerged healtier.

Every Sector goes through a Cycle and Pharma Sector seems to have turned around the Corner.

Investing in a Sector Fund when it is ripe for Uptick can result in Substianal Gains.

The Risk-Reward Ratio looks to be in favour of Investing in Pharma Funds at this point of time.

Pharma Sector does not mean Drug Companies alone. It also has such diverse and non-US dependent sub-sectors like the Hospitals, Diagnostic Centres, Fitness Centres,

After its huge underperformance for the past 2 years, Many Experts are starting to sound Bullish on the Pharma Sector

Experts Views on Pharma:

a)     Kunj Bansal, ED and CIO, Centrum Wealth, says the pharma sector can be a contrarian bet and suggests investors gradually increase their exposure to them: “Instead of riding solely on the tech sector, investors should consider investing in a pharma fund in a phased manner over the next few quarters.”

b)    Sailesh Raj Bhan, Deputy CIO, Reliance Mutual Fund, says the pharma sector has bottomed out and provides strong upside potential now:

“The challenges for pharma companies are reducing materially. Here onwards, even a small uptick in earnings will lead to substantial re-rating of stocks as valuations are rational.” Given the improvement in outlook for earnings and medium term growth prospects and valuations correction of the last three years, the sector provides a good long term opportunity. 

c)      Sonam Udeshi, Fund Manager, TATA Pharma Fund says

“I see value in Pharma at this point of time.

d)     Neelesh Surana, Mirae Asset says

“Most Indian companies have proved that they have the capability to address current challenges. For example, they have been moving up the value chain by developing speciality products. In the current scenario where valuation in certain sectors are starting to look a little stretched, these companies are reasonably cheap.” He further says “The healthcare opportunity is secular and large, and the valuations are reasonable owing to consolidation in the recent past"

e)     George Joseph, Fund Manager, ICICI Prudential MF says

“Pharma and healthcare are structurally good sectors to invest in. In recent times, because of FDA related issues, earnings and consequently their stock valuation have been impacted. Given the attractive stock valuation, we see good opportunity to enter certain companies at attractive valuation with an aim to make absolute returns, on a 3-5 year basis.”

f)     Shankar Naren of ICICI Mutual Fund says

“The sustained Underperformance has made PHARMA Sector valuations Attractive and has become a good Entry Point”

g)     V Srivatsa, fund manager of UTI Pharma Fund,  says

“we believe that Indian pharma is out of the woods now. Overall I think pharma is an ideal 10-15 per cent growth sector. 

a)     “As incomes go up, people tend to spend more on healthcare and diagnostics, making this a secular theme to invest for the next many years,” said Vrijesh Kasera, Fund Manager, Mirae Asset Management. 

Economic Times in its recent article says

“Analysts do not rule out the possibility of re-rating of pharma companies in the coming quarters to justify superior earnings growth in the next two to three years, even though their present valuations may reflect their near-term earnings estimates.”

BUSINESSWORLD in its article says 
"In range-bound markets such as these, a “dose” of Healthcare may be just what your portfolio needs. Consider making a judicious allocation of no more than 10% of your overall equity portfolio to it though  - sectoral funds can be extremely volatile and unpredictable in the short term."

ADVANTAGES of investing in PHARMA FUND :
1. Possibility of beating Medical Inflation

2. Pharma Sector has been underperforming for the past 2 years and the downside seems to be highly limited.

3. A Dedicated Sector Fund like the Pharma Fund has potential to deliver HUGE returns for well informed – well advised investors.

CAVEAT :
1. Invest for LONG TERM. Short Term could be very volatile

2. Always have a basked of funds and Pharma Sector should only be a PART of your Portfolio

3. Preferably do NOT have more than 5% of exposure in a Sector Fund

4. The Fall in Sector Funds is normally MORE than Diversified Funds as the Cushion for Diversification is limited.

What to do ?
1. Preferably invest via the SIP mode to ensure that your purchase is evened out

2. Have a upper ceiling of 10% of your overall portfolio

3. Take Services of a Mutual Fund Distributor

You need to know when to get in and when to get out of a Sector Fund and a MFD / Advisor would definitely be in a better position to suggest you the same.

Aggressive investors can look at investing in Lumpsum and maybe also consider high value SIP

There are quite a number of funds in Pharma space as of now namely

Reliance Pharma Fund

SBI Pharma Fund

UTI Healthcare fund

And 2 NEW funds are getting launched now namely

ICICI PHD FUND (opening on 25^th June)

MIRAE ASSET HEALTHCARE FUND (already open and will close on 25^th June)

I am more inclined towards Mirae Asset Healthcare Fund NFO, due to  their extremely superior performance in equity space and for their sheer consistency.

The New Fund Offer (NFO) of the scheme, Mirae Asset Healthcare Fund, will open for subscription on 11 June, and close on 25 June. The scheme will be managed by Vrijesh Kasera. 
Scheme at a glance:
Name: Mirae Asset Healthcare Fund 
Type of the scheme: Sector fund 
Plans & options: Regular and direct 
Benchmark: S&P BSE Healthcare Index 
Minimum application amount: Rs 5,000 
Exit load: 1 per cent (if redeemed within one year from the date of allotment) 

Mirae Asset Healthcare Fund would be investing in Health Care, Hospitals, Diagnostics, Medical Equipment companies, Health Insurance companies, etc

If you are investing, invest with a view of at least 5 years and follow your Advisors advise.

I have my own SIP in RELIANCE Pharma Fund, and that’s purpose is to create a LONG TERM MEDICAL EMERGENCY CORPUS and I intend to Increase my SIP in Pharma fund

DISCLAIMER :
I am empanelled with Mirae Asset Mutual Fund and I distribute their funds and my views regarding Mirae Asset Funds could be biased.

Do contact your advisor before investing.

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